Around the Bend

Does Anyone Know What's Going On Here?

2012-01-26T23:45:00.000-08:00

The members of the Portuguese Bend Board of Directors are our neighbors, all of whom have volunteered to do the jobs in our community that need doing; additionally, they all have busy private lives, and they are trying hard to be of service to our community, and so, out of respect for that and a desire to "get along," I have bitten my tongue and remained silent.

For too long.

Even though I have been to almost every board meeting for the last two years, looking back, I realize that I have very little idea of what is going on, for a variety of reasons.

First: it is hard to keep track of the players. Over the last couple of years three board members--Casey Porter, Mike Cooper and Tim Kelly...resigned. The remaining board members chose to replace them with Suzanne Black-Griffith, Joan McClellan and Bob Cumby. By and large, these replacements arrived unannounced and un-introduced until, at one meeting, a resident asked who was who and what was going on.

Second: It is often difficult to follow the board discussions. At the February board meeting, I thought perhaps I was going completely deaf until someone behind me called out, "Are we supposed to be able to hear you?" The response was something to the effect that the board was meeting and we were guests and guests would be heard from at the end of the meeting. The four board members in attendance did not make any attempt to raise their voices and thus, most of their discussion was unintelligible to many in the audience.

Third: The first part of every meeting is devoted to architectural committee business which always is confusing for a variety of reasons. In the first place, the committe membership changes from month to month. Most recently it appears to consist of Bob Halderman, Gordon Leon, Mike Cooper and Kim Nelson, who hasn't been there since it was announced that she has returned to the group. Additionally, the meeting consists of conversation about addresses, names, private conversations with builders and building progress, which are unfamiliar, at least to me.

Fourth: The architectural meeting is followed by the regular board meeting, which begins with board members each reading a copy of the minutes silently and approving them. Copies of the minutes of both the architectural committee and the board are unavailable for audience members. Copies of architectural committee minutes never have been available. However, up until five meetings ago, a few copies of the board minutes and the financial report were available for the first few community members who showed up. Apparently, at the one meeting I missed, the board voted to discontinue this practice as a cost cutting measure. Two months ago, I asked if perhaps the secretary could email me a copy of the minutes. I was assured that she would. Nothing was forthcoming. It isn't clear to me why copies of the minutes could not be emailed to everyone in the community with one click of a computer key. If anyone knows why this is impossible, please enlighten me.

The same goes for the financial report. Minimal at best, because it has never included a check register to show who got what, it at least showed how much money was spent in various categories. Copies of it are no longer available either. Couldn't that be emailed to?

Fifth: There is little or no communication between the board and the community. In December, in anticipation of elections at the February general meeting, several people volunteered to be on the nominating committee. No announcement of the appointments, nor any announcement of board positions that would be open followed.

Two days ago, a notice appeared on community bulletin boards telling residents that three positions are open on the board and anyone who wants to apply should contact Tim Kelly. Just how to do this is unclear.

And then today, an email message from Bob Cumby that is making the rounds, explained that the nominating committee has found people to fill the spots on the board. Evidently this happened BEFORE the general notice went up. I feel as if I came in on the middle of the movie and missed the most important clue as to who did what to whom.

The same bulletin board notice tells us that the General Meeting will be delayed a month because of the fire, which cut short the January board meeting, as well as a change in our Certified Public Accountant. Who knew? Does anyone know why that happened?

Does this mean we will have a February meeting of the board? Or nothing until March?

Another example of a communication problem involves the upcoming Palos Verdes Art Center Homes Tour in Portuguese Bend. At least one resident is up in arms because Jim York has applied for a Conditional Use Permit for his Event Center so that the Art Association can have a luncheon there for people who buy tickets for the tour. Representatives of the Homes Tour approached the Board at least a year ago, and subsequently made a presentation at a Board meeting during which they explained how they proposed to conduct the tour in our community. Several PBCA members went on last year's tour to get a better idea of how it worked, and reported back that they were very impressed with the organization of the event, security and the entire operation. At that time, the Board approved the request.

But no one told the community members about the decision. Too bad.

No one told community members when the Board voted to raise the assessments five per cent for the coming year, either.

In the past we had a newsletter.

Later, we had a web site.

Then we had occasional emails.

Now, we have nothing.

Does anyone care?

Holidays In the Bend Get Off To A Good Start With Caroling and a Party

2011-12-14T23:07:00.000-08:00

An enthusiastic group of singers, some on foot and some on horseback, gathered at the huge eucalyptus tree by the Bean Field last Sunday night and set out to bring a little seasonal cheer to Portuguese Bend.

Horses and their riders sported glowing red and green holiday lights, (battery operated of course), while carolers carried flashlights, candles and song books. The musical group wandered down Sweetbay, turned on Narcissa, and wound up at Five Points before the horses grew impatient and the singers grew chilly and winded.

After the horses went home, carolers, riders and other residents gathered at Dottie and Howard Towle's home for some conversation accompanied by hot spiced cider, hot spiced wine, cookies, brownies and figgy pudding, compliments of Gigi Greene.

It was a terrific way to get reacquainted with neighbors not seen for a while, and to meet some folks who are new to the neighborhood. If you missed it, you missed out.

Thanks to Howard and Dottie Towle, who opened their home for the evening, and Gigi, thanks to whom we now understand why all those singers have, for years, been demanding, "Give us some figgy pudding, right now." Everyone there had a great time.

BTW: The dessert was excellent and Gigi has been kind enough to share the source of the recipe, for anyone who wants to give it a try: http://adventurouswomenblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/make-real-figgy-pudding.html

As for a repeat performance, the group probably could cover more of the Bend next year if some helpful resident would provide transportation for the singers: a tractor hauling hay, an open-back truck, or even a sleigh/wagon would work very well. The horses seem to manage very well on four legs.

Now, on to the Arty Party.

Topic of the Month: Safety in Portuguese Bend

2011-07-11T00:13:00.000-07:00

We're spoiled.

We are used to leaving our garages open, our cars unlocked and our front doors unlatched. We hike the hills and stroll the streets at all hours and never give safety a thought. We've always done it that way.

Well...here's a news flash for you. This ain't Mayberry anymore.

Over the last few months, Portuguese Bend residents have reported assorted burglaries, identity theft resulting from mailbox burglary, and one scary incident involving a young teenager and an overly-friendly truck driver. Some of these have been solved (at least one thanks to the video cameras at the Narcissa gate).

Board Seeks Possible Solutions

These incidents have been the topic of discussion at the monthly board meetings, and last month board members promised to look into various solutions such as locked mailboxes and the cost of local security companies.Other options included a full-time gate guard, a part time gate guard, more frequent changes to the gate code, changing the hours when the gate requires a card and setting up a neighborhood watch program.

After all the discusion, most people agreed on one thing: Your safety begins with you. That means:

Lock your doors
Lock your garage
Lock any cars in your driveway (and don't leave anything valuable inside.)
Tell youngsters not to talk to any strangers, even if they ask for directions.
And finally, report any suspicious activities to a board member.

Sheriff Will Speak at July Meeting

The July 11 Board Meeting will feature a visit from a local sheriff who will address the topic of community safety. If you are concerned about this, (and who isn't?) this might be a good time to turn off the TV and attend the Board meeting. It begins at 7 p.m. at Ladera Linda. First thing on the agenda is the Architectural Committee meeting. Once that's over, the regular meeting will begin.

New Faces on Board and Architectural Committee

Other updates to Board business over the last couple of months: Mike Cooper, who recently ran for re-election to the board, resigned one month after the election. The board did not ask for nominations for a replacement but simply named Joan McClellan to fill unexpired portion of the two year term. Also, Tim Vaughn resigned from the Architectural Committee and Joe Oliver was named to replace him.

No one has been named to update the community web site. Anyone interested in taking on that task should contact Board Chairman Tim Kelly.

Art Tour Here?

Last month, representatives from the Palos Verdes Art Association, which sponsors an annual homes tour, addressed the meeting about their desire to make Portuguese Bend the site of their homes tour next year, April 14-15, 2012. Board members mentioned that visitors would need to be bussed into the area to reduce traffic, and PVAC representatives agreed to that. Other details remain to be worked out. Board members did not make a decision but said they would discuss the issue.

Also mentioned at the June meeting was the difficulty of walking around the neighborhood, particularly now that there are so many construction vehicles in the area. Some residents commented that it would be possible to walk around if the mandated three or five foot setbacks in front of each house were enforced. Board members noted that this is difficult to enforce fairly and consistently but several community members Gordon Leon, Suzanne Hoffman and Lynn Petak volunteered to walk the community and try to spot problem areas and suggest solutions.

Also discussed: a revision to the Architectural Standards to cover building of homes on hillside lots. This will be a long, drawn-out process but Gordon Leon volunteered to work on the wording for this. It was suggested that he also talk to Jim Knight about the issue. Both Leon and Knight are members of the RPV Planning Commission.

Roads ... and what needs to happen to them

Finally, there was the issue of roads and access control. This includes:

Finishing unfinished road work (budget problems here)
Dealing with speeders and those who fail to stop at stop signs
Installing speed bumps at stop signs (board members will get a price on this but noted that speed bumps may not interfere with water flow)
Striping the streets. This must be done to keep our insurance current.
Access control: a construction truck demolished the wall at the Narcissa gate. Inasmuch as there had already been talk of remodeling and widening that gate area, this topic is open for discussion. As of last month, Board Member Suzanne Black- Griffith was waiting to hear from the truck driver's insurance company about payment for the damage.

Hope to see you tomorrow at the Board Meeting.

About Your Headlights...

2011-07-09T22:56:00.000-07:00

Some of us like to talk a walk at night in Portuguese Bend. Yes, we know it's dark in Portuguese Bend when the sun goes down. But we're out there anyway.

We're walking dogs.

We're looking at the stars

We're just enjoying a cool, quiet stroll.

And we understand that those of you who are driving in the Bend after dark usually turn on your bright lights, so you can see where you are going. That makes sense.

But common decency, as well as common sense, would seem to dictate that when a driver with brights on, sees a pedestrian out for an after-dark stroll, the driver TURNS THE BRIGHTS OFF! Otherwise, you blind the pedestrian! (And make them very angry as well.)

Judge Turns Thumbs Down on Enstedt Suit; Building Can Continue

2011-07-08T20:34:00.000-07:00

There's no need to repeat what the Daily Breeze has already said. Just read their story here.

Appeal anyone ?

Court Decision Delayed Again! Maybe Tomorrow?

2011-07-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

According to a huge story in Tuesday's Daily Breeze, today was supposed to be the day for a final Los Angeles Superior Court ruling on the last gasp of all the chaos surrounding development of the 16 so-called Monks lots in Portuguese Bend.

No such luck.

But don't give up hope.

According to Breeze Reporter Melissa Paymer, who's on the story like white on milk, the decision has been delayed until Friday.

Basically, the court is set to rule on whether the 16 lots now under development should be included in the upcoming Zone 2 EIR. A preliminary decision indicates that things look bleak for the anti-development folks. For more details, click the links up above and read the Breeze stories.

As for the EIR, RPV Associate City Planner Kit Fox says we'll see the draft Zone 2 EIR some time this month. Don't hold your breath. When this all started, Fox said the EIR would be done before the first building permit was issued!

Election Results: PBCA Returns Incumbents to Board; RPV Voters Turn Thumbs Down On Charter City

2011-03-09T02:36:00.000-08:00

Residents of Portuguese Bend voted to return the only two candidates running for the board to their positions for another two years, at Tuesday evening's sparsely attended meeting at Ladera Linda Community Center. Tim Kelly received 100 votes, Mike Cooper received 89 votes and there was one write-in for another resident.

Meanwhile, in Tueday's RPV election, voters voiced a resounding "NO" to the idea of becoming a charter city in Tuesday's election. According to the LA City clerk's office, the vote was 4634 "no" to 1790 "yes."

Whether this is a reflection on our electorate's confidence in our city council, which was overwhelmingly in favor of the change, or simply a fear of becoming another Bell, isn't clear at this point.

What do you think?

Jim York Is Back and So Am I

2011-01-18T00:10:00.000-08:00

I am so far behind with this blog that I feel as if I'm in the middle of a horrible nightmare ...you know the one...it's the end of the semester and it's the day of the final exam and you haven't been to the class all year and you don't even know where the class meets!

But the headline on the front page of Monday's Daily Breeze woke me up, so here we go again.

If you missed it, it says, "Developer Decides to Farm Pristine Peninsula Land." Anyone who has walked around the big white gate across from the Equestrian Center, and has Point View in the last year knows that this isn't particularly news. Jim York has had avocado trees and a vegetable and herb garden up there for ages...but, wait...there's more.

If you check the RPV website, you can find the details of his proposed project, for which he is seeking a Conditional Use Permit. His plan includes:

17.5 acres of organic avocados
1.5 acres of citrus and avocados
8.5 acres of vineyards
2.5 acre non-commercial 9-hole golf course with two greens and traps that will not have any employees. It will not be open to the public, nor will it have regular operating hours and will have no clubhouse. Play will be limited to daylight hours.
And last but not least, an Event Center, planned as an ancillary use of the property (see note below), for no more than 30 events a year including fund raising and charity events, private parties, public and community events, weddings and wedding receptions, corporate parties, outdoor conferences and educational events. (That means one event every third week if he uses it year 'round, or at least two a week if he doesn't rent the place out during the six months of what we, in California, refer to as winter. (Time of rain, wind, mud, heavy jackets, etc.)

Quick explanation: Ancillary use is the important term here. York can't get a Conditional Use Permit for a stand alone Event Center on property zoned residential. But it turns out, under city zoning regulations, he can build a golf course on the property and he can call the Event Center ancillary to the golf course, and then it's legal!

According to the plan, attendance at Event Center events would be limited to 300 people, not including event staff, security/safety personnel, etc., with an occasional special charity event that could generate up to 750 people. Hours of operation will be from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Way down at the bottom of this proposal, we find this interesting paragraph:

Miscellaneous – To improve on-site circulation and access, the proposal includes legalizing an after-the-fact roadway segment that was paved to provide a secondary access to the site from the Narcissa Drive gate. Further, a new paved roadway is proposed to provide main access to the property via Palos Verdes Drive South. The after-the-fact roadway is a 700-foot segment constructed of impervious asphalt; while the new main roadway is currently an unpaved dirt road measuring 1,880-feet in length, and is proposed to be paved with impervious asphalt.

This is very hard to understand in light of the judgement against James York and Long Point Associates in 2001 in which the Hon William G. Willett ruled in the case of Portuguese Bend Community Association Inc. vs James York, York Longpoint Assoc. Limited Parntership, et al., Judgment dated July 27, 2001 that:

Page 3, Number 4, line 14:

YORK LONG POINT, and it's successors, shall have the right to use the Portuguese Bend Roads for maintenance and all lawful purposes of the YORK LONG POINT property, so long as such use does not allow use of the Portuguese Bend Roads by members of the general public.

The italics are mine. And thanks to Claudia Gutierrez for providing a copy of the Willetts ruling.

If someone can explain to me how York plans to have public events at Long Point and get access to the site from the Narcissa gate, I'd like to hear it.

But wait, there's more!

Check the agenda for the January 18 RPV City Council meeting (that's tonight folks!) and you will find that Item 6 on the agenda is the award of a contract for services to prepare a Mitigated Negative Declartion for the proposed Point View Agriculture, Golf Course and Event Garden Master Plan Project. This will cost $64,707, which amount Mr. York has ponied up to start the development process. The proposed contract, with interesting background and details on the project is here.

Be sure to check the map of the proposed project here.

But wait, there's even more!

Item 4 on the Agenda is as follows: Adoption of Ordinance No. 517, to create a Ministerial Process to adjust the landslide moratorium boundary line. This is the second reading of this proposed ordinance; if the council adopts it Tuesday, will take effect February 17, 2011.

This is the item that Jim York was talking about in the Daily Breeze article, when it said:

York is also hoping to see a new ordinance approved Tuesday that would enable him - and other landowners - to request removal of portions of their property from a 32-year-old city building moratorium instituted over concerns about landslides.

The change would allow the boundaries of the landslide moratorium to be moved if an applicant could provide scientific evidence to the city's geologist that the existing lines are inaccurate. There's already a process - the subject of a lengthy lawsuit that the city lost - to get individual properties exempted from the moratorium for specific construction plans.

The new process would be broader and would not require building plans. It would give the city geologist the authority to adjust the boundary without a public hearing.

If the line that York desires is eventually granted, about 13 more acres of his land would be developable, for a total of nearly 47 buildable acres.

Overseer for the Point View Project is Senior Planner Eduardo Schonborn. You can call him at (310) 544-5228, or email him at eduardos@rpv.com

The City Council meets tonight, Tuesday, January 18, at Hesse Park, 29301 Hawthorne Blvd., at 7 p.m. If you have anything to say about all this, this meeting is the place to say it.

If you want to keep updated on this issue, subscribe to the appropriate city listserver group here.

One last note: During the next week, I'll be doing a little backtracking on this blog, discussing what I know about what's happened at the last few PBCA Board Meetings, what's happening on the Zone 2 Environmental Impact Report, and a bit of local art news.

If you have anything you think our neighbors should know, be sure to email me.

Kuykendall Says Late Nite Robocall Is A Fake

2010-11-02T14:07:00.000-07:00

When the phone rings at 11:30 at night, you figure it's an emergency...someone is sick, someone died. No one calls at 11:30 p.m. to chat.

So when our phone rang last night at 11:30, my husband and I both jumped. He grabbed the phone, said "hello" and then nothing more. He listened for a minute or so and then hung up.

"Who was it?" I asked.

"One of those calls to vote no on Prop. P."

"From who?"

"Steve Kuykendall."

I looked at the clock. It said 11:20. I was so mad, I hopped out of bed and on to the computer, looked up Steve Kuykendall's email address and fired off an angry letter.( I debated about calling him, but decided I didn't want to get down to the same level.)

This morning I received this email from Steve Kuykendall:

Hello everyone...

The recorded call you received last night was from an imposter. I did not record the call nor did I give permission for my name to be used. In fact the caller couldn't even pronounce my name correctly. I have been an ardent supporter of the Marymount Plan and Measure P from the beginning. These dirty campaign tactics have become all too common place in campaigns and this type of action by the No on Measure P folks is just another example of campaigns run amuck. The opponents of Measure P owe an apology to the entire community. Unfortunately, they know they must obscure the truth because the facts are on the side of Measure P.”

Steve Kuykendall

PS Please forward to any others you think may have been disturbed by this call. Thanks!

Steven T. Kuykendall
Steven T. Kuykendall & Associates
400 West Ocean Blvd, Suite 2403
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone 562.432.8252
Mobile 310.968.9388

The best thing about the election being over is that my mailbox will not be filled with junk mail every day and my telephone will not be ringing on the hour with robocallers telling me how to vote on every candidate and proposition.

The flyers are worthless.

The calls are annoying.

The TV spots are ridiculous.

None of them provide me with what I need before I go into the voting booth today: factual information, relevant background, and well-mannered, thoughtful discussion about the candidates and the issues.

Ride To Fly Kids, And Their Horses, Will Be Wearing Costumes This Thursday

2010-10-25T17:23:00.000-07:00

Members of Ride To Fly, the therapeutic riding program that trains in the corral at 50 Narcissa Drive, will be celebrating Halloween this Thursday, October 28, from 2 to 4 p.m.

The kids and their horses will be in costume and they will be trick or treating in the neighborhood. Please give them a friendly wave, and perhaps even a treat, if you see them.

Mr. Long, You're Wrong

2010-10-24T12:59:00.000-07:00

I received one of those annoying robocalls from RPV Councilman Tom Long the other day. You know what a robocall is, right? It's a recorded message from someone with a political ax to grind and they're too busy to talk to you but they want you to drop whatever you're doing and listen to them because whatever they have to say is SO important. But because it's a one-sided flood of information, you can't ask questions or say anything back.

So I thought I'd have my say here.

According to Mr. Long, I should vote "no" on Prop. P because Marymount College can build everything in its plan just the way it wants to, right now.

Unfortunately, the devil is in the details, Mr. Long. But I would not have known that if I had not gone to the PBCA Board Meeting a couple of weeks ago and heard Marymount President Dr. Michael Brophy and Planning Commissioner Jim Wright discuss the pros and cons of Proposition P in a friendly, well-mannered and detailed way.

What I learned that night is that on the last go-round of the Marymount plan, when the college received its final approval from the city council, the council had made two minor changes to the plan, which no one seems to be discussing.

First: the council lowered the height of the gymnasium 10 feet. This seemed, to Dr. Brophy, to be a somewhat arbitrary change because the issue of view obstruction had been discussed at length during the previous years of negotiation about the plan. The question was, would the height of the gym, as planned, obstruct the view of any neighbors who lived above the site? According to Brophy, the college had agreed that when the time came to build the gym, they would put up flags to mark the intended roof line, and if it impacted any views, they would lower the roof of the gym. But the council, in its wisdom, made the change in the final plan anyway and never explained why.

Second: the council changed the location of two of the four planned tennis courts, making that part of the plan, in Marymount's eyes, unworkable. Here's why: The planned soccer field is adjacent to Palos Verdes Drive East, a curvy, heavily-traveled road that runs right by the campus. Although the field will be 10 feet below the level of the road, and is topped by a five foot wall, leaving 15 feet between road and field, there were concerns on the part of some council members that a wayward soccer ball might fly up on to the road and cause an accident. To mitigate the problem, Marymount agreed that during games and practices, they would raise a net to make the barrier between ball and road even higher. Up until the last meeting, everyone on both sides had agreed to that solution.

Now comes the bothersome detail that no one is discussing:

The original Marymount plan called for construction of four tennis courts to be located between the soccer field and the rest of the campus. When Marymount got the final approval for its plan, it discovered that the city council had split the courts, putting two between the edge of campus and the soccer field, and two in the original location, on the other side of the soccer field. The purpose of this was to move the soccer field farther from the adjacent road, further decreasing the likelihood that a soccer ball would fly up on the road and cause an accident.

But, this change meant that the four tennis courts would be split by the width of the soccer field. Brophy said that this situation is completely unworkable for both instruction and competitive use of the courts. And if you look at the plan, you have to agree.

None of this had anything to do with dorms, libraries or any of the other land-use issues associated with the plan and Prop. P. And admittedly, these two things might be considered minor points. But Mr. Long, if you want me to listen to your calls, please get all your details right.

As for the other, perhaps bigger, issues surrounding Measure P, more on that later.

But I hope the person who invented the robocall rots in hell.

Let's All Go See What the Artists See This Saturday At Zask's Gallery; Saturday's a Big Day for Portuguese Bend

2010-10-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

Some people call it "old junk."

But artists see with different eyes...(which is why they are artists)...so they see "interesting,"" beautiful," "opportunity for creativity" and even "fun."

You can see the result of all this Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. at the grand opening of the new show at the PS Zask Gallery, in the gallery's new location, 31246 Palos Verdes Drive West, upstairs, across from the entrance to the Admiral Risty restaurant.

The show, Lost But Profound, will feature works by a group of artists whose primary medium is the found object. These include M.C. Armstrong, Charity Capili, Pat Cox, Peg Grady, Jen Grey, Beanie Kaman, Geoffrey Kieran, Dorothy Magallon, Kelly O, Stan Resnicoff, Marian Seiders, Silvia Simmons, Mark Tanner, Patrick M. Tierney, Susan Levin, Joyce Weiss, Michael Wood and last, but certainly not least, Ben Zask.

Also on the agenda for the evening: live jazz by the Mark Fitchett Trio, and if you come early, you can watch the sunset.

With its new location, the Gallery also has new hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. The gallery is closed Monday.

Coming soon: arts and crafts for sale on the patio on weekends. Also some classes.

This all sounds like lots of fun. Why not make Saturday a Portuguese Bend day? We've got the community garage sale in the morning, college football on tv in the afternoon, and the opening of a new show in the Zask's new gallery in the evening. Saturday's a big day for Portuguese Bend.

See you at the show?

Flyers and Letters to the Editor Don't Do It For Me; I Hope Monday's Board Meeting Clears Up My Confusion

2010-10-02T01:16:00.000-07:00

I am really looking forward to Monday's PBCA Board meeting, particularly the part where neighbor and Planning Commissioner Jim Knight and a representative from Marymount College discuss Proposition P.

I gather, from the proliferation of Pro and Anti Prop P signs in our neighborhood, that many neighbors have made up their minds on this issue. However, I'm still confused and I'm hoping to get enlightened Monday.

In general, I tend to be pro-education and I think that a college is a great addition to the community. I've read the news stories and letters to the editor in the PV News, and I've read all the mailers that have arrived in our mailbox, but I still don't feel as if I really understand the issue.

A recent telephone call from a Marymount booster did not clarify things at all.

"Ring, ring."

"Hello."

"Hi. I'm calling about Proposition P. Are you familiar with it?" a cheerful woman's voice asked.

"As a matter of fact, I've just been reading about it in the paper, so I sort of know what it's about but I do have a few questions," I replied.

"Well, then you know that voting for Prop P will give the community a library, a gymnasium and all sorts of other facilities that will be open to the public," she enthused.

"But I thought that the city had already approved that," I replied. "I thought that the major issue here was dorms."

Silence.

"Isn't that right?" I asked. More silence.

I continued: "I think your approach isn't quite honest. You're telling me all about the things we're going to get if I vote for Prop P, but I thought that those things had already been approved by the city. Isn't that right?"

The next thing I heard was "click." She hung up.

The pro-Prop P flyers are equally unhelpful. The latest one features a local father and five-year soccer coach telling me that if I vote for Prop P my kids will get new playing fields, at no cost to the taxpayer. But none of the changes approved by the city called for any tax money in the first place.

So I'm still confused. I thought the issue was dorms.

I could use some explanation pro and con, in words of one syllable, from both sides so that I can understand the issue and make an educated decision when it comes time to vote. I'm hoping to get that Monday.

See you there? Ladera Linda. 7 p.m.

Residents Turn Out In Force to Discuss Problems and Solutions; Main Concerns: Appearance, Safety

2010-09-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

It was really exciting to see so many people at the September PBCA Board Meeting. The room was so full that latecomers had to set up extra chairs! Hopefully this community involvement will continue at the next meeting, October 4.

Applause greeted the board announcement that Suzanne Black Griffith will fill the board position left empty by the resignation of Board President Casey Porter. Suzanne, who grew up in Portuguese Bend, is now an attorney, and she and her husband, Mike, live in what used to be her parents' home. The board announced that Suzanne's first task will be to review the revised CC&Rs and the By-laws and make sure that all comments submitted by residents are either included or give reasons why they were excluded.

The remainder of the meeting was filled with a good deal of discussion about the general appearance of the Bend, kicked off by Jeanne Smolley's question as to whether there were different enforcement policies for the East and West Sides of the area. Tim Kelly, who appears to be serving as the new Board president, said that it was his understanding that the rules were enforced more loosely on the East Side because of the unique problems of land movement faced by residents living there.

Continued discussion of related issues throughout the evening seemed to reveal that many residents, including those on the East side, would like to see the regulations enforced equally throughout the Bend.

Long time resident Betty Strauss said, "We're not here to be critical but there are issues" and she asked how residents could work together with the board to solve them. That eventually led to formation of a Safety and Security Committee, which Mike Griffith volunteered to chair. Primary concerns at this point seem to be gate maintenance, possible remodeling of the Narcissa gate, and fire prevention. Residents who are interested in serving on this committee should contact Mike.

Several questions were raised about specific properties on the East Side. Board members reported that one owner has purchased a chipper and is at work removing a large amount of accumulated foliage on his properties. Additionally, it was reported that the eight containers stored at the end of Peppertree would be gone by the end of the week. (As of two days ago, three remained.)

Board member Mike Cooper said that the piles of dirt and ground up asphalt stored at the end of Peppertree, and at Pony Club, will be gone when the road work, including work on Limetree, is finished. He noted that the large equipment stored at Pony Club belongs to the contractor doing the road work throughout Portuguese Bend. A discussion between board members and a Limetree property owner about how to widen the end of the street did not reach a mutually agreeable conclusion.

In response to concerns about a coming onslaught of tumbleweed, Pat Burt reminded everyone that property owners are responsible for maintaining their own property, including pulling out tumbleweed, keep trees trimmed and property looking attractive.

As to enforcement of architectural standards throughout the community, it was suggested that two people be added to the architectural committee to deal specifically with this issue. No one volunteered for that job. Anyone interested in taking on that task probably should contact a Board member. Betty Strauss asked just what enforcement capabilities were available to the Board. The response: the Board can send letters asking for compliance with architectural standards within a certain time frame. Failure to comply can result in a fine. Finally, the Board can put a lien on the house for the amount of the fine, which would be paid upon sale of the house.

A property owner who bought an East Side lot 15 years ago said that he wants to grow plants on his property and has discovered that a driveway that formerly existed has vanished and access is now blocked by a water line. He was advised to contact the water company. He also said he wanted to put a small building on his lot to store his gardening equipment. He was informed that this was a violation of the architectural code.

Bob Halderman asked about a community garage sale and the Board agreed to schedule it for October 23. No chairman was named.

A Local Artist Talks About the Beauty of Our Special Area

2010-09-13T12:56:00.000-07:00

When you set up a Google alert, you never know what you're going to find in your email. Today, I found this lovely video by Dan Pinkham, in which he extolls the virtues of our special area and the efforts of the Portuguese Bend Artist Colony to capture its unique beauty and quality of life. He also talks about the group's relationship to Terranea.

Try it. I think you'll like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDXRlsP68zM

And thanks, Dan, for speaking so eloquently about our wonderful area.

Don't Forget: PBCA Board Meeting Monday Night

2010-09-12T20:30:00.000-07:00

What's on the agenda for tomorrow at 7 p.m at Ladera Linda?

Only the Shadow knows!

Well, not quite. We DO know that they're going to announce the name of the new board member.

Other than that, it's anyone's guess, 'cuz there's no agenda.

If you elect not to go to the meeting tomorrow, then if something happens there that you disapprove of, don't bitch. You made your choice.

Of course, you can read the minutes of the meeting if you go to the board meeting to get a copy. But they will be the minutes from TWO months ago (i.e. July), not the minutes from last month (August). If you want to read those minutes, you have to wait until NEXT month (October). The Board will approve the minutes from last month, tomorrow night. They don't read them aloud, however. The board members just read them to themselves and either amend or approve as is. Those minutes won't be available for any community members to read until NEXT month.

Under the circumstances, it's a little hard to stay current but that's the way the system works, folks.

And that's why it pays to attend the meetings if you want to know what's going on in your community.

New PBCA Board Member To Be Named Monday, September 13

2010-09-09T20:18:00.000-07:00

According to a notice posted on the bulletin boards at both the Narcissa and Peppertree gates, the board will be filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Casey Porter, at its meeting Monday, September 13 at 7 p.m. at Ladera Linda.

There is no indication as to what else is on the agenda, although the California Civil Code, SECTION 1363 (e), (regarding Homeowner Associations), states that: "Notice of Meetings (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, notice of meetings of the members shall specify those matters the board intends to present for action by the members, but, except as otherwise provided by law, any proper matter may be presented at the meeting for action." (Italics are mine.)

In any event, you might want to mark your calendars and come and see who will be selected to join the Board for the balance of the two year term.

And, there's always the chance that some other interesting stuff will occur. Or, if you have any questions or comments about what's going on in the Bend, the monthly meeting always provides a convenient and public forum.

Is Anybody There? Does Anybody Care?

2010-09-08T15:28:00.000-07:00

If the RPV City Council judges public interest in an issue by the number of warm bodies that occupy seats at the council meetings, then they must feel that absolutely no one in the community cares about item 16 on last night's agenda: "Potential Impact Resulting from Proposed Class C Airspace Designation Surrounding the Long Beach Airport."

Not one person from Portuguese Bend was at the meeting. Except me.

And when the mayor asked if anyone had signed up for public comments, the response from the clerk was "no."

Maybe you were watching the council meeting on tv at home. If so, you saw and heard the presentation about how this will impact our area, increasing air traffic (and resulting noise) over Torrance and RPV four fold, increasing air pollution, and raising issues of safety for both pilots and residents.

If you didn't watch it on tv, you can watch the re-run of the meeting on the RPV website.

And if you simply don't care about this issue, then in a couple of years, when noise and air pollution around here increase, and your kids get asthma, and you can't hear yourself think, don't moan to your neighbor that nobody ever tells you what's going on.

All I can think of is that famous quote, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." The exact words, and even the source of the quote, are a subject of dispute, but the thought still works for me.

If You Care About Quality of Life in Portuguese Bend, Attend Tonight's City Council Meeting. Listen. Learn. Speak.

2010-09-07T13:01:00.000-07:00

If you care about our environment, including:

the air we breathe
the noise we hear
the general quality of life in our semi-rural area

then PLEASE attend the RPV city council meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at Hesse Park. The council will be discussing the change in airspace designation at Long Beach airport and how it impacts our city. This is of particular concern to residents of Portuguese Bend, because we live right on the edge of the impacted area.

I blogged about this issue twice before: here and here.

For even more detailed information, the city website now has a complete rundown on all the details, with links to various maps and staff reports, a presentation by the Southern California Airspace Users Workshop, comments by the Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association, and even a template for a letter to the FAA for those who wish to express their ideas on this topic.

Finally, yesterday's Daily Breeze featured a roundup of information and maps on its front page. The interactive maps in the online version of the story are particularly helpful.

This issue concerns all of us.

I do not know if our Community will have official representation at the City Council meeting tonight. My inquiry about this matter has gone unanswered. The next PBCA Board meeting is next Monday. Our board did not deal with the airport issue at the last Board meeting in August, electing instead to devote the entire meeting to the revised CC&Rs.

So, it appears that we in Portuguese Bend are on our own in terms of telling the city council how we feel about this issue.

To hear what your neighbors think about this, and to tell the city council what you think, shut off your tv tonight, and put down that book you're reading, and come to the city council meeting.

Move Lloyd Wright House To Abalone Cove? Some Think It Would Solve Two Problems At Once

2010-08-19T21:57:00.000-07:00

The folks at city hall are kicking around an idea that at least some of them think might kill two birds with one stone, combining "public usefulness with historic significance" in the words of RPV Senior Administrative Analyst Sara Singer.

Basically, the idea is to move the Lloyd Wright house at 504 Paseo Del Mar, (at left), which the present owner wants to tear down but some local preservationists want to keep, to Abalone Cove, where the city has applied for a $5,500,000 state grant to build a Nature Education Center in the parking lot.

"Age, construction material and split-level design would present some challenges for moving," according to Singer. Additionally, she said in an email, "The transition from private home to public space brings significant accessibility, seismic and other building code issues."

She noted that this concept had not been included in the original grant application. But, she said, if the city is awarded this grant, the staff will present this concept to the City Council. If the city does not get the grant, "there is no other funding currently budgeted for these improvements," Singer said, adding that, "If the City Council directs staff to continue exploring this option and allocates funding for it, then we would continue looking into the viability of this project. "

Asked about the timing of the entire project, Singer said, "The grant awards will be announced in December, and if the grant were awarded we would go through the entitlement process and the public would be invited to participate. Please note that in the grant application the architectural design of the proposed building was to be influenced by the architectural style of Wayfarer’s Chapel."

The Chapel, a local landmark designed by Lloyd Wright, is across Palos Verdes Drive South from the proposed Abalone Cove project.

"I think it’s good for public and non-profit groups to be aware of these significant buildings that are threatened for destruction in case the right opportunity arises to preserve them in a community where authentic architectural significance is rare" Singer said.

For much more background on the proposed Nature Education Center at Abalone Cove, please check this earlier post on my blog.

If you have any thoughts about this concept that you want to share with our City Council, their email addresses and telephone numbers are here.

Someone Thinks We're Nice

2010-08-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

Talking about his experience setting up today's day of filming part of a commercial at a Portuguese Bend home, Location Manager Dave Fertig commented on how friendly and cooperative everyone has been during the process. "I'll recommend this area again," he said.

It's always nice to get a good review. We hope he feels the same by the end of the day.

New Show Opens Saturday at Zask Gallery

2010-08-10T20:20:00.000-07:00

Zask Gallery invites everyone to its opening reception Saturday, August 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. for its new show, A Fine Line, in which the common element among the artists is Line.

Sculptural works by Nick Agid and Michael Freitas Wood play with optical illusions using color, layering and light.

Hyunsook Cho shows the idiosyncrasies of language in a line of Korean/English text and explores her responses to her trip to China.

John Kantu's paintings express his deep obsession with Japanese culture, and then he lightens things up with some very small canvases with humorous images and text.

Heide Ulbrich's ceramic sculpture is based on combining impressions of architecture from her world travels.

The ps Zask Gallery, which is dedicated to showing contemporary fine art of established and emerging LA, national and international artists, is located at 31252 Palos Verdes Drive West, on the street level of the Golden Cove Shopping Center. The gallery is open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Portuguese Bend neighbors and artists Peggy and Ben Zask invite everyone to stop in and have a look around.

Portuguese Bend Artists Pitch In To Save Our Shoreline

2010-08-09T23:58:00.000-07:00

The Portuguese Bend Artist Colony, which has already lent its financial and artistic support to the Peninsula Land Conservancy, is continuing its support for preservation of the area by backing efforts to Save Our Shoreline.

To that end, they are selling a limited edition of 20 giclee prints of Rick Humphrey's "Above the Cove on a Spring Day," for $100 each. (See image to the left.) Early shoppers have snapped up the first 15. Five are left. Anyone interested in purchasing one of these 16 by 20 inch prints should contact pinkhamd@aol.com.

Money raised from the sale of the prints will fund two half page ads in the Peninsula News on August 12 and 26. The ads will detail the campaign to oppose the city's plan to construct a 6,000 square foot building designed to house educational exhibits, classrooms, a Ranger station and other things at Abalone Cove.

The city of Rancho Palos Verdes has applied for a $7 million dollar grant to carry out this project. The growing number of people who are opposed to it believe that the city already has a plan for improving the trails and general appearance of the area, and that the educational aspects of the plan could be carried out with bulletin boards and outdoor display cases. They are opposed to construction of a building on the last undeveloped coastal bluff top in the city and believe and that the so-called Nature Education Center should be constructed elsewhere, possibly neart the Interpretive Center, which already houses educational exhibits.

A more detailed account of this issue can be found in my blog here and here.

Other background on the issue is located on the RPV website here.

A petition opposing the development is here. To contact Save Our Shoreline, email SaveOurShoreline2@gmail.com

Board Seeks Replacement Member; Dialogue on Revised CC&Rs Continues

2010-08-08T23:42:00.000-07:00

Board Member Tim Kelly opened the July board meeting by announcing that Casey Porter has resigned as Board President. No reason was given. Kelly said that the board will discuss a replacement board member next month, but in the meantime he suggested that anyone interested in filling the position should email a half page of information explaining why he or she would like to be on the board to tkellyrpv@aol.com.

Mike Cooper said that patching of cracks in the roads will continue and when completed, all roads will be slurried.

This is a high fire season in our high fire area and board members indicated that lot owners are responsible for clearing weeds on their lots. Ditto for home owners.

Tim Kelly indicated that damage to the Narcissa gate would be repaired Tuesday or Wednesday.

The major portion of the meeting was given over to the latest revision of the CC&Rs. Board Attorney Kelly Richardson was on hand to answer questions. He explained that revision of the PBCA CC&Rs was particularly difficult because he was working from multiple sets of very old documents; additiionally, we have a unique situation here because many homes in the community are moving from their original (and legal) location. He said this situation is unique; he is not aware of any other homeowner association in the country with the same issues.

He also said that in the work he has done so far, he is trying to look ahead to the future and anticipate problems and write a document that will make it unnecessary for residents to go to court to solve problems.

Asked why there was no mention of requirements for board members in the CC&Rs, ( an issue that was raised after Casey Porter moved out of the area but wanted to remain on the board), Richardson said that that subject is covered in the revised By-Laws, which he hopes the board will deal with soon.

Specific sections of the revised CC&Rs that came up for discussion were:

Section 2.06 which Richardson described as an easement on all lots which would be recorded legally. He agreed to remove sections (i) and (ii) under Section 2.06.

Section 2.10: If the six owners of annexable lots agree to annexation, this section will be removed.

Questions were raised regarding Section 3.04 (b) (suspension of voting rights), but Richardson did not indicate he would make a change.

Objections were raised regarding Section 6.02, (number of legal occupants of a home), but Richardson said this is standard language for such documents.

Section 6.04 will be changed to make all livestock exempt.

Section 6.14 will be reworded from "View Protection" to "Height Limitation."

If you do not have, or are unable to find, your current copy of the CC&Rs, to which this refers, email tkellyrpv@aol.com and ask for a duplicate copy.

Richardson will revise the current CC&Rs in line with comments received at the meeting and residents should receive a copy of that revision by email prior to the next board meeting September 6. Richardson hopes to set a voting date for approval of the final version soon.

All the above information is fact. Now comes the opinion.

1. It is my personal feeling that it would be nice if people who want to serve on the board could demonstrate some special skill that might be useful to the entire community.

2. It is hard for me to understand why so few people are interested in the revision of our CC&Rs. This is rather like a chance to vote on a revision of the Constitution of the United States. These are the rules that govern our community and will govern it well after our children and their children inherit our homes and sell them, or we move away. These are major, long term changes to the rules that govern our community and it looks as if fewer than 35 people care. I know everyone is busy, but PLEASE, be concerned neighbors. I hate to see us be like the city of Bell. (If you didn't read that blog topic, it's here.)

Read the CC&Rs. Check the revisions. Talk to your neighbors. Come to the meetings where this is being discussed. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Last: I ran across this column by an attorney, regarding conflicts between Homeowners Associations and Green building laws. Has anyone thought about incorporating any Green Building regulations into any of our official documents? This attorney's column involves CC&Rs. We are also talking about changes to our Architectural Standards. But no one in Portuguese Bend has mentioned the word "Green" anywhere. Just a thought.

It's Come To Meetin' Night In Portuguese Bend

2010-08-02T00:11:00.000-07:00

Gather up your new and old versions of the CC&Rs and bring all your paper work to the Monday, August 2, 2010, PBCA Board Meeting at Ladera Linda.

Tim Kelly says the Board attorney will be there to answer questions about the CC&Rs. At least one resident thinks the board should explain why we need the changes to the CC&Rs. I hope he shows up at the meeting and asks his question. It's basic and it never has been answered. An exercise in education might clear the air for a lot of us.

That is all that is on the agenda, but a few other questions may arise at the meeting.

Some residents received a mailing from the board outlining the procedure for collection of assessments, along with suggested amendments to the Architectural Standards. It appears that not everyone got the letter...but if you did, it may not be clear WHY you received it, because there was no accompanying explanatory information. I'm not sure, and my query on the subject has gone unanswered, but this MAY be the reason for the mailing: In order to amend the architectural standards, the proposed changes must be discussed at three board meetings and then the final version must be mailed to residents for final input. Tim Vaughan is in charge of this, so if you have any questions or comments you can call him at 310 265 2599 or email tim.vaughan@cox.net It's possible that there will be discussion or a vote on these items Monday, although it is not on the agenda.

Another possible topic of discussion is the entire fuss about the proposed change in air space designation for Long Beach airport and its impact on our coastline. If you're not familiar with this issue, please read two earlier blog posts on it here and here. The city is preparing to discuss this issue at the September 7 meeting, and Terranea and Trump National Golf Club report that they "are dealing with it, " as are numerous citizens. My repeated inquiries to Board members about what, if any, plans they have to address this issue have gone unanswered. But perhaps it will come up at Monday's meeting.

By the way, the city has obtained a delayed date for input on this issue until September 21. However, do not write to the FAA to voice your opinion. The FAA has agreed to hear from the city of Rancho Palos Verdes. So, if you want to be heard, you can speak at the September 7 City Council meeting, and/or email the council here.

You can read the city's information on this issue and sign up to receive updates on their listserv here

The Architectural Committee meets at 7 p.m. Monday at Ladera Linda and the Board Meeting begins immediately afterward. PLEASE BE THERE. Your opinion counts and so does your vote.

More About The FAA's Plan For Our Beaches and Surf

2010-07-26T15:44:00.000-07:00

There is no word yet from the city of RPV officials as to what they plan to do about the FAA's proposal to shove hundreds of student pilots up the coast from Long Beach to our strip of coastline in Rancho Palos Verdes to practice turns, banks, stalls, ascents and descents over our sand and surf.

The FAA says it is doing this to cut down on near-accidents at Long Beach airport. But what the organization apparently does not realize is that its proposed solution simply shoves the problem a few miles up the coast into a residential/recreational area half the size of the existing industrial area. (see yesterday's blog for details.)

No word from the PBCA board either.

However, RPV Mayor Wolowicz suggested that senators and congressmen may have more clout than the RPV City Council. He recommends that interested citizens write to our elected officials in Washington about this problem. You can do it via email. Here's how:

Email Senator Diane Feinstein here:

http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.Emailme

Email Senator Barbara Boxer here:

https://boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/policycomments.cfm

Email Congressman Dana Rohrbacher here:

http://rohrabacher.house.gov/Contact/Zip.htm

His web form asks for your nine digit zip code. If you are in RPV, it's 90275-5914.

You might try writing to Supervisor Don Knabe, here:
http://www.knabe.com/askdon/index.html

Remember: the FAA wants all comments on this yucky plan in hand by Saturday, July 31, 2010. In case you missed it yesterday, the reference number is FR Doc. 2010-7652

Send your comments, in triplicate to:

Clark Desing, Operations Support Group, AJV-W2
Western Service Area, Air Traffic Organization
Federal Aviation Administration
1601 Lind Avenue, SW
Renton, WA 98057

Write NOW!

Our Health and Safety Are At Risk Thanks to Jet Blue; Write To The FAA And RPV City Officials ASAP

2010-07-25T01:00:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Jet Blue's latest lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C. could have a major impact on our health and safety in Portuguese Bend.

It's all like a bad game of dominos. If we don't act quickly, the residents of Portuguese Bend lose, bigtime.

Jet Blue has lobbied successfully to change the Long Beach Airport airspace from Class Delta to Class Charlie. One of the results of this change is that general aviation planes (read: private aircraft), will not be able to enter this airspace.

The first problem that this creates for our area is safety. Here's why: According to RPV resident and private pilot Don Stewart, for the past 30 years, "the main designated student pilot practice area has been over the Los Angeles and Long Beach outer harbor area. The boundaries of this flight training and practice area are Point Fermin to the west, Terminal Island and Long Beach coastlines to the north, Huntington Beach to the east and about mile or so south of the Long Beach breakwater ."

Flight schools based at the Hawthorne, Torrance, Compton, Long Beach, Fullerton and John Wayne airports all use this flight training area on a daily basis, according to Stewart. He says that because this area is situated mainly over industrial facilities and the outer Long Beach and L.A. harbors, there have been very few complaints from the general public.

However, the new FAA airspace proposal will reduce most of this flight training area, forcing "flight instructors and student pilots to relocate to the lightly used flight training airspace over the Rancho Palos Verdes coastline," said Stewart. The approximate boundaries of the Palos Verdes practice area are Point Vicente to the west, Palos Verdes Drive South to the north, Point Fermin to the east, and two to three miles off the coast for the Eastern boundary. Stewart notes that this area is approximately half the size of Long Beach- L.A. Harbor training area. (The map above shows the old training area and the proposed new area.)

"This will cause heavy aircraft congestion in a very small area, or what aviators and air traffic controllers call airspace compression and will raise the possibility of mid air collisions over the RPV coastline," said Stewart.

To put it into words of one syllable: the same number of student pilots as always will be practicing turns, descents, ascents, stalls and other beginning pilot skills, in a much smaller area, right off our coast. Because these pilots will be shoved into a much smaller area than they are used to, the risk of problems is greatly increased.

The old training area provided many possible locations for emergency landings, according to Stewart, while the only place for emergency landings in the new area is Trump National Golf Course and "that's not particularly good."

In addition to issues of safety, the second problem for RPV residents is air pollution from the high amount of lead particles that will foul the air in RPV as a result of the increased number of aircraft flying overhead. "Unlike modern automobile engines, piston powered aircraft engines are required to use 100 high octane fuel with lead additives," Stewart explained.

"A single gallon of aviation fuel contains two cubic centimeters of lead. A typical training aircraft engine burns 10 gallons of fuel per hour. This equates to approximately 20 cubic centimeters of lead particles falling from the sky for every flight hour flown. Every week, many hundreds of flight hours are currently flown by the dozens of flight schools over the existing Long Beach-LA Harbor practice area. A high percentage of these flights will now be forced to operate over the Rancho Palos Verdes coastline," he said, adding that the normal prevailing wind flow between Point Fermin and Point Vicente will blow the lead onshore and on to RPV neighborhoods.

Finally, all this additional air traffic will dramatically increase noise in our area.

This change was proposed at a public FAA hearing in Long Beach on June 21 and 22. It appears that the city of RPV was not notified about the meeting, even though the change would have a major impact on this area. Note also that the FAA is exempt from CEQA (California Evironmental Quality Act) review and other governmental review.

Stewart has written to the RPV Mayor, City Council and City Manager about his concerns. The city has referred the matter to Dennis McLean, who was out of town this week but will be back Monday. McLean is the RPV Director of Finance and Information Technology and serves as staff liaison to the LAX Roundtable. E-mail addresses and telephone numbers for city council members and McLean are here.

A copy of Stewart's letter has been forwarded to Tim Kelly, to alert the PBCA Board, which, unfortunately, does not meet again until August 2.

Here's the big problem: Anyone who wants to have any input on this matter needs to contact the FAA on or BEFORE July 31, 2010. Any comments must be submitted in TRIPLICATE to:

Reference FR Doc. 2010-7652

Glark Desing, Operations Support Group, AJV-W2
Western Service Area, Air Traffic Organization
Federal Aviation Administration
1601 Lind Avenue, SW
Renton, WA 98057

Stewart believes that once the FAA makes the decision to change the airspace, there will be no opportunity for any changes to the ruling, but it probably will be 18 months to three years before it takes effect.

If you care about our safety and health in Portuguese Bend, let your public officials know NOW!

The Story of Bell, CA: What Happens When No One Pays Attention

2010-07-24T15:19:00.000-07:00

There has been much in the news in the last few days about the city of Bell, CA regarding the salaries of some of its officials and its status as a charter city. Bell is different than Rancho Palos Verdes in many ways, but similar in the number of residents and one other local issue, and for that reason, I think it's worth a closer look at what happened there.

Bell's population in July 2008 was 36,657. At the same time, the RPV population was 41,106.

On November 29, 2005, during a special election with just one item on the ballot, Bell passed a measure to convert its status to a charter city. Prior to the election, all five city council members signed a ballot measure in favor of the move, as did the city manager, saying that it would give the city more local control. No one filed an argument against the measure.

According to a story in the Los Angeles Times, hardly any Bell residents voted in that election. To be exact, only 400 people cast ballots, 239 of which were absentee. Of the total votes, 336 were in favor of the proposition, and 54 were opposed. That means that fewer than one per cent of the voters made a very costly decision for the other 36,159 residents of Bell.

It was costly because that measure enabled the council to by-pass state rules that set limits on salaries of council members and the city manager. That change allowed some of those officials to take home far more than their counterparts in other cities. The city manager, who has resigned following the flap, was earning almost twice as much as the president of the United States. And, the Times estimates that he will get the highest pension in the state.

The residents of Bell were outraged when they found out just how much money was going into the pockets of city officials. And by the way, they found it out thanks to investigative work by reporters from the Los Angeles Times.

Political philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville said, years ago, that in a democracy, we get the government we deserve. Did the citizens of Bell get what they deserve? They weren't paying attention to what their elected officials were up to, so maybe they did.

Can we in Rancho Palos Verdes learn anything from all this, particularly now that RPV is considering a move to convert its status to a charter city? Reasons given for the suggested change are that it will give our city more local control. Perhaps it's time to ask our council members: "Local control over exactly WHAT?" I'm not suggesting that our council has any ulterior motives for the status change. I'm merely saying that I think that no matter what issue is on what ballot, voters everywhere, at every level, need to ask more questions and get more answers and stay informed about the activities of their local officials.

If we don't, we can wind up like Bell.

These days, when it sometimes seems as if everything is so huge and so complicated, it's easy to feel that your one vote doesn't make any difference...but it's worth noting that in Bell, 336 votes made a huge difference. It's clear that your one vote CAN make a difference at the local level, in your city, or your community.

As an added note: It's also easy to take pot shots at journalists for asking lots of questions, sometimes unfriendly questions, and nosing around where some people don't want them to look. It's worth remembering that in this case, none of us would be aware of what was going on in Bell if it were not for some nosy reporters at the Los Angeles Times.

FREE Stuff! What A Nice Idea!

2010-07-20T14:31:00.000-07:00

I drove through the Narcissa gate this overcast afternoon around 2 p.m. on my way home, and right after the first turn, I slowed down, stopped and then backed up to get a better look at what was going on right side of the road beside the hillside lot that has been cleared, gently landscaped and turned into something of a quiet retreat in the last couple of years.

What caught my eye first was a lovely bassinet, just sitting there, along with a giant hassock, some wicker furniture, an upright vacuum cleaner and a bunch of boxes that appeared to be full of unknown goodies.

The next thing I saw was Ronnie Schnel, carrying another box and she said no, they weren't moving. They're just "moving some stuff," and they decided that they would offer it free to anyone who wanted it. "I did this once before" she said. "I put up a sign and went up to the house for lunch and when I came back, it was all gone."

She says that she hopes that will happen again but if it doesn't, she'll give what's left over to Goodwill. "But I'd rather have Portuguese Bend residents have it if they want it." she said.

I told her I might write about it in this blog and she warned that "it might all be gone by the time you do." That's a possibility. But I still think that it's worth writing about. Good neighbors make good stories.

News Doesn't Always Make You Feel Good. Is That Bad?

2010-07-09T02:00:00.000-07:00

It has never been my intent to offend anyone in this community, board members or residents, by cramming unwelcome information into their eyes and ears. As a journalist by education and experience, it has always been my intent to get and give accurate information about anything with which I’ve ever been concerned.

I think that this is important because I believe that knowledge of facts results in an informed citizenry, and hopefully, informed voters; additionally, knowledge of facts reduces rumors and gossip. Reports of fact do not always make everyone “feel good” but it is the only way that I know to be honest. I do not feel very good after I read the daily newspapers, either, but that’s not the fault of the newspapers. That’s life.

If I want to feel good, I read fiction.

Another approach to “feel good reporting” is called public relations or advertising. A current example of that is BP’s $50 million ad campaign in which we learn about all the nice BP employees who have moved to the Gulf coast to help with the cleanup of one of the worst man-made environmental disasters of all time. The ads neglect to mention that BP created the disaster in the first place. And that’s a fact.

Getting back to local issues, these are the facts about Monday’s Board Meeting:

Board President Casey Porter said that there is nothing in the PBCA Articles of Incorporation, by-laws or CC&Rs that state that a board member must be a property owner.
Porter said he would like to stay on the Board until projects that he has worked on for four years are completed. Specifically, he is concerned about passage of the revised CC&Rs.
Tim Kelly moved to delay any decision on Porter’s status for a month. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board agreed to continue discussion of the revised CC&Rs at next month’s meeting.
Board members said that the revised CC&Rs do set up ownership requirements for board members.
Casey Porter said he was upset by rumors and insinuations about his position on the board. He said that anyone who wants to know what is going on with board members should ask the board members directly. Confronted with the fact that he had not responded to my pre-meeting email asking about his status in the community and on the board, he stated publicly that he would not answer any emails from me.
The Board voted unanimously to raise the assessment five per cent for next year.
Marianne Hunter circulated a petition asking the city to withdraw its grant application to build a 5900 square foot building to house educational exhibits and other facilities at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park. She also issued a plea for more understanding and friendliness in our community.
Board members agreed to develop a list of guidelines for the community bulletin boards for the next Board meeting. This action followed an extended discussion about who could post what on the boards. The discussion started with Betty Strauss’ comment that she did not think that the removal of a local teenager’s flyer advertising her babysitting service was a friendly thing to do. Casey Porter said that no one in the community is in charge of the bulletin boards.
Architectural Committee Member Kim Nelson said she would like to see formation of an equestrian sub-committee to explore the possibility of additional horse trails in the community, because owners of the lots under development have agreed to allow a two and a half foot easement adjacent to their properties for horse and hiking trails.
Jeremy Davies reminded residents that July 13 is the deadline for comments on the building silhouettes that are appearing around the community. You can see building plans and leave comments at the RPV Planning Department. This followed queries and comments about the impact of compacting dirt on these sites and its effects on existing residents.
Mike Cooper said that the piles of asphalt and road materials around the community are for the work that is being done on the roads, including the widening of Sweetbay opposite the bean field, and the remaining part of Tangerine. He expects that all work, including a final seal coat, will be completed by the end of summer.

This is my opinion about the Monday Board meeting:

In view of the fact that Board members emphasized at the meeting that the revised CC&Rs do set up a residency requirement for Board members, it is clear that they are aware of a loophole in the existing CC&Rs and have elected to take advantage of it to keep Porter, who has sold his Portuguese Bend property and no longer lives here, on the Board for what is being characterized as a “brief period of time.”
More people need to attend Board meetings and get involved in the activities of the community.

If you have questions or comments about any of the above, feel free to post them below. No anonymous posts, please.

Casey Porter Will Be At Tonight's Board Meeting! Come And Hear What He Has To Say

2010-07-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

PBCA Board President Casey Porter will be at tonight's PBCA Board Meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at Ladera Linda. According to an email from Tim Kelly,received this afternoon, "He will explain his situation and settle any rumours that are floating around."

Porter listed his home at 8 Roseapple for sale soon after the February election, in which he was re-elected to the board for another two year term. The house sold and escrow closed June 21, which means he is no longer a legal resident of Portuguese Bend.

Residents who are interested in the future membership of the PBCA Board should be sure to attend tonight's meeting.

The board also is slated to review and approve the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, (which means they're going to explain how they plan to spend your assessment dollars.)

Turn off your TV!

Get up off the couch!

Hire a sitter!

Pat the dog/cat bye-bye and tell them you aren't going far and you'll be back soon...

AND COME TO TONIGHT'S BOARD MEETING!

Where Is PBCA President Casey Porter? Will We Find Out at Monday's Board Meeting?

2010-07-03T23:08:00.000-07:00

Board President Casey Porter listed his house for sale a month or so ago. It sold and escrow closed June 21. His telephone is not working. It appears that he has moved out of Portuguese Bend. Because Porter is no longer a property owner in Portuguese Bend, he can no longer vote in our elections. So, what is his status?

It would seem logical that a person who cannot vote for an office, cannot hold that office either, although our official documents are somewhat vague on that point. When queried about this via email, three board members said they had not seen Porter since the last board meeting, knew nothing about the status of his real estate and they said he had not resigned his post. A fourth member did not respond to my query, and neither did Porter.

It is interesting to recall that Porter ran for re-election to the Board in February, and was elected to another two-year term. Of course, it's possible that at that time, he did not know that he was going to put his house on the market a few months later. You can be the judge of that. He's not around to ask.

So, what happens now? Will someone new fill his post? How will that person be chosen? Has someone already been chosen? Has anyone been asked? No one is talking, although rumors are flying. But I don't print rumors. Just the facts, ma'am.

The only things on Monday's agenda for the monthly board meeting are an email from a local resident, approval of the budget for the new fiscal year and approval of policies and procedures for the new fiscal year.

There is nothing on the agenda about resignation or replacement of the Board president...but one cannot help but assume that it will be a subject for discussion. If you care, be there! 7 p.m. Ladera Linda.

I will continue to look for more factual information about this issue until the Board meeting Monday and will post a report about the meeting afterward.

Please feel free to post any comments, corrections or additional information about this topic to this blog. Note: If you list yourself as "anonymous," your post will not be printed.

We Didn't Stop Posting. We Were On A Trip! What Did We Miss?

2010-07-03T00:02:00.000-07:00

We're back from six days in Arizona. First, Flagstaff, where we helped a cousin celebrate an 80th birthday, then sightseeing in two of the most spectacular places in the country...Sedona and the Grand Canyon.

Birthdays for kids are fun, but birthdays for older folks have an added dimension: history.

In this case, the history came as George's cousin Hal remembered his days as a newsboy in Eugene, Oregon. He recalled one extra special day when he delivered a memorable "Extra." Explanatory note for younger readers: there was a time when newsboys did more than deliver the daily paper. When a particularly big news event occurred, newsboys stood on street corners and hollered "EXTRA! EXTRA!" and sold copies of a special edition of the newspaper, printed because of a particularly important story.

In this case, the phone call at Hal's home, asking him to come down and pick up "extra" editions to hawk, came on a December day in 1941. When the newsboys gathered for their assignments, they learned about the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the start of World War II. Hal recalled that he earned $3.50 selling "extras" that day. Economic background note: He bought the newspapers for a penny and sold them for two cents. But, most people paid with a nickle and said, "keep the change."

If you're thinking that $3.50 isn't very much, remember that those were the days when a kid paid 10 cents to get into the movies...and that included a double feature, coming attractions, a newsreel and sometimes a cartoon or comedy short. A dime bought a full Saturday afternoon at the movies.

An awful lot has changed since 1941.

Anyway, we're back with tons of photos to sort through, and a great deal of backed up email. Some of the emails contain rumors and speculation about events in The Bend. We don't like to print rumors, so we're trying to establish facts for our readers.

However, please mark your calendars for Monday's board meeting at Ladera Linda. It promises to be especially interesting, even though there is no agenda posted.

By the way: If you're planning a vacation and wondering what to do with your pets, call Susie Eastman, (310) 377-1317. She is the most fantastic house and pet sitter in the world. Our dogs and cat love her and our house is always neat and tidy when we get home. We never worry when she's in charge.

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

2010-06-24T00:46:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-20T23:38:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-06-17T11:33:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-13T01:47:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-11T23:03:00.000-07:00

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....

2010-06-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

....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

2010-06-09T13:08:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-08T00:32:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-06-07T00:49:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-07T00:39:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-01T23:44:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-06-01T01:30:00.000-07:00

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.

Boxscore for Landslide Moratorium Exemptions for Monks Lots. 15 Down; 1 To Go

2010-05-30T22:18:00.000-07:00

On May 24 two more applications for a Landslide Moratorium Exemption by Monks plaintiffs were approved by the Community Development Director for lots on upper Cinnamon Lane. A third Monks LME application for a lot on Plumtree Rd. was approved by the Director on May 26. As of that date, the last remaining Monks LME request for a lot on Narcissa Dr. is under review by the City's geotechnical consultant.

Two Weeks of Jury Duty....

2010-05-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

...has sort of put me off track. I've lost my focus and it's hard to get it back.

I've been called up for jury duty before, but never actually served on a jury... this was a first. It wasn't like the courtroom TV shows, but it was a chance to see the system up close. It was an educational two weeks. An interesting two weeks. An exhausting two weeks. A difficult two weeks. It was a murder trial.

When it was over, the judge thanked the members of the jury, as did the prosecuting attorney and the defense attorney, who also pointed out that, "If people don't serve, the system doesn't work." She's right of course.

The next time the summons arrives in the mail, I won't drag my feet.

HELP! We Need Someone to Love Us!

2010-05-09T12:17:00.000-07:00

Dusk and Sandy need a home.

The owner of these two cats moved to Hawaii and planned to have them shipped over after she got settled and they had received their various shots and medical clearance to move to the islands.

My daughter, Shari, who already HAS two cats, agreed to foster them while they got ready to move.

After four months, the owner wrote to say that she'd discovered that life in Hawaii was more expensive than she expected and she can't afford to have the cats live there. Shari really can't handle FOUR cats.

These are indoor cats, Dusk (the black one) is female, Sandy (the beige one) is male; both are neutered. They play with each other, are affectionate and friendly.

They come with three beds each (!), a play tower, large carrying containers, litter box, dozens of toys and a month's worth of food.

If you'd like to have two wonderful additions to your home, email Shari at twidjr@yahoo.com, or call (310) 947-1323 and tell Shari you want to help save her sanity.

If you know anyone who needs a couple of wonderful cats, please alert them about Dusk and Sandy.

P.S. And for everyone else: please neuter and spay your cats! And then we won't have dozens of cats looking for homes.

How Much Oil Has Leaked Into the Gulf of Mexico?

2010-05-06T20:04:00.000-07:00

I know that the oil is not leaking right here...but what happens in the seas around us affects everyone. And, if anyone ever again suggests that we should drill for oil off the coast of California, remember this latest calamity and go out and buy solar panels for your house or get a windmill or put on a sweater or SOMETHING.

I kno

You Can Get Filled Up AND Emptied Out This Saturday If You Plan It Right

2010-05-03T13:45:00.000-07:00

How's this for a game plan for Saturday, May 8?

Get a couple of big boxes and spend this week piling up hazardous waste and old electronics that are sitting around your house. This includes:

paint (oil or water based)
household and car batteries
pesticides
used oil and oil filters
pool chemicals
old medicine
propane
medical sharps (in a secure container)
old and obsolete electronics such as:

TVs
VCRs
Computer monitors
CPUs
key boards
networking cables
cell phones
fax machines
microwaves
printers

On Friday night or Saturday morning, load all the junk in your car.

Start early and have breakfast at the Pony Club's annual Pancake Breakfast between 8 and 11 a.m. at 2 West Pomegranate Road. Call 310-377-6058 and tell them you want to come. Tickets are $7. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, orange juice, coffee and trimmings.

When you're done eating, head on over to the RPV City Hall/City Yard at 30940 Hawthorne Boulevard for the city's annual FREE household hazardous waste and electronics waste roundup. . There will be temporary traffic signs for this event and there may be a line-up of cars. Be patient. When it's your turn: Dump the junk you stashed in your car. They will be taking stuff from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Once collected, these items will be recycled or disposed of properly.

Then, you can either go home and take a nap, or go for a walk in the park. Either way, you'll feel much better.

P.S. Board meeting tonight (Monday, May 3, 2010) at Ladera Linda. Architectural meeting begins at 7 p.m. Board meeting begins right afterward.

See Your Elected Officials In Action Monday Night

2010-04-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

If you want to know what is going on in Portuguese Bend, turn off you TV, get up off the couch and attend the meeting of the PBCA Board Monday, May 3. The Architectural Committee meets at 7 p.m. at Ladera Linda and the regular board meeting follows immediately afterward.

Between the two meetings, a representative from Universal Waste Systems will explain upcoming changes in our trash service and answer questions from residents.

Also on the agenda: Community Clean-Up Weekend, which has been set for May 22-23.

Other items on the published agenda include a letter from a resident regarding dumping of dirt, rocks and asphalt on Upper Peppertree and issues regarding access control (this means gate maintenance and car decals.) Another possibe topic is the road work that began this week in the community, although it's not on the published agenda, which is posted at both the Narcissa and Peppertree gates.

Other items that have been discussed at recent meetings but remain unresolved are changes to the Architectural Standards and updated CC&Rs, and the upcoming Environmental Impact Report. While these issues are not on the published agenda, it is possible that they will come up at the meeting.

And of course, there is always time at the end of the meeting for comments and questions from the floor. If you have concerns about the community, this is the time to bring them up.

All residents are encouraged to attend.

Big Time Fun At Ride-to-Fly Day In The Country

2010-04-27T16:04:00.000-07:00

A huge crowd turned out at the Empty Saddle Club Saturday, April 24, 2010, for a day in the country, compliments of Ride To Fly, the all-volunteer non profit therapeutic horseback riding organization that works with its clients here in Portuguese Bend, at the corral at Five Points. If you went, they they you for your support. If you did not attend, here's what you missed:

Pony rides, accompanied by
Ride-To-Fly volunteers in red T-Shirts

Games, run by Ride-To-Fly volunteers

Some players needed help.

Others didn't.

Crafts...decorating horseshoes with beads, also making bracelets and necklaces, and face painting...all run by Ride-To-Fly volunteers

Country and Western music and dancing, and food

Precision horseback riding by the Happy

Hoofers

Some friendly farm animals to pet...not to mention a few friendly dogs.

And time for lots of family fun and good memories. If you missed it this year...don't make the same mistake next year. This group deserves everyone's support.

AND...be sure to mark your calendar for the other event that supports horses and kids, coming up soon. The annual Portuguese Bend Pony Club pancake breakfast is scheduled for May 8 from 8 to 11 p.m. at 2 West Pomegranate Road. Just $7 buys a chance to eat a yummy breakfast and meet your neighbors. Call 310-377-6058 and tell them you'd like to reserve a spot.

Kids and Horses Need Our Support

2010-04-22T15:05:00.000-07:00

We are lucky to live in a horse area, and even luckier to be home to two organizations that bring horses and kids together -- Ride to Fly and the Portuguese Bend Pony Club.

Both of them need our support.

This Saturday, April 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ride to Fly, an all-volunteer non-profit organization that provides therapeutic horseback riding lessons, is hosting its only public fund-raising effort. So put on your best Country and Western attire and go over to the Empty Saddle Club, 39 Empty Saddle Road, Rolling Hills Estates, for some fun and games. Admission and parking are free. There will be burgers, hot dogs and drinks, games, pony rides, a silent auction, and live country music by Brian Lynn Jones and the Cowboy Misfits. If you call 310 -755-4006 and tell them that you're coming, they'll be sure to have enough food for everyone.

Two weeks later, on Saturday, May 8, the Pony Club, which brings kids and horses together for instruction and fun, is offering a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Pony Club, 2 West Pomegranate Road. Just $7 will buy you pancakes, sausage, orange juice, coffee and all the fixings. Not only will you get a great breakfast, but you'll get to eat it with some of your neighbors. Many Bend residents joined the fun last year. You can RSVP for this event by calling 310-377-6058. That way, they'll know how much food to prepare. Pony Clubbers suggest that if you come hungry, you'll leave happy.

The Lovesong of Portuguese Bend

2010-04-15T17:59:00.000-07:00

On the hillside, workers go

Mowing mustard, to and fro.

Turning the yellow gown that garbed the rolling slopes to scrap,

Shredded by machines that buzz like bees

But do not feed. Instead they kill,

Leaving the hill naked to the skies

And all neighbors' eyes.

Springtime green and yellow,

A place to nest and hide,

Food for bugs and birds and bees and mice

Gone.

Pristine and clean, but at what price?

(with apologies to T.S. Eliot)

A Board Member Responds About Dumping

2010-04-12T23:57:00.000-07:00

Mike Cooper called tonight to answer the questions we posed two days ago about the dumping of dirt, asphalt and rocks at the end of Peppertree.

Cooper says that he brings in dirt from other construction jobs on which he works, and uses it for the work he does in Portuguese Bend on the roads. He said that when he finishes his current work on Limetree, the dirt and asphalt chunks will be gone from the end of Peppertree.

As for the very large rocks that are piled up there, he said that he uses them to block access to areas where people should not go, such as the area commonly known as "The Bean Field," or the area at the end of Narcissa Drive.

Cooper said there is nowhere else to stockpile these supplies in Portuguese Bend, because the Board does not own any property except the gate lots, which are not large enough to hold this material.

Does anyone want to donate some less visible space where he could store these materials?

New Rules

2010-04-12T23:44:00.000-07:00

This blog has been running for about a week, and during that short time, I've been re-thinking a few things.

The main reason that I wanted to write and print news about Portuguese Bend, on an official web site or a blog, was to cut through the rumor grapevine and provide factual information to residents of the Bend.

One of the differences between news and opinion, is that news stories always have a source for the information in the story. It may be a city official, a citizen who viewed a traffic accident, a student with a problem...someone who is willing to be quoted as a source of the information that is printed. In obtaining news about the Bend, whether about overflowing sewers, upcoming Environmental Impact Reports, or Mr. York's activities, I have tried to talk to city officials, or PBCA Board members, or whoever could provide me with relevant facts.

With that in mind, it hardly seems fair to post rumors from anonymous sources in the blog comments.

With that in mind, from now on, I will not publish anonymous posts.

On the other hand, I understand that sometimes, readers have information that they think should be out there, but they are reluctant to sign their names, for fear of some sort of retaliation. I will, therefore, follow up on any information you care to submit via email to leetwid@yahoo.com. If I can find a legitimate source who is willing to be quoted, to verify the information you have submitted, and if I think that it would be good for Portuguese Bend residents to have this information, I will post it in a blog item.

If you have questions about this, please feel free to email or comment.

Join the Fun at the Ride-To-Fly Country Carnival and Silent Auction

2010-04-11T22:05:00.000-07:00

For a fun day of activities for kids AND adults, plan to attend the annual Ride to Fly Country Carnival and Silent Auction, April 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Empty Saddle Club, 39 Empty Saddle Road, Rolling Hills Estates.

Admission is free. They’ll be serving hamburgers, vegi-burgers, hot dogs, drinks, chips and cookies for a modest fee. Activities will include a silent auction, raffle, children’s games, pony rides and live country music for dancing and listening by Brian Lynn Jones and the Cowboy Misfits.

The Ride to Fly folks are inviting everyone to put on their best Country ‘n’ Western attire and come join the fun.

You may have seen Ride to Fly in action here, in the corral at Five Points (where Cinnamon, Ginger Root and Narcissa meet). Volunteers and students are there several days a week for a few hours, riding in the corral and occasionally, on the streets.

This all-volunteer, non-profit organization helps adults and children with a wide variety of disabilities to ride horses, an activity that is recognized as beneficial by medical doctors, psychiatrists, physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, and teachers. Aside from being fun, horseback riding improves balance, muscle tone, strength, range of motion and circulation. Additionally, riders benefit from the increased self-esteem, confidence and coping skills that come from learning to control a horse. Riding also increases the riders’ concentration, patience and discipline.

“It has changed our life,” said one mother, whose daughter has been going to Ride To Fly for eight years. Parents tell of children with very serious physical and mental challenges, who become more verbal, stand taller, walk better and have better physical coordination as a result of being involved with Ride to Fly. Interestingly, the organization sometimes changes the lives of its volunteers, too. But that's a story for another time. Right now, the focus is on the day of fun April 24.

For more information about this terrific organization, check out their website: http://www.ridetofly.com. For a close-up view of what they do, when you see cars parked beside the corral at 50 Narcissa, stop, lean on the fence and watch for a while. Talk to a few parents or volunteers. I think you'll be impressed. You might even want to lend a hand.

He's BAAAAAAAAACK!

2010-04-10T20:04:00.000-07:00

Jim York has applied for a Conditional Use Permit to use 25 acres of his 95 acre Point View Property to grow avocados, grapes and citrus. His application also seeks permission to install two water tanks and an irrigation system to support this agricultural use.

This area is within the Moratorium area but a moratorium exception category allows applications for uses that are "ancillary to the primary use of the lot where there is no possibility of any adverse impact upon soil stability." York has submitted geotechnical reports that would support this use, according to RPV Senior Planner Eduardo Schonborn.

The city has asked for some additional information and the geology report has not yet been approved, according to Schonborn. When that step is complete, the application will be forwarded to the Planning Commission for review. This will include a public hearing. Residents who live within 500 feet of the property will be advised of the meeting date by mail, as will those who have signed up for the city's listserv about the Point View property. Additionally, a notice will be posted on the city's website. We'll also keep you updated on this blog.

You can join the Point View listserv as well as other city listservs by filling out this application: http://www.palosverdes.com/rpv/listserver/index.cfm

On a slightly different note, but also Planning related: The RPV Planning Director has approved Landslide Moratorium Exceptions for three more lots on Plumtree Rd. and Narcissa Dr. As of April 7, LME requests for the the six remaining Monks lots are incomplete. The city is waiting for additional information from the applicants.

Residents Ask: Private Road or Private Dump?

2010-04-09T00:02:00.000-07:00

Ben and Peggy Zask emailed this photo and asked: "Is our street considered the official storage dump for the community?" Zask's official address is on Narcissa but you can't tell because there is no street sign. The only way to get to their house is to drive right by, (actually around), these very large piles of dirt, asphalt chunks and enormous rocks that are piled up alongside the road. The piles are so big that they are spilling out into the road. The Zask's describe their address as, "the top of Peppertree on 'Not a through street.' "

Their email continues: "The constant dumping of road scraps is increasing as the months go by, often obstructing our ability to drive down our road. The big trucks that dump this scrap leave big holes in our road."

The photo really doesn't do justice to the mess. The pile of dirt is shoulder high, the pile of what appears to be large chunks of asphalt is equally huge and what you can't see in the picture is a very large collection of enormous rocks-- actually, boulders is probably a better word.

Who put this mess on Peppertree? Why is it there? Does anyone plan to move it, use it, add to it, build a bomb shelter under it? If it is being used for something in the community, could it be moved to some place where it doesn't obstruct traffic...maybe an empty lot with a fence, so no one has to look at it?

Does anyone know anything at all about this stuff? If so, email me (leetwid@yahoo.com) or just post a comment on the blog.

Fences Part 2, and Other Gleanings from the April Board Meeting

2010-04-06T19:37:00.000-07:00

Fences, and other architectural committee concerns, pretty much dominated last night's meeting of the Portuguese Bend Community Association Board. The Board probably will vote on suggested changes to the Architectural Standards at the April meeting, so if you Bend residents have any suggestions, ideas or other input...now is your chance to have your say. Committee Chairt Tim Vaughn really wants member input. Email him at tim.vaughan@cox.net

Other issues of concern discussion by the committee and the Board: hours when construction is permitted. Recommendation at this point is: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. No work would be permitted on Sundays or holidays. If you agree or disagree, tell Tim.

Finally, there was a long discussion about lighting: what works, what doesn't work. If you have thoughts on this topic, again, email Tim.

Committee member and architect Kim Nelson is reviewing all preliminary plans that are submitted to the committee. She is spending a great deal of time trying to explain to lot owners what is acceptable and what isn't, but even so, their ultimate submissions require much revision. She suggested that a book of drawings and renderings of various acceptable architectural styles, that could be given to anyone planning to build or remodel, would be a huge help. The Board voted to pay for production of whatever is necessary to make this happen.

The Board also voted to rescind its previous action regarding payment of assessments, and to move back to the 1978 ruling in the CC&Rs, which requires that assessment bills be mailed to members in October and be due the first Monday in November. Former Association Treasurer Jeannie Smolley noted that there must be 30 days between mailing and due date.

Board agreed with the recommendation of Bob Maxwell, PBCA's liaison with the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, that he ask that the 16 Monks lots be included in the upcoming Landslide Moratorium Ordinance Revision Environmental Impact Report (EIR) at Tuesday's city council meeting. The Council is scheduled to approve a budget adjustment of $139,826 from the city's General Fund to pay for the EIR, which will be conducted by Rincom Consultants, Inc.

The next step in this process will be a "scoping meeting" some time around the end of May, according to RPV planner Kit Fox. At that time, the folks doing the report will be looking for input the community: what are our concerns? what do we think the EIR should cover? If you have concerns, get ready. The city will send a notice. Are you on the mailing list? The city has a zillion listservs. Sign up here.

Finally, the Board agreed to schedule a community clean-up day some time around the end of May.

That's all folks.

Sometimes, It's A Matter of Perspective

2010-04-05T00:14:00.000-07:00

I know that some people say the mustard plants are non-native, and invasive and should be chopped down or pulled up. But couldn't we count them as some sort of wildflowers? The hills certainly are lovely now that the mustard is in bloom. The area looks all dressed up for spring-- as do the big peacocks that are strutting around, dragging their enormous tails, or trains, behind them.

One of the big birds has starting putting on a daily morning show on our deck, spreading his gorgeous fan and hollering for the ladies to "come see." And the ladies do gather around to watch the spectacle. Yesterday, we watched a gutsy little squirrel face down the enormous peacock over a peanut in the shell. I know that a lot of people think that the peacocks are messy and noisy. And they are; but every time we have visitors who see the big birds up close, they haul out their cameras, excitedly snap away and tell us how lucky we are.

Sometimes, it's just a question of perspective.

REMINDER: Don't forget the PBCA Board meeting Monday night at Ladera Linda. 7 p.m.

Fencing

2010-04-03T12:03:00.000-07:00

Pulitzer prize winning American poet Robert Frost said, "Good fences make good neighbors." I've always thought that this means something to the effect that we all get along better if we leave a little space between us. What do you think about fences? Specifically, what do you think about the PBCA Architectural Committee's suggested changes to some of the rules regarding fences, as well as a few other things in Portuguese Bend.They are as follows:

Proposed Amendments to Current Architectural Standards
Portuguese Bend Community Association
February 9, 2010

1.) Section III - FENCING, B) TYPES OF FENCING, shall be modified to clarify that solid wood fencing of a natural color shall be allowed on lot lines between properties, provided there is a residence on at least one of the properties, and further provided both owners of the directly affected lots are in agreement with the proposed fence. Said fence shall be no closer to the street than the front of the house and shall comply with all height and setback requirements. Evidence of approval by neighbors of adjacent affected property shall be submitted to the committee along with the proposed plans.

2.) Remove Amendment #4 – adopted May 13, 2002
L.) Detached Accessory Buildings 2)P.7
Clarify that no Freestanding Accessory Buildings may be built prior to construction of a residence.

3.) Building Hours;
Building Hours for new construction shall be allowed only between the hours of 7 AM to 7 PM Monday through Friday and 9 AM to 4 PM on Saturday. No construction shall be allowed on Sunday and/or holidays, except for repair and maintenance of existing buildings.

4.) Drainage system impact
All drawings for new construction submitted to Architectural Committee shall show impact of drainage and water flow to adjoining property and/or streets and plans to contain or restrict excess flow.

5.) Construction traffic parking:
Parking for construction sites to be limited to “on-site” parking, with street parking limited to loading/un-loading only.

The committee wants input about this from residents. They ask that you direct your comments and suggestions to Tim Vaughan at tim.vaughan@cox.net

This probably will be a topic of discussion at Monday's board meeting at Ladera Linda, although it does not appear on any agenda for the meeting. The Architectural Committee meets at 7 p.m. and the board meeting starts once the Architecture Committee meeting is over.

Former Board Member Claudia Gutierrez advises that in 2002 the Board approved a specific procedure for modifying the Architectural Standards. She has sent the information to Board members and hopes to attend Monday's meeting.

April Fools Day

2010-04-01T22:15:00.000-07:00

Today may be April Fools Day, but this is no joke. It's the start of something new--a place for news about Portuguese Bend. The Board of Directors does not want news on the official PBCA web site, so the news is moving over here. These are interesting times in Portuguese Bend, but the local newspapers don't seem to care about us very much. I guess they think we're too small to bother with. But we have all sorts of newsworthy things going on here: lawsuits and development and mudslides and fires and overflowing sewers. We have births, deaths, residents moving in and moving out...and interesting people doing all sorts of creative things: painting, writing, crafting. All of that is news. Everything is news: new jobs, new babies, new neighbors. if you've sold a painting, published a book, cooked a wonderful casserole, or need some help, and you want others to know about it, send me an email (leetwid@yahoo.com) or leave a comment, and I'll try to spread the word.