Multiple Approvals Procedural Revisions Staff Report -- CPC date: June 9, 2011

Hello,

Please find attached the staff report and proposed ordinance for the Multiple Approvals Procedural Revisions (CPC-2010-1495-CA).  The proposed revisions will be heard by the City Planning Commission at its June 9, 2011 meeting in Room 350 of City Hall.

You may have already received this report from Claudia Rodriguez, so sorry for any duplicate emails.  I wanted to send this to you directly, as you have been involved in the development of this proposed ordinance by providing written feedback, participating in  workshops and focus groups, or attending the staff hearing on March 23rd, 2011.  Your participation has been very valuable in crafting the Multiple Approvals proposals.

Feel free to share the report.  It's a large file (4.5megabytes), so, for your convenience, I've also made it available at the following link: 

http://rcpt.yousendit.com/1130667885/962a59b683224b39e1e1d01a9744dd15

Feel free to contact me at this email or at 213-978-1195 if you have any questions or comments.

Thanks,

Tanner

CPC-2010-1495-CA.pdf Download this file

Citywide Design Guidelines at City Planning Commission on Thursday, June 9, 2011

You are receiving this email because you had previously attended a Public Information Meeting or expressed interest in receiving notification of future actions for the Citywide Design Guidelines for Residential, Commercial and Industrial projects. Attached is the staff report for the Citywide Design Guidelines (CPC-2010-714-MSC).  The proposed Guidelines will be heard by the City Planning Commission at its June 9, 2011 meeting in Room 350 of City Hall.

The proposed Citywide Design Guidelines have been in development since last year. The Planning Department held three public meetings in August 2010, one each in the Valley, Downtown and West LA, and conducted additional outreach subsequent to the meetings. Many of the verbal and written comments received have since been incorporated into the final draft Citywide Design Guidelines attached as Exhibit C. 

For your convenience, the draft Citywide Design Guidelines and Staff Report are also available for download on the Planning Department's website at http://planning.lacity.org/    (under "What's New" ---> click on "More..."---> then click on "Proposed Citywide Design Guidelines")

Should you have any questions, please contact Michelle Sorkin at 213.978.1198 or Shana Bonstin at 213.978.1180

Thank you,

Michelle Sorkin

City Planning Associate

Community Planning and Policy Section 

Department of City Planning | www.planning.lacity.org | 213.978.1198

CPC2010-714-MSC_CitywideUrbanDesignGuidelines_Final Staff Report 05.24.11_EXHIBIT C.pdf Download this file

CPC2010-714-MSC_CitywideUrbanDesignGuidelines_Final Staff Report 05.24.11.pdf Download this file

CPC2010-714-MSC_CitywideUrbanDesignGuidelines_Final Staff Report 05.24.11_EXHIBIT A.pdf Download this file

CPC2010-714-MSC_CitywideUrbanDesignGuidelines_Final Staff Report 05.24.11_EXHIBIT B.pdf Download this file

Los Angeles :: The Transitional City.

Los Angeles :: The Transitional City.

Los Angeles-The Transitional City.pdf Download this file

AIA|LA Conference Call w/ Division of State Architect - June 1 (5pm)

CONFIRMATION:

Please note that tomorrow evening's conference call with Acting State Architect Howard "Chip" Smith has been RESCHEDULED to Wednesday, June 1 (5pm). Please let me know that you've received the new date and time.

AIA|LA & the DSA:  Working Together to Maximize Opportunities

Wednesday, June 1 (5-6pm)

Call in #:   1.702.851.4044

Access Code#: 3780800

Please RSVP to WILL@AIALOSANGELES.ORG so that we will know how many people to expect.

Additionally, please forward to me in advance specific topics that you'd like to address so that I can create an effective agenda for the conference call.

The objective of the conference call is to strengthen relations with the DSA from the Southern California perspective.

Very truly yours,

Will Wright

Director of Government & Public Affairs

AIA 

/ los angeles

 -

A Chapter of

The American Institute of Architects

3780 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800

Los Angeles, CA 90010

213.639.0764  phone

213.639.0767  fax

will

@aialosangeles.org

www.aialosangeles.org

ExpEcTaTIOns & MaRkET REaLITIEs In REaL EsTaTE 2011 :: BALANCING RISK AND RETURN IN AN ERA OF UNCERTAINTY

ExpectationsMarketRealities_inRE_2011_RERC.pdf Download this file

The real scoop on CA Agencies/Commissions - Action Item for BizFed Bd Mtg 5/24

Dear AIA|LA POC:  as an FYI.  -Will Wright

BizFed Board Leaders,

While we applaud part of Gov. Brown’s May revise which included a proposal to eliminate 5,500 state workers and 43 state boards and commissions – with “more to come” – there is MUCH more that needs to be done toward streamlining CA government.  

Attached and below is research compiled by BizFed that will add to the timely discussion at next Tuesday’s full BizFed Board meeting as the Board reviews the Advocacy Committee’s priority recommendations for the Governor and legislature during budget talks which includes eliminating wasteful and unnecessary layers of governmental oversight created by too many agencies, boards and commissions.

Feel free to pass along the intelligence. This issue is finally picking up some speed with the public and our elected officials. It’s time to capitalize on the potential to achieve some disciplined cost cutting in this area.

1.    CA GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Several dozen CA departments are grouped together into agencies to reduce the number of people who report directly to the Governor. Within each department are a plethora of divisions, branches, staffed-programs, and offices.  Because of the vast size of CA government – serving 30+ million residents - it is difficult to get an exact count of the number of agencies – but estimates put it at over 500.

·     Many lists of CA agencies are circulating on the Internet but attached is the VERY LATEST alphabetical list of CA state departments and agencies compiled by BizFed as listed by the state at www.ca.gov. 

·     ALSO attached is a 24-page listing of more than 200 CA agencies and boards (including contact information and descriptions) compiled by the Secretary of State’s Office.

2.    CA BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Within the executive branch of state government, there are more than 300 boards, commissions, panels, task forces, committees and other appointed bodies. These entities are so scattered and numerous that arriving at a firm number is nearly impossible.

THIS IS NOT A NEW REVELATION: in 2004, then-Gov. Schwarzenegger’s California Performance Review issued a report that reviewed the 339 boards and commissions in CA. Highlights from that report:

·     In 1958 there were 128, according to a report of the Senate Interim Committee on Governmental Organization.  By 2004 the number had risen to over 300.

·     Generally, boards have part-time citizen appointees and commissions have full-time appointees with expertise in the work at hand. A few California boards and commissions derive their authority from the state constitution, but most are created by statute.

·     Some are advisory to the governor or other constitutional officers, or to the legislature, and others have true policy making and regulatory powers. The governor makes most appointments to boards and commissions, but legislative leaders also make appointments to some.

·     Plan recommended elimination of approximately 100 boards and commissions and was submitted to the Little Hoover Commission in January 2005.

·     Faced with widespread opposition, the governor withdrew the plan the following month.

·     Read the full report here A Government for the People for a Change: Governor's Reorganization Plan 1: Reforming California's Boards and Commissions.

Hope to see you next week to discuss this further!

Reminder: FULL BOARD MEETING:  Tuesday, 5/24/11, 12:00pm–1:30pm (11:45 for in person lunch)

     Port of Long Beach: 925 Harbor Plaza (Board Room), Long Beach, CA 90802

     OR call in to 1.800.977.8002 pass code 77252989#

     Chair: Mark Wilbur, Employers Group

Tracy

Tracy Rafter, CEO

BizFed, Los Angeles County Business Federation

818.429.0862 ~ tracy.rafter@bizfed.org

bizfed.org

A Grass Roots Alliance of 80 Top LA County Business Groups

Mobilizing Over 110,000 Businesses

CA State Boards.pdf Download this file

SOS-AgencyList.pdf Download this file

CA State Agencies_2.pdf Download this file

AIA|LA Conference Call w/ Division of State Architect - May 25 (5pm)

Please join us on Wednesday, May 25 (5pm) on a conference call with Acting State Architect, Howard "Chip" Smith of the Division of the State Architect (DSA).

AIA|LA & the DSA:  Working Together to Maximize Opportunities

Wednesday, May 25 (5-6pm)

Call in #:   1.702.851.4044

Access Code#: 3780800

Please RSVP to WILL@AIALOSANGELES.ORG so that we will know how many people to expect.

Additionally, please forward to me in advance specific topics that you'd like to address so that I can create an effective agenda for the conference call.

The objective of the conference call is to strengthen relations with the DSA from the Southern California perspective.

Very truly yours,

Will Wright

Director of Government & Public Affairs

AIA 

/ los angeles

 -

A Chapter of

The American Institute of Architects

3780 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800

Los Angeles, CA 90010

213.639.0764  phone

213.639.0767  fax

will

@aialosangeles.org

www.aialosangeles.org

Outsiders and Fringe Dwellers: Preservation Partners of the Future

This morning, I participated on a panel discussion about partnering with other organizations to advance the goals and objectives of the California Preservation Foundation.  

It was a rare rainy morning and I had the chance to drink a cup of coffee near one of my favorite fig trees at the Fairmont Miramar.

In addition to my perspective on behalf of the American Institute of Architects, representatives from the American Planning Association, USGBC, Urban Land Institute and The Trust for Public Land were included in a discussion about where the interests of preservationists overlap with other allied fields.

At the end of the discussion, in an effort to strengthen ties and partner more often, we all agreed to work more closely together on advancing CEQA reform initiatives, especially with regards to CEQA's negative impacts on climate change.

Ideally, this will help set the stage so that we're able to broaden our coalition to include environmentalists, business-interests, developers and preservationists alike.

CEQA Reform is the dinner party and everyone's invited to the table!  Reach out to me directly if you'd like to get more involved.

-Will Wright

Director, Government & Public Affairs

AIA Los Angeles

California Preservation - AIA Los Angeles.pdf Download this file

Parking Summit @ CPC, May 12 (tomorrow)

Hi,

As you may be aware, the City Planning Commission is going to hold a 4-hour parking summit / panel discussion at tomorrow's regularly scheduled CPC hearing (agendized as part of the Director's Report on page 2):  

http://cityplanning.lacity.org/MeetingsNHearings/dsp_viewFileDetail.cfm?filename=38609

The panel was prompted by discussion of the proposed Modified Parking Requirement (MPR) Districts ordinance, heard at the last meeting of the CPC on April 28th:

http://cityplanning.lacity.org/Code_Studies/Misc/ModifiedParkingRequirements.pdf

There will be some esteemed invited guests at CPC tomorrow.  We hope you can make it.

Best,

Tanner

Marketing on Facebook: Guide to Best Practices

Best_Practice_Guide_Marketing on Facebook.pdf Download this file

The proposed budget for the City of Los Angeles.

The proposed City of Los Angeles budget is getting ready for passage.

 

Please see page 17 which projects a $1.1 + billion dollar short fall during the next four years.

 

Who knowingly passes a budget with this kind of deficit?

 

Please contact your local City representatives and forward this email to your clients and colleagues to help pressure council to be responsible.

Budget_PPT_4.27.11[1].ppt Download this file

AIA|LA Design Advocacy Conference Call - Friday, May 6 (12noon)

During a recent AIA|LA Board meeting, many Directors referenced the need to have architects further vet pending legislative matters at City Hall that impact the built environment and the architecture profession directly.

Therefore, in effort to provide that forum as effectively as possible, I am coordinating a bi-weekly design advocacy conference call, which will commence this week.

Your participation is encouraged.  And your time will be highly respected!  We will make strides to complete the conference call within 30 minutes.

AIA|LA Design Advocacy Conference Call

Friday, May 6 (12:00 - 12:30pm)

Call in #:  1.702.851.4044

Access Code#: 3780800

Agenda -  to discuss:

1.  The proposed City of LA Modified Parking Requirement Districts Ordinance = http://cityplanning.lacity.org/Code_Studies/Misc/ModifiedParkingRequirements.pdf

2.  The proposed City of LA Sign Ordinance  = (SEE ATTACHED)

Please review the ordinances in advance and prepare to discuss on Friday, May 6th.

1.  The proposed City of LA Modified Parking Requirement Districts Ordinance

The currently proposed draft of the MPRD ordinance needs to receive an wide array of community and professional endorsement.  At present, there is much misunderstanding from the community-at-large, and this ordinance will benefit from the explicit support of AIA|LA.

The proposed "Modified Parking Requirement District" ordinance will provide for some much-needed flexibility with regards to parking requirements through-out the City of Los Angeles.  As we are all well-aware, excessive or mis-aligned parking requirements often impair our ability to have a vibrant, sustainable and healthy city.

The MPRD ordinance will enable greater flexibility so that specific areas of the city can benefit with a more custom-tailored approach to parking regulations.

In my opinion, excessive parking requirements:

1.  prevent sustainable urban in-fill,

2.  drive-up the cost of housing and development in general,

3.  spread thin our neighborhood-serving public amenities, (if you have to walk past a parking lot, then you're walking past a missed-opportunity for it to be something worth walking to!)

4.  encourage excessive driving by making it too easy to find parking,

5.  contribute to environmental degradation, 

6.  increase the heat-island effect, 

7.  and further propel pollutants into our rivers and oceans.

2.  The proposed City of LA Sign Ordinance

As many of you may already know, the previous effort to revise the City's sign ordinance stalled at City Council, and went back to PLUM in effort to develop a consensus ordinance affecting off-site signs only (removing the on-site aspects of the previous draft).  The consensus ordinance was developed by City Planning with input from community-activists and business-interests both and at present represents a compromise that both groups have agreed will work well for their interests.

In my opinion, this consensus ordinance should receive the support of the AIA|LA.

The only outstanding item that I think we can be helpful with is in the formulation of criteria for what constitutes a SIGN DISTRICT.

Presently, the proposed ordinance defines the minimum threshold of a proposed sign district at 5,000 linear feet  of street frontage or 15 acres in area.  At one point in time, AIA|LA advocated for an additional threshold to accommodate vertical development at 1,000,000 sq. ft., which number was later revised down to 750,000 sq. feet per Board debate.

Therefore, please let me know if the AIA|LA Board is in favor of advocating for this third threshold, or if 5,000 and/or 15 acres is already reasonably defining.

Additionally, in my assessment, one of the public benefits provided by a proposed Sign District is the establishment of a SIGN IMPACT AREA.  Instead of the proposed 1 to 1 ratio, would the AIA|LA Board like to see us advocate for a 2 to 1 or even a 3 to 1 ratio - which would mean that for every NEW sign added in a sign district that instead of ONE sign having to be removed in the Sign Impact Area (as currently proposed), that we'd like to see TWO or even THREE signs removed in the sign impact area for every ONE new sign constructed in the Sign District?

Why the Bi-weekly Friday lunchtime design advocacy conference call?

In addition to the monthly POC meetings, where many of these issues are discussed firsthand by the committee on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, the AIA|LA Board expressed interest in an additional forum upon which Board Directors and AIA|LA members could vet critical issues and recommend positions to be adopted by the AIA|LA Board.

The bi-weekly conference calls will allow AIA|LA to move quickly on specific issues.  

The objective of the conference calls will be to instruct the drafting of position letter, which will then be advanced to the AIA|LA Board's Executive Committee for their final vote of approval.

Once again, your participation is highly encouraged and most appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Very truly yours,

Will Wright

Director of Government & Public Affairs

AIA 

/ los angeles

 -

A Chapter of

The American Institute of Architects

3780 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800

Los Angeles, CA 90010

213.639.0764  phone

213.639.0767  fax

will

@aialosangeles.org

www.aialosangeles.org

Revised Sign Ordinance March, 2011.pdf Download this file

Outdoor Nation and Grant Opportunities!

Friends-

The Office of Youth is excited to tell you about a great opportunity that will be not only fun and interactive, but will be all about the outdoors and take place in some of the most beautiful places in the country.

Are you between 18 and 26 years of age?   Do you want to be part of a youth-led movement that is working to champion outdoor issues on campuses and in communities across the country? Do you have an idea around connecting your peers with the outdoors that you would like to see brought to life with grant funding? Are you looking for a way to become a better leader and decision maker?  If the answer to any of these questions is YES than you should check out an Outdoor Nation Regional Summit near you!

This summer, young people just like you from across the country will come together to build on what they started last year – a youth-led Outdoor Nation! During the 3-day Regional Summits, young people will connect with each other, identify top outdoor issues, brainstorm solutions and get resources to bring those ideas to life. Choose the location nearest to you so that you can help spread the Outdoor Nation movement back in your local community:

·         NYC – June 24–26

·         Atlanta – July 8–10

·         Minneapolis – July 15–17

·         Denver – July 22–24

·         San Francisco — July 29–31

Each summit will include a Summer Fun Day, an afternoon that will include a robust range of recreation and entertainment activities. You will get the chance to participate in traditional recreation activities like kayaking, fishing, climbing, hiking, and biking, and other activities like outdoor music, birding, wildlife programs, art, and theater. Check out www.OutdoorNation.org and the attached documents for more information on the regional summit series, how to apply, and other cool opportunities available through Outdoor Nation.  Please forward to youth you know who may be interested!

 

 

Grant Opportunities Available through the Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council:

Northern and Central California nonprofit organizations can apply for grants to fund programs focused on getting youth outdoors.
Catalyst Fund Round 2 - Accelerating Efforts to Introduce Youth to Outdoor Experiences
Program funding up to $15,000
Application deadline is Friday, June 3, 2011

The Catalyst Fund supports organizations that connect underserved youth with outdoor experiences within or near their communities. This round of funding is only open to organizations whose annual operating budgets are under $250,000.
Impact Fund Round 2 -  Sparking Innovation and Lowering Barriers
Program funding from $15,000 to $50,000
Application deadline is Friday, June 10, 2011

Thanks and hope your summer is off to a great start!!

Jessica Wahl

Youth in the Great Outdoors 

Office of the Secretary | Department of the Interior

202.208.4826

Outdoor Nation 2011 Delegate Information.pdf Download this file

2011 Outdoor Nation Summit Two-Pager For Distro.pdf Download this file