Hollywood-Gower Neighborhood Association

Meeting Report

April 28, 2004

Crime Report – Bill Kysella reported in Maria’s absence:

Crime is down 15%, Gower Robber suspect caught, gang crime down probably due to the 18^th Street injunction.

When asked which areas are Maria’s patrol areas, Bill says that area 636, 637, and 647 are cover by our senior lead officer, Maria.

Surveillance Cameras in our neighborhood – Jordan Birnbaum and Missy Kelly

Jordan & Missy are working on a strategy to place surveillance cameras throughout the immediate area including Carlton and Carlos.

They will meet with Captain Downing and the camera company to find out how many cameras will be needed for the area and how much they would cost. Then it will be time to launch a campaign to include business owners and get help to fund the purchase. Hopefully, the price per business will be relatively low.

Missy says once they meet with the camera company they will get an estimate of what it would cost to cover Carlton Way – sharing the expense with the property owners. There are at least 50 property owners on that street between Gower and Bronson.

Bill Kysella says that the Hollywood BID is starting their project with 16 cameras for the whole of historic Hollywood Blvd and the little offshoots. Santa Monica and Western is looking at this program as well. These cameras can see very well and close up. Studio City’s cameras are web-based and one needs a password to monitor them. The police will be able to monitor all these areas and the images will be backed up online.

Bhalli Market Asks for Neighborhood Input – Jordan Birnbaum

Bhalli Market on the corner of Hollywood & Gower wants to get a beer permit. Jordan asked the owner if he would be willing to hire a security guard to take care of the vagrants that have plagued the area. He said he would.

Missy suggested broadcasting classical music. John Stock also feels this would work.

One comment was that there should be set conditions within the conditional use permit that should be ongoing and will not negatively impact others in the area.

To begin creating a list of conditions, the neighbors came up with the following:

Graffiti should be removed within hours of when it is discovered. Bhalli Market should purchase one of the security cameras that will be needed to cover the area (possibly two if needed to keep track of vagrants and crime in the area).

Adequate security (at least one security guard hired to protect the area around Bhalli’s Market) to insure that there are no loiterers near the property. Security to be on site from the time liquor is sold till an hour past the time when it is not sold, i.e. 6am – 3am. Also, the group should ask that the zoning administrator revisit the conditional use permit at the end of the first year to see how it worked out.

The neighbors all agreed that they would support the permit if these conditions were imposed. Missy suggested the owner come to the meeting next month to discuss his plans.

Outreach - Mike Geier

He noticed that our start up group passionate about the Needle Exchange plan is now down to 10 or 12 core attendees. Missy noted that we should feel fortunate that there is no real pressing issue in the neighborhood. She also said that, when the neighbors find out that a plan is afoot to install surveillance cameras in the neighborhood, the place will be packed.

Fran suggested that each get a few phone calls to make. Last month our meeting had more attendees because Jordan made phone calls. But Jordan has a lot to do in preparing to open his restaurant. The following agreed to make 10 phone calls each before the next meeting:

Bill B., Jordan, Marie, Lily, Don, Fran, and Mike. Fran will send each one their phone numbers soon.

Mike said inviting the owners of the local businesses and agencies would be a good thing.

Carlos/Vista Del Mar Clean Up – Fran

Fran reported that she and Missy drive the neighborhood once a week looking for illegally dumped furniture and items on the street and noticed that Carlos west of Gower is a mess. The street needs cleaned all the way around it’s curve to Hollywood Blvd. as well as Vista Del Mar. The group decided to do the clean up on Saturday, May 15 between 8am and noon ending with food. Bill Buerge says he will provide our lunch. (Side bar: Bill Kysella will check with the community office that the senior lead officers work out of to see if they have cleaning supplies we can use like brooms and plastic bags etc. He also suggested that we contact clean and green or HBT to come pick up our full trash bags right after we are done).

Fire Station 82 Update – Missy Kelly

Missy reported that the city is contemplating creating a parking facility behind Florentine Gardens so that they can take FG’s parking lot and the theater for the Fire Station. Fran mentioned that in a recent meeting, reps from both Garcetti’s and Labonge’s office said they both think that Fire Station 82 will serve the community best if placed west of the 101 freeway.

Meeting adjourned