Beachwood
Canyon Neighborhood Association
Minutes
January 25, 2007
Call to order and introduction of
board members—Larry Markes
Fran Reichenbach
—brief background on the BCNA. We were created in 1998 when we realized
that the majority of the folks that frequent the village businesses live
south of the gates. We felt that the entire canyon needed a voice. The
group has grown and is now fully acknowledged as a powerful force for good
in Beachwood Canyon.
LAFD: Craig Fry & Tim Werle from
LAFD Battalion 5 presented a report on fire safety in our canyon. We have
the best fire fighters here in Hollywood. Weather and temperature have
caused more activity for the firefighters. In the cold weather people use
their fireplaces and space heaters. In the last month, they have had some
20 fires. Kirkwood Bowl had a bad fire. They have narrow streets yet they
had 150 firefighters there in 20 minutes. Rise in humidity and quicker
wind causes dangerous conditions in the Hollywood hills.
Red Flag Parking: The fire on Kirkwood
illustrated the need to clear our streets in Red Flag alerts. The
firefighters had to lift up two cars on their way to get to this fire.
They need to get to the fire within 8 minutes.
Neighborhood Outreach: A new
notification system has been developed to get the word out. You can sign
up on their website to get e-mails and robo-calls to let the you know that
it’s a Red Flag Alert. These calls would be made to all the numbers that
you list until they get a live person (up to four phone calls). Go to www.lafd.org.
This system can be used in an emergency to coordinate evacuations, etc. It
system should be up and running in a few days.
They are working on installing the
signs in the pinch points to let people know of the Red Flag conditions
and restrictions regarding parking. People will not be cited if there is
no sign.
Gary believes that this weather will
continue in the future. Fry said that they are looking at bringing extra
companies into the area to be on hand. They are finally considering
getting a small pumper brush truck to be a first responder into our area
from Fire Station 82.
George wants signs at the main
entrances letting people know that this is a brush area with possible
parking restrictions. LAFD is trying to find money to post signs at the
entrances letting people know of Red Flag status.
Craig says that the Department of
Transportation is responsible for giving out citations during Red Flag
days.
Brush Clearance enforcement starts in
April. The LAFD sends 40 inspectors up and down the hillside streets
inspecting. Mike Reitmeyer is the man to contact if you see some
overgrowth that should be cleared that may cause a fire hazard in the
hills.
A year ago, George reported a whole
lot of debris behind the Mobile station and the other night it burst into
flames. Fry will look into it.
The LAFD works with the senior lead
officers regarding the homeless in the hillsides camping. They are looking
for alternatives for them so they won’t be camping in the hills. They
moved out 14 encampments filling 13 big trash containers from Cahuenga
Pass. If you see these encampments, call Senior Lead Officer Mike Shea.
Crime Report—Officer Mike Shea: Last
year, there was an 8% decrease in crime in the Hollywood area, the goal is
this year is 5%. In our area, the crime rate is very low unless you are
the victim of crime. Between 2005-06, our crime decreased 13%.
Since January 1, burglaries are down,
but violent crime in Hollywood has gone up due to gang violence.
The City has new pamphlet called “Get
In Stride and Stay Safe—Safety Tips for Runners and Walkers.”
Another great piece of information was given the attendees: "Don’t
be a victim."
He asked
us to be on the lookout for the suspect pictured in the flyer “Hillside
Residential Burlaries.” James Rumary, Male, White 5’9”, 165 Lbs, and
45-years-old. He is considered armed and dangerous. “There has been a
recent increase in property crimes in the Hollywood Hills,” reads the
flyer. This man is wanted for questioning in regards to these crimes.
Contact Detectives Stone or Kukaua, Hollywood Burglary Detectives at
213-972-2928 or 213- 972-2931 for further information. After hours contact
Hollywood Watch Commander at 213-972-2971.
George reported a vagrant but the
police wouldn’t arrest or cite because of some ordinance. Shea said that
there was a restraining order downtown barring the LAPD from citing
homeless on the street. So, the Hollywood police attorney decided to have
the officers refrain from citing the homeless so that the city attorney
doesn’t take away their right to cite homeless totally. Shea says it’s
against the law to possess a shopping cart without the owner’s
permission and it’s a blight to have them full of belongings on the
street. The officers are being lenient so they are only taking them when
they say on the cart that removal of the cart is a violation of law.
There have been a rash of burglaries
in the hills. A suspicious man was seen by Hope’s son almost a week ago
scoping out her home and her neighbor’s home. He resembled the man in
the wanted poster. Officer Shea says if someone looks suspicious, call the
police. From a landline, call 311 and ask to be connected to the
non-emergency line. When you hear the mayor, hit number one and you will
get a live person 24 hours a day. From a cell phone, call 877-ASK-LAPD.
Senior Lead Officer Shea’s cell phone: 213-792-0710
Carol shared how Glen Green was hit by
a burglar on New Years Eve. How can we protect ourselves when having
parties? Talk to the other homeowners or renters to get their cooperation
before the party and keep alert. As far as party houses, chronic party
throwers need to know that the neighborhood and the police are watching so
they don’t abuse the party privileges. It’s okay to talk to your
neighbors and ask them to be sensitive to the neighborhood. If there are
frequent parties, call the police and they will interview the property
owner. Any party should be done by 1 a.m. The second time resources are
brought to the scene, including helicopters, the homeowner is charged.
Missy says that party houses are a
growing business. They rent the houses out. Sometimes there are drugs and
under-age drinking involved. Shea says there are separate rules for that
which requires the vice squad to do a sting operation.
Officer Shea says that if everyone
reported a crime, the LAPD would have to figure out what to do and step up
the resources to the area so report even the most “minor” crimes right
away.
Elections—President Markes
introduced the candidates and asked if there were any nominations from the
floor for additional or new directors. Seeing none, Gary moved that the
slate be accepted by acclimation and George seconded. The motion carried
unanimously. Reelected are Gary Wilmes, Mary Ann Nelson, Fran Reichenbach,
Jack Fitzgerald, and Nina Van Tassell. Elected for the first time to
complete Tina Roman’s term is Lori Hughes.
President Markes announced that our
organization and our board have asked him to review our bylaws and create
a new draft. He has done this and will post the draft to our website and
the members can vote on it in our April meeting.
Adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Next meeting to be held on April 19th,
2007 although, if issues arise that need community attention, we will hold
a meeting before that date. Announcements will be mailed out, flyers
distributed and the meeting will be posted on the website www.BeachwoodCanyon.org.
Check out the following links:
“Get
In Stride and Stay Safe—Safety Tips for Runners and Walkers.”
"Don’t be a victim."
Wanted