Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Association

 March 31, 2005 

Minutes 

Call to order 

Board Members Present: Nina VanTassell, Jack Fitzgerald, Larry Markes (President), George Abrahams (Vice President), Mary Anne Nelson, Fran Reichenbach (Secretary) 

Absent: Gary Wilmes, Tina Roman 

Call To Order:  

Introduction of officers, self-introduction of guests 

Larry gave a brief presentation regarding the Hollywood Police Station and Senior Lead Officer Bill Sollie 

Crime Report: Officer Sollie gave a description of his patrol area which is very large. The size of the area is determined by the amount of calls coming from the area. His job is to collect crime stats and to instruct patrol of where the hot spots are.  

Stats: There were 34 burglary thefts from motor vehicles which is very high for our area. There are a few crews of criminals doing these crimes. Arrests were made on Argyle, Vine, and Hollyridge (at Beachwood). On Hollyridge, a man was in the neighbors back yard and he called the police. Many have asked what caused so many police cars to come speeding up Beachwood a couple of weeks ago. Ten cars were dispatched. The criminal was caught inside a home and was arrested for trespassing. On Durand there was a man who had been hanging out getting high for a few days. He finally snapped and was seen going over fences. The cops chased him and he fell down the hill and was arrested.  

In Sollie’s area there are 10 Neighborhood Watch groups. It’s these groups and their networks that help solve crimes and assist officers with information.   

Sollie passed around a photo of a criminal who held up Qwik Stop and tried to shoot the clerk. (Fran will scan and post to the website BeachwoodVoice.org) 

Someone heard a woman screaming on Beachwood and Scenic – people thought it was an assault but it was actually a domestic violence incident.  

People are losing their registration and insurance cards when these burglaries from motor vehicles take place. This could mean that identity theft is part of their goal. 

In the 2000 block of Ivar in an under ground garage, 4 cars got broken into in one day.  

Fran mentioned following a couple of suspicious guys while driving in the canyon – they were walking looking into cars. They kept doubling back on themselves changing direction until they took off in a run and jumped into the backseat of a waiting Black Acura on Lechner and Westshire. They were both very tall, light black young men around 17 or 18 years old. She circulated their photos (she had taken a photo of the back of them so as not to anger them) through the internet and to the various officers and police captain. A car matching this description was seen in front of the Beachwood Market within minutes of their departure and the police are checking into this.  

Linda met a lady who said that someone attempted to break into her house. The local security interrupted the attempt and scared the guy off.

One neighbor heard a girl yelling as though she was running away from a car possibly being chased. It seemed like it might have been a domestic situation but she wanted to know what to do. Sollie says to make a 911 call if it seems like she was really being a victim. Either wise, be a good witness – take information like type of car, license, description of individuals, etc.  

Always have a phone and pepper spray when walking in the canyon.  

Mary got a notice from AARP about people copying vehicle identification numbers through the windshield. They take them to the manufacturer and get another key made. Sollie says this is another scam. AARP suggests placing a piece of tape over the number or putting a piece of cardboard over it so it can’t be seen from the street.  

Michael Morrow noticed that mail has been scattered around the streets and he has been taking the mail back to the owner. Sollie says to get together with the postal carrier and file a report. He suggests not leaving the mail sticking out for the mail man. It is too easy for the criminal.  

Some people have been locking their recycling container because thieves steal recyclables and case the neighborhood at the same time. If you feel that the thieves are also looking suspicious, call it in.  

Captain Downing made Commander today. This is a promotion and we will get a new captain. Sollie commented that Captain Downing was the best Captain we’ve ever had and it will be hard to replace him. Motion to commend captain downing for great service. (Larry/Fran) We will create a certificate and present it to Captain (Commander) Downing. 

Goals for 2005 - President Larry Markes 

We are a community advocacy organization. We are a voice and only as good as the number of people who will share information and participate with us. We would like to energize the community around specific issues. He shared some of our past issues like zoning and street repair, the concreting of Beachwood for example. Also, the Madonna Wall on Vista Del Mar and Primrose has been destroyed by a moving van and we would like to help see it get rebuilt. The street light at 2649 Beachwood was sheered and it was (like all of the lights in Beachwood) vintage. We would like to see that replaced.  

Outreach Table: In order to find out what the community feels is important for us to undertake, we will set up a table in front of the Beachwood Market every other Saturday throughout the summer. He asked the attendees to discuss the issues in the neighborhood with their neighbors and have them come and tell us what is important to them.  

Jennifer Koll on Pelham Place came to voice her concern about barking dogs. She feels that the barking dog issue will increase as we go into summer. She has called the police on some of her neighbors in an effort to get them to calm their dogs down.  

Jack suggested muzzling of dogs for small periods of time. (Larry suggested we look into what is required to initiate a court order for an owner to take action to silence their dog(s). 

Nina suggested a note be written to the owner sharing what impact their dog is having and at what times their dog is barking. She says that some dog owners will place a collar on their dogs for the times when the owners are gone.  

Larry says that the people need to be educated. Animal Regulations is a good place to start.  

George said that the police can only act on the basis of a formal complaint if the dog is barking late and people can’t sleep so call it in. He suggests audio taping the dogs barking.  

A Hollyridge neighbor says that the no-parking signs are not well posted so the visitors park in bad ways and others honk and it’s not safe in an emergency. Larry suggests calling Parking Enforcement and give them an address. She said that someone was speeding and hit her wall. (Parking enforcement 323-913-4639) 

Elect a pothole – a contest to get people involved in their community: People would identify potholes in the neighborhood – the pothole with the most votes will get filled asap. The person who is the first to spot the winning pothole and nominate it will get a $50 coupon to Off Vine courtesy of the Beachwood Voice.  

Fran will post the contest on the website to invite nominations and voting and a flyer will be created to post in the village – the information will be shared at the outreach table too: 

Wesley wants to have us make a big sign with the process and updates regarding the potholes that are being nominated to display at the table. She has observed that neighborhood organizations like this create a sense of community – similar to precinct captains in Moveon.org and will be happy to join us for a shift at the outreach table. 

Larry suggested that the BCNA hold a friendly social function soon.  

Block to Block activism 

Fran suggested that people attending the meetings go home to their block and share the information and ask questions about what their neighbors want to see happen – this ongoing extended conversation can be a powerful tool in community building. 

Jackie wants rattlesnake signs. Fran will call Gregory Randall and ask him how to get those signs. She will ask Gregory to work with Jackie on placement of the signs. Mike Morrow says that there is a good example of the signs she wants posted at the top of Deronda beyond the gate.  

Paula Moizel owns a building on Beachwood and has 15 units and 8 spaces (2135 North Beachwood). Beachwood is getting a bad reputation. She would like angled parking for Beachwood in the widest areas.  

Motion to have the DOT study Beachwood for angled parking (Fran/George) carried.  – Paula would like to be one of the people collecting petitions when it comes time for that. Another person interested in this effort is Robert Caso, manager at 2033 N. Beachwood 323- 461-2003.  

Wesley said that the valet parkers from Franklin Strip park cars on Beachwood between Franklin and Scenic all the time. A discussion regarding permit parking took place – the work is too extensive and controversial and the area may not qualify after all that.  

Gower Update – We should ask for an expediting of the process as soon as Jack has gotten the last signatures. He is working on this now. More info at our next meeting. 

Motion to approve minutes from Feb 2005 carried unanimously. 

Motion to approve treasurer’s report carried unanimously with over $3,200 in the bank and 95 renewals since January 2005.