May 7, 2013

The first Public Hearing at the December 18, 2012 meeting of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council dealt with an extension of the time period of Phase One of The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project.

Here are my comments regarding that hearing:

Mr. Don Davis, the land use attorney for Marymount College was asked specifically by Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Duhovic, just what Marymount officials were asking for, as far as Phase One goes.

Mr. Davis responded that is was quite simple: get the permanent parking lot done and work on the new athletic field.

What Mr. Davis did not positively respond to was the other elements of Phase One, including the grading required for elements of Phase One AND the other two Phases.

When asked whether the grading approved for in Phase One would be required to provide elements of Phases Two and Three, the response from staff was that should that grading not take place within Phase One, none of the subsequent Phases would be able to go forward.

I took these sets of comments to indicate that Marymount officials have no interest in building any other elements of what is now in Phases One, Two and Three. Essentially to me, Mr. Davis stated last night that for all intense and purposes The Project would die after the parking lot and field are approved and completed.

However, the new field is not really part of any Phase as its elements contain new grading requirements, the elimination of the 'new' tennis courts and the placement of the edge of the field in an area where two members of this current council deemed was too close to Palos Verdes Drive East.

In written and oral communications from Marymount College officials, they intend on seeking changes in the Conditional Use Permit such that "1,200 Students" would be allowed to attend the Rancho Palos Verdes campus.

The day Marymount officials place files into our city requesting an increase in the number of students, faculty and staff at Marymount's main campus, whatever permanent parking lot, under construction or complete, will instantly become obsolete because 463 permanent parking spaces is not enough for a campus having "1,200 Students" and everybody knows that.

So, Marymount is now intending on building a permanent parking lot that would not have enough parking spaces for an enlarged student population and they continue to seek approval for an athletic field that is outside the scope and verbiage contained within The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project.

Once permits are issued for any construction on Marymount's campus, Marymount officials will have the legal right to complete the permitted construction regardless of the status of any time period of The Project, extension or not.

While Mr. Davis and others may claim they could be ready to seek permits to build their concept of the athletic field, it is more than quite doubtful that the field would be completed by September 30, 2013, the date all extensions of Phase One must be completed, according to CURRENT municipal code.

As far as truly working on the permanent parking lot, Mr. Davis also acknowledged that Marymount officials must secure the bonding issues and Mr. Davis did not acknowledge whether there are enough funds for that, at this time.

As far as the Army Corp of Engineers approvals to begin the parking lot element, they are in order and complete according to both Mr. Davis and City Staff members.

Mr. Davis also acknowledged that the permanent parking lot might not be completed by March 19, 2013 and that may have provided reasoning to some City Council members to set the Extension out to May 7, 2013.

Here is what I got out of the December 18, 2012 City Council meeting:

1. A permanent parking lot at Marymount College must be completed before any more construction will be done at the main campus.

2. Once the permits are issued to construct the lot, Marymount officials have the legal right to complete that element, whether The Project continues or ends, for any reason.

3. Mr. Davis acknowledged that college officials will seek to get approval for their new field within the guidelines of an amended Project's Conditional Use Permit, even though there is no language within the existing project (except for the recently introduced Revision) that would allow for their new field.

4. The City Council, by unanymous vote, extended the period  for completion of ALL elements of Phase One of The Project out till May 7, 2013 even though Mr. Davis stated that Marymount officials will only deal with two elements contained within Phase One.

5. With the history of Marymount officials' dealings with The Project, it is more than highly doubtful that any permits to build their new concept for the field could be processed prior to September 30, 2013.

6. As I commented last night, it remains my belief that Marymount officials be allowed the ability to request items on an element by element basis without Phasing restrictions and that those officials be allowed to set the time periods of the elements they will seek.

The City Council laid the groundwork to reject any further extension of The Marymount College Facilities Project and that is what I was generally asking for, in the first place.

Bits and Pieces 63-MAJOR UPDATE

This one should look different. Also, this is an updated post, after I learned some new information at 3:10 PM on Friday, November 30, 2012

Mayor's Legacy Attempt???   UPDATED

Originally, this section contained information about what I thought at the time I created it, was going to be a 'special' meeting or our City Council on Tuesday morning, December 4, 2012 where the agenda for that meeting could have been a ground-breaking/photo opportunity for Mayor Misetich and others on the council at the site of the San Ramon Stabilization Project.

In my comments, I related to two 'legacy items' two L.A.U.S.D. Board of Education members seemed to have been provided a new gym at San Pedro High School and a new Annex to that high school that would be considered their 'legacy' items, well into the future.

I heard that there might be a Tuesday morning meeting where there would be ground-breaking for the San Ramon Stabilization Project, a project that has not been approved yet and where funding to begin the physical ground-breaking efforts has not been fully found.

As it was mentioned that it might occur on the last day of Mayor Misetich's first term, I felt that it would be an improper way of using taxpayer funds and staff's and others' time for something that probably won't move forward until most, if not all, of the funding if finally found.

I also heard that there may have been some in our city who were seeking an approval by The Army Corp of Engineers to come through by today, so that the special meeting could go forward.

In my call to City Hall, a few minutes ago, I learned that the "meeting has been canceled", information provided to me by someone I don't remember the name of, within City Hall.

When I visited the city's Web site looking for the agenda of the next City Council meeting, I found the agenda for the November 20 meeting.

This afternoon I visited the site again and found only the new agenda for the upcoming evening meeting of our Council, this coming Tuesday.

There is other information I know about that is now moot because of the "cancellation" but I think there were some in our city who really wanted the morning meeting to go forward before the meeting was canceled. Personally I believe as much as some wanted the special meeting, it had to be canceled.

I do commend Mayor Misetich and Mayor Pro Tem Brian Campbell for their positive efforts over the YEARS that this very important issue has been in the forefront of the needs our city has. The three 'newer' members of the Council have also shown great interest in seeing that the Project gets done as quickly as possible, but Mayor Misetich and Mayor Pro Tem Campbell have been dealing with these issues for four years now.

Who Is Going To Be Our Mayor On December 5?

In the historic or 'normal' pattern in our city, this would be a 'no-brainer' question. Our city's history has included many times when a current Mayor Pro Tem is just about automatically elected the city's next Mayor. Without actually looking hard into our city records, I can't tell when or if it has been any different.

EXPECT DIFFERENT this coming Tuesday evening.

Our Mayor is elected to that position during the first meeting of the Council in December of each year.

When I heard some news that is recent to me I shuddered to think what may just happen.

After considering what I heard I think that there are some pretty good reasons to have Mayor Anthony Misetich continue being our Mayor.

Looking at the legacy item, it will allow Mayor Misetich more time to help get the money together and possibly actually view the beginning of the real project to stabilize San Ramon Canyon.

Mayor Misetich was voting member of our council when the votes regarding Marymount College were taken and he could use a second term to help deal with the future at that college.

As Mayor Misetich has already announced his reelection bid, he would have that entire campaign time frame as Mayor and not just as a Council member to run with.

I have it on pretty good authority that current Mayor Pro Tem Brian Campbell may not want his turn YET as Mayor and while I think he will make a very good Mayor at some point, perhaps he and others believe that his time as Mayor will be after his reelection, if he wishes to get reelected. (I think the reelection of both Anthony Misetich and Brian Campbell can be regarded as a foregone conclusion because of the first votes for them.)

UPDATE- You may want to keep an eye on your inbox for an Email coming soon from a V.I.P. within RPV.

Just Don't Create A Motion!

On December 18, 2012, officials from Marymount College MAY come to the Council meeting, along with Staff recommendations all dealing with the extension of the time period for the First Phase of The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project.

Nothing has been completed or basically even begun according to the The Project's guidelines and Marymount officials have decided they want a '20 year' plan. They also want an athletic field different from the approved field, more students attending classes in Rancho Palos Verdes and who knows if, when and how they will actually create the 120 new parking spaces required in The Project's first phase.

If the extension of the time frame for Phase One of The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project is not approved on December 18, 2012, The Project will essentially end on that date and it appears that officials at Marymount College never actually intended on building anything according to the city council approved Project.

So, without have any long debates, should staff or Marymount College officials request and extension of the time frame, I feel the best way to deal with it is to have no member of our current council place in motion any extension, of any kind.

What this would do is not put any council member 'on the spot' of coming up with a motion and no member would be put 'on the spot' for seconding a motion that is never created.

Of course, if there is a member who wishes to make a motion and a member who seconds that motion, I hope there are at least three votes to vote down any and all motions to extend something it appears Marymount official have no interest in factually continuing.

Officials at Marymount have grand plans that keep changing. They have ongoing concerns in San Pedro and even in Northern California. I suggest that they move forward on an item by item issue here in Rancho Palos Verdes. Let them bring their 'new' athletic field plans forward, independent of any other plan AFTER there are 120 more permanent parking spaces completed on campus and BEFORE any talk of increasing the student population at the Rancho Palos Verdes campus get debated and voted on.

Keep Reading The Palos Verdes Peninsula News.

I think there is going to be some very interesting articles coming forth within the pages of The Palos Verdes Peninsula News in the weeks and few months to come.

You may want to seek shelter because I think there are some bombshells headed our way.

The Clearwater Program Is Working Towards The Big Dig

The San Pedro Coast lists a meeting concerning The Clearwater Program of The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts.

The meeting is to consider the Final Environmental Impact Report for a new Outfall System, a new tunneling project from Carson, California out into San Pedro Bay.

Here is a link to the site:

http://thesanpedrocoast.com/category/utilities/clearwater-program/

I am also including two links to previous posts on this blog in which I include my comments to the DEIR/DEIS of the Project and how and why I feel Alternative 4 is not the one I feel should be approved.

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6316793289693893375#editor/target=post;postID=1444365410874827604

The link below is to a post I created on April 9, 2012 and includes my comments to the DEIR/DEIS for The Project.

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6316793289693893375#editor/target=post;postID=706091520686019340

I am not able to attend tomorrow's meeting as I will be working. My bet is that Alternative 4 will be approved and moved forward.

Wait, Wait, There's More!

I hope everyone is studying and mulling over your thoughts regarding the issues revolving around The Ponte Vista Project and your contemplations on what comments you are going to submit on that project's new Draft Environmental Impact Report.

But during your concentration, you may want to add some thoughts to another project that is being worked on, not all that far from the Ponte Vista Site.

Marymount College has an off-campus housing facility on Palos Verdes Drive North, between Western Avenue and 5-Points and here is a notice of a public hearing dealing with what Marymount officials and supporters want to do with the site they have been associated with, for some years now.

Click on image to enlarge it.

I have only posted the first page of the notice because I feel it is enough information for those interested and if folks want more information, they are able to find it out for themselves.

When you read what this project entails, please keep in mind what the developers of The Ponte Vista Project want and the four Alternatives dealt with in Ponte Vista's DEIR.

Besides Ponte Vista and Marymount's off-campus housing site, the new small lot houses along Gaffey Street are still being built. The largely uninhabited housing at 5-Points is still nearby and there are going to be a small number of large homes built along Palos Verdes Drive North, near its intersection with Palos Verdes Drive East.

Housing development is moving forward in what can be described as a small area that has not seen much residential development in quite some time.

Add to the housing, the new(er) schools and the new educational, parking and site concerns at Marymount's 'Palos Verdes North' site, we are all looking at more development in the area than has been done in decades.

I hope interested individuals and groups will look at 'the big picture' in terms of residential and other types of development and work to find ways to mitigate traffic concerns we all have and work to finding the best results for EVERYONE.

I will create a post soon that will lean towards pushing for Alternative B for The Ponte Vista Project and if this notice helps you and others to consider more carefully how much development at Ponte Vista is best for everyone, I think that is a good thing.

So It Begins...Again. On Another Blog, Too

Please hop on over to www.pontevista.blogspot.com for the newest post, with illustrations, dealing with The Ponte Vista Project.

FINALLY...IT'S HERE!!!

In today's mail, I received two copies of the new Draft Environmental Impact Report for Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

I got them the same day as the release date of the documents to the public.

It's now 4:00 AM on Friday morning and I just got home for an overnight shoot for a T.V. pilot, so I will get into the new EIR and start posting some items, later on during the day.

The wait was very long and now it is over!

Bits and Pieces 62

It's hot again, today. Please stay cool and hydrated. I know it's fall, but we're in Southern California.

From RPVListserver:

"Mark your calendars. The next EDCO sponsored paper/document shredding day for RPV residents is on Saturday, October 20, 2012 from 9 am to noon at the RPV City Hall parking area.

Similar to last year electronics waste will also be collected at the time. Free mulch (self serve and self haul) will be available for residents. This event is open and free to UWS and EDCO residential customers.

More information will be sent out by EDCO in September.

Thank you."

I am a fan of this and I hope our residents who could benefit from this, will take advantage of the service. 

But wait, there's more news.

"Caltrans will be performing paving work along Western Avenue between Avenida Aprenda and 19th Street in both the north and south directions over the next several weeks.

Work is scheduled to be performed Monday through Thursday evenings between 7:00pm and 6:00am, beginning Monday October 1, 2012, and concluding Friday October 19th. Motorists are advised to use caution and alternate routes, when possible.

Staff of Rancho Palos Verdes"

Oh goody, Mark writes somewhat sarcastically. Not only should we stay off Western between 7-9 AM and between 2-7 PM, now we need to avoid Western from 7 PM to 6 AM, the next weekday.

Oh thank goodness we can use Western from 6 AM to 7 AM on weekdays and between 9AM and 2PM. They say it is only until October 19. But have you been by the Sanitation Districts pumping station lately, at Avenida Aprenda and Western? How's that temporary work going for you?

Our side of the street power outage was far longer than 'normal' today. It lasted over one hour. Usually it only lasts for a few minutes. At night when it happens, we just look across out street and not that the other side always has power. I thought this would all end when the work along Western Avenue was finished, but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

There are still those wishing to 'fight the good fight' concerning The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project. The number of those continuing the fight is diminishing, though.

They are good souls, but it has long been time to allow that massive, years long project, fade away into memory and into files, for future reference.

Dr. Michael Brophy, the president of Marymount College wants a 20-year plan approved and the 463-space parking lot finished before he brings to our city a new, larger atheltic field proposal than the one approved of, back in 2010.

Wasn't watching the shuttle/747/2-Hornets flyover fun? It didn't follow the map laid out on KCBS TV. but it you weren't looking down at the ground, it was fairly tough to miss it.

Welcome to your new home, Endeavour.

I still have not heard or read anything regarding Ponte Vista at San Pedro, lately. I need to stick my nose further onto Internet sites that may contain more information.

The October concession promotion at our very own Starlight Cinemas involves free candy with the purchase of either a large fountain drink or a large 'ICEE' at the Terraces location.

When ordering a drink or 'ICEE' say to the person at concessions: "I'd like to sweeten the deal" and your reward will be free candy. This promotion lasts until October 31, a night where free candy will be distributed all over the place.

Bits and Pieces 61

I learned something new to add to my too-much-information trivia about eastern Rancho Palos Verdes and specifically the Eastview Post Office.

Many of you know about the small post office located in a strip mall along Western Avenue, in Rancho Palos Verdes.

If you mail a letter to be opened by someone at that post office, you would need to use "Rancho Palos Verdes" and its Zip Code: 90275.

Rancho Palos Verdes and three other cities on The Hill have as their 'main' post office, the big one by the large mall, in Rolling Hills Estates.

When our mail is delivered, it comes to us after being sorted at the big office on The Hill.

Now here's the thing. The small post office in Eastivew is serviced by the large post office in San Pedro, not Rolling Hills Estates.

I never knew that, until this morning.

Zip Codes make routing mail easier.

If you believe work will ever be completely complete on the Sanitation Districts pumping station along Western Avenue near Avenida Aprenda, I've still got two acres of The Moon and I'd be happy to sell you one.

I think we will see the new Outfall System sunk, tunnelled and completed years before work finally ends at the 'popular for workers' site on Western.

Broiler Express is still a good place to get some simple, great tasting food. They have a drive-through, too.

It's not Fall yet, so I'm not looking in my mailbox to see if the Environmental Impact Report for Ponte Vista at San Pedro has been issued.

I'm still wanting a park their first. I have absolutely no problem with the existing zoning remaining on the site which allows for up to 429 dwelling units. I would try my best to live with up to 850 dwelling units.

1,135 dwelling units at Ponte Vista at San Pedro must never happen.

Please have a safe and happy last few days of the true Summer season.

Resigned But Not Resigning

After what I heard from Dr. Michael Brophy, President of Marymount College, I am finally resigned to some truths I wish had not been shoved down the throats of those of us living in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Over a year ago, Dr. Brophy stated that his goals for what Marymount College becomes is a TWENTY YEAR goal and has relatively nothing to do with any eight year time frame established for The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project. It finally sank in.

College administrators and many supporters have basically no interest in following guidelines established in the Expansion Project and recent activities have proven that, repeatedly.

Dr. Brophy did state during last night's City Council meeting that, after the 120 new spaces are constructed such that Marymount meets the goal of creating a total of 463 permanent parking spaces on its Rancho Palos Verdes campus, he signaled that he and his associates will work strongly for the creation of a 'new' athletic field on the western side of the campus that is larger and in a slightly different position than the one approved of by the City Council in 2010.

I doubt he ever intended on following those guidelines for those approved plans for a field.

I have absolutely no confidence that Dr. Brophy and/or his associates will have many of the other plans approved for Phase One, completed in any near term, such as two-three years from now.

Dr. Brophy also offered a truism that he intends to ask for an increase in student enrollment at Marymount's main campus to "1200 students", as he stated last night.

Folks need to be reminded at this point that even with 463 permanent parking spaces built on the campus, still required a variance in at least one municipal ordinance because it if fewer parking space ratios than for other businesses in our city.

Last night, the council voted unanimously to extend the time period to complete Phase One of The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project, from September 30, 2012 to December 18, 2012.

Whether the permanent parking lot facilities are completed or not is any one's guess, but it probably no longer matters, in my opinion.

Since the eight year approved project doesn't contain what Marymount may really want to do and Marymount representatives claim that whatever they do is part of a TWENTY YEAR project, I must resign myself to the fact that The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project is a moot endeavour and it is time to simply deny any further extension of the Phase One time completion period because what Marymount representatives now intend on doing next is NOT PART of the Project and it will required more extensive studies and approvals than originally thought by some.

A wise member of our city's staff advised me to consider that whatever Marymount representatives ask for should be considered to be the last thing they will ask for, until they either ask for something else or simply stop for some reasons.

So, is there really any reason to continue with the ongoing charade between council members, staff, residents and college representatives? I have to now opine that the Project has been 'over' and that we all need to move on.

This is where the NOT RESIGNING bit for me comes along.

I won't resign from continuing to believe that our city's residents DO HAVE a stake in what happens at Marymount College and I put residents first!

I have opined that the majority of our current City Council membership 'SEEMS' to put businesses first before government and government before residents' wants.

I have not seen or read anything yet, during this current term, that would point to anything else.

That is why I continue to feel that residents need to stand up for their beliefs and work to help create the best RPV possible, no matter what the council or businesses do or attempt to do.

Marymount College is a business. It is vastly smaller and offers far less than a Catholic University less than 20 miles away from it. What it does offer, according to documents created by and for Marymount College, is an environment where just about anybody with enough money can attend, whether you have a high school or equivalent certificate or not.

I am also resigned to the knowledge that it only takes three members of our city's council to approve the construction of on-campus housing at Marymount's RPV campus and knowing that Marymount has a TWENTY YEAR plan, it looks like Dr. Brophy and/or others will simply wait until there are three members of the council who would approve dorms on campus, and then seek approval for dorms at that time. I don't think eight years is a long enough time span for people to forget what Measure P was and what happened over the over ten years of talk, studies and approval-gathering that continues to take place.

Personally I also have a 'bigger fish' to fry, dealing with Ponte Vista at San Pedro. Whatever is eventually built at Ponte Vista will also impact traffic for Marymount College students, so that needs to also be considered.

Increased student enrollment at Marymount College, increased student housing at Palos Verdes North, along with Marymount's other plans for Palos Verdes North, will impact those of us who live on the east side of The Hill in both the Miraleste area and the 'Eastview' area.

Whatever happens at Marymount AND Ponte Vista at San Pedro, those 'double-whammies' will affect us more than any other residents in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The new athletic field plan for Marymount College will create the need to export material from the site. with San Ramon Canyon not fixed yet and the idea of having many dirt haulers traveling along Palos Verdes Drive East and Palos Verdes Drive South, it looks pretty clear that folks living in the Miraleste area of eastern Rancho Palos Verdes will be adversly impacted.

I'm still going to be writing this blog. I'm not going anywhere, for the moment.

I encourage any and all of you who are concerned about issues swirling around Ponte Vista at San Pedro to look at my "Ponte Vista Blog" via its URL:  http://pontevista.blogspot.com/

It's time that the extension just passed for the completion of Phase One be the first and LAST extension granted and we let The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project die and fade into memory. It appears that Marymount officials would like to see that happen so they can build their college according to what they want and not be tied down by something, I believe, they never intended on doing in the first place.

To Extend Or Not Extend, That Is The Question.

On September 4, 2012 the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council, at its regular meeting, will have on its agenda the matter of extending the time frames for Phase One and Phase Two of The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project.

Below is the URL for the Staff Report dealing with the council's Agenda Item:

http://www.palosverdes.com/rpv/citycouncil/agendas/2012_Agendas/MeetingDate-2012-09-04/RPVCCA_CC_SR_2012_09_04_01_Marymount_College_Expansion_Project.pdf

You may also go to the city's Web site: www.palosverdes.com/RPV and look under the city council current agenda link to find, view and download the staff report.

Marymount College representatives would like a one year extension to complete Phase One of the Expansion Project which is now slated to end on September 30, 2012.

Representatives would also like approval, on September 4, 2012, to extend the completion date of Phase Two of the project from September 30, 2015 to September 30, 2016.

The Staff Report recommends extending the completion date for Phase One to December 18, 2012 with an additional recommendation to also provide for a further extension, should Marymount representatives need such an extension, to September 30, 2013.

The Staff Report recommends a denial of the request to extend the completion date requirement of Phase Two.

As of today, I seem to be warming to the idea of allowing an extension of the completion date requirement of Phase One, to December 18, 2012, which is the date of the last meeting of the city council in 2012.

HOWEVER, I hope for a vigorous discussion about any extension of Phase One and I believe there can be requirements placed on any extension of Phase One that should be considered, before any extension is granted.

Marymount officials have a list of what I term as 'roadblocks' to being able to complete all portions of Phase One during the more than two years they have had to complete anything on the Palos Verdes Drive East campus.

Yes, it has been a bad economy and yes there have been problems receiving enough financial support to complete items considered as part of Phase One.

But when 'roadblocks' are stated as being the needs of physical improvements in areas other than on the campus of Marymount College in Rancho Palos Verdes, there are more than a few RPV residents that question the use of dollars in other areas rather than on what Marymount officials committed to do, in RPV.

Furthermore, Marymount officials seemingly changed their road map for Phase One construction plans when they did not build the required 120 new parking spaces mandated to allow for the current student body population allowed for on Marymount's main campus.

Instead, they constructed a 'temporary parking lot' which did open on time but, as of today, has not been studied to see whether its construction has provided the necessary mitigation required from Marymount officials to lessen the number of vehicles parking off-campus.

IF a majority of the member of our city council vote to extend to December 18, 2012 or any other date, I hope there are stipulations created and adhered to such that nobody will have egg on their faces should things not go according to how it should go.

One of the large pieces of Phase One is the construction of a new athletic field on the western side of the Marymount College campus. The field approved of back in June, 2010 stood some chance of being built had Marymount officials worked towards that goal.

Instead, they came up with a new plan for an athletic field that will require new studies and a new Environmental Impact Report being studied and then approved of, before their concept of a new field goes forward.

Marymount officials changed their plans away from what was already approved and that should mean something to those making the decisions for our residents and our community, I feel.

So, I feel it is fair and not too late to inquire from Marymount officials what the truly intend on doing during any extension of the timetable for Phase One. The changes or 'minor modification' to the originally approved parking lot on campus also mandated a longer time frame that also needs to be considered.

City officials still don't have a clear picture as to what Marymount officials intend to do with the structures slated for demolition as part of Phase One or what may or may not happen to the tennis courts considered to be within the scope of Phase One construction plans.

I should think that before granting any extension, city council members should ask Marymount representatives for a more exacting timetable expected for the elements contained within Phase One, not needing a new EIR. Knowing what Marymount officials truly seek to do provides more foundation for considerations.

There is also the wish by Marymount officials, that the student body population levels existing at Marymount's main campus be raised to a number that is higher than it is now.

I feel it is within the scope of the discussion to require Marymount College officials to complete all of the elements of Phase One, minus the new athletic field, before any further consideration as to the increase in student enrollment at the RPV campus happens.

Marymount officials changed their own plans. They want more students taking classes in RPV. They have used monies that could have to towards work according to Phase One guidelines on other things, in other places. There has not been any study, to date, that their required mitigation of off-campus parking has been successful now that the new temporary parking lot has been installed.

Now, Marymount officials are claiming they will construct the new permanent parking spaces during the Fall semester when they originally signalled they would do the work during the Summer recess.

While I will not object to an extension of the Phase One timetable, I believe it should only be until December 18, 2012 and that there is true,  significantly varifiable movement forward to complete all that Marymount officials want to do, according to Phase One guidelines, prior to December 18, 2012, before any further extension up to and including September 30, 2012 be granted.

Bits and Pieces 60

It seems it has been over three months since my last post. I guess I kind of had a vacation from blogging. The vacation must end because of new developments in our area and more things to write about.

If you haven't read or heard already, the Ponte Vista at San Pedro housing development is coming back to life this Fall.

Ponte Vista at San Pedro was originally considered by its former developer to be a 2,300 unit condominium project across Western Avenue from Green Hills Cemetary.

My first blog "Ponte Vista Blog" at: http://pontevista.blogspot.com deals with the Ponte Vista at San Pedro project and is too filled with information and comments from as far back as 2006. I will do most of my future writing about the project on that blog.

I feel it would be more fair for discussions about Ponte Vista to be from the standpoint of what the new development team is seeking, rather than rehashing all the bad things that occurred during "The Bob Years".

"The Bob Years" refers to the years when the developer of the project was Robert H. (Bob) Bisno and he came into town telling everyone HE knew what was best for OUR community and he spearheaded the fiascoes dealing with trying to get approval to build 2,300 condos (finally he 'relented' to 1,950 units) on land smaller than the 80 acre/1,000 home The Gardens complex.

Bob is gone from the picture, yet it would not be fair to anyone to suggest we forget those times. When we forget the past, we tend to repeat them, many think.

The new development team is not really all that new to the project, but they seem to have learned a whole lot of lessons from what Bob tried to do and they began their tenure.

Also, the financial team is associated with iStar Financial which has had a very bumpy road over the last few years.

The 'new' project details include a request to build 1,135 dwelling units with 392 of them being 'rental' units. There are a small number of single-family residential units planned, I think about 49, but they are on small lots and would also be considered to be condominium units.

During The Bob Years, a group called 'R Neighborhoods Are 1' was created and worked to strong object to Bob Bisno's plans for his development.

Working with many concerned residents, the group circulated petition pages to provide to (then) Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn, illustrating a collective call to keep the site of the development continue to have the zoning established on it, years earlier.

"R 1" stands for a zoning type in which one single-family dwelling unit is constructed on a lot of not less than 5,000 square feet in size.

The current zoning on the site contains R 1 zoning along with some open space zoning such that by keeping the zoning as it is, up to 429 single-family houses would be the only type of dwelling units allowed on the site.

I'll be posting some trivia and information on my Ponte Vista Blog about some of the history and analysis of the site.

Now, while Ponte Vista at San Pedro seems to be back in the picture, The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project has been and will continue to be 'back in the news' and it does concern those of us living on the eastern side of The Hill.

Classes for the Fall 2012 term at Marymount College begin on August 27.

A new 'temporary' parking lot, covered in gravel, just might open on time, this Monday.

Administrators and supporters of Marymount College will be seeking an extension of the Phase One timetable at an upcoming Rancho Palos Verdes City Council meeting, with the issue scheduled to be heard at the September 4 meeting.

I'll have to devote an entire post to issues related to the possibility of having the timetables extended.

Chipotle Grill is open! Yes, I know it is San Pedro, but it is viewable on the eastern side of Western Avenue by some folks in R.P.V.

The newly opened restaurant is near the Ross store in the Park Plaza shopping area.

There is work going on at the pumping station for the Sanitation Districts near the corner of Western Avenue and Avenida Aprenda.

Many residents believe that school starts this coming week. Wrongo Bucko if you consider that 'school' in our area consists also of two LAUSD campuses that have been back in session for a bit of time.

Crestwood Street Elementary School and Dodson Intermediate School, both LAUSD schools are on land within the city of Rancho Palos Verdes. Traffic is almost back to school-year 'normal' and when PVPUSD schools open back up this coming week and along with traffic associated with Mary Star of the Sea High School AND Marymount College, the most honest suggestion I could give you is to AVOID WESTERN AVENUE!

Thankfully, the city of Los Angeles had the street surfaces near Via Colinita refinished and restriped before PVPUSD schools and Marymount College went back into session.

Bits and Pieces 59

Remember that 'minor modification' that our City Council approved for Marymount College where they were going to mitigate the on-street parking problems, FINALLY, with a 'simple' addition of a few parking spots?

Remember when their Land Use Attorney got up in front of the council and made comments that seemed to indicate that the College would have the new parking spaces in by the beginning of this Fall's term?

Remember when folks like me questioned whether there is any true or real things to believe in as part of Marymount's ideas of how they want to proceed with Phase 1 of The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project?

Remember when I mentioned about the concept that some within the staff or our city consider that whatever Marymount currently wants should be the last thing considered, until something else might come along?

I seem to remember all of that, but it appears there are only a few of us in our city that wish to remember.

In a recent letter, it appears that Marymount, through what they contend is no fault of their own, has no intention of providing even the fifteen additional parking spaces on its main campus prior to the start of classes this fall.

I wonder how much more of this our current council makeup will tolerate.

I expect that during the upcoming August 7, 2012 council meeting, Marymount officials will do their best to illustrate why they must have more time (my guess is two years) to comply with what they agreed to do, as far as Phase 1 goes, by September 30, 2012.

I also expect to hear and read language that will be offered to our council that Marymount MUST have an increase in student enrollment numbers at their Palos Verdes Drive East campus before they find out if they get their extension on what they originally promised to do.

I was hopeful that Marymount officials would (at least) begin to do what they said they would do, several months ago. I may not like their new ideas about Phase 1 but I was encouraged that they said they wanted to have the new parking spaces in, on time.

Silly me!

We did have occasions to visit the new Broiler Express on Western Avenue. It is run by the same team that provide us and San Pedro with Fantastic Cafe.

The food was equal to what we have always enjoyed at the two Fantastic Cafe's two San Pedro locations and the added bonus of having another drive-thru,  increases opportunities to those of us in R.P.V. and elsewhere.

Do you think our city's Fourth of July Celebration will be different this years as it has been in the past? Aside from this not being an election year for our city's council, I wonder what, if anything, is new.

The celebration takes place this year on the 20th anniversary of Mark and Terri's wedding so thank you all so very much for celebrating, year after year.

Here is my first big 'shout out' for Scalawag Production's "Oklahoma" playing at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro on August 10 and 11.

I am the set builder for the youth production and I think audience members will enjoy a great show with spectacular performances by talented performers, ages 13-18.

While I have been to wonderful performances by youth productions on The Hill, "Oklahoma" will feature talent from on The Hill and off.

It's not July yet and this week has provided some hot days. Terri says 'June Gloom' may be returning to end June on a cloudy mornings note, but I think it will be nice to keep it as cool as it can be, for a bit longer.

Are you going to attend any of the festivities revolving around the public opening of the Battleship Iowa's first week?

There are quite a number of veterans in eastern R.P.V. and even though we all may not be Navy vets, I think we can enjoy this new attraction on the waterfront so many of us can see from our homes.

There is also the opening of a giant crafters' shopping area inside Warehouse 10 in the Port of Los Angeles. This old warehouse is close to 22nd Street and Minor Avenue, if I am not mistaken.

Perhaps there are crafters from R.P.V. who will have stalls in the shopping area. Please support them and others working to create artful things.

Right now I wish today was the first Wednesday in November. I am sick and tired of National and Statewide politics for the time being. I wonder if any readers of this blog have a working time machine I could use.

It looks like most of the work on the power polls along Western Avenue in R.P.V. is finished. THANK GOODNESS!

5-0 Vote Raises Your Fee and City Revenues

Hey conservatives, when you voted to elect (now Mayor Pro Tem) Brian Campbell, (now) Mayor Anthony Misetich, Councilwoman Susan Brooks and Councilman Jerry Duhovic, did you know you would be voting to elect folks who have no real trouble raising fees and generating revenue at the MAXIMUM level requested?

Being a very liberal person, I thought is was folks like me and the three former council members, Wolowicz, Stern, and Long who would raise fees to the highest level possible.

By a vote of 5-0, the R.P.V. City Council voted to raise the fees for Residential Customers of EDCO by the MAXIMUM allowable increase of 2.3%.

Sure, that's not really a big amount as far as how much we are going to pay, but what about the principle and campaign rhetoric we heard from all of the candidates.

With the MAXIMUM increase requested, our city's coffers also get an increase of about $10,850 this coming year from EDCO.

Then, let's take into account that everything that Marymount College's administration and supporters have asked for, from this council, has been approved.

It kind of continues to prove my point about the conservative-dominated City Council.

It looks like as far as they are concerned, business interests within and for our city come first.

Government size and increases in revenue come second.

Residential interests come last, of those three.

Is this a good thing? Not for me! I continue to think and feel that our elected representatives represent the residents who voted them into office, FIRST!

I then think the members should consider government working for RESIDENTS, second.

I would like to see business interests, especially one who are owned and/or operated by non-RPV residents coming in third, within the group of three.

Lower taxes? Well, considering the increase in revenue (tax) this council will require EDCO to pay, I guess all of them who claim or claimed they were interested in lowering your taxes might be saying something on one side of their mouths, but it comes out quite differently from the other side of they mouths.

Remember, the increase in revenue the city gets is from the increase in fees we are all going to now have to pay.

As for me, I didn't see my EDCO service improve even 2.3% during the previous year. We see a staggered collection time, during the day. Our waste is picked up fairly early in the morning and our recycle and green waste may hang around until late afternoon.

Sometimes we have to make trips at different times of the day to bring in our cans. Wouldn't a one-time period per day be better to bring our cans from the street, rather than taking one back in the morning or having it linger out there empty, until the last truck picks up the last container?

We all understand that costs go up. One chart in the package for the increase stated that there was an increase of 1.9% (in total for that graph), .4% less than the rate increase was approved for.

In one Email to one council member, I suggested that no rate increase should be voted on, but I did state that I thought a 1.15% increase could be considered favorable. As a liberal and someone who can afford the 2.3% increase, I really don't mind that too much, especially if it leads to raises for working folks at EDCO, they could all use a raise, I think.

Time and votes have demonstrated that business interests in our city, what businesses want and how they go about getting what they want, is going to be a major issue, for at least the next two years.

Watch Marymount get every extension they request. Sit back and witness Marymount being given an increase in student body counts at its Rancho Palos Verdes campus.

Consider what we might see in the awarding of contracts.

Gaze at the length of time it takes to make even emergency repairs necessary when dealing with San Ramon Canyon, when it could involve possibly great delays in traffic by our residents.

I'm the leftest. I'm the liberal, yes, you are most welcome to consider me a progressive. It would normally be odd for someone like me to mention the increase in fees to residents, approved of by this council. But after all the campaign jargon, literature, statements, ideals, mentions and now votes by the majority of members of our council, it appears they favor business more than they support our residents, in my sole opinion.

So, Where Is The Truth?

Today, Marymount College is having a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Athletic Field. That is true.


What is also true is that the plan check for the new parking spaces and upgrades in the electrical utility system has been going on for a few days.


What is true is that zero permits have been approved to begin turning over one shovel for any piece of work dealing with parking spaces, electrical utilities or a new Athletic Field.
It is as if Marymount is going to build the field first and then PERHAPS deal with the new parking spaces and electrical grid, after they turn shovels on the field.


I really can't write what the truth is because no permits have been issued and the plan check process is still ongoing.


It should make for good press, though.


According to a press release, Dr. Michael Brophy is going to be at least one of the Professors teaching post graduates of the school's Bachelors' degrees in graduate classes and offering up to 12 credits of graduate course work for FREE.


That is something, isn't it? Well, since the college has been afforded no accreditation to offer, teach or allow post graduate courses on its campus, I continue to wonder how many students will take up the offer that the academic community has not granted Marymount College.


Perhaps the lure of FREE credits for courses not authorized to be offered will make them look like other 'colleges' who state in thier advertisements that course credits may not be transferable.


So, if Marymount does begin offering 'post-graduate' courses, how long will it be before they change their name to Marymount University? 


Might it be a marketing tool to change the name to Marymount University to try and syphon off students...and their parents' money from going to Loyola Marymount University?


So, I think the truth lies wherever you feel it does, whether factual or not.


I would love to see a wonderful Athletic Field built. I think it would be far more and better utilized if it were built at the college's Palos Verdes North facility, where so many students live.
I also will love to see all 463 parking spaces built at Marymount College. I will have to wait unti sometime in the future, if at all. Please don't expect them to all be in by this September...or even September, 2013.


I think if you are waiting for the new Athletic Building to get built, don't hold your breath. Also, don't have your children or grandchildren hold their breaths.


What to look for in the future are two things:


Marymount's administration and supporters are going to ask for an extension on the Conditional Use Permits for Phase One of The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project.


Marymount's administration and supporters will ask for the student capacity at Marymount's Palos Verdes Drive East campus to be increased.


What I fully expect you won't see is the total of 463 parking spaces being constructed before Marymount seeks to have its student capacity enlarged.

The jury is still out on the new William Hannon Library. I am a fan of libraries, even digital and online varieties. I think Marymount could work with Loyola Marymount's William Hannon Library to create a multi-faceted brick and motar (Westchester) and digital library system to rival any super top rated educational library systems.

Bits and Pieces 58

First, some welcome news, I hope, to all.

In place of the now gone Asahi Express Grill, a new Broiler Express from the good folks who own and operate Fantastic Cafe, in several locations, is coming to Western Avenue, near the corner of Trudie Drive.

The location is between Marie Callender's and Denny's our very own Eastview area.

Signs are posted on the windows and work is ongoing day and night.

After less than six months into the term of the current Rancho Palos Verdes City Council, I can honestly state that I am more than amazed with what I have seen and heard.

I was expecting to find that the very conservative majority on the council would work as a team in public to make a whole lot of changes and start implementing their conservative goals in our city.

What I have witnessed, heard, read, and have been offered comments to is that his particular council is not  doing what so many voters voted them into office to do.

Of course, restating that I am NOT a conservative and that I expected things to change, should not be anything new for my regular readers.

What I could not have dreamed of though, is that there appears to be a whole lot more displeasure among so many in our city, with what is going on, with this particular council makeup.

I know of another progressive fellow who happened to be in my view during a recent meeting where it seemed to me that he was constantly covering his mouth to avoid having other sees is almost constant grin or subtle laughter at what was going on and what he was hearing.

I had a difficult time not laughing out loud at some of the comments made by at least one member of our council, the other night.

There seems to be some frustrated members of this council in my opinion, and it no longer seems all that frustrations remains invisible to some audience members at meetings.

Here is one scenario I witnessed and participated in.

Audience member Y was sitting quietly while council members were talking. Council member X started talking and audience member Y blurted out under their breath that they thought council member X did need to interject their opinion on a matter by talking about it.

I turned to audience member Y and stated that I didn't vote for council member X and Y responded back that they had voted for council member X but now regrets that decision.

"We all make mistakes." was then stated to me by audience member Y.

Audience member Y is one of the most conservative persons I have met on The Hill and to hear that person state regrets for voting for council member X brought out a chuckle in me.

But that was not the most interesting thing I have heard recently.

"Recall". That was a word coming out of the mouth of another very conservative person in our city, while talking to me about a member of our current city council.

It didn't come from me! It was astonishing to me that I heard that word coming from a conservative I know and against another conservative, a member of this current council.

I am not for a recall of any member of this council. I think it would be a waste of money and it now appears that there may be enough unity among others on this council to quell the more outrageous (my word) actions and activities of the certain member that the "recall" was used for.


If anyone cares, my opinion on the Rules of Procedure are now pretty much complete and I am comfortable with what many folks have commented about, regarding some changes that may be necessary to the current Rules of Procedures that was adopted by this council on March 20.

I was basically not uncomfortable with what was passed on March 20. It still seems ridiculous to me that the council is STILL dealing with this after being in office for this long.

It has seemed to me that the reason this council is taking on a reinvention of the wheel is not so much that they felt the wheel was all that broken, but the majority on this council are so frustrated with the previous council that they appear to want to change things in major ways, just as a matter of spite, I feel.

So it all continues to roll on.

What does need to end and end sooner than later, is the attempts to bring a new set of protocols and/or a Code of Conduct to our volunteers who serve on the council or on commissions and committees in Rancho Palos Verdes.

I seem to have much more regard for those volunteers that I feel some members of our council have and I know from experience that we have the best volunteers in our city and I would watch them beat out all others if there was some sort of competition between other cities in terms of trust, intelligence, care, volunteerism, ethics and compassion.

Our volunteers know what is right and our council, who in fact, appoint those who serve, had better understand all this during the interview and selection processes or they probably should resign from office and let others make the decisions.

If this council feels they need some sort of Code of Conduct for OUR volunteers, then they probably don't respect the decisions made by former council members who made previous appointments or are they lacking in the ability to make the best decisions for the residents of our city, themselves?

Work continues on replacing/lengthening power poles along Western. It looks like more high voltage power cables are being placed on poles and traffic is more of a nightmare (daymare) along Western than is usual. Thank goodness there aren't any sinkholes opening up.

"I like to wet my whistle" is the comment you should make when purchasing popcorn during the month of May at our very own Starlight multiplex at the Terraces Cinema.

With the purchase of popcorn and a mention of the the code words, you will be rewarded with a free fountain drink of equivalent size for free.

With a purchase of a small popcorn, you get a small drink. The size of the popcorn determines the size of the free drink.

This promotion goes on all day, every day. It includes Tuesdays and Thursdays when every admission to a non-3D movie is just $4.00 and also on Wednesdays, Senior Day (55+) when $4.00 is also the admission price.

If you also have their promotion card, you get free goodies from time to time, including a free movie admission.

I had a free ticket when Terri and I went to see The Avengers yesterday. It was a Tuesday and I bought a large popcorn.

One ticket-FREE. One ticket-$4.00. Large Popcorn-$6.00. Large Diet Coke-FREE.

Large popcorn and large drinks are also refillable one time.

Out total cost for the first run movie, large popcorn and Diet Coke-$10.00

All the staff members at the Starlight Terrace Cinemas are friendly and helpful and I encourage everyone to visit our very own Eastview multiplex.

Of course I would also encourage everyone to shop in Eastview repeatedly. We've got two of the four large grocery stores in the city. We have lots of restaurants and retail outlets. We have a Goodwill Industries store. We have an L.A. Fitness and if you haven't saved your pennies and dimes to visit Think Prime, you are missing something.

The 'Semi-nude' house that has been under remodel conditions for years and years is nearing completion. I will have photos of the during and after in an upcoming post.

Bits and Pieces 57

Now that the bru ha ha has ended with the dog beach, I bet locals will go back to what they have done for years and continue to take their dog(s) to the beach and unbuckle the leash.

From now on it looks like there will again be fewer opportunities for enforcement types to be on the lookout for off leash dogs frolicking in the surf and on the sand.

I am feeling more comfortable with 463 being (sort of) equal to 463. Many of us have long considered that more on-campus parking spaces have been needed for some time, at Marymount College.

It looks like we may finally get our wish, whether we like the consequences or not.

With the approval of the "minor modification", we might actually see a Marymount footprint that looks absolutely nothing like the illustrations considered, for years, dealing with The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project.

Our council, by a 4-1 vote, has basically overturned years of consideration, plans, debate, counsel and votes. I think there is no question any longer about the conservative nature of this council and their willingness to change history-making decisions that Marymount officials probably never were really very interested in, in the first place.

Since the vote and now a physical admittance that it was ALWAYS about having on-campus housing at Marymount's Palos Verdes Drive East campus, we all have learned to now only consider that whatever Marymount officials and supporters ask for is the last thing they will do at the college in Rancho Palos Verdes.

If does make for a more enlightened and calming setting for some of us, though.

You can throw away every illustration, made over the years, of the campus throughout each and every one of the proposed and approved phases of The Project.

Was the last ten years of dealings with city staff, the Planning Commission and various City Councils wasted? It certainly now looks that way, especially when you see the newest illustration of the 463 parking spaces proposed for the Marymount campus.

Money spent. Money gone. Time spent. Efforts wasted, in my opinion.

I do think we now have an opportunity to work together with everyone involved if we simply take what we all have learned, put it in the back of our minds and move on...knowing that what we thought we knew was bunk in the first place.

Lots of power pole work has been done and seems to be continuing along Western Avenue, recently.

I hope this means that our too frequent power failures find a very happy ending and homes and businesses using the same main circuits as the side of the street we live on, will end their decades-long short events of blackouts that have caused so many of us to have to reset our clocks and things, for the last 50 years or so.

For as long as I can remember, our side of the street and other specific sides of streets and houses and businesses sharing the same portion of the grid have had short spells of blackouts. I used to think that when the power went out, another car had crashed into a power pole along Western Avenue.

It has always also marveled us that our side of the street would lose power and we would look out across the street and power never seemed to be out, except in a major power failure that everyone suffers with.

I fee we have 'lucked out' this winter and spring as far as San Ramon Canyon and runoff goes. I don't know how long our luck will hold out and that is why I am supporting even an emergency 'fix' that might cost taxpayers a 'mere' 6 Million Dollars, while waiting for all the funds to come in for the permanent fix that MUST BE DONE.

I'm still wondering when the new Environmental Impact Report for Ponte Vista at San Pedro might come out.

Some may not know that the three model homes at Harbor Highlands are  now open and that 134-unit single-family, detached house, condominium project has homes for sale.

The starting prices begin in the "mid-500 K" range for the smallest of the three models.

So, there IS new housing construction going on. There are units sold and being sold at "360" along El Segundo Blvd. in Hawthorne.

Now, let's hope the jobs picture grows near all of us, sooner rather than later.

Youth productions continue to entertain lots of us, all around The Hill and below.

"Mame" opens this weekend at Miraleste I.S. and I have seen production notices from both high schools and from other youth groups in our area.

Please support all of the arts on The Hill and beyond.

The U.S.S. Iowa is heading to San Pedro in May! Work on it is ending at the port of Richmond, Ca and it will be towed to the inner harbor for more work and then being opened to the public, later this summer.

The good folks at The Pacific Battleship Center are looking for volunteers to work on the ship and on associated attractions and other things.

If you have the time, please consider helping out, if you can.

A Key Learning Illustrated

By Council action last night, please forget everything you think you know about The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project, approved in 2010.

Below is legally and technically two illustrations that reflect what was approved for Phase One of the Expansion Project.

The top illustration reflects what was studied, argued about, debated, requested for by Marymount and otherwise dealt with for over 10 years.

The bottom illustration was created a couple of months ago to address the demand for placing 463 parking spaces on the main campus of the college and to ward off, in my opinion, the continued calls for Marymount officials to create a Traffic and Parking Plan that they promised to do, yet never was adequately initiated, according to many.

Behold! Both illustrations depict a main campus having 463 parking spaces, according to the Conditional Use Permit, approved in 2010 and both conform to the requirements.

Please click over illustration to increase its size for viewing.

Assume that whatever Marymount College officials seek to accomplish with their expansion project is the last thing they will request.

If you live by the rule apparently established by City Staff members in our city, everything becomes much clearer and there will be less anxiety on your part and on the part of others.

By Council action, you can now basically take most of what you thought you knew about what Marymount College officials were approved to build and throw that all away.

According to Mr. Don Davis, an attorney representing Marymount's interests, there are no longer plans to demolish any buildings according to Phase One requirements, unless an extension of the 'drop dead' date to have that Phase completed, is extended. He said it. I heard it and even one councilmember questioned him about it.

One clearly stated goal though, is that Marymount officials PLAN to have the 463 parking spaces built by this September 30.

***NOTE*** Please don't actually plan on viewing those 463 parking spaces, because Mr. Davis also stated that the college would come before the council in the near future to request and extension of Phase One of The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project, even though the "minor modification" approved of at last night's meeting may actually have physical work begun on it, this year.

Now, I need to explain why I feel 463 does not really equal 463.

In all the previous discussions about placing up to 463 on campus parking spaces wherever they might be, it must be remembered that the number requires a variance to the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code for parking space requirements.

If the college was ever required to actually build parking spaces according to the code, there would have to be a goodly number of more parking spaces created on campus.

So I think and feel it is fair to state that our city has been at least more than fair in allowing Marymount a variance to the law of our city.

While 463 parking spaces is 463 parking spaces, please take a look at both illustrations again and if you can tell me what might happen to some of those parking spaces should the college actually go ahead with Phase Two and Phase Three that were approved in The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project.

My point here is to get everyone back onto the page that suggests that the parking configuration illustrated in what was approved is as permanent as Mr. Davis and others claim it is to be and therefore there will never be a new athletic building built on the campus and whatever you thought you 'knew' about the Expansion Project is trashable.

I did and continue to support The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project even though the council voted to basically do away with many of its approved requirements, if you get my drift.

I have always supported and like the idea of having 463 parking spaces on Marymount's campus even though that may never truly happen.

When I spoke about this matter at last night's meeting I tried to get across that whatever actions the council takes related to whatever Marymount officials throw out is that we all need to consider what possible results might be geologically to the areas on and near the campus.

If councilmembers are comfortable with making decisions that might eventually find our city liable for damages caused by large scale grading or drainage issues, then that will be their legacy.

I have been assured by a very reliable source that all the "T"s will be dotted and all the "I"s crossed with these new plans for the 463 parking spaces, before permits are granted.

There is some consideration that it appears that most, if not all of the members of our council now are willing to acknowledge by vote or public comment, OR LACK THEREOF, that they believe much of what was approved of in The Project will never be built on Marymount's main campus.

This acknowledgement, whether verbalized or not, seems to reflect a ever growing common belief that Marymount never intends to build according to the plans approved of in 2010 and their latest votes seems to be a physical confirmation of that. They may disagree with me and you publicly, but since they were willing to approve PERMANENT parking spaces in place of where the athletic building, pool and other facilities are approved to be placed, I think they all telegraphed their beliefs.

I can't condemn any of them on that because I have felt from the date the Project was approved that it was not what Marymount wanted or ever intends to build. They wanted dorms. But since they seem to have also acknowledged that they will never happen on the main campus, they will be going ahead with whatever they wish to try and do.

The William H. Hannon Library at Marymount College seems to have been provided funding not related to other facility issues.

The William H. Hannon Library at Loyola Marymount College is a beautiful building filled with all kinds of educational elements. It's been around for some years.

In closing, it should provide some comfort in learning that all you thought you knew about The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project is wrong and illustrated above and that you should not worry or consider anything other than what Marymount officials request, from this day forward.

If you wish to remain concerned about Marymount's future in R.P.V. please remain concerned. But also please no longer fret when college officials offer plans for study you have never seen or considered before.

Let's all try to 'see' a ribbon cutting ceremony for 463 parking spaces at Marymount College.

Bits and Pieces 56

EDCO and the City of RPV are sponsoring a free document/paper shredding event on Saturday, April 14, 2012 from 9 a.m. to noon at the RPV City Hall Parking lot located at 30940 Hawthorne Boulevard. Rancho Palos Verdes residents (EDCO and UWS residential customers) can safely dispose of personal documents since the documents will be shredded on-site, leaving NO possibility for theft or loss.

Electronics waste will also be collected at the same time and place. Furthermore, free mulch will also be available to residents while supplies last. Please bring your own empty trash cans and/or sturdy yard bags and shovel.

For more information on this event go to: http://www.palosverdes.com/rpv/publicworks or www.rpvrecycles.com

The RPV City Council is set to discuss and possibly vote on expanded parking spaces at the main campus of Marymount College.

While there was no 'big' announcement that Marymount is going ahead with physical construction according to the approved Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project, the plans and drawings that will be reviewed are part of The Project's first Phase, and I am delighted that something is heading for reality, according to The Project.

Yes, there will be detractors to these drawings and parking space expansion. Look for some to argue that the college's grading plans are not sufficient.

I have been and will remain a strong proponent of The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project, as I have written and spoken out about, before.

The Project was approved several years ago after almost 10 years of discussions, stops and restarts, arguments and ultimately, the elimination by Marymount College officials, of their demand for on-campus student housing.

The more vehicles associated with those attending or visiting Marymount's Palos Verdes Drive East campus that are not parked on public roadways, the better, I feel.

I hope this signals a true turn towards working much more on The Project and that college officials really are willing to work towards rebuilding Marymount's campus, according to The Project's goals and guidelines.

As for my personal 'work' with a Catholic University, I am very proud and pleased to let folks know that I will again volunteer my services, experiences and talent to a bunch of great students at Loyola Marymount University's School of Film and T.V.

This weekend I will be shooting my FOURTEENTH project for both undergraduate and graduate students, since last August.

I also have worked on student projects for a growing number of schools as I continue to build my background/extra/featured player resume with both volunteer and paid work.

Tomorrow marks the two-week anniversary of our welcoming Tessa into our home.

Tessa is a mixed mutt, mostly rat terrier that we found at the Harbor Animal Shelter. She picked us rather than we choosing her, it seems.

She will be 5 months old on April 26 and we have not had a real puppy in our home for so long that Tessa is teaching us what it is like having a young one around.

She has been 'fixed', licensed, received all her shots, tagged and loves to walk in our neighborhood in RPV.

When Summer rolls around, we plan on taking Tessa to both Huntington Beach Dog Beach and Long Beach's off leash beach and we never really considered the now defunct dog beach that was considered near Frump's place.

Yes, it will be a drive for us to get to and from both off leash beaches. I feel it is worth it and our city has so little sandy-ish beaches, it probably is for the best that dogs are not allowed on what little we have to offer our residents and others.

I have still found nothing regarding the possible or probable release date for the 'new' Environmental Impact Report for Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

The last study I did about that project and its backers is that iStar Financial continues to sort through its bankruptcy as it tries to emerge from it to continue whatever plans remain.

If and when the EIR comes out, I hope it shows that the 'Proposed Project' includes a number of dwelling units significantly fewer than the 1,135 originally suggested by the new management team.

Craig Huey...oh, fooey!