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.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Sunday, August 26, 2012
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.
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.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
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!
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!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
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.
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.
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