OUTLOOK
Spring, 2004 Issue
Visit Our Forums at: http://www.montereyhills.org/forum/
We Need Volunteers
OUTLOOK
Visit Our Forums at: http://www.montereyhills.org/forum/
We Need Volunteers
Part of my life’s creed has been to “Exceed Yourself”. Over the years, I’ve discovered that I can wring more out of myself that I thought possible. This creed was really put to the test during the years that I was employed in a full time job in the financial investment business, and also volunteering my services at two different organizations.
During those days I would roll out of bed and hit the ground running. At work, it seemed every item was urgent and every phone call from a client posed a problem. My plans of attack would sometimes deteriorate into chaos and occasionally I didn’t know what day it was. By the time I fell into bed at night my brain waves were flat from the beating I took during the day.
Most of the Monterey Hills Federation board members are employed in full time jobs in addition to the fine work they do for the Federation. I can definitely relate to the stress they may be under at different times in their efforts to meet deadlines on their job, and at the same time trying to find time to write that report for the Federation or attend yet another community meeting. They are all dedicated people and individually and collectively their wisdom, hard work, resiliency and good humor, during their years of service, has been appreciated.
There are a little over 1,500 homeowners on our Hill. During the 12 years the Federation has been in existence some homeowners, on a regular basis, have been of great assistance and support to our board members. Others have regularly attended Federation meetings as representatives of their condominium or townhouse homeowners’ associations. We are grateful to these homeowners for their contributions of their time and talent in supporting the board members with the ongoing work of the Federation. It is my hope that the example of the homeowners, who have served us faithfully and well, will be an inspiration to others to volunteer their services to help the officers who are currently serving on the Federation board. These individuals cannot continue to do the work of the Federation alone and they need your help, support, suggestions and ideas.
I know many more homeowners can help even
if it is in a small way. Our board officers need help on different projects and
in areas of administrative work. Some of these are as follows:
Administrative Work: Writing letters, preparing minutes of meetings and agendas for meetings, mailing materials to HOA representatives and running errands to pick-up papers, stationery and other supplies.
Clean-ups: Join us for our regular work parties to pick-up litter and other garbage on the Hill.
Jazz Festival: Volunteers are always needed by the project leader for all preparation and activities regarding this festival.
Land Trusts: Anyone with legal experience regarding land trusts is needed to help Federation board members to formulate ideas and provide legal expertise with regard to the protection of several small parcels of unoccupied land that remain on the Hill.
Newsletter: We are always looking for newsletter articles
Representatives: We urgently need individuals to attend other community meetings as representatives of the Federation.
Social Events: Assist in setting the tables for our social events and ordering the food and beverages and other supplies.
If you would like to volunteer please contact the Federation at the following telephone number (323) 761-6494 or contact one of the Federations’ officers at one of our monthly meetings.
Want a Place for Your Children to Play?
I am writing concerning the possibility of placing a children’s park located somewhere on the Hill. Over the past several months, I have noticed a rising number of children living in the area. There is an obvious lack of places for young children to play safely. After living in the area for a little over two years, I feel it is evident that the demographic is changing.
At the March Federation meeting, I brought up the idea of investigating the addition of a park for children on the Hill. My feeling is that such a park should include some playground equipment. Also at the Federation Meeting, Al Santillanes, Project Director of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) disclosed that they have several parcels of unoccupied land on the Hill that must be released from CRA control. He also stated that it has been determined that this land cannot be developed. It is my opinion that one of the parcels of land could possibly be used for the purpose of adding a children’s park. However, such an endeavor would require more research and consensus from the community.
In order to gain community input, forums have been setup on the montereyhills.org website for your input and discussion. Also please contact your HOA-Federation representative to express your ideas regarding the playground. This issue will be re-evaluated at forthcoming Federation meetings and we need your input. If you have any additional questions or concerns please contact Kama Pfister at (323) 257-5058.
Post Alarm Systems, Inc., Update
Post Alarm Systems has served and protected “the Hill” for ten years, patrolling the area from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on a daily basis. You may have observed a Post car patrolling at night, its powerful spotlight illuminating all locations. Post is also available for escort service to and from one’s car. In addition, Post is on call 24 hours a day to handle any public safety emergencies, including but not limited to uninvited swimming pool visitors, excessive noise, and individuals loitering. These services are invaluable because L.A.P.D. is often unable to quickly respond to complaints because of lack of manpower. Post may be contacted at (800) 891-8425.
Before Post began patrolling, the residents of “the Hill” experienced many acts of vandalism and automobile break-ins. In the ten years since the commencement of Post’s patrol service, crime has been dramatically reduced. This can be ascertained by perusing the monthly Patrol Service Reports for “the Hill”, which is distributed to all the representatives attending the Federation meeting.
Post has charged the same fee, $4.00 for each unit per month, for the past ten years. This year, Post has announced that it is increasing its fee by approximately 10%. Considering the level of protection Post brings to us, it is this writer’s opinion that the slight increase in fees is more than fair compensation for the continued safety of every resident on “the Hill.”
Kevin Adams, the new officer assigned to Monterey Hills, introduced himself at the Federation meeting on March 16.
Would you like your own @montereyhills.net email address? For $1 a month or $10 a year, you can have email go to johndoe@montereyhills.net or whatever name you want. If you already have an email account and just want email forwarded to you, that’s possible too. If you’re interested, email me at Patrick@montereyhills.net.
Discussion Forums
There are a few topics we would like to hear your feedback about. To facilitate this, we’ve setup forums on the montereyhills.org website. We would love to have you, the residents of Monterey Hills, input about the new stop signs on “the Hill” as well as your input about the proposed kid park. Visit the forums at http://www.montereyhills.org/forum/
Articles
Contributed By
Patrick Botz-Forbes (Editor) Kenneth Chow Ian Gass
Danny Guerrero Kama Pfister Ida Simms
Everything You
Ever Wanted to Know About Debs Park
Debs is located in Northeast
Los Angeles, directly west of Monterey Hills. Administered as a Regional Park
by the City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation and Parks. The park was
closed for needed improvements ($3 million in Prop A and K funds), but it has
just been reopened (February, 2004). The main entrance is at Monterey Pass
Road.
Topography: Part of the
Repetto Hills and the Arroyo Seco watershed. Surrounded by a dense suburban
residential environment, there are still significant elements of adjacent open
space. Highest elevation: 884', Lowest: 224'
Morphology: Debs Park
contains 282 acres of developed recreational land and dedicated open space. The
longest park distance is (north to south) 1.2 miles (6,250'), and the broadest
is (east to west) 0.66 mile (3,500'). A prominent ridgeline, which is generally
north-south trending, forms the backbone of the park. Its spur slopes divide
the park into ten separate cachement basins, with drainage radiating north,
east, south and west.
Flora and Fauna (Native):
Lower Sonoran / Coastal Sage Scrub zone. Heavily-disturbed by over 150 years of
urbanization, but a natural habitat for deerweed, true sages, toyon, walnuts
and sycamores. Notable for still frequent sightings of California Ground
Squirrels and Red Tail Hawks.
Climate: Mediterranean. A
thermal belt ideal for avocados, influenced by Pacific weather 85%, and
interior weather 15%. Part of Climate Zone 23: "mildest year-round
conditions in the region"-Sunset Magazine
Temperature: 75.7°F (maximum) 53.6°F (minimum)
Annual Rain: 17.48"
Historical Trivia: Known as
po.vo.me.par.gna (land of sometime water) to the Tongva (Gabrieleño) Indians.
The park contains the northeast corner of the original land grant given by King
Carlos III to the pobladores of Los Angeles (1781). The park was formed by L.
A. County (1972), then named (1975) for Supervisor Ernest E. Debs (1904-2001).
Debs Park Areas: The park is
conceptually divided into four major areas-Area 1 (Active play / organized
sports) and Area 2 (Picnic areas) are in the southern part of the park and
consist of approximately 34 acres of flat (slopes of less than 10%) grass sward
created by artificial fill (1971). Area 3 (Natural areas) in the northern part
of the park are hilly (mostly steeper than 50%) slopes, covered with dense
California walnut woodland and remnants of Coastal Sage scrub habitat. Hiking
here is currently limited to the existing fire-road system. Area 4 (Audubon) is
a specially protected preserve on the western (Arroyo Seco facing) slope of the
natural area. It contains the $15,000,000 Environmentally Platinum Nature
Center (opened October 2003), created entirely through the superhuman efforts
of Melanie Ingalls, its first Director.
Debs Park has an official
Park Advisory Board (PAB) that meets at Ramona Hall on the fourth Wednesday of
each month at 7 p.m. Public is welcome to attend and express concerns. The
Board was formed following the acceptance by the City Council of the Debs Park
Master Plan (2001). Colleen Colson is currently President of the PAB.
Debs Park Master Plan Goals:
1. Manage a significant portion of Debs Park to give park visitors an urban
wilderness experience by preserving, enhancing, and restoring natural
communities, such as walnut woodland, coastal sage scrub, and grasslands. 2.
Create a safe and harmonious environment that welcomes all park visitors.
3.Establish the Los Angeles Nature Center under the stewardship of the National
Audubon Society within Debs Park to provide a positive, ongoing presence, and
to teach people about the natural world so they will enjoy, appreciate and care
for it. 4. Transform the existing reservoir pond into viable aquatic and
wildlife habitat. 5. Provide for the educational and recreational needs of the
community while protecting wildlife by encouraging appropriate activities in
developed and undeveloped areas of the park. 6. Foster positive recreational
opportunities that will discourage and eliminate destructive park activities,
and will promote accord among park visitors. 7. Encourage, expand and actively
seek community involvement in the development and implementation of park
programs to promote community ties, personal ownership and stewardship. 8.
Establish a long term land management plan (including both habitat management
and maintenance plans) with procedures for developed and undeveloped areas of
the park. 9. Establish park "gateways" to permit safe and easy park
access for the surrounding communities. 10. Establish a Debs Park Advisory
Board composed of representatives from the public, the Audubon Society, and the
City to monitor, review, and approve projects, and to implement the Park
Framework Plan.
Friends of Debs Park
Association (FDP). Founded 1992. Quarterly meetings with regular activities in
the park aimed at its improvement, such as scheduled hikes, trail building,
reforestation efforts, clean-ups and paint-outs. FDP Mission: 1. To serve as a
liaison between the community, the L. A. City Dept. of Recreation and Parks,
plus other governmental agencies and organizations. 2. To advocate the cause of
more local park land. 3. To enhance the quality of Debs Park and nearby public
recreation areas with hiking trails and native flora. 4. To inspire and enliven
community action for the preservation and maintenance of public open space. 5.
To promote increased utilization and enjoyment of public open space. Louis
Quirarte is Chair. (contact: 323/222-2620, laquirarte@aol.com)
By
Louis Quirarte
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Arroyo Seco
Neighborhood Council
· Supported preservation of the Cultural Affairs Department and retention of the Environmental Affairs Department
Pat Griffith
President
Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council
ASNC
Letter to Mayor Hahn
Honorable Mayor Hahn,
The ASNC thanks you for your wise
decision to preserve and enhance the Cultural Affairs Department.
The ASNC asks that you also retain the
Environmental Affairs Department fully staffed and funded.
We also respectfully suggest the
following in connection with enhancements to the Cultural Affairs Department:
·
That the
Mayor’s Office should make certain that all levels of grantees be offered
representation on his new Council for the Arts, particularly smaller acts
entities and galleries where much of the progressive work in the arts
occurs. The ASNC expresses its
conviction that the Mayor’s Council for the Arts should continue to make grants
to community orchestras and theaters, neighborhood galleries, arts classes and
local festivals.
·
That the
Cultural Heritage Commission – the City’s only vehicle for recognizing and
protecting significant architectural and historical locations – remain a fully
funded, fully staffed entity, and independent from the Planning Department.
·
The ASNC
urges the mayor to take the momentum of his review of city functions to see to
it that the charter for the Cultural Heritage Commission be revised to comply
with standards set by the National parks Service “Certified Local Government”
program, thereby opening opportunities to obtain federal grant monies available
to only to communities with existent Certified Local Government programs and
ensuring that the composition of the commission will be of the highest caliber.
These revisions and considerations would
raise cultural and environmental standards for the City of Los Angeles and be a
legacy of the Hahn Administration for generations to come.
Sincerely, Cc:
Councilmember Ed Reyes
Pat Griffith Councilmember
Antonio Villaraigosa
President Terry
Valdez, Eastside Area Director
Monterey Hills Federation (323) 761-6494
14th District Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa (323) 254-5295
www.lacity.org/council/de14
Animal Regulation (888) 452-7381
Dead Animal Pickup – (Call Sanitation Bureau) (800) 773-2489
Brush Clearance (213) 485-6247
Fire Station No. 47 – 4575 S. Huntington Dr. (213) 485-6247
Graffiti Problems
Homeboys Industries (323) 526-1254
Post Patrol – Emergency Number (323) 258-3761
Post Patrol – Non-Emergency Number (323) 258-8130
Police Department – Hollenbeck – Non-Emergency (213) 485-4302
For Emergency Call 911
Shopping cart pickup (800) 773-2489
Street Lighting – Burned Out Light (800) 303-5267
Street Maintenance
Street Sweeping, Tree Trimming, Lot Cleaning (213) 473-8410
Sanitation
Bulky Item Drop Off – 2649 Washington Blvd. (800) 773-2489
Bulky Item Pickup (800) 773-2489
Bulky Item Pickup - Online form www.lacity.org/SAN/service_request
Upcoming Events and
Calendar
April 20, 2004, Tuesday, 7:30 PM. Monterey Hills Federation Meeting. Federation election.
Marshall Villas Recreation Room, 4225 Via Arbolada.
April 24, 2004, Saturday, 2:00 PM. Fourth Annual Caltech Jazz Festival.
For detail and location, call (626) 393-4652.
April 25, 2004, Sunday, 3:30 PM. Coleman Competition Winners Concert, Ramo Auditorium, Caltech. For information, call (626) 393-4652.
April 26, 2004, Monday, 7:00 PM. ASNC Meeting. Ramona Hall.
April 28, 2004, Wednesday, 8:00 PM. Harles Elachi: Challenges and Excitement of Space Exploration, Beckman Auditorium. For information, (626) 393-4652.
May 2, 2004, Sunday, 2:30 PM. California String Quartet, Ramo Auditorium, Caltech.
For information, call (626) 393-4652.
May 6, 2004, Thursday, 8:00 PM. Mike Farrell: Social Activism Speaker Series,
Ramo Auditorium, Caltech. For information, call (626) 393-4652.
May 8, 2004, Saturday, 8:00 PM. Bandorama: Caltech Concert and Jazz Bands,
Beckman Auditorium, Caltech. For information, call (626) 393-4652.
May 9, 2004 to August 4, 2004. George Catlin and His Indian Gallery, Autry Museum of Western Heritage. For information call (323) 667-2000.
May 18, 2004, Tuesday, 7:30 PM. Monterey Hills Federation Meeting,
Marshall Villas Recreation Room, 4225 Via Arbolada.
May 22, 2004, Sunday, 3:30 PM. Caltech-Occidental Chamber Orchestra, Ramo Auditorium, Caltech. For information, call (626) 393-4652.
May 24, 2004, Monday, 7:00 PM. ASNC Meeting. Ramona Hall.
June 6, 2004, Sunday, 5:00 PM. Canterbury Choir and Coventry Choir Spring Concert, All Saints Episcopal Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave., Pasadena.
For information, call (626) 583-2725.
June 15, 2004, Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Monterey Hills Federation Summer Mixer,
Marshall Villas Recreation Room, 4225 Via Arbolada.
June 21, 2004, Monday, 7:00 PM. ASNC Meeting. Ramona Hall.
July 17, 2004, Tuesday, 7:30 PM. Monterey Hills Federation Meeting,
Marshall Villas Recreation Room, 4225 Via Arbolada.
5902 Monterey Road #210, Monterey Hills, California 90042 -- (323) 761-6494 - http://www.montereyhills.org