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6-27-09 Our first University Park Estates Neighborhood picnic was a great sucess.
UPENA president Pat Towner directs the bike parade.
Dad enjoying ride
Roger Andries, Long time director talks to neighbors.
A conga line, what fun.
Even the dogs had a great time and they were well behaved.
The weather was perfect to make a wonderful day to relax and enjoy
Pat hands out pops to the bike parade riders.
One of the longest home owners in University park estates is Helen Carlson who is on our Board of Directors.
Mary Parcell, President of the Audobon took time out to join us for some R&R
Nick Marino soon to be 5th grader at Kettering won the Dance Contest with his "Worm Dance"
Treasurer Bob Rosas and son David enjoying the Music
Special Thanks to Lance Jackson and Friends who played for us and really make our picnic a hit.
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6-1-09 Lets be Earthquake prepared.
Oct. 15, 2009
The date for this year's Great CA Shakeout has been set for Oct. 15, 2009. Please take a look at the website:
The site has not been updated for this year at this time but you may register now. Please do that and tell your friends and neighbors also. Further updates of this event will be sent to you as soon as they are available.
In the meantime, please register!
5/19/09 A Message from Kettering.
Dear UPENA Neighbors:
We, the Kettering PTA and Kettering Foundation would like to thank you for your commitment to OUR community. We appreciate the recent communications regarding the intention to advertise on 7th street. Please know that we do consider ourselves a part of this community and welcome such dialog. Many Kettering parents on the PTA and Foundation boards live in the neighborhood and have the same concerns as others.
In addition to the PTA, Kettering created a Foundation several years ago to raise money for the Technology Program. Every year the Foundation raises approximately $30,000 to maintain our program that is a district standout. This year as you can imagine, fundraising has been more challenging due to the current economic climate. As an organization we have been looking for new and creative ways to raise funds. Along with other fundraisers, the Foundation has been working on a banner advertising program to take advantage of the prime location of our school. Hence, the large banner posted on school property. Precedent has been set across the district as many schools have successful banner fundraising programs. We have utilized parent volunteers who are experienced professionals in outdoor media marketing to assist with this program and have the intention of creating tasteful and appropriate signage.
As a small affluent neighborhood school, we receive less funding than larger, more socio-economically diverse schools and the Kettering families that regularly contribute are close to becoming tapped out. We are reaching out to the community, our neighbors, alumni and others to invest in our school so that we are able to maintain programs which make us a standout, maintain our school of choice status and keep UPE a very desirable location to reside. Often its the quality of a neighborhood school that increases property values.
So, how can the UPE neighborhood help support Kettering?
- The Country Fair is coming to Kettering on May 30 from 11:00am to 3:00pm. This is the biggest fundraiser of the year. There will be lots of carnival games, live music, a silent auction and food. There are many opportunities for neighbors to get involved. Become a country fair sponsor or volunteer. For more information contact Shereef Moustafa at shereef@innovedo.com or check out the website www.ketteringpta.org .
- Donate to the Non-Event Fundraiser! The goal is to have every Kettering family invest $87.50 per child to close our budget shortfall to maintain our technology program. Currently we are $10,000 short of our goal, but still very hopeful that we will make it by the end of the school year. Any contributions neighbors can make are greatly appreciated and should be considered an investment in their neighborhood and of course are tax deductible! For more information contact Julie Jackson at jflyjack@charter.net or 562-715-7902.
We are living in extra ordinary times, which call for extra ordinary measures. No more status quo we all need to make changes in the way things are done it will feel uncomfortable, but that means we are moving in the right direction. Flexibility is the name of the game so that collaboratively we can achieve our goals whats best for the kids, our school and our neighborhood.
Respectfully,
Julie Jackson (400 Daroca Avenue)
President Kettering Elementary Foundation Board
Shannon Wells (6259 E. 5th Street)
VP Ways and Means - Kettering Elementary PTA
Kelly Ludden
Principal - Kettering Elementary School
5/4 /09
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Orange County Transportation Authority 550 S. Main Street, P.O. Box 14184, Orange, CA 92863-1584
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5-3-09 From thje Press Telegram
Price tag for Long Beach's Los Cerritos Wetlands-service yard swap has its ups and downs
By Paul Eakins and Joe Segura, Staff Writers
Posted: 05/02/2009 09:21:48 PM PDT
Long Beach is considering swapping a Public Service Yard for part of the Los Cerritos Wetlands, shown here. The yard, which is 12.1 acres, is north of Anaheim Street between San Francisco Avenue and the Los Angeles River. The value of the land on both sides of the trade is in question. (Jeff Gritchen / Press-Telegram)
LONG BEACH - Tom Dean had a Christmas wish -- a $50 million price tag for Los Cerritos Wetlands.
The Dec. 25 memo from Dean to Public Works Director Michael Conway focused on half of the 175 acres of wetlands that Dean owns in southeast Long Beach, which he hoped to swap for several city properties.
Ultimately, Dean was presented with a smaller, less lucrative deal -- 33.77 acres of wetlands in exchange for the city's 12.1-acre public service yard, which Conway pegged at $7.9 million.
But even that deal may be a gift, based on figures from property appraisals, city documents and an analysis by City Auditor Laura Doud released last week. Some critics say the council wasn't given the full picture of property values involved, even as the city faces a growing budget deficit.
"I don't blame Dean. Dean is not the issue. He's doing what a business investor does," community activist Terry Jensen, a former Redevelopment Agency board member, said. "But the city doesn't have to say yes. They should negotiate a deal that's in the best interest of the city, and they haven't done that."
When Conway presented the proposed land deal to the City Council on Feb. 10, he told them the 33.77 acres of wetlands were valued between $9.19 million and $36.78 million, depending on how much of the property could legally be developed. One week earlier, he gave a report valuing the property from $12 million to $18 million.
Numbers game
However, two independent property appraisals refute that: A 2003 appraisal of the wetlands conducted for the Trust for Public Land, a national environmental organization, and obtained through a public records request with the city by Jensen, places the value of the entire wetlands at $14.2 million. Doud's analysis estimates the 33.77 acres, if not developable, could be worth as little as $1.4 million, based on the 2003 review.
A second appraisal, conducted recently for environmental activist Tom Marchese, shows the value of 33.77 acres of wetlands at $6.9 million, and the city yard at $14.5 million.
At the other end of Long Beach, the public service yard next to the Los Angeles River has also had a schizophrenic valuation: In a Feb. 3 report to the mayor and council, Conway placed the value of the public service yard at about $12.65 million, which would shrink to $7.9 million after the city pays for demolition, environmental cleanup and relocation of a historic railroad depot there.
Furthermore, Conway has said that relocating public service yard functions to two possible sites would cost $500,000, while officials say they don't know how much renting or leasing those properties might cost.
Yet in June 2007, developer Martin Howard offered $17.3 million for the property, which the city turned down. That offer wasn't initially reported to the council.
Conway has told the council that the "dynamics of the economy" have caused property values to fluctuate.
Attempts to reach Conway and Dean last week were unsuccessful.
However, throughout the negotiations, Dean has avoided commissioning a delineation study of the wetlands, which would determine exactly how much of the property is truly wetlands and how much is developable. That would clear up any confusion about the land value, but could deflate Dean's asking price.
In an Oct. 14, 2008, e-mail to Dean, Conway said he, too, had little interest in appraisals.
"The PSY (public service yard) appraisal is a bit dated," he confided. "I purposely avoided appraisals so that value was not the primary focus of the trade."
Critics say they doubt Dean could get California Coastal Commission permission to develop the wetlands, which means they may be worth much less than Dean would hope.
Environmental attorney Mel Nutter, a former Coastal Commission chairman, said 24 of the 33.77 acres cannot be developed at this point because the state Coastal Commission has not certified a "business park" designation for the area - as city officials assert.
"It's not a legal designation," Nutter said. "We're not there yet."
Marchese said Dean should have to clean up the wetlands to even the scales, with a trade for the public service yard.
The land-swap plan would not include the oil rights, which will stay with Dean's company, LCW Partners LLC, that already operates several oil wells on the land. The city would then sell the wetlands to the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority for preservation and restoration.
"Unless we move some wells and talk about remediation, we're not being realistic," Marchese said. "We don't have a bunch of money."
Since 2003, values have fallen, Marchese said, adding that considerable cleanup costs had to be considered.
Uncertain funding
What will happen after the city swaps the properties is another matter of concern.
The Wetlands Authority, a joint powers agency in the public trust, is supposed to purchase the wetlands from the city to restore them.
But there is no guarantee that the authority will pay the full amount that the city "paid" in its land swap.
The authority would rely on state bonds to make the purchase, and the state might appraise the wetlands at a lower value than the city did.
If the sale is less, the city "would be effectively subsidizing acquisition (of the wetlands) with general fund dollars," Doud says in her report.
Furthermore, with the state's budget hobbled for lack of revenues, those bonds are frozen for now.
"In what decade are we going to get the money from the state? They're broke," Jensen said.
Budget pressures
Should the city end up footing part or all of the final bill for the wetlands, not to mention paying other costs associated with the public service yard work and relocation, that could strain city coffers.
Long Beach has been working to balance a $19.2 million general fund budget deficit this year, and may soon implement week-long unpaid furloughs for city workers. Over the next two fiscal years, officials expect a $54.8 million budget deficit.
Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, who has been the greatest skeptic of the wetlands swap on the council, said the city is too broke and the deal is too uncertain.
"These are financial risks that we are taking at a time that we just don't have the money to do this," Schipske said. "We need to stay where we are until things level out in the economy and we have a better chance to make more money from our assets. Now's not the time to be selling them off."
Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga said that if city properties are to be traded or sold, the money could be better used on something other than wetlands. For example, she said, the city needs $2 million to upgrade drainage systems in the Arlington Street area on the Westside in her 7th District, which floods every few years, displacing residents.
"I guess the question that we have to ask ourselves is would we rather have the balance (from a sale of the public service yard) to utliize for the needs that are out in the community or to lower the deficit, or for the wetlands," Uranga said.
Councilman Gary DeLong, whose 3rd District includes the wetlands and who has been the greatest proponent of the deal, said selling off city assets in such a way would be irresponsible.
"I do not believe that Long Beach residents want to mortgage their future," DeLong said. "They do not want to trade an existing asset for cash.
"I would never advocate to use one-time revenues, such as for the sale of city land, to pay for current expenses."
Schipske said the wetlands should be restored, but the deal should be rooted in reality.
"Those are not priceless," Schipske said. "There is a price put on that property and that should have been used to give some reference to the City Council on what we're swapping."
Elizabeth Lambe, executive director of Los Cerritos Land Trust, said the various figures need to be carefully examined.
"That's another reason to slow down," she said of the land-swap deal.
joe.segura@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1274
paul.eakins@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1278
4/28/09 Swine Flu Alert
Office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske
Fifth District
333 W. Ocean Blvd., 14th Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: 562.570.6932
e-Mail: district5@longbeach.gov
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Public Health Alert!! Swine Flu Epidemic
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Dear Long Beach Resident,
I have asked our City Department of Public Health and Human Services to provide a fact sheet on the current Swine Flu Epidemic and I am including it in this e-mail alert.
The Federal Center for Disease Control is recommending that the single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. There also are flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and prevent the flu.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office at: 562 570.6932 or better yet, contact your physician.
And take care of yourself!
Sincerely,
Gerrie
Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske | |
Notice from Ron Arias, Director
City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services
Swine Flu
The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) is actively monitoring the swine flu outbreak. We would like to assure our community that the Health Department is working very closely with Federal and State authorities to track the status of the outbreak.
A local team of public health professionals has been convened to provide heightened disease surveillance in the area, and our website has been updated to provide the latest educational information about protecting ourselves from the swine flu. The Health Department is trained and well-equipped to respond to public health emergencies and incidents. Our role is to control the spread of disease and epidemics.
As of April 24, 2009, we have no swine flu cases in Long Beach or Los Angeles County. While this incident is of critical concern, we are asking the community to remain calm. We encourage individuals to maintain their regular activities and to take active steps to avoid getting or passing the illness to others. Practice healthy behaviors. Wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds in warm soap and water, and sneeze or cough into your upper sleeves to prevent the spread of germs. If you are sick, remain at home and avoid public places. See your doctor immediately if you become will with the flu in order to get tested.
Again, please visit the Department's website at www.longbeach.gov/health for updates on the swine flu. We are working diligently to keep you and your family safe and healthy.
If you are healthy, what you can you do to stay healthy?
Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with warm soap and water. Alcohol based hand sanitizer is effective, but not as effective as washing your hands.
Avoid sick people.
Get plenty of rest and eat healthy foods.
Avoid tobacco and alcohol.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu or call the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services hotline at (562) 570-449 or visit our website at www.longbeach.gov/health.
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Fact Sheet -- Swine Flu
Swine Flu Fact Sheet
What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and does happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited.
What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.
How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus, which is a completely new virus, is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person, when people with influenza cough or sneeze. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touch their mouth or nose.
What should I do if I get sick?
If you have influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, see your doctor for testing. If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.
If you are sick:
See your doctor for testing.
Sneeze or cough into your upper sleeve (not your hands) or cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Do not go to school, work or public places.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical attention:
o Fast breathing or trouble breathing
o Young children not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or not interacting, or being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
o Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
o Fever with a rash
o Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
o Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
o Sudden dizziness or feeling like you will faint
o Confusion
o Severe or persistent vomiting
If you are healthy, what can you do to stay healthy?
Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with warm soap and water. Alcohol gel is effective, but not as effective as washing your hands.
Avoid sick people.
Get plenty of rest and eat healthy foods.
Avoid tobacco and alcohol.
For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ or call the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services hotline at (562) 570-4499. Visit www.longbeach.gov/health for updated information.
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Office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske
City of Long Beach
Long Beach, California 90802
562 570-6932 | | | |
4/27/09 From the Press Telegram
Planned Home Depot site near Los Cerritos Wetlands for sale
By Joe Segura, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/24/2009 05:08:15 PM PDT
LONG BEACH - The site of a failed Home Depot design center proposal near Los Cerritos Wetlands is up for sale.
Tom Dean of Studebaker, LB LLC, is asking for $18.9 million.
The site had been the center of an intense battle between Dean and environmentalists who asserted his proposed Home Depot project at Studebaker Road and Loynes Drive would create too many negative impacts on the neighboring Los Cerritos Wetlands.
During the battle, Dean abandoned the push for a Home Depot but shifted to another project, seeking permits to build an almost identical development on 16.5 acres at the same location.
The second project, which he apparently is abandoning, would have included a 102,513 square-foot home-improvement store, a 6,000-square-foot restaurant, a 2,000-square-foot outdoor eating area and a 12,000-square-foot retail pad. No tenant had been identified in the project.
Mike Murchison, a spokesman for Dean, could not be reached for comment Friday.
But the notice of sale says the 18.1 acres at 400 N. Studebaker Road of commercial and/or industrial zoned land provides "excellent development opportunities."
Dean also owns the Los Cerritos wetlands and is involved in land-swap negotiations that could give him several city-owned properties around Long Beach in exchange for the city taking ownership of the wetlands.
The home-improvement center property is separate from the wetlands, but faced rigorous
environmental scrutiny, which is what stopped the earlier Home Depot plan in the first place.
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled in December 2007 that a required city-approved environmental report was inadequate. Judge John A. Torribio said the report failed to address all issues, including whether Dean's property can be considered wetlands.
Dean later settled with the plaintiffs in the lawsuit - the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust and the University Park Estates Neighborhood Association - to cover their legal fees, and then Home Depot backed out of the project in August.
Long Beach attorney Mel Nutter, a former chairman of the state Coastal Commission, said the original California Environmental Quality Act issues would be the same, including whether the property's zoning can be changed from industrial to commercial.
4/22/09 From the press Telegram today
Land Trust wants Long Beach City Council to bar development on wetlands
Posted:04/21/2009 6:15 PM
By Joe Segura, Staff Writer
LONG BEACH - The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust board sought assurances Tuesday from the City Council that a possible wetlands land-swap deal would not result in any form of development on the site.
The environmentalists - with a goal of restoring the wetlands - didn't get exactly what they wanted at Tuesday's Council meeting, but the issue will come back to the Council May 5.
The Land Trust has insisted on assurances that there be no development at the East Long Beach site - and it wants a deed restriction as part any final land-swap deal.
The Council will review land-swap negotiations May 5.
The Council had previously endorsed a deed restriction, and environmentalists believed it would block possible development, including extension of Shopkeeper and Studebaker Roads through the property.
However, the environmentalists say they have learned that the council's intention Feb. 10 was to put the deed restriction in place as the wetlands parcel left the city's authority and was transferred to Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority - leaving it vulnerable to developers during the interim. Not so, insisted City Manager Pat West.
"That (any development) is not in our plan," he said.
However, the Land Trust wants to see the land-swap deal in writing.
"This would leave no real protection for the wetlands while in city hands from future councils or city officials ...," stated Elizabeth Lambe, executive director of the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust.
The Council voted 6-2 Feb. 10 to swap a 12.1-acre Public Service Yard in western Long Beach for 33.77 acres of Los Cerritos Wetlands in southeastern Long Beach.
The vote also authorized the city manager to execute a real estate exchange agreement with developer Tom Dean's LCW Partners, LLC, which owns the wetlands.
At the Feb. 10 council meeting, city land-swap negotiator, Public Works Director Mike Conway, cautioned against a deed restriction, contending it would lower the value of the property - and that the deed restriction should be held off for now.
City Attorney Robert Shannon called for the wetlands deal to return to the council so that the council and the public can get a full look at the agreement, which should be voted on in open session.
Councilwomen Gerrie Schipske and Rae Gabelich on Feb. 10 voted against the deal, citing concerns that the city hadn't done its due diligence in vetting the contract and evaluating the values of the properties involved.
A number of speakers Tuesday demanded the release of more city records of wetlands land-swap negotiations, but Chief Assistant City Attorney Heather Mahood insisted the material is protected by attorney-client privilege.
Environmentalists also want council discussion on the wetlands to be in public.
"The wrong way to do it is in the back room, and then bring it out to the public," Lambe said after Tuesday's Council meeting.
4/21/09 A lot of information to consider. Read the email to residents from Mike Ruehle BSRA president
Hello Belmont Shore Residents,
If you read my April BSRA newsletter regarding the citys disturbing conduct while attempting to acquire the Los Cerritos wetlands from Developer Tom Dean and the recent bulldozing of the wetlands, you know I am deeply concerned about the questionable dealings of Long Beach city staff and elected officials. Since publishing the April Newsletter, equally disturbing information continues to be uncovered daily. If you would like to receive a copy of the April newsletter, email me and I will send you a copy.
The purpose of this email is to educate residents about some of the questionable actions being undertaken by our elected officials. It appears the wetlands are not an issue in isolation. The wetlands acquisition and bulldozing may be a symptom of bigger problems in the way our city government is being operated.
If you are as equally disturbed by the information I provide below, please consider attending Tuesdays 5:00 pm City Council meeting to help support fellow residents in voicing our concerns to our elected city leaders. The item is #18 on the agenda per the below link. The Mayor and several Councilmembers, including Councilman DeLong are up for re-election in less than a year. Most have stated plans to run for re-election. I encourage you to attend Tuesdays City Council meeting to watch our elected leaders in action and decide whether you wish to vote to retain their services.
http://longbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=350459&GUID=B3AAAB59-BD5C-4917-9D8B-37A01C6A2CAD&Search=&Options=
In case you dont remember, the wetlands swap deal of 12 acres of developable public property for 33 acres of Mr. Deans wetlands was voted on and approved by Councilman DeLong and the gang of five (Councilmembers DeLong, Lowenthal, Andrews, Lerch and ODonnell) on February 10, 2009. The February 10th deal called for city staff to negotiate and execute the $25 million transaction without the opportunity for further review or input from City Council or the public. Moreover, Councilman DeLong and the gang of five also voted down Councilmembers Schipskes and Gabelichs request to bring the deal back before City Council for final approval so the public would have an opportunity to see what was agreed to (see below link).
http://longbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=325409&GUID=5AC1479F-2EC7-4BD2-B025-7D9627A4813F&Search=&Options=
Soon after this Council session, wetlands advocate Tom Marchese submitted a California Public Records Request Act and obtained 377 pages of disturbing email correspondence between the City and developer Tom Dean. These emails were subsequently sent to various newspaper reporters resulting in 69 newspaper articles being published by local and regional news media since March 18, 2009 (email me if you want the links to each article). New articles and questions continue to surface daily. In light of the disturbing information regarding the wetlands swap negotiation between Public Works Director Mike Conway and developer Tom Dean, Councilwoman Schipske requested the deal be returning to City Council on Tuesday, April 21, 2009.
http://schipskedistrict5journal.com/blog1/2009/03/22/we-need-another-look-at-wetlands-swap-deal/
Soon afterwards, City Attorney Shannon also came out in support of Councilman Schipskes request to bring the wetlands swap deal back to City Council for review (see below link), stating, "Im just not satisfied that city staff has passed on all the material points."
http://thedistrictweekly.com/2009/daily/writing-shotgun/city-attorney-bringing-land-swap-deal-back-to-council/?disqus_reply=7895703#comment-7895703
According to City Attorney Shannon, "it's the council's (city) charter-mandated responsibility" to bring the wetlands deal back before the public. However, that is not what City Attorney Shannon said during the February 10, 2008 City Council meeting when exactly the opposite was approved by City Council. After all, there were two Councilwomen and several citizens who spoke before City Council requesting to have the deal come back. Only after attention was drawn to the controversy did Mr. Shannon decide to change his mind.
http://www.lbreport.com/editorial/apr09/wetretr2.htm
A portion of the disturbing emails were published in the April BSRA newsletter. Without going into detail, the Public Record Request emails indicate the City began secret negotiations over a year ago to trade public property in exchange for Mr. Dean's wetlands. Mayor Foster is identified as approving numerous steps of the negotiations without knowledge of several Councilmembers and the public. Councilman DeLong was identified by Public Works Director Mike Conway, the Citys negotiator, as one of two Councilmembers who could be talked to in confidence about the deal. Mr. Conway specifically wrote about Mayor Fosters involvement in negotiating portions of the swap arrangement and also Mayor Fosters request to keep the wetlands deal quiet.
The wetlands deal was pushed before City Council twice. The first $100 million proposal to trade 175 acres of wetlands for 50 acres of developable city property went before City Council on November 18, 2009 per the below link. This was a surprise to both the public and several Councilmembers who learned a week earlier about the deal by reading about it in the District Weekly.
http://longbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=274610&GUID=2CF602F1-F867-46DA-A65B-B8B43D138592&Search=&Options=
The 50 acre for 175 acre deal failed for several reasons, mostly because city staff was unable to adequately answer questions posed by Councilmember Uranga. A second, scaled down deal was again quietly put together and later approved by City Council on February 10, 2009 to exchange 12 acres for 33 acres of wetlands.
Regarding both proposals, City Manager Pat West told City Council it was urgent to proceed with the deal quickly for fear Mr. Dean would lose his financing. However, the public records request email painted an opposite picture. According to the emails, it was Mr. Dean who was being pressed by the city to complete various steps of the deal. In fact at one point in the negotiations, Mr. Dean emailed Mr. Conway, If I am totally unrealistic we should maybe wait a few years and take a different tact.
On March 19, 2009, a little over one month later, Sean Hitchcock, the owner of 2h Construction Company in Signal Hill attracted attention when he began bulldozing an 8.38 acre section of the wetlands he claims to have purchased from Mr. Dean for $2.3 million. According to the Tax Assessor, no money changed hands. Mr. Dean is carrying the entire mortgage per the below link.
http://www.lbreport.com/news/mar09/wetsale.htm
Mr. Hitchcock claims he purchased the property to turn into a soccer field. An alternative theory reported by the District Weekly in the below link is that Mr. Dean sold the property for this elevated price to provide higher priced comps (real estate comparables) to help in negotiations of sale of Mr. Dean's remaining 145 acres of wetlands.
http://thedistrictweekly.com/2009/daily/writing-shotgun/no-really-why-did-tom-dean-sell-those-wetlands-to-sean-hitchcock/
I wont repeat the city staff and elected officials seven lies detailed in the January BSRA newsletter. However, I will say there have been several more since publishing the April Newsletter. I also wont repeat the newsletter details of how Mayor Foster and Councilman DeLongs gang of five have recently appointed four Planning Commissioners friendly to Mr. Deans efforts to rezone the wetlands to commercial property. From this point on, I provide new information relating to the citys conduct regarding the wetlands swap and the recent bulldozing of the wetlands.
Following the March 19th bulldozing of the wetlands, so many protest emails were sent to Councilman DeLongs office that it bogged down their system, forcing Chief of Staff Anne Cramer to delete most of the March 19th and 20th emails without looking at them. This is indicated in public records request emails secured by the LBReport.com. Councilman DeLong response to many of the emails he subsequently received were one of three form letters printed in the article at the below link.
http://www.lbreport.com/news/apr09/loycpra.htm
Despite the numerous emails and phone calls received by Councilman DeLongs office about the on-going wetlands bulldozing on March 19th and 20th, neither he nor any of his staff went to the wetlands to assist the environmental minded residents attempting to stop the destruction. It was City Manager West who arrived at the wetlands on the afternoon of March 20th after the destruction was complete. During the March 24, 2009 City Council meeting (see below link), Councilman DeLong was asked by a resident "Why didn't you come in your car and come down and help us? We needed help that day." Councilman DeLong chose not to respond.
http://www.lbreport.com/news/mar09/wetbul6.htm
Furthermore, neither Councilman DeLong nor any of his staff attended wetlands vigils organized by the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust (LCWLT) organization on March 27, 2009 and April 4, 2009. However, Councilmembers and staff members from other districts found the time to attend the vigils (see below link). Considering Councilman DeLongs newfound commitment to the environment, his absence was notable.
http://thedistrictweekly.com/2009/daily/writing-shotgun/save-it-dont-pave-it/?disqus_reply=7621716#comment-7621716
Councilman DeLongs absence at the March 31, 2009 Beer & Politics meeting conducted at Gallagher's Pub in Councilman DeLongs District 3 was also notable. Especially since bulldozed wetlands in Councilman DeLong's district was the topic of the meeting. His absence became increasing notable when the public was informed during this meeting that Councilman DeLong and Development Services Director Craig Beck had previously met with Mr. Hitchcock 2-weeks before the wetlands bulldozing to discuss building a soccer field. Though neither attended the Beer & Politics meeting, Director Beck later claimed he had informed Mr. Hitchcock of the permitting requirements during a previous meeting per below link.
http://thedistrictweekly.com/2009/daily/writing-shotgun/beck-says-he-warned-hitchcock-that-building-soccer-fields-would-be-illegal/#more-9303
However, this statement conflicts with other public records request emails obtained by LBReport.com which indicate Director Beck sent a letter to Mr. Hitchcock on March 23, 2009 detailing the permitting requirements to Mr. Hitchcock, 4-days after the property was bulldozed. Director Becks letter was in response to a proposal by Mr. Hitchcock to turn property owned by Mr. Hitchcock and also other wetlands property owned by Mr. Dean into soccer fields. It appears from the letter that Mr. Dean and Mr. Hitchcock were working together to bulldoze the wetlands (see below link).
http://www.lbreport.com/news/apr09/loycpra2.htm
It is now undisputed that Councilman DeLong and the city knew weeks before the bulldozing about the intention of Mr. Dean and Mr. Hitchcock's to turn sections of the wetlands into soccer fields. Public records request emails also make it clear this information was passed on to 4th District Councilman ODonnell before the bulldozing event occurred (see below link).
http://www.lbreport.com/news/apr09/loycpra.htm
At issue is why Councilman DeLong or Councilman ODonnell chose to withhold that information from the public and the LCWLT group dedicated to protecting those very same wetlands. Public records request emails indicate Mr. DeLong sought the LCWLT endorsement for the wetlands real estate swap with Mr. Dean at that same time he was meeting with Mr. Hitchcock about developing other portions of the wetlands. Councilman DeLong knew Mr. Hitchcock planned to develop another portion of the wetlands and failed to mention it to the LCWLT folks whose endorsement he was seeking.
Another issue is Councilman DeLong has failed to appear in any of numerous public venues to answer questions about his involvement in either the swap or the bulldozing of the wetlands. Councilman DeLong did not respond to the wetlands site in his own District when the bulldozing was going on. He did not attend the wetlands vigil in his own District organized by the LCWLT. He did not attend the Beer & Politics meeting in his own District to discuss his meeting with Mr. Hitchcock before the wetlands bulldozing occurred. Most recently, Councilman DeLong did not attend the April 14, 2009 City Council meeting when several members of the public asked questions and expressed their outrage over the land swap and bulldozing activities.
Councilman DeLong did finally appear in public at his prescheduled 3rd district meeting on April 9, 2009 (see below link). However, he avoided questions regarding the wetlands. Councilman DeLongs customarily asks everyone in the meeting to introduce and identify them selves. When it was my turn to introduce myself, I did so and added the comment that "I am looking forward to hearing the councilmans comments on his involvement in the wetlands." Councilman DeLong responded by pointed to a person sitting near me and saying "next." After introductions were made, Councilman DeLong gave his update of current issues in Long Beach. However Councilman DeLong ignored my request to openly discuss his involvement in the wetlands swap and bulldozing. He said exactly zero about the wetlands during his comment portion of the meeting. When finished, Councilman DeLong did not take questions from the audience. He immediately introduced his guest speakers.
http://www.lbreport.com/news/apr09/3ddstmet.htm
It appeared to me Councilman DeLong intended to complete his meeting without mentioning or discussing the wetlands. However, near the end of the meeting, members of the audience went off topic and began asking wetlands questions. In my opinion, Councilman DeLongs answers were evasive. For example, when a person questioned how the city was going to pay for the $2.5 million remediation cost and $500,000 relocation cost of the Public Service Yard being given to Tom Dean by the city in exchange for Mr. Deans wetlands, Councilman DeLong said nothing. After a few moments, Assistant City Manager Frick stood up and said the cost was included in the exchange. When asked whether the money to remediate the property would come from the citys bankrupt general fund, they left the question unanswered and promptly adjourned the meeting.
Another interesting issue is whether the city is pursuing legal remedies and penalties for Mr. Hitchcocks unpermitted bulldozing and willful violation of zoning codes the city claims were clearly explained to him by Development Services Director Beck. I spoke with a person who attended the March 24, 2009 meeting between the City and Sean Hitchcock, days after the wetlands bulldozing. I was told the city agreed in THAT MEETING to not fine Mr. Hitchcock. However, that is not what city staff attending that meeting told the public.
When originally asked this question on March 20, 2009 (see below link), City Manager West said, "he is not sure whether penalties will be enforced, but that the City will meet with the owner early next week to discuss the development process."
http://www.lbpost.com/specialreport.php?id=1&item=2226
Four days later on March 24, 2009 (see below link), City Manager Pat West advised City Council the city would be pursuing prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. Furthermore, he stated "that he's lodged a complaint with the state Coastal Commission over the destruction of sensitive habitat near Los Cerritos Wetlands."
http://www.presstelegram.com/search/ci_11989537?IADID=Search-www.presstelegram.com-www.presstelegram.com
Subsequent phone calls to the Coastal Commission indicated the City had not filed a formal written complaint.
When asked about the penalties to be imposed on the contractor on March 31, 2009, Assistant City Manager Suzanne Frick stated at the Beer & Politics meeting, "What we are discovering is that the City of Long Beach may not have great remedies to deal with people who do illegal construction.This has been an educational process all the way aro |
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Graffiti - We have been in contact with the Long Beach Department of Parks and Recreation and they have had the graffiti in Channel View park Painted over. We informed them the that painted over graffiti was done in such a way with non blending paint and that it makes the park look bad. We are waiting for a response.
Graffiti painted on the bridge over Loynes is on Los Angeles County Land and Long Beach can only ask them to paint it over. We have painted it out on our own but it really needs to be done by the county. We will contact our councilman Gary Delongs office to see if they can expedite the process in the future. We will let you know what they do.
NEW GRAFFITI AT CHANNEL VIEW PARK
There is fresh graffiti on every lamp post trash can also on our walk ways, trees and the back of the UPENA sign. The Loynes bridge was also tagged again.
This continues to be a problem. I reported it to the city, lets see how soon they react. I will not post pictures of the graffiti so as not to glorify the kids art work. I have also taken the pictures off of their previous work.
Once again if you see them doing it or after its done, report it to the graffiti hot line.
5/21/07 These little artists are so proud of their work. We are happy to see it go.
4/12/07 From the Grunnion Gazette
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Substantial Changes
In SEADIP Draft Plan |
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By Harry Saltzgaver
Executive EditorMore housing on the east side of Pacific Coast Highway north of Second Street and no housing on the parcel where SeaPort Marina Hotel is are just two recommendations in the draft SEADIP Development Standards being unveiled in public meetings this month.
SEADIP (Southeast Area Development Improvement Plan) has been the primary land use document in the area for more than 20 years. However, most recent projects have sought, and won, variances and conditional uses from the original plan.
That and two major projects a proposed Home Depot Center on Studebaker Road at Loynes Drive and a Lennar Homes multi-use project with residential units at the current SeaPort Marina Hotel prompted Third District Councilman Gary DeLong to form a study committee. The group has been meeting privately since November.
A draft revision was completed early this month, and DeLong has scheduled a series of meetings with community groups as well as two public meetings and hearings before the Planning Commission.
Were trying to go through a process so when development comes, the community gets what it wants, not get stuck with something they dont want, DeLong said. I want to stress that this is a draft proposal, as in changes can be made. Thats what these meetings are for.
Both the Home Depot and the Lennar Homes projects are stalled, waiting for action at the state Coastal Commission. DeLong said he was uncertain whether projects in the pipeline would be impacted if the revisions are approved, but noted that both already are seeking variances.
DeLong had been criticized for conducting the committee meetings behind closed doors. He countered that the committee was a diverse one, and the small group made it possible to get things done. Public opinion is the phase taking place now, he added.
The revision breaks SEADIP into 15 distinct use areas, with some described under current use and others by owner. They also correspond roughly with original SEADIP Subareas.
The parcel identified as SeaPort Marina Hotel is suggested to remain with a hotel as the only allowable use. That area would have a height maximum of 60 feet.
The proposed Home Depot site, now known as the Tank Farm and zoned for general industrial use, would change its allowable use to community serving retail. It is uncertain whether the proposed center would meet the definition for that use.
Perhaps the most drastic change in use being proposed is at the parcel east of Loynes Drive along the north side of Pacific Coast Highway. The property currently is leased for commercial use, and is the site of the Gaslamp Restaurant and the Golden Sails Hotel.
According to DeLong, that lease has less than a decade to run. If it is redeveloped, the SEADIP revision would have its allowable use change to multi-family residential. It also would have a 60-foot height limit.
Another place to add housing, according to the revision, would be the triangular piece of open space on the southeast corner of Loynes Drive and Studebaker Road. That parcel could accommodate up to 79 single-family homes.
That proposal is sure to be fought by environmentalists. It is across the Los Cerritos Channel from the Los Cerritos Wetlands and many consider it either a degraded wetlands or important buffer land.
Residents at Belmont Shores Mobile Estates likely will be happy to hear that the revision would maintain that use.
Bixby Ranch Company holdings currently are degraded wetlands and an active oil field, but portions are earmarked for a business park and residential development under the original SEADIP plan. The revision says only that a Joint Powers Authority is in negotiations to buy the property as wetlands.
DeLong and his group have three meetings with neighborhood associations in the next week, then will conduct a public study session with the Planning Commission at noon next Thursday (April 19). There will be two public meetings at Lowell Elementary School, with the first at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 28, and the second at 6:30 p.m. May 9.
Andy Kincaid chaired the SEADIP Advisory Committee. Other members were Bob Alperin, Colleen Bentley, Sandi Hill, Peter Hogenson, George Jones, Leslie Turpin, Rich Turrentine and Gary Woodruff.
For details about SEADIP or the public meetings, call DeLongs office at 570-6300. |
3/29/07 From the Press Telegram
Development plans evolve
Local activist Pat Towner fights to join the committee shaping development near the Los Cerritos Wetlands
By Joe Segura, Staff writer
Article Launched: 03/29/2007 12:00:00 AM PDT
A flock of birds flies over the Los Cerritos Wetlands on Tuesday. At left, a view looking west toward Second Street inside Bixby Ranch land. Theres some traffic on nearby streets. Pat Towner, a local activist, is concerned that development in the area will prove dangerous for the sensitive Los Cerritos Wetlands.
(Photos by Stephen Carr / Staff photographer)
When Pat Towner glances across Los Cerritos Wetlands on the Eastside of Long Beach, she sees dark clouds on the horizon, in the form of high density populations and buildings double their current size - all dangers, she contends, to the sensitive wetland ecosystems.
And all dangers, she adds without a pause, to her, to her family, and to neighbors and nearby neighborhoods, thanks to potential pollution from bumper-to-bumper gridlock traffic.
The high density populations and taller buildings are being mapped out in a proposed revision of the Southeast Area Development and Improvement Plan - a policy that governs development codes for the area. The effort is being led by 3rd District City Councilman Gary DeLong, who has formed a committee to advise him on a draft of the revision.
The revision has been hammered out behind closed doors, and Towner has been pushing - even with a formal complaint to the City Attorney's office - to force the advisory committee's proceedings into the public arena. To date, her plan has had no success.
However, Towner isn't throwing in any towel, although the proposed SEADIP plan should be made public Friday, allowing for public review before workshops now scheduled for the city's Planning Commission meeting April 5.
By then, Towner predicts, people will be allotted three minutes at the commission podium - limiting, she said, a speaker's ability to discuss a complicated planning policy and ending up with high population density, traffic gridlock patterns, threatened wetland ecosystems and potential health hazards.
Not so, according to DeLong, who said residents will embrace the final plan.
"Neither the city or committee are the final decision
A heron flies over the Los Cerritos Wetlands on Tuesday. A plan for taller buildings in the area is being mapped out in a proposed revision of the Southeast Area Development and Improvement Plan, which governs development codes for the area. The effort is being led by 3rd District City Councilman Gary DeLong.
(Stephen Carr / Staff Photographer) (makers)," he said, adding that he expects the SEADIP plan to evolve. "The plan will be what the community wants, at the end of the day."
Towner training
Towner's concerns about closed meetings are rooted in processes she recalled as always being open to public scrutiny.
She had the ear of former Councilwoman Jan Hall, who chaired a committee's drafts of the original SEADIP policy.
Towner also was among the authors of the city's Local Coastal Plan, which involves a larger area and includes the SEADIP area mostly along Pacific Coast Highway near the city's eastern border.
And she served a short stint as a member of the South Coast Coastal Commission, in the days when the panel was split between the northern and southern parts of the state.
As a member of the commission, she had been a persistent proponent of public access to coastal resourcesand to the process of policy development and decis | | | |
