GAME ON!

Important:

COMMUNITY HEARING ON THE MAR VISTA SOCCER FIELD FENCE TO TAKE PLACE MONDAY DECEMBER 3, 2007 AT 7PM, MAR VISTA REC CENTER

"Mukri said in an interview Friday that every council office has been informed of how much Quimby money it had and that it takes time to find effective ways to spend the money."[Los Angeles Times article, 10-20-2007 "Few parks, but L.A. is sitting on pile of green" by Steve Hymon]

We ALL invested months to find those ways, then LARAP changed the rules.

Our community consensus effort was red carded without any explanation on September 10th

On September 10th, Rec and Parks presentation of the proposed master plan for Mar Vista Rec Center was held.

It was billed as the first of two meetings for public comment.

“the Department of Recreation and Parks requires a community process and as part of that community process when presenting plans we never present them as Final plans, as this denotes meetings and decisions were made without the larger community having input… Once we present the concepts and receive input then final plans are developed."

The plan shown included a soccer field fence on the existing mow strip, a placement deemed too close to the touchline for the sideline safety of parents and players by youth soccer proponents. A couple of cut outs for bleachers and a small space on the Palms side of the field were also shown.

This layout represented a radical departure from the community driven compromise MVCC Blueprint Plan for the soccer field, which was worked out over several months by all parties, including residents who initially complained.

It's NOT about the money, either:

"...some council districts have significant sums of unspent money. Councilman Bill Rosendahl's district, on the city's far west side, has nearly $12 million yet to be earmarked." [Los Angeles Times article 10-20-2007 , "Few parks, but L.A. is sitting on pile of green" by Steve Hymon]

Yet, I and the audience were told by Rec and Parks staff there would be NO discussion allowed on fence placement and safety, or cost saving design alternatives. It was a 'done deal'; 'there is no Blueprint plan.'

Rec and Parks refused to receive any larger community input on fence location.

Mar Vista was silenced.


Call me crazy, but I found it unusual--and unacceptable--to be told by another City chartered entity that I, a duly elected, certified neighborhood council representative, could not ask questions about safe design at a public meeting about a major public works project at a public park within my community council's boundaries.

That's my job-to ask these questions on behalf of the stakeholders I represent and to get answers.

I drafted a resolution, and took the matter back through the Mar Vista Community Council Urban Planning/Land Use Committee, the Recreation and Open Space Enhancement Committee, and the full MVCC Board of Directors.

The Mar Vista community’s support for a compromise on safe soccer field fence placement and design was reaffirmed unanimously by the MVCC BOD.

I’ve asked the CD11 office to obtain both a copy of the September 10th soccer fence site plan and an advance copy of this ‘final’ PUBLICLY funded project proposed layout for a PUBLIC PROP K soccer field enclosure at a REGIONAL PUBLIC PARK.

I hope to post these plans here on my blog so you, the PUBLIC, can exercise your right & evaluate the proposed design of the soccer field fence for field utility and safety--the primary concerns of all of us who support youth soccer activities.

COME OUT ON MONDAY DECEMBER 3RD, 7 PM AND BE HEARD.

DON'T BE SILENCED.

GAME ON!

The MVCC resolution:

Whereas, the Mar Vista Community Council recognizes the significant community building and health benefits of recreation activities with regard to well being of Mar Vista stakeholders, and

Whereas, the Mar Vista Community Council recognizes Mar Vista Recreation Center as a key resource providing opportunities for these activities within MVCC boundaries,

Be It Resolved that the Mar Vista Community Council therefore re-affirms its support of its motion for a 3Blueprint for a Better Mar Vista Recreation Center and Parks that it passed March 13, 2007 as a compromise document between the various community groups with a strong stake in park usage.

Be It Also Resolved that the Board of Directors of the MVCC therefore asks the General Manager of the Department of Recreation and Parks and his team to work in cooperative partnership with the MVCC and the Mar Vista Community in order to better implement these community goals and objectives for the benefit of all Mar Vista Stakeholders.