Flowers are in full bloom at White Point Nature Preserve

Come join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for an inside look at the White Point Nature Preserve on Saturday, March 29th. This is the first of a series of events called, “Nature Center without Walls.” Led by an experienced naturalist, you will be taken on a moderate hike through the preserve and introduced to many of the secrets and treasures of White Point, often overlooked by the casual visitor. There will be a fun nature craft activity for the kids and an information booth on the exciting projects happening at the preserve. Future events will highlight other interesting facets of the Preserve. The hike this month begins at 9am in the White Point parking lot and the information booth will be available until 1pm. Please stay tuned for future dates and topics.

UPDATE: Another nature walk is scheduled for Saturday, April 19 at 9 a.m. There will also be a monthly information booth that day until noon featuring an update on the projects happening at White Point, merchandise for sale and a free nature craft for the kids.

Related Links:
Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy
White Point Nature Preserve
California Native Plant Society

The Palisades Residents Association received a “heads up” email from our local LAPD Senior Lead Officer Joe Buscaino regarding recent burglaries in the Palisades:

Be advised that we have had a couple burglaries in your area within the last week…Unfortunately, there is no suspect nor vehicle description…see details below….

Location #1:
2700 [block] Walker Avenue. Occurred on 03/13 between 4pm-10pm. Susp pried bedroom door with unk object and took property.

Location #2:
800 [block] w. 28TH Street. Occurred on 03/14 between 1230-530pm. Susp pried bathroom window open with unk object and took property.

Please continue to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

Remember to lock all your doors and windows, keep garage doors closed and report any suspicious behavior to the police.

The Palisades Residents Association will be holding their annual meeting on Tuesday, May 13th. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear from key community representatives and to share your concerns and desires for the Palisades and elect a board of directors to represent you. A social gathering with refreshments will start at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will start precisely at 7:00 p.m.

Palisades Residents’ Association
Annual Meeting
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
6:30 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
White Point Elementary School
1410 Sylvius Ave.

Invited speakers:

• Councilwoman Janice Hahn
• LAPD Sr. Lead Officer Joe Buscaino
• Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Director Andrea Vona
• LAUSD South Region Development Director Rod Hamilton.

This would also be an excellent time to renew your membership with the Palisades Residents’ Association. We look forward to seeing you there!

[UPDATE: There are 17 positions on the board of directors and we currently have seven directors. If you would like to help your community and join our board of directors please email the PRA at pra @ sanpedropalisades .org]

Click above to open larger image.

Thank you to all of you who attended the Palisades Residents’ Association monthly meeting Tuesday night. It was standing room only for 60+ people filling the room and the hallways!

Many concerns about the proposed South Region High School #15 (SRHS#15) were voiced at the meeting such as [This list has now been updated with comments from the CEQA meeting 3/13]:

• Traffic: The proposed high school may be an annex to San Pedro High School and there may be an increase in bus trips to and from SPHS. How will the traffic study be conducted? Will it be like the study on Paseo del Mar where they studied traffic on a Tuesday and Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm? Will students from outside the area be bussed to the end of the peninsula as they are at San Pedro High School? There is already much transient traffic due to people visiting our parks, the coast, beaches and Point Fermin park and it’s many performances.
• Alma Street entrance: Alma Street is too narrow, too curvy, there is no sidewalk and there have been many accidents. One resident spoke about how her garage door has been replaced 17 times and there have been at least 6 injury accidents at Alma and 37th St.
• Parking: 75 parking spaces for 1,215 students plus faculty and staff is ridiculously low. Minors will not be able to carpool to school as 16-year old drivers can not have passengers under age 25.
• Crime: Fears of incidents of graffiti and vandalism increasing.
• Noise Pollution: Potential noise from school marching bands and athletic games in this canyon area. Will noise studies include how the shape of the geography and the amount of constant moisture in the air will carry sound further?
• Light Pollution: Lights from athletic fields may intrude on surrounding properties. Would lights be left on all night to deter crime but add to light pollution?
• Air Pollution: The MATES III study has shown the Angels Gate area to be highly polluted. Dr. Gene Ospital, the health Officer for the AQMD, states the AQMD recommends against placing children and sensitive groups such as elderly people in areas of known bad air quality. Do you want your child playing outdoor sports here?
• Class Size: Class sizes will not decrease and will actually remain at about 36 kids per classroom.
• Milken Outdoor Experience Center: How will this be impacted by a high school next door?
• Wildlife: The long-term impact on foxes, owls, osprey, eagles, PV blue butterfly, etc. as well as the impact during construction to the animals at the Marine Mammal Care Center and International Bird Rescue Center.
• Property Values: Will they go down?
• Police response time: Police will most likely be needed to respond to more calls in the area and there are already complaints about slow response times.
• Water Runoff and Landslides: This is a known area of previous landslides. Putting down more concrete will increase water runoff.
• Land Pollution: This site is former military property where there has been hand grenade training, tear-gas testing. Elevated levels of lead, copper, mercury, nickel and zinc have been found on property. Could there also be arsenic or DDT?
• Historical Significance: The former military base, it’s buildings and surrounding rock wall have national historical significance.

The Palisades Residents’ Association board has voted to oppose South Region High School #15 as it is proposed.

Today we have learned of the LAUSD’s 30-day comment period for residents. This comment period started March 7 and will close April 7 [UPDATE: After several requests the comment period has been extended to 60-days so that residents and the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council has time to review the information. The new due date is Monday, May 5.]. The best way for residents to express their concerns to LAUSD is in writing. Please study the Notice of Preparation (NOP) and Initial Study for SRHS #15 which can be downloaded by clicking the following link: http://www.laschools.org/project-status/attach/56.40092/SRHS15IS-NOPFINAL.pdf

In this 82-page document you will find no mention of an 810-student high school. All the numbers stated in the NOP are for a 1,215-student high school with 75 parking spaces. Here is who to contact at LAUSD regarding your concerns about how the proposed high school may effect the local environment covered under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA):

Hoan Tang
CEQA Project Manager/Consultant
Los Angeles Unified School District
Office of Environmental Health & Safety
1055 W. 7th St., 9th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Tel: 213-893-7419 **JUST ADDED**
Fax: 213-893-7412
Email: ceqa-comments@laschools.org
(Please write “South Region High School No. 15″ in the subject line.)

John Anderson
CEQA Project Manager
(same address as above)
Tel: 213-893-7424
Email: john.anderson@lausd.net
(Please write “South Region High School No. 15″ in the subject line.)

To be placed on the postal mailing list for LAUSD notices regarding SRHS #15 contact: **JUST ADDED**
Roberta Jones-Booker
Community Outreach
roberta.jones-booker@lausd.net
Tel: 213-893-6802 or 800-704-1267

A petition has been started by concerned citizens and is available at the Corner Store, 1118 W. 37th St. at Barbara St.

Related Links:
LAUSD Project Documents
R Neighborhoods Are 1
AQMD Mates III Study