About the Bel Air Hills Association

***BAHA’s Annual Membership Drive***  January and February are the months when BAHA strives to have all existing members renew their memberships and encourages all nonmembers to support their community by joining BAHA. But memberships are accepted at any time. This year, in addition to our usual mailed letter and membership form, notices were emailed, making it very easy to join or renew with just a few clicks, and even sign up for automatic membership renewals directly from the email. Joining is easy – just go to https://www.baha.la and click on the green “Join/Renew Membership” tab.  Our website contains a lot of information about BAHA, such as what we do, and the benefits of membership. If you are unsure whether you have renewed for 2024, or prefer to join by mail and can’t locate the membership mailer you received in the mail (or didn’t get one), you can email us at [email protected] and we will be happy to help.

***Welcome to 2024*** The Board of Directors of Bel Air Hills Association wishes all our members and the entire community, a happy, healthy and prosperous 2024!

***Winter Lights Celebration***  On December 3rd, BAHA hosted our annual Winter Lights Celebration.  Tasty cookies, warm drinks, and friendly conversations seemed to take the chill from the autumn air.    Our little neighbors enjoyed the creative arts and crafts tables provided and monitored by BAHA member Laila Hussain.  The gathering was open to all local residents, and BAHA welcomed several new members who chose to sign up for membership during this time.  After a few technical difficulties, all the trees are now lit with new low voltage LED lights.  Even though the Winter Lights Party is over, BAHA hopes the beauty of the lights will continue to bring joy to the neighborhood during this lovely and festive time of year.

***Winter Lights Celebration - December 3rd***  A great way to kick off the holiday season could be at BAHA’s annual Winter Lights Celebration planned for Sunday, December 3rd from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Roscomare Park (south end of Roscomare Road). Expect fun activities for the kids, refreshments for all, and good conversations with your neighbors. It’s a festive time of the year and we hope to see many of our neighbors there.  

All residents of Bel Air Hills are invited, regardless of membership in BAHA. However, becoming a BAHA member is simple and easy by just going to our website at https://www.baha.la. In addition, a membership table will be available at the park to assist those with questions or who wish to join.

***Fall Festival—October 15***    BAHA’s annual Fall Festival will be held at Roscomare Park (south end of Roscomare Road) on Sunday, October 15, 2023, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Expect fun activities for the kids, treats for all, and good conversations with your neighbors. Residents, young or young-at-heart, are welcome to attend in costume. Those residents who attended the 2022 Fall Festival are certain to have happy memories of the event. We hope to see everyone again on October 15.

***Fall Festival—Save the Date***    BAHA’s annual Fall Festival will be held at Roscomare Park (south end of Roscomare Road) on Sunday, October 15, 2023, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.  Expect fun activities for the kids, treats for all, and good conversations with your neighbors.  All residents of Bel Air Hills are invited, regardless of whether or not you are a member of BAHA.  However, becoming a BAHA member is simple and easy by just going to our website at https://www.baha.la.

***Roscomare Road Elementary School (RRES) Opening—Increased Auto and Pedestrian Traffic Alert!***  RRES is scheduled to open for instruction on Monday, August 14. School hours will be between 8:15 a.m. and 2:43 p.m., with students arriving and departing at various times. Traffic around the school during those times will be difficult, especially during the first week of school. There will be many young children walking in the area on school days. Please drive with care to keep our young scholars safe. Thank you.

***Wildlife Ordinance Update #1***  On June 13th, our Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, together with CD-4 Councilwoman Nithya Ramen, sent a letter to the City Council Planning and Land Use Management Committee (PLUM Committee) requesting that the PLUM Committee reinstate a regulation in the Wildlife Ordinance that had been removed by the Planning Department due to community opposition. The regulation that Yaroslavky wanted reinstated would reduce the allowed square footage for all homes that have slopes on their properties greater than 60 percent (which is equivalent to 31 degrees). Many, if not most, homes in our neighborhood are on properties that have slopes greater than 31 degrees, and would therefore have their allowed home size reduced.  While the City would not require you to remove parts of your existing home, you may be affected if you wish to add on to your home, or if your home burns down in a non-natural disaster (such as a house fire). Yaroslavsky and Ramen also requested that all square footage in basements be counted toward a home’s allowed square footage. On June 20th, with only 3 days notice to the public, and despite the objections of the majority of constituents at the meeting, the PLUM Committee approved the Wildlife Ordinance with Yaroslavsky and Ramen’s more restrictive amendments. The next stop for the Wildlife Ordinance is the City Attorney, and thereafter the Wildlife Ordinance would go to the full City Council to approve it into law. 

***BAHA Annual Members’ Meeting***  The annual members’ meeting of BAHA was held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in the auditorium of the Roscomare Road Elementary School.  Presentations were made, followed by questions and answers, by Katy Yaroslavsky, Councilwoman for District 5; James Allen, Senior Lead Officer for West Los Angeles Area Police Department; and Captain Kerns from Los Angeles Fire Department Station 109.  Robin Greenberg, President, introduced each Board candidate for the 2023-2024 year, and declared them as the new Board.  The new Board members are:

Bruce Hofert                   Wendy Morris  

Inta Kipper                        Andrew Paden

Richard Kipper                Jacqui Stafsudd

Sandra McGarry              Shelly Steier

Kristina Moot                   Patricia Templeton

***BAHA Annual Members’ Meeting***   The annual members’ meeting of BAHA is scheduled for Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in the auditorium of the Roscomare Road Elementary School.  The meeting will commence promptly at 7:00 pm, with check-in beginning at 6:30 pm.  As noted in the April Newsbites, our new Councilmember for District 5, Katy Yaroslavsky, is scheduled to speak at 7:00 pm.  Community nonmembers will have the option to join BAHA.  Membership forms will be available at the door.  Payment for annual dues may be made by either check or credit card.   Notices to members have gone out and include more details.