August Newsbites

***Proposed Wildlife Ordinance*** The importance of the proposed Ordinance to Bel Air Hills was emphasized in previous issues of Newsbites. As was stated: “This proposal contains many potential restrictions and limitations for existing properties in the Bel Air Hills area when a property owner performs certain activities, with respect to their property, that would subject them to these provisions.” There is still time to make your voices heard. For your comments to be considered in the City Planning Department’s revisions to its recommendations to the City Planning Commission (CPC), send comments to [email protected] by August 22, 2022 at 5 pm. After August 22nd, comments can still be submitted to the CPC. Following action by the CPC, comments should be provided directly to the City Council. Your comment letter should reference: Wildlife Ordinance, #CPC-2022-3413-CA, CPC- 2022-3712-ZC. For information on the proposed Wildlife Ordinance, go to https://planning.lacity.org/plans-policies/wildlife-pilot-study.

***Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project*** This ongoing project is of high importance to the Bel Air Hills area. Metro is evaluating six alternative proposals for high-speed transit connecting the San Fernando Valley and the Westside, including three monorail alternatives and three heavy rail alternatives. To inform yourself about this project, go to https://www.metro.net/projects/sepulvedacorridor. To sign up for updates as the project moves along, go to https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/KsXDI8K/MetroSepulveda.

***Tree Watering is Important***  Although watering by sprinklers is limited to two days per week, hand watering is allowed any day before 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. provided that the hose is equipped with a self-closing water shut-off device. There is no specific time limit for this type of watering, but excessive or wasteful watering resulting in runoff, is not allowed.  Trees are important to our environment and can remain healthy during the drought.  Depending upon the type of tree, most mature trees need deep watering once or twice a month.  Adding a layer of mulch on the soil around trees helps retain moisture.  There are many good sites on the internet that address tree health.  For example: https://www.treepeople.org.   In spite of the drought, lets keep our trees healthy.  They add much to the beauty of our area, while keeping air temperatures cooler and air quality better.

***Transporation Demand Management Program*** For those of you who might have an interest in the increasing traffic congestion in Los Angeles, LA City Planning and LA Department of Transportation recently released revised drafts for the proposed Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program update for public review and comment. The proposed TDM Program update aims to reduce the need for drive-alone vehicle trips by increasing transportation options and accessibility throughout the City. It would require new development projects over a certain size to implement strategies such as supporting transit, telecommuting, walking, carshare, and other sustainable travel options that reduce vehicle trips. A public hearing was held on August 2, 2022. However, public comment will continue to be accepted throughout the review and adoption process. For this phase of the process, comments should be submitted via email by August 15 at 5:00 p.m.. You should include case number CPC-2021-3141-CA in the subject line of your comment. Send comments on the draft TDM Program update to: [email protected]. You can find the revised drafts of the TDM Ordinance and TDM Program Guidelines here.

***Emergency Preparedness Goal of the Month*** BAHA’s Emergency Preparedness Committee’s August goal of the month: The Los Angeles Times has a newsletter entitled Unshaken. It is a guide to earthquake readiness and resilience. For example, their one-year anniversary letter discusses the latest developments in quake insurance and seismic retrofitting grants, as well as the status of ShakeAlert, which could affect how you prepare for the next big quake. To subscribe, go to: https://www.latimes.com/topic/unshaken.