Oaks News Archive 2010
An estimated 300 people (at least!), some small and some not so small, enjoyed another fun (and safe) Halloween Walk in The Oaks. We owe a great deal of gratitude to Tom LaBonge, our City Councilmember, for sponsoring the city fees that permitted us to close Park Oak Drive to traffic for the evening. See a small sampling here of the wonderfully inventive costumes shown off at the 2010 edition of this annual Oaks event.
For the next three to four months, UCLA researchers will be conducting a study of bobcats in Griffith Park. The study will involve live trapping of bobcats at relatively hidden, remote spots of the park. When captured, the cat will be anesthetized, blood sample drawn, and ear tagged for later identification. Then the cat will be released.If any Griffith Park hikers should see one of these traps, be assured they are for official use. Also, it is important that they not be disturbed. Please pass the word around. [continued here]
Equipment Thefts in the Oaks
Recently there have been a number of thefts of equipment from gardeners' and contractors' trucks here in The Oaks. These thefts occurred while the trucks were left unattended in front of homes, in some cases for just short periods of time. Anyone who works on your property might benefit from a warning: valuable tools left on an open truck bed may be at risk.
If something is stolen from a truck, you should encourage your contractor or gardener to file a police report, since that is what will get the LAPD to pay attention to what seems to be a growing trend in our neighborhood. The report must be filed by the owner of the stolen property; homeowners cannot file for their contractors.
If something is stolen from a truck, you should encourage your contractor or gardener to file a police report, since that is what will get the LAPD to pay attention to what seems to be a growing trend in our neighborhood. The report must be filed by the owner of the stolen property; homeowners cannot file for their contractors.
New Water Conservation Ordinance in Effect
A revision to the Water Conservation Ordinance took effect recently. Sprinkler systems can now be run on three different days of the week, depending on whether the lot's address ends in an odd or even number. Residents with odd-numbered street addresses – ending in 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 – are allowed to use their sprinkler systems on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and residents with even-numbered street addresses – ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 – can use their sprinkler systems on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The time is limited to 8 minutes, either before 9 am, or after 4 pm.Hand-watering is allowed any day of the week, before 9 am and after 4 pm, provided that you use a self-closing water shut- off nozzle on your hose when watering outdoors. The Water Conservation Ordinance was changed to simplify the water conservation phases and minimize pressure fluctuations in the water distribution system by assigning different watering days to odd and even- numbered street addresses.
More information is available at the LADWP website at www.ladwp.com, including a Q&A sheet and a fact sheet.
Neighborhood Beautification
Canyon Drive resident Sylvia Jacobson with the Pyrus tree recently planted in front of her home by the Oaks Homeowners Association. The hope is that the tree, when it grows a little larger, will help camouflage the unsightly cellular transmission equipment T-Mobile installed on a city pole in front of Sylvia's home.
Milan Herzog
1908 - 2010
1908 - 2010
Long-time Oaks resident Milan Herzog passed at home late on Tuesday,
April 20th, a few months short of his 102nd birthday. Milan was happy to
have his wife Shanta's unrelenting love and care all the way up to
his time of parting.
Oaks Fundraiser Night at Vermont Restaurant
On Tuesday night, March 23rd, Oaks residents filled (mostly) Vermont Restaurant to support the annual Oaks Night. Oaks board members Holly Purcell, Rainer Standke, John Saurenman, Gerry Hans, Jonathan Corob and Bob Young were waiters for the evening and managed to get most of the orders to the correct tables. City Councilman Tom LaBonge showed up unexpectedly to offer moral support for the amateur waiter corps. All tips earned on Tuesday night went to the work of the Oaks Homeowners Association. If you weren't there that night, you missed a wonderful dinner and the chance to order board members around. So we hope we'll see you next year to support your Homeowners Association. Shown above, from left to right, are Vermont Restaurant owner Chris Diamond, Bob Young, City Councilman Tom LaBonge, Jonathan Corob, John Saurenman and Rainer Standke.
Oaks HOA Donates $1,000 for Cahuenga Peak at Annual Meeting
Oaks President Bob Young presents Councilmember Tom LaBonge with a $1,000 check towards the purchase of Cahuenga Peak. Once purchased the land will become part of Griffith Park.
Our California Assembly Man Mike Feuer addresses the audience at the 2010 Annual Meeting.
Oaks Hillside Regulations Pass City Council
March 12, 2010
This morning the Oaks "D" Regulations - the permanent hillside development regulations specific to the Oaks - were passed unanimously by City Council. There was no comment, no opposition and it was over in minutes. The measure is anticipated to be signed by the Mayor next week and then will become law after a month long publishing period.
Mow Down Air Pollution: Trade-In for an Electric Lawn Mower
Here is a chance to improve quality of life for your neighbors and for yourself: get rid of your gasoline-powered lawn mower and exchange it for a battery-powered mower. The South Coast Air Quality Management District is sponsoring a program called "Mow Down Air Pollution", offering LA, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino county residents an opportunity to trade in their gasoline burning lawn mowers for a non-polluting battery powered model at a deep discount. According to the district's website, online registration for exchange events will open at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, April 21. The actual trade-in will be at specific locations and dates. Oaks Permanent Regulations Clear City Planning Commission
The City Planning Commission unanimously approved the proposed Permanent Development Regulations for the Oaks. After a presentation by Blake Lamb and Jon Tanury of the City Planning Department the commission heard from 3 Oaks residents and a representative of the Los Feliz Improvement Association, as well from Doug Mensman who spoke on behalf of our Councilman Tom LaBonge. Mr. Mensman thanked the Planning Department staff for their long, hard and thorough work, and urged the commission to approve the proposed regulations. They are now sent on to the City Council’s Planning and Land Use Managament committee, before they can go to the Council itself. 
A rally at Lake Hollywood Park sponsored by 6 different homeowners associations, including The Oaks, to raise funds to make Cahuenga Peak part of Grifith Park. Help save one of the last unprotected open spaces in L.A. from development. Enjoy music provided by local talent, refreshments and baked goods. Meet Tom LaBonge and representatives from the Trust for Public Land. Call 323 463 1354 for more info. The flyer is here.
Oaks Hillside Ordinance Goes To City Council This Friday
March 9, 2010
The Council will be making its final vote about the "D" Development Limitations for the neighborhood at its meeting this coming Friday, March 12 at 10 a.m. at City Hall in downtown Los Angeles The ordinance is item 4 on the agenda. Should the Council vote to approve the ordinance, then it will go to the Mayor for signature and have a term of publication before it becomes effective. The council agenda for this meeting can be found here.
3/9/10
The Oaks HOA has been approached to spread the word about the upcoming U.S. Census. Local Census Recruiter Victoria Gaw points out that it is extremely important this year that California is counted, since in 2000 we were
severely undercounted. It is estimated that we lost $3,000 per person per
year in federal funds for our schools, hospitals and roads... not to mention
representation in Congress and Electoral Votes.
The US 2010 Census is hiring Census takers here in the Oaks and in the 90068 zip code. They would like people from the neighborhood rather than outsiders. It's part time, temporary, and you work your own hours - and it pays $17/hour. So you can get paid to serve your community! This is an opportunity for people with full time jobs, as well as students, stay-at-home moms, retirees, etc. ... [continued here]
The US 2010 Census is hiring Census takers here in the Oaks and in the 90068 zip code. They would like people from the neighborhood rather than outsiders. It's part time, temporary, and you work your own hours - and it pays $17/hour. So you can get paid to serve your community! This is an opportunity for people with full time jobs, as well as students, stay-at-home moms, retirees, etc. ... [continued here]
Oaks Permanent "D" Regulations Approved by PLUM
March 2, 2010
The Oaks permanent development regulations cleared another hurdle on March 2nd. In their March 2nd meeting the City Council's Planning & Land Use Management Committee sent them on their way to City Council, where the may appear on the agenda relatively soon. A full council vote will be the last remaining step before the regulations will become effective. The full text of the new regulations is included in a Planning Department staff report to the Planning Commission, which can be found here.
Oaks Permanent "D" Regulations Going To PLUM
February 2010
The Oaks “D” Development Limitations Regulations are on the agend of City Council's Planning & Land Use Management Committee meeting this coming Tuesday, March 2nd, at 2pm. This meeting is another milestone the regulations have to reach, and pass, on their way to a full City Council vote before they will become effective. The Committee should hear from Oaks residents, so please make an effort to attend and speak in support of the regulations. The meeting will be held at City Hall, and the full agenda is available here.
