15.01 ceJ:ro Gordo; Los .

Angeles, California 90026

(213).222-8050, 666-9.651.

Sallie W. Neubauer, President
PLEASE POST
No. 1 06 -January 8, 1992
CHINESE BANQUET SET FOR EARLY FEBRUARY 22 DATE
Once again we are moving our gala fundraiser to a new location. The Annual Chinese Banquet scheduled for
Saturday, February 22 will be held at V.B.C. restaurant on Ord Street in Chinatown. There is limited underground parking
(free with validation), and the parking lot on Hill Street is free after 6 p.m. Social Hour begins at 6 p.m., Dinner at 7 p.m.
Please note the date. Februarv 22. is earlier in the year than usual. Here is the menu and the location of the restaurant
and parking areas: flo!
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Seafood tofu soup Crispy skin chicken
Scallops w/straw mushrooms Prawns w/vegetables
Baked crab w/ginger & green onion Steamed rice
Baked pork ribs w/special sauce Sweet & sour fish
Chinese vegetable w/oysrer sauce Dessert
Please send checks@ $17.50/person to be received by Feb. 14 to Marion Siu, 1471 Avon Park Terrace,
Los Angeles, CA 90026. To reserve a table, Marion must check for the full ten seats ($175.00). Seating will
not be assigned for individuals who send checks for less than a full table. Because we are holding the price down this
year, Citezen's Committee to Save Elysian Park (CCSEP) cannot afford to accommodate last minute stragglers. Marion
urges you to remit checks before the deadline, The restaurant needs notification of the number of tables a full week before
the banquet.
DEIR FOR $40,000,000+ POLICE ACADEMY EXPANSION
On June 21, 1991, the city fmally produced the 1st part of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the expanded
Police Academy. The Notice of Preparation (NOP) identified 6 potential sites to be studied for an academy in the EIR
including the current Elysian Park site. It also gave a breakdown of the various rooms and auditoriums with their
corresponding projected square footage and staff requirements. Not surprisingly, there still has been no public disclosure
as to why these rooms are needed- no detail of training whatsoever. As always, the square footage "requirement" figures
vary vastly from the previous ones CCSEP has been given- 286,457 sq.' this year; 420,342 sq.' in Oct. '89. In addition,
they don't include parking structures (the requirements have increased from 1000 parking spaces in '89 to parking for
"approximately 1,244 vehicles" in '91). Note, that's an "approximate" estimate.
Besides Elysian Park, of the other sites that were selected for the study, 2 are in the Atwater area (the former
Franciscan Pottery factory site and the SP Taylor yard) and 3 are in Sylmar, approximately 23 miles away. Over the years,
the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has always insisted that a central location for the academy (such as Elysian
Park) is essential. Therefore, it would seem this "study" is doomed from the start. However, at the public hearing LAPD
held in the Sylmar area for public input on the NOP and proposed scope of the EIR, Sylmar residents seemed receptive to
locating a new academy in their area.
CCSEP submitted both oral and extensive written comments. Our complaint is fourfold: First, the NOP for the
Police Academy states that should a site other than the current academy site be selected, the current site would continue to
be used for in-service training, firearms practice and LAPD Revolver & Athletic Club functions. One of the best
arguments for removing the academy from the park is that the firing range is a great disruption to park users. Secondly,
CCSEP feels the site selection process was greatly flawed. Acreage requirements were set arbitrarily. Appropriate
industrial sites in Carson and Burbank were rejected simply because they fell outside LA City boundaries. Sufficient
reason was also Jacking for rejecting several sites CCSEP submitted such as the Terminal Annex Building downtown and
the now closed 100 acre General Motors Plant in Van Nuys.
Thirdly, the city is preparing 2 separate EIR's- one for a Police Drivers Training Facility as well as one for a Police
Academy - at the same time. The sites included in the study for a Drivers Training Facility are close to if not the same as
the sites being considered for a Police Academy. It is confusing to address the two training facilities separately.
Cumulative impact from the 2 facilities could be significant. Furthermore, including the same site for either a Police
Academy or Drivers Training seems to reduce its validity. Finally, training criteria for selecting a Police Academy site
remains totally lacking.
CCSEP wrote a Jetter to the Police Commission summarizing these complaints and appeared in person to plead our
case at the Oct. 22, 1991 Police Commission meeting. We formally requested that the site selection process be reopened
for more pul;llic input and review. Commissioner Ann Reis Lane expressed some interest in our allegations. She followed
through with discussions with the LAPD and review of information they provided her. Unfortunately, in a letter to CCSEP
dated Dec. 23, '91, she concluded that the project should proceed "as presently planned."
1991 has not been a good year for LAPD. The Rodney King beating incident in March posed some serious questions
as to how LAPD officers are trained. The Draft EIR (DEIR) for the new Police Academy is due in February or March,
1992. By law, it must address the needs LAPD has for a new facility which means it should outline LAPD training classes.
Without this outline the general public cannot possibly assess what the building requirements are and the impact the
facility might have on the environment. There will be a comment period of not less than 45 days as well as at least one
public hearing to submit remarks on the DEIR. These will be addressed and incorporated into the fmal EIR before a site is
selected. CCSEP encourages our Joyal members to participate. If you would like to be notified for hearings and/or when
you can review the DEIR at your local library, please call (213) 666-9651.
CITIZENS COMMITTEE.TOSAVE ELYSIAN pARK
rsor Cerro (; ordo, LosAng<>t6,cA 90026 (213) 222-8050/666-9651
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EARLY TREE PLANTING - ANGELS POINT PLANS
CCSEP is sponsoring our annual tree dedication and planting in Elysian Park earlier in the spring this year. Mark
your calendars for Saturday, Apri14, at 2 p.m. Details on location and varieties oi trees to be planted will be forthcoming.
If you would like to plant a tree for a loved one or yourself, please call Mary at (213) 667-0867.
Various delays of one kind or another have plagued the proposed greening of Angels Point, the large promontory
just south of the Police Academy. The L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks (Rec & Parks) assures us, however, that
the money is still set aside for the project. Work on phase one is finally due to commence in April. Completion of phase I
is targeted for late summer. The Frank Glass and Grace E. Simons Memorial which is pan of Phase II will follow. When
all is complete, Elysian Park will have a beautiful new picnic area and a specially dedicated gazebo on the promontory.
CCSEP envisions it will be a site that world travelers will frequent.
DWP RESERVOIR COVER UPDATE
It is hard to believe that it has been over 5 years since the Department of Water & Power (DWP) announced that a 7
acre metal roof over azure Elysian Reservoir was imminent. Back in 1986, DWP had the nerve to claim this reservoir roof
would cause no environmental damage to the park because no homes looked down on the reservoir! Therefore, DWP
stated the project did not require an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Luckily, CCSEP was able to enlist the aid of the
Center for Law in the Public Interest. Carlyle Hall, then of the Center, filed suit on CCSEP's behalf vs. the DWP on the
grounds that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQUA) definitely required a full EIR for the proposed roof.
Because this proposed cover was one of several in conjunction with other DWP reservoir improvements, the lawsuit
further stated that possibly, even a broader study, a Program EIR (PE!R), should be conducted which would include all
elements of the "water quality Improvement Program."
In 1988, it was learned that DWP had plans to cover or build filtration plants by I 0 open reservoirs. The news
spread like wildfire across L.A. In February of 1989, the Coalition to Preserve Open Reservoirs, representing 20+
homeowner/environmental groups cirywide, was fonmed (CPOR). "The rest," as they say, "is history."
By summer '89, CPOR had gained support from the L.A. City Council who passed a motion requiring DWP to
prepare a full PEIR. DWP held 9 scoping sessions across the city. Unfortunately, the documents DWP produced
following those sessions were rife with half truths and evasive answers to critical questions. Once again. CPOR called on
the City Council for assistance and they pressured DWP for better public disclosure. Late in the summer of 1990, DWP
announced it would hire The Mediation Institute to work with DWP and CPOR. Well, we've all been mediating for over a
year now. It looks as if unforeseen budget crunches may stall anything from happening at Elysian for at least I 0 more
years, but that's not much assurance. CCSEP does hope that in the next few months some sort of acceptable solution for
Elysian Reservoir that addresses both water quality and environmental concerns can be worked out (and be made binding!)
withDWP.
BITS AND PIECES
Good news is in the making at the Elysian Recreation Center. The adaptive use playground has been completed and
is a big hit Renovation and further adaptive retrofining for both the building and the grounds is scheduled to begin in
February or March. CCSEP is excited that the renovation will also include an area to be Elysian Park's 1st visitors' center.
Thanks to efforts by CCSEP, there is a new display case at the Grace E. Simons Lodge. In it, several committee
members have mounted an impressive displaY, of honorariums that have been awarded to Grace E. Simons and CCSEP
over the years. The lodge is rented regularly for parties and people are always asking who Grace E. Simons is. CCSEP is
working on putting together a shon biographical sheet to that end. In the meantime, visitors are sure to be impressed by
the display in the case.
It looks as if 1992 will be the year Elysian Park fmally gets some street and park signs. Our friend, Chief Metro
Maintenance Manager for Rec & Parks, George Stigile, is very enthusiastic about completing this project. As soon as we
establish which agencies to address, CCSEP and Rec & Parks will form a sign committee and get it down to the letter.
Mr. Stigile also infonms us that Elysian Park has a new Chief Supervisor and Chief Gardener who he personally
chose because of their interest in the community and in working with groups like CCSEP.
New Member ($1) Renewal ($1) Donation (No limit)$. ____ _
Name Address Zip __ _
CITIZENS C:QMMITTEE
TO.SAVEELYSIAN PARK
1501. Cerro Gordo "
Los Angeles, CA 90026
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Los Angeles, Cali!.
Permit No. 30167