Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association

New Oversight Committee Developing Rustic Plans

Feb 28, 2003

New Team Formed After Councilwoman Miscikowski Listens to Complaints at Civic Association Meeting

The new Local Voluntary Neighborhood Oversight Committee [VNOC] for improvements to the Rustic Canyon Recreation Center held its first official meeting Monday evening January 13 at the park. This and all VNOC meetings are open to the public and public participation is encouraged.
The seven member committee is composed of the following local residents: Steve Boyers, Carl Mellinger, Alejandro Ortiz, Sven Svendsen, Nelson Willis, Harriet Zaretski, and Jessie Zwick. The committee members represent appointments by Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski and the Department of Recreation and Parks.
The Councilwoman cancelled a previous project after hearing complaints at the Civic Association annual meeting attended by approximately 300 persons last Spring.
The committee will be working with Neil Drucker of the Bureau of Engineering, the City-wide coordinator for these projects. Nelson Willis, who spearheaded a community review of the previous project, is the committee chair. Funding for any improvements at the park will come from the Proposition K annual assessment. The committee must meet a minimum of three times. The committee is aiming to identify projects that can be constructed after next June 30.
Some 25 alternatives were discussed by the committee, City officials and local residents on January 13. Nine items were removed from list as problematic or already planned to be completed by Recreation and Parks personnel. Cost estimates on the remaining 15 items plus options to modify the existing access ramp to assure wheelchair access will be discused at the next VNOC meeting on Tuesday February 11 at 7 pm.