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Settlement Description
The HOAs have negotiated a $2.25M settlement for the establishment of a
community benefit fund.
The settlement will provide perpetual
benefit to the infrastructure to offset perpetual impacts of development
on the infrastructure and provides funds outside of a political, and/or
bureaucratic environment.
The settlement does not include $5M previously negotiated by the HOAs
which was co-opted as part of the conditions of approval.
Fund Operation
Settlement funds will be deposited in a fully transparent fund.
Investment of the fund will be handled exclusively by the fund manager.
Every year, the fund will generate interest based on current market
conditions and investments as made by the fund manager. Interest
from the fund is disbursed directly to local facilities on an annual
basis to supplement community services.
Every like facility gets an equal amount so that there is no concern
that one area is getting “more” than another area. Protections are
in place so that no money from the fund will go to the HOAs. 100% goes
to the infrastructure.
The HOAs do not control how the money is spent. The decisions on how to
spend the money are left to the local facilities and their booster
clubs.
2008 Inaugural Payment - $250,000
Each recipient facility has indicated how it intends to spend the first
payment from the community benefit fund as described below:
Schools
Westwood Charter Elementary - $34,375
Renovation/improvement for the school’s auditorium.
Overland Elementary - $34,375
Teacher/Parent room remodel, first grade play structure, literacy coach,
campus landscape improvements.
Fairburn Elementary - $34,375
Auditorium improvements including repair of seating, a new sound system,
a new curtain, and interior painting.
Castle Heights Elementary - $34,375
Library renovation and upgrade, technological enhancement, and after
school enrichment programs".
Police/Fire – First Responders
West LAPD - $18,750
Digital video interrogation recording system to preserve valuable
suspect interviews until trial.
Fire Station 92 -$6,250
(Century City, Rancho Park, Cheviot Hills)
TBD
Fire Station 37- $6,250
( Westwood and the Western UCLA Campus)
Life-saving emergency equipment.
Fire Station 43 - $6,250
(Palms, south Cheviot Hills, Ca. Country Club area)
A new printer for station reports, an ice machine and a dryer.
Parks
Rancho Park -$18,333
New mirrors in the rec. room and ballet bar, padding on walls and seats
in the gym to protect players from injury when they play and an
electronic score board for football.
Palms Park -$18,333
Funding programs and facility improvements at the park.
Westwood Park --$18,333
Re-surfacing the basketball courts, improving pool area safety and
improving outdoor recreation facilities.
Libraries
Palms Library - $10,000
Optical disc repair system, audio books, children’s books, DVD library
expansion.
Westwood Library - $10,000
Seating for the Children's Outdoor Amphitheatre. The amphitheatre will
be used for Book Readings and Puppet Shows attended by the Westwood
Library children groups and neighborhood school groups.
Questions
How much is the settlement?
The settlement is for $2.25M. When combined with the $5M previously
negotiated by the HOAs, the total amount secured by the HOAs is $7.25M.
Who controls the money?
The HOAs do not control the money. A fund manager invests the money and
each local facility decides how to use the money.
What kinds of programs/items will be funded?
Each facility will decide in conjunction with its “friends of”/booster
group. So far, facilities are selecting items that will improve
education, improve safety and help first responders do their jobs.
Why does each facility get the same amount as other like facilities?
Communities are often pitted against each other for community benefit
money. The HOAs felt that having each facility get the same amount would
provide for smooth operation and the elimination of community concern
about allocations.
Why shouldn’t this be run through the city?
The City does many good things, but moving quickly without political and
bureaucratic influences isn’t one of them. The purpose of this fund is
to provide direct funding to local facilities that is not subject to the
political or bureaucratic process.
Making this a political process within the city runs the risk of some
politician trying to change the plan or allocations to please one
sought-after constituency. The facilities need funding that is
predictable and is without any strings.
There are also so many rules and regulations, loopholes and restrictions
that the ONLY safe place to keep the money is outside of the city.
Who selected the facilities?
The facilities selected by the HOAs serve the Century City/West L.A.
area in the immediate area of the project. There was a direct nexus
between the location of the project and the facilities selected.
Homeowners Associations
Each of the listed homeowners associations have been in existence for
well over 40 years. They have been actively working to improve the area
for decades.
California Country Clubs Homes Association
Website: www.CCCHA.Org
The California Country Club Homes Association was founded in 1964 and
covers the area from Queensbury to Club and from Forrester to Manning.
Cheviot Hills Homeowners Association
Website: www.CheviotHills.Org
The Cheviot Hills Homeowner Association was founded in 1964 and
represents the residents of Cheviot Hills.
Tract 7260 Association
Website: www.Tract7260.Org
The Tract No. 7260 Association was founded in 1964, covers the area from
Pico to Santa Monica and from Beverly Glen to Century City.
Westwood Homeowners Association
Website: www.whaweb.org
The Westwood Homeowners Association was founded in 1961 and covers the
area from Wilshire to Santa Monica and the country club to Sepulveda. |