Newsletter
of the
Northwest Glendale Homeowners Association
Largest Neighborhood Association in Glendale
Summer 2005 Volume 15 #2
2005 Candidates Forums, Annual Meeting Successes
Commission Votes to Restore Beeline to Village
Historic District Advisory Group Continues Work
Nourish Your Life Force at ‘Yoga at the Village’
2005 Candidates Forums, Annual Meeting Successes
By Peter Fuad
President
Your Association had a busy spring.
Candidate Forums
Given the number of candidates running for offices this year, we had two candidate forums— the first on March 9 for city council and the second the following week on March 16 for city clerk and school board hopefuls.
Both were at Brand Library and hosted by Will Rogers, always a favorite of everyone for his knowledge, light touch and able handling of difficult issues and, sometimes, equally difficult personalities. Almost all candidates appeared at the forums, which were well attended., and they seemed to appreciate the organization and fairness evident in our forums.
Annual Meeting
We also held our annual meeting at Brand Library on May 11. We had a good, upbeat crowd and were pleased to introduce three new faces of Glendale’s elected officials: Ara Nagarian, city council member; Ardy Kassakhian, city clerk; and Joylene Wagner, school board member.
The Association’s elected two new directors who we think will prove to be capable and enthusiastic proponents of the our goals. Many of you may already know Tammi Relyea, a tireless worker in the cause of preserving our neighborhoods. Philip Keller brings energy and a fresh perspective to our work.
Bob Getts Departs Board
Sadly, Bob Getts, our representative for Design Review Board, Zoning and many other board and commission meetings for the past four years, decided not to run for reelection. As many of you know firsthand, Bob’s dedication, knowledge of complex issues, people skills and sense of fairness made him an invaluable asset to the Association and our community. We presented a plaque to him at the annual meeting thanking him for his service.
To take Bob’s place, our directors will be monitoring the websites of the City’s key boards and commissions and Council so that we can continue to appear before them as necessary. Luckily, the City is, more than ever, posting agendas and meeting materials online, an effort city clerk Ardy Kassakhian has pledged to continue and improve upon.
Our goals
At our annual meeting, I reiterated what we view as the Association’s three continuing goals:
1. Preserve Neighborhoods. We want to keep Northwest Glendale as beautiful and inviting as it is today. In saying that, we are not against new construction or remodeling, but any changes and new construction must be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.
2. Enforce Codes. We want the city to observe and enforce its own codes and regulations, and to minimize variances and exceptions. We don’t think it should mainly fall to neighbors to have to enforce the law.
3. Strengthen Codes. We will continue to work to strengthen city codes to foster these goals— encourage preservation, compatibility and enforcement.
Commission Votes to Restore Beeline to Village
At its May 23 meeting, the Glendale
Transportation and Parking Commission voted unanimously to recommend that
Council reroute the Number 7 Beeline bus through Kenneth Village on a
six-month experimental basis.
The bus line now bypasses Kenneth Village entirely by turning from Glenwood south onto Grandview and west on Glenoaks. The rerouted bus line would form a loop through Kenneth Village by traveling north on Grandview, west on Glenwood, north on Sonora, east on Kenneth and south on Grandview (see map on page 3).
The current route is itself the result of a six-month experiment that rerouted the bus from its former line that went up Allen, east on Kenneth, south on Grandview and then east on Glenwood. The line had been rerouted at the request of residents on Allen who complained of noise and vibration from the bus. The purpose of the Commission hearing was to evaluate the results of the test.
New Route Increased Ridership 52%
The Glenoaks rerouting increased ridership by 52% over the prior route, from an average of 662 daily passengers to 1006 daily passengers. Before the rerouting, the Kenneth/Grandview stop had the highest usage (187 boardings and alightings). Under the Glenoaks alignment, the Allen/Glenoaks stop had the highest usage (258 boardings and alightings).
At its hearing, the Commission evaluated four alternatives. During public comment, some Allen residents testified against reinstating the bus on their street.
A number of residents and Kenneth Village business owners testified that bus service to Kenneth Village was essential. Reflecting the NWGHA Board’s position, Peter Fuad, NWGHA President, testified in favor of reinstating service through Kenneth Village, but not along Allen Avenue.
The alternative selected by the Commission seemed to satisfy all residents’ concerns. The new route recommendation will now go before Council this summer for its consent. Results of this routing will be evaluated after the six-month trial period. Notices will be sent to affected residents.
Beeline to Brand Park?
Some residents suggested running the Beeline route up Grandview to Brand Park. In addition to the possibility that residents along those residential streets might complain about such a routing, Jano Baghdanian, Traffic and Transportation Administrator, pointed out that such an extension would require either decreasing bus frequency or adding buses to maintain the same schedule. No action was taken on that matter.
Historic District Advisory Group Continues Work
By Tammi Relyea
A community advisory group comprised of community residents and professionals, DRB members and Planning staff continues to provide input into the City’s efforts to develop new historic district guidelines and processes.
Last August, Council directed Planning to redo the historic districting ordinance, including developing citywide historic district design guidelines that would apply to any adopted historic districts.
The advisory group is being guided by Architectural Resources Group (ARG), a leading California historic preservation planning, architecture, and development services firm retained by the City.
Guidelines Previewed
Building on comments from the April 18 advisory group meeting, ARG previewed a template for historic guidelines at the May 23 meeting. As contemplated, there would be different guidelines for specific types of architectural style (Tudor, Mission, etc.). The advisory group provided extensive feedback on the form and content of the guidelines. In particular, questions were raised regarding how additions and new construction on infill lots would be addressed in the guidelines.
Future meetings of the advisory group will include further in-depth discussions about the guidelines, as well as addressing the procedural steps involved in adopting or amending historic districts and conducting design review in historic districts.
The Planning Division has scheduled at least two more meetings of the advisory group to accomplish these objectives. Later in the year, Planning will also organize a community meeting to present their content, use and purpose to the general public.
Board members Tammi Relyea and Peter Fuad are members of the advisory group.
Nourish Your Life Force at ‘Yoga at the Village’
By Kathy Giachino
Upon hearing of the Briggs’ purchase
of the yoga studio in the Village I was delighted.
Elyse (Lee) Briggs has been practicing yoga since she was 17 years old. Her involvement in the community is apparent by her ease with everyone and the positive comments she receives when her name is mentioned. It is easy to imagine why she receives so many kudos. While sitting at Meyer Coffee Company talking with Lee, she had a kind word to say to everyone who walked by, whether she knew them or not. She takes everyone into her family of friends.
Mind Meeting Body
Lee suggests introducing one’s mind to one’s body because “they just might like each other.” She talked to me about how our society keeps us spending a good part of our time thinking about how to make that next dollar, which moves us out of (our awareness of) our bodies and into our heads.
We then begin to breathe in a shallow manner, high in our chests, producing neck and shoulder pain among other negative effects on our bodies. She explained how yoga helps one to become aware of the breath, bringing it low in the body, allowing us to stop fighting our own anatomy and bringing in a nourishing life force.
Yoga: the Union of Opposites
Yoga, by definition, means the union of opposites, promoting balance. The self-effort required during a yoga practice, forces one to be in the moment. Surrender or (Savashana), a favorite part of my yoga practice is the opposite of self-effort. Shavasana is performed at the finish. It is a relaxation which incorporates deeply into the cells, that given to the body during the practice.
Yoga teaches one to be patient and compassionate with oneself. With practice both become habit.
Lee and I talked of all these things and more. I am always motivated when I talk with her, but to tell the truth I have trouble getting into yoga and only practice when I am out of town and there are no Pilates classes available.
On Sunday, I attended the workshop on Anusara Yoga at the studio. It was so well done and lots of fun. The three hours flew by, which really surprised me. Many types of people were represented, old, young, men, women, thin and…some, not as thin.
Aches and Pains Gone
But I still wasn’t convinced until I work up this morning. I laughed at myself as I wondered where all the little aches and pains that I am used to having in the morning had gone. What a nice feeling. I still can’t believe it, so I am going back for the restorative yoga class next week and see what that does to my body.
Nationally Certified
Lee Briggs is a Nationally Certified Licensed Massage Therapist, a Registered Yoga Therapist and Bodywork teacher with a private practice in Glendale. She will offer over 10 types of yoga classes at Yoga in the Village. Lee and her husband Dean have just finished renovating the studio.
For more information go to www.yogaatthevillage.com, call (818) 265-9833, or stop by in person at 1306 Sonora (at Kenneth Road).