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WESTSIDE - They came with signs, placards and pleas to save the OFW pagodas, but no one was trying to rid the boardwalk of these iconic, New Deal structures.
Not a one.
In fact, the one motion on the agenda spoke to the renovation and restoration of the pagodas.
Even those in attendance conceded the eventual motion passed in committee was "a good one."
Nevertheless, about 60 or so locals attended Monday's meeting of the Oceanfront Walk Committee of the Venice Neighborhood Council held at the Waterfront Cafe by the beach.
Oceanfront Walk is chaired by Community Officer Fran Solomon, and the committee members include me, Deborah Keaton, Todd Eichenberger, Community Officer Clark Brown (Secretary), and Noel Johnson. Also, in attendance was Acting VNC President Gary Pearl, Outreach Chair Erica Moore, Community Officers Ted Henderson, Lisa Redmond, Sarah Mahir and Yolanda Gonzalez.
Pearl made brief remarks and urged those in attendance to attend the board's monthly meetings, with the next on February 17th at the Westminster Elementary School on Abbot Kinney beginning at 6:30 PM.
Committee reports by CD-11, LAPD, Venice BID and LA Recreation & Parks were also offered with Venice Deputy Sean Silva of LA Councilwoman Traci Park's office announcing that the purchase of permanent Meridian beach barriers were forthcoming and that ensuring the beach was "safe & clean," while maintaining the restrooms were a high priority.
The hiring of beach ambassadors to ensure "cleanliness and accessibility" was high on Park's OFW agenda regarding the restrooms moving forward.
Silva also announced several upcoming concerts and events that will take place over the coming months and that "quality-of-life improvements" remain ahead of schedule like the restoration of the children's playground at beachside which is close to completion.
Silva maintained that while the pagodas are not historical landmarks but are important to the landscape of the beach and that the proper improvements are in the works and that the restoration planned will be completed sooner than later.
Sonya Young-Jimenez, who serves as Superintendent of LA Recreation & Parks, talked about several improvements like new lights at the fishing pier as well as some 600 trees being trimmed at the beach. Jimenez said her department was committed to the future restoration and maintenance of the pagodas and that two quotes were secured on the restoration that based on the scope of the work would cost between $700,000 and $1.2 million dollars.
Her department was already working closely with Park's team regarding the future of the iconic pagodas.
LAPD addressed the audience as well as announcing that retaining 25 officers would be required in lieu of the FIFA World Cup.
The FIFA World Cup, often called the World Cup, is an international association football competition among the senior men's national teams of the members of the Fédération International de Football Association, the sport's global governing body. The games are scheduled from June 11th to July 19th this summer.
LAPD basically said with "more officers, more enforcement" is possible.
Two motions appeared on the agenda with the first entitled, "The Oceanfront Walk Preservation Plan" that was authored by Chairperson Solomon and Committee member Keaton.
The comprehensive resolution touched on several issues, specifically the pagodas and the restoration of the Venice Boardwalk Art Tiles. Other restoration and repairs were also noted, and that a report back to the VNC includes costs, funding options, and a timeline.
After an amendment was offered by Clark Brown, the motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
The second motion on the agenda, a rather long-winded assessment of the issues at OFW authored by Community Officers Lisa Redmond and Sarah Mahir called for preservation, restoration and cultural vitality was originally sent directly to ADCOM, bypassed OFW and placed on the VNC's agenda only to be referred back to OFW where it failed to receive an introduction or a second and thus the motion died on the proverbial vine.
It was the consensus of the committee that the Solomon/Keaton motion, which had similar goals and objections, was a more specific call to action, and best reflected the sentiments of the committee's work.
The meeting was animated by one lifelong resident who wrote a song about the pagodas which brought laughter and support from those assembled.
It was also announced that the 2028 Summer Olympics will be from July 14th till July 30th, 2028. The winner of the triathlon will be awarded the gold at Venice Beach. This will be the third Summer Olympiad hosted by Los Angeles.
The meeting ended at roughly 8PM.
(Nick Antonicello is a thirty-three-year member of the neighborhood and covers the deliberations of the Venice Neighborhood Council. Have a take or a tip on all things Venice? Contact him via e-mail at [email protected])
