Newsletter: The Media Messenger

Toss that Trash!

Walking down the streets of the Media District, you may have noticed it's much easier to get rid of those paper cups, used newspapers, or unwanted fliers. That's because late in May, the Campus Committee dispersed 50 new trash receptacles throughout the BID.

The new receptacles are one more step in cleaning up the neighborhood and developing a unifying "campus" theme for the district. They are very heavy and durable, and were made with a special coating to make it easier to remove graffiti.

HBT, our clean team, is taking care of maintaining and emptying the new receptacles.

"I'm very impressed with the new look and I'm looking forward to seeing the HMD logo on the new receptacles to add to the identity of our District," Eliza Thorne, Seward Film Vaults, said. The new logo will be installed on all of the receptacles later in the month.

HMD Security Officers Receive Recognition

Two of the BID's Security officers have been selected Employees of the Year by their company, Langner Security Services, Inc. According to Roger Langner, President of Langner Security, "Officers James Pigford and Gregory Gallegos have performed in an exemplary manner and have been a credit to the company."

Both officers received a $100 gift certificate and a luncheon in Langner's corporate office in their honor.

Meeting on the Mountain

The Annual General Meeting of Property and Business Owners is drawing near, and the Media District encourages you all to come meet the HMD Board of Directors, other businesses in the BID, the HMD staff, the clean team, security staff, BID Consultants, and city/state officials.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, June 19, from 5:30 to 8:00pm, at Iron Mountain, 1025 Highland, on the rooftop. Parking will be provided behind the building, at 1026 N. Mansfield.

Jeff Anthony, Board President, will discuss recent accomplishments and future goals, including renewal of the B.I.D.

Please call Devin at 323-460-4770 to R.S.V.P. or for more details.

5 Things in 5 Months

1. Transportation - No Update

2. Highland Gateway - We are awaiting a meeting with street lighting to discuss the new sign to be installed at the Union 76 at Melrose which will cantilever across Highland. The trees are being watered weekly and we have commissioned a tree arborist to give us an opinion on the pistache trees lining Highland from Willoughby to Romaine. These trees are deciduous but have not come back into bloom this spring.

3. Underground Utilities - The Spine committee will be meeting to decide on what, if any improvements can be made to Santa Monica Boulevard while exploring the possibility of undergrounding utilities. Viacom/Decoux, the City of Los Angeles' contractor that provides bus shelters and furniture surveyed Santa Monica and is suggesting that we add 12 bus shelters with kiosks to our streetscape.

4. Prostitution & Drug Dealing - No Update

5. Media District Sign Overlay - This ordinance goes to City Council next for review and changes but is still on target for the end of summer.

Look forward to continuing updates on our 5 Things in 5 Months.

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HMD Begins Renewal

The City of Los Angeles allocated funds for the Hollywood Media District to hire a consultant to begin the process of renewing the Business Improvement District. The City Clerk mailed over 20 Requests for Proposals to the approved list of bid consultants. Jeff Anthony, HMD Board President asked Tim Mahoney, Carol Cassella, Jack Fleming and Eliza Thorne to serve on the selection committee.

The committee met on May 21 to interview and selected Keyser Marston & Associates; Helmi Hisserich and Paul Anderson will be our B.I.D. renewal consultants. The B.I.D. sunsets on December 31, 2004. We will be forming the steering committee shortly. Please try to join us for our steering committee meetings that will determine the parameters for renewal. More information in coming issues.

City's Proposed News Rack Ordinance Draws Controversy

In an effort to reduce blight caused by abandoned or poorly maintained news racks, the Board of Public Works has approved an ordinance that would reduce the number of boxes on the streets. The ordinance may appear before the L.A. City Council in the coming weeks.

The ordinance would require that all news racks be licensed by the city, which would involve fees for the initial license as well as annual renewal; additionally racks must be treated with an anti-graffiti substance and maintained by the publisher.

However, several of the new rules in the ordinance are more favorable to publishers, such as an increase in the number of racks allowed in a single location, and more lenient clearance requirements.

The Board of Public Works has been working to make sure that Publishers, Business Improvement Districts, and neighborhood groups are all satisfied with the new ordinance. The next step for the Ordinance will be going through the City Council's Public Works committee, before ultimately being voted on by City Council.

Media District BID Ranks 7th in City of Los Angeles Survey

As recently reported by the Los Angeles Business Journal, the Hollywood Media District is number 7 out of 15 BIDs in Los Angeles, ranked by 2002 Budget.

Downtown Center BID, with an annual budget of $4,500,000 ranks first, while Wilshire Center came in 15th with $600,000. The Media District is halfway between the two, with an annual budget of $1,026,000.

Brokers: Update Your Listings

As website traffic to the Media District's website averages 400 hits per day, it is a valuable tool for Brokers to list properties for sale or lease. Submit your listing to the webmaster, Rod Cha of the Cimarron Group via e-mail at rcha@cimarrongroup.com.

HMD Hosts Bid Consortium

The Hollywood Media District hosted the May Meeting of the L.A. BID Consortium, a network of BID Directors, employees and city officials. 22 BID's are represented as well as members of the City Clerk's office, the Mayor's Office, The Board of Public Works, LA County, and The Bureau of Street Services.

Topics discussed at this meeting included the News Rack Ordinance (see story in this issue), information from the Assessor's Office, and BID renewals.

John Noguez, County Assessor's Office; Gary Murakami, City Clerk's Office; Peter Rodriguez, Mayor's Office; Kerry Morrison, Hollywood Entertainment District; and Commissioner Ellen Stein, Board of Public Works; participated in the BID Consortium Meeting at CFI.

HMD Calendar

HMD Annual General Meeting
When: Thursday, June 19
Time: 5:30 pm
Where: Iron Mountain, Rooftop
1025 N. Highland Ave
Call 323-460-4770 to RSVP

Business Watch Meeting
When: Thursday, June 12
Time: 12:00 pm
Where: Hollywood Community Room
6501 Fountain Ave. (At Wilcox)
Call 323-460-4770 to RSVP for lunch

GRAFFITI PAINT OUT AGREEMENT

Your consent is necessary to obliterate graffiti at your site. The Hollywood Beautification Team, through the city, will assist in the acquisition of free paint for your property or paint out graffiti using your paint.

Please make sure that your business or property has a signed Agreement on file. For more information or an Agreement, please contact Devin at 323.460.4770.

Activities Report
Week ending 5/3/03
(compiled by Langner Security Service)

Questions or Comments

Feel free to contact the Hollywood Media District using the following contact information:

Hollywood Media District
1304 North Highland Avenue #200
Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone:  323.460.6322
Fax:  323.460.6488

Executive Director: Mary Lou Dudas
MDudas@pacbell.net

Assistant: Devin Strecker
Devin77@pacbell.net
323-460-4770

Hollywood Media District Field Office
6775 Santa Monica Blvd. #2A
Hollywood, CA 90038
Phone:  323.871.4150
Hours:  7am - 11pm, Mon-Sat

Security Supervisor: Michael M. Zuvich

Hollywood Media District Property Owners
Association Board of Directors

Jeff Anthony, President - Iron Mountain Film and Sound
Tim Mahoney, Vice-President - Hollywood Center Studios
Eliza Thorne, Secretary - Seward Film Vaults
Don Robertson, Treasurer - Honda of Hollywood
Fred Anawalt - Anawalt Lumber Company
Carol Cassella - RenMar Studios
Jack Fleming - ADS
Morton Lakretz - The Crossroads
Michael Malick - Ramsey Shilling Real Estate
Jacques Massachi - Ori Service Center
Albert Sweet - Al Sweet Development
Gene La Pietra - Arena Cafe
Brian Scane - The Paladin Group, Inc.
Fares Wehbe - Hollywood Little Red School

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Hollywood Area Police Station: 213-482-4302
Hollywood Community Relations: 213-485-4310
LA Fire Department Emergency: 911
Damaged Parking Meters: 877-215-3958
Lot Cleaning: 800-996-2489
Department of Transportation: 213-485-2489
Bulky Item Pick Up (Residents Only): 800-773-3326
Animal Regulation: 888-452-7381
Building and Safety: 213-977-6966
Potholes, Curb, Street Damage BSM: 800-996-2489

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