Montecito Heights Improvement Association Meeting

January 15, 2004 Picture Gallery (Jan. 22 - Major Good News for Flat Top)

Subject: Latest Step in MHIA's Work to Save Flat Top

Montecito Heights Improvement Association hosted probably its biggest turnout ever Thursday January 15th to hear the report on Flat Top, Paradise Hill and the Rose Hills DWP property prepared by People for Parks for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC). The Montecito Heights Senior Center was packed. Neighbors were eager to hear the prognosis for the lands' development into a natural park to be administered by SMMC.

[The following account of the meeting, largely culled from MHIA 2004 Secretary Donnette Thayer's minutes, covers the highpoints only.]

MHIA President Dianne Ryan introduced Chuck Arnold of SMMC. He described the vision of creating a "Rim of the Valley Trail" that would encircle Southern California. He then introduced Jimmy Stewart and Virginia Palmer from People for Parks. Virginia explained that she had learned about Flat Top about three years ago from her friend Nancy Smith, a local resident in Lincoln Heights. She toured the hill with Tom Berg and SMMC Executive Director Joe Edmiston. Eventually she determined that proximal open lands, specifically Paradise Hill and the DWP-owned Rose Hill should be included in the preservation proposal.

Virginia has contacted Brent Morgan, representative of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, owner of the largest parcel, who now seems amenable to discussing a sale. She stated that the Church is by no means the sole property owner. Their research has determined that approximately 300 additional parcels, owned by approximately 275 different owners, will need to be approached in the process of acquiring the Flat Top lands. In addition, the satellite parcels Rose and Paradise Hills show 200 small parcel owners. The total for all three pieces is about 500 disparate parcels and property owners to manage.

Virginia revealed that an extremely rare bush lupine flower and associated 'legless lizard' are resident on Flat Top Hill, making the area more worthy of preservation than previously suspected. Jimmy Stewart then gave an overview of the rating process and criteria for which the ratings were determined. In the course of his presentation, members of the audience provided new details that will help improve the project's rating. Bill Murray mentioned that we in Montecito Heights call ourselves the "Wilderness in the City" in appreciation and respect the wildlife and nature around them.

A low rating as an archeological/historical resource was disputed by many residents. David Brunk of Mt. Washington recalled that for decades, Flat Top served as a gathering place for annual Native American Pow-Wows, and other community members corroborated this fact. An unidentified resident commented that she had seen a drum Pow-Wow just this year. Several people cited an extensive cave under Flat Top Hill that had been used by Native Americans, but was sealed some time ago after a fatality in the cave. Community member Ruben Garcia, who resides at the crown of Flat Top Hill, reported that in his youth he entered the cave and saw for himself the Native American cave paintings and the spring that runs along the bed of the cave. He stated that he has pictures of the interior of the cave. He further claimed that the hill is sacred to Native Americans and that he himself has encountered the tangible spirit of Flat Top. Virginia and Jimmy reacted with delight at these revelations.

Elaine Pastras asked about security within the proposed park, and said she would not be support a park where her security is compromised. Chuck responded that the park would be open from dawn to dusk, that no vehicles would be allowed within park boundaries and that a Park Ranger would patrol the park.

Chuck described the upcoming process that the SMMC would undergo in evaluating Flat Top Park. He expressed his hope that at the January 26 River Center meeting, that we would have similar good attendance, for it would be extremely persuasive to the SMMC board.

Tom Berg reinforced the point, hoping that the community understand that the preservation of Flat Top is not a single attendance event, and that much more would be required of us to keep Flat Top safe from development. He entreated the attendees to remain passionate in order to make sure we save our hill.

Councilmember Ed Reyes was introduced and apologized for his late arrival, this being his fourth meeting of the night. He stated that he had been active protecting these lands from development since 1993, in his role as head of Planning under Mike Hernandez. He has discouraged developers from building on Flat Top by requiring them to perform the infrastructure upgrades or to create new infrastructure such as sewer and power lines necessary to support houses. He said that he had tried to make it very clear that development was not welcome in our open space areas. He reiterated that letters to the SMMC and the Church of the Foursquare Gospel would demonstrate our commitment to preserving the hill as an open space. He congratulated the participants for their dedication to preservation in our area, and expressed his gratitude for their input. Robert Nakahiro reiterated Tom's point that our attendance at the River Center for the January 26 meeting of the SMMC is crucial. He stated his commitment to preserving Flat Top and asked what else we can do to show our support. Chuck responded that our community could write letters and attend the meetings. A passionate community would be extremely persuasive to the SMMC board.

David Brunk noted that the meeting conflicted with the first Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council board meeting. He asked if it were at all possible to reschedule the SMMC Flat Top review. Chuck said that rescheduling would be impossible since over 30 SMMC members attend.

A resident asked if SMMC would "flip" properties, since Flat-Top was so desirable to developers. Chuck had just stated that SMMC is in a budget crunch--might SMMC have a change of heart about preservation and sell to developers? Chuck responded that the law prohibits SMMC from flipping properties that they purchase for preservation.

Tom Berg asked what the approximate time line would be for the creation of the park. Chuck replied that it could be a matter of months, but it would likely take years to purchase all the properties involved. The next SMMC meeting would not begin the purchase process, only put the lands on the SMMC radar. If and when the project is approved, the SMMC will begin to purchase parcels from willing sellers and as they become available. He reiterated that it is a long process. MHIA President Dianne Ryan thanked one and all and adjourned the meeting at 9:15. The crowd's enthusiastic support for the project suggests there will be a similarly big turnout for the SMMC board meeting, which is at 7:30 at the River Center in Cypress Park, Monday January 26. The report is the 13th item on the agenda.

Martha Benedict, Vice President (2004)
Donnette Thayer, Secretary (2004)
Montecito Heights Improvement Association

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