Riviera Homeowners Association

General Meeting – Wednesday April 25 2012
Richardson Middle School
Starting 7:00PM

Our next general meeting will be a full one.  First we will have an election of officers for president and treasurer, to be voted on only by paid members.  You will have the opportunity to renew your voluntary 2011-12 membership at the meeting to show your support for the RHA’s many activities, if you haven’t yet had the opportunity.

Then we will premier a new, 35-minute film by the Riviera Garden Club and Torrance Historical Society, produced and presented by the Riviera Garden Club and Torrance Historical Society, called “History of the Hollywood Riviera.” After the film we will take some comments and questions.

Our third course will feature our speaker, Paul Tetrault of the Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission, to explain how their tree ordinance works so successfully and how it came about.  There will be a Q & A at the end, and a chance to sign the View Ordinance petition.

As always, refreshments will abound.  A “must attend” for Riviera history buffs and all those interested in trees and views!

Click here for directions to Richardson Middle school.

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Our RHA meeting on April 25 will consist of  the premiere screening of a brand-new 35-minute film, “History of the Hollywood Riviera” edited by Riviera resident Sherwin Rubin, with photos and footage provided by Lisa Edmondson and the Torrance Historical Society, produced by the Riviera Garden Club.

After the film there will be a short break and then we will hear our guest speaker, Paul Tetrault, a member and current chairman of the Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission.  Mr. Tetrault is also a practicing attorney with the firm of Agajanian Law in Los Angeles.  Mr. Tetrault will explain how the RPV tree ordinance works and how it helps residents in that area resolve their view and tree issues.  He is a wonderful speaker with a very encouraging message.

This month’s meeting will be held, as usual, at the Richardson Middle School cafeteria, and will start at 7:00pm.  Come early for a good seat.

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Get hungry on Tuesday, March 27, when Wahoo’s Fish Tacos will give the RHA 20% of the proceeds if you just say “I support the Riviera Homeowners Assoc.”   You can give them this flyer, but the flyer is not necessary.

Flyer for March 27 Wahoo's fundraiser

Wahoo’s is next to Trader Joe’s in the village; click here for their delicious menu.  Show your support for your neighborhood, and all the benefits provided by the RHA: keeping the homeowners informed, engaging the city on behalf of homeowner rights, providing scholarships and support for the schools, encouraging landscape beautification, and providing a forum for the residents to express their views.

There will be lots of taco lovers there around 6PM from the RHA board, if you’d like to learn more about current and planned activities.  Hope to see you there!

Update!  The March 27 Wahoo-fest raised a total of $49 for the activities of the RHA.  Thanks to all who came and Wahoo’d!

Coming soon:  more information on the upcoming April Board election and general meeting, the winners of the 2012 scholarship awards, and advocacy for quieter skies and view preservation.

Check out our calendar for all upcoming activities.

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The Torrance Municipal Code states:  Aircraft taking off to the west shall not turn left until they have reached the ocean or attained an altitude of 1500 feet.  As stated in the City’s Airport Noise Abatement Brochure, pilots of planes are supposed to “maintain the runway heading.” The Code also states that the City has a “duty” to enforce this provision.

However, most violations, such as the actual flight shown below, are ignored by City staff.  This is a common occurrence and it adds plane noise over the Riviera, which already has a high volume of helicopter traffic.

The Torrance Airport Commission has agreed to discuss this issue at their March meeting. There will be a slide presentation and a request for better enforcement. It will also address the issue of planes turning left and doing touch-and-go training on the south side of the airport, which is a concern to residents who live in the Walteria area and Bluff and Mesa Streets.

The City’s willingness to improve enforcement will depend largely on how many residents show up at the meeting to support it. If you are concerned about this, you should attend the meeting:

Torrance Airport Commission
Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 7 PM
West Annex Commission Meeting Room
City Hall, 3031 Torrance Blvd.

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As word trickles in about recent burglaries about town, the RHA reminds residents to keep their guard up and garage doors down.   A recent arrest in Torrance (not the Riv) reminds us that the days of the so-called ‘knock-knock’ burglaries are not-not behind us.  The Torrance PD constantly reminds us to keep our doors and cars locked, valuables out of sight, and to follow safe guidelines for vacation getaways.  Click here, they can explain it much better in the latest in a series of videos the TPD produces, with important information about forming Neighborhood Watch groups.

Parents!  Last call for scholarship applications, if you have a senior graduating high school.  The RHA Scholarship committe will soon be poring over applications and awarding to the most promising of the bunch.  For a look at past RHA scholarship recipients click here, and follow the link on that page to instructions on obtaining an RHA scholarship.

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The February 8 RHA meeting featured a lively exchange with Torrance City Councilman Pat Furey over the issue of trees, views, and the prospects for a ‘tree ordinance’ to cover the hillside overlay districts within Torrance.    The RHA has been actively investigating the pros and cons of an ordinance, and what similar communities have achieved.

Councilman Furey outlined the past history, and challenges, behind attempts to enact such ordinances, and took many questions dealing with how residents can cope with view obstructions, both from neighbors’ vegetation as well as trees maintained

Councilman Pat Furey speaks at the 2012 February 8 General Meeting.

by the city and TUSD school district.  (Both are dealing with severe budget constraints.)  He also stressed the common-sense approach of neighbors collaborating with each other in honest and frank conversation and negotiation.

The RHA has an online petition which you can view and sign, if you agree with the request to have the  Torrance City Council and staff to consider such an ordinance.  If you are interested in spending some time to pursue such an ordinance, please contact the RHA by clicking here.

For photos of the February 8 meeting,  click here.  Stay tuned for more news on the prospects for a Torrance tree ordinance.

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Reminder:

The next Riviera Homeowners Association meetings is this Wednesday, February 8 at 7:00 at Richardson Middle School (directions).

Come to participate in a discussion about view preservation, with Councilman Pat Furey.

We’d love to also have you volunteer to participate in some of the Association’s upcoming activities.

Refreshments will be served. Spread the word!

Click the link below for more information…

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The topic of the February General Meeting presentation will be trees, views, and how they affect our quality of life and property values in the Riviera.  This is a subject related to the Hillside Overlay  Ordinance and was recently identified by those Riviera homeowners who completed our survey, as the #1 area of concern and interest to area residents.  Many survey respondents said they would like to find a way to peacefully resolve their issues regarding trees and views.  The Hillside Overlay does not directly address the topic of trees or vegetation.

Our October meeting described the history and impact of the Hillside ordinance on current structure constraints, and also its limitations in regards to trees and views.

Invited to speak is Torrance City councilman Pat Furey.  You’ll have a chance to share your opinions on views, and vegetation.  You may email questions, in advance, to president@hollywoodriviera.org.

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So ends 2011, with great hopes for a wonderful year ahead.

The RHA held a memorable Holiday Program this year, with holiday sounds brought to you by the South High Chorus, the Richardson Chorus, and the South High Jazz band.

You can see here a snippet of song from among many heard that night:

You can also click here to view a photo slideshow from the program.  Whether you were there that night or not, we’re sure you’ll enjoy the sights and sounds.

Take a look at the latest Landscape Award (click on the picture to see all the recent awards):

December 2011 - the Ely residence - 24219 Neece St

Stay in touch with the RHA in the weeks and months to come, as we bring you more news and activities, including the upcoming February 8 General Meeting, featuring councilman Pat Furey and a discussion of trees, views, and property values.

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Save the date, everyone: December 7 the RHA will host the annual Holiday Program, this year to be held at the South High School cafeteria, starting at 6:30pm.  This year will be a little different, with performances by the Richardson choir, the South High choir, and the South High jazz ensemble.  The music (and refreshments) promise to be better than ever.   Come enjoy an evening of holiday cheer with your friends and neighbors; a wonderful family experience to set the mood for the season of joy.

Plenty of parking available in the high school parking lot.

For information on this event and more, visit the RHA website’s new Calendar page, which we intend to keep current with happenings around the community.  And while you’re at it, explore this site’s other pages, with information on the RHA’s landscape awards, scholarship awards, meeting announcements, newsletters, and much more.

Check your membership status on the RHA Membership page.  A link at the bottom will show you whether dues have been paid up from your domicile.  The RHA depends on your voluntary membership to stay viable – please consider making your contribution today – and encourage your neighbors to learn more about the RHA, and to get involved.

Also, make sure to sign up to receive these updates in your email, by clicking the “Sign me up!” button found on our website.  And you can use the “Share” button to spread the word.

Thanks neighbors!

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