Muzzled Committee Keeps Mum on Plan

The North Hollyood Project Committee’s vociferous objection to the Community Redevelopment Agency was silenced Tuesday night.

At their first meeting since the Los Angeles city attorney’s office cautioned them not to discuss a 43-acre studio complex proposed by J. Allen Radford of Santa Monica-based JARCO/SLG&G;, committee members reluctantly complied.

They were ordered to refrain from talking about the complex because some of the 25 committee members may have a potential conflict of interest because they own property in the proposed project area.

In a July 14 letter, Deputy City Atty. Marcia Gonzales-Kimbrough advised committee members to remain silent until she determines if a conflict exists.

In her letter, Kimbrough cited state Government Section 1090 and the California Political Reform Act, saying members of the committee own property within the proposed development area they are precluded from discussing, acting or receiving information on the subject.

“The issue is that we will not be able to discuss the ‘beep, beep, beep, beep,’ project, whatever it is,” said committee member Ann Hoyt. She demanded an explanation of the city attorney’s position.

“It’s an important issue that is complex and it is multilayered,” said Deputy City Atty. Curt Holguin, who filled in for the vacationing Kimbrough at Tuesday’s PAC meeting.

That’s why the city attorney’s office is still researching the issue, said Holguin. An answer should be available within a week, he said.

The committee refused Holguin’s offer to deliver the ruling privately, saying they wanted a public announcement. They opted to have Holguin appear at the committee’s next meeting in September.

Many committee members accused the city attorney’s office of stall tactics. “I think the community needs to understand that the city attorney is dodging us,” Mildred Weller said.