VNC Supports Overnight RV Parking at Penmar Golf Course

After more than four hours of deliberation and public comment Tuesday night, the Venice Neighborhood Council voted 12-2 to support to a proposed city ordinance that will dedicate spaces at the Penmar Golf Course parking lot for the Roadmap to Housing program.

The program, formerly known as "Streets to Housing" or "Vehicles to Homes," , while providing social services and a safe place to park overnight. The City Council must approve an ordinance to allow overnight parking on designated city lots for the program to move forward. It is currently illegal to live in a vehicle anywhere in the city.

"Some would want more lots in Venice, and they aren't getting them. Some would want no lots, and they aren't getting them," VNC President Emeritus Mike Newhouse, who did not vote, told the council. "No matter where this lot was in Venice, there would be a neighborhood coming out and not being happy about it." 

"But a lot does need to be here in Venice, because we are trying to solve a Venice-specific problem," Newhouse said.

Council member Mariana Aguilar disagreed with Newhouse. "'I'm embarrassed for Councilman Rosendahl, and I'm embarrassed for us," she told the council. "You're here to represent everybody in Venice."

Aguilar moved to amend the motion before the VNC to rule out the parking lot at Penmar Golf Course as a potential location, citing the area's recreational importance to the community. The motion failed, as did a later motion, put forward by board member Yvonne Guzman, to consider additional parking lots in Venice.

An earlier iteration of the proposed ordinance allowed for parking only at Rosendahl's field offices in Westchester and West L.A. 

Cyndi Hench, president of the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa, told the board that her organization offered its support to the proposed ordinance only on the condition that Venice also find a suitable parking lot. Jay Handal, chair of the West L.A. Neighborhood Council, submitted a letter to VNC with the same position for that area.

Anyone who was living in a vehicle in Council District 11 between November 2009 and December 2010 is eligible to take part in the program.

"I take offense at Westchester and West L.A. coming in here and saying they won't take part of this program if Venice isn't," Aguilar said.

Some funding for the program is coming from the Venice Area Surplus Real Property Fund, which collects money from the sale of city-owned properties in Venice. Other sources include Street Furniture Revenue funds and General City Purpose funds.

The VNC will send its motion to the City Council's Transportation Committee for consideration Wednesday. The committee is scheduled to discuss the amendments to the proposed ordinance, known as 85.11, at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

After going through the Transportation Committee, the ordinance will go before the City Council for a vote.