Los Angeles Recreation And Parks Commission

The Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission has voted to turn over operation of the financially troubled Los Angeles Equestrian Center to a Burbank development firm despite protests by some horse owners that the move could lead to cuts in riding lessons, shows and polo games. Commissioners, after briefly trying to allay the fears of about 150 protesters, voted unanimously to permit the takeover by Del Rey Properties.

After an impassioned meeting that lasted for hours Wednesday, the Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously voted to approve a parking lot for Runyon Canyon, home to the city's largest off-leash dog park. Those opposed to the lot argued that it would cause more people to use the park, paradoxically creating parking problems for the surrounding neighborhood and increasing traffic and noise as cars lined up to enter.

The Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission agreed Wednesday to allow the Nederlander company to continue operating the Greek Theatre. Nederlander was the lone bidder on the operating contract, having struck a deal in September with its rival, the House of Blues. The New York-based entertainment company, which has held the lease on the Griffith Park theater for nearly three decades, has agreed to spend $6 million to fix up the aging venue, compared with $11.

The Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission agreed Wednesday to allow the Nederlander company to continue operating the Greek Theatre. Nederlander was the lone bidder on the operating contract, having struck a deal in September with its rival, the House of Blues. The New York-based entertainment company, which has held the lease on the Griffith Park theater for nearly three decades, has agreed to spend $6 million to fix up the aging venue, compared with $11.

The Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission voted Monday to rent paddle boats at the 26-acre lake in the Sepulveda Basin, but delayed action on a plan to charge a $5 launch fee for private boat owners using the lake. By a 4-0 vote, the commission approved the paddle boat rental operation at Lake Balboa Park, to be run by parks department personnel. The boats will rent for $10 an hour or $7 per half hour.

The Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission voted Monday to approve proposals by the Los Angeles Children's Museum to build campuses in the Hansen Dam Recreation Area in Lake View Terrace and the downtown Art Park area near Little Tokyo. The commission action, which still requires approval by the City Council, authorized a dollar-a-year lease for the museum on city-owned property at Hansen Dam.

Writing the latest chapter in one of City Hall's most protracted political feuds, the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission voted Wednesday to reject bids from both Nederlander and House of Blues for a 10-year Greek Theatre operating contract, and to seek new proposals. The commission--which has deadlocked three times on who should run the theater--voted 3 to 1 to reopen the bidding process.

Hoping to drop the curtain on a long-running drama, the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission will decide today whether the Nederlander company should continue to operate the Greek Theatre, even though its bid is significantly less than a proposal rejected earlier this year. Nederlander emerged in September as the lone bidder on the lucrative operating contract after the company struck a deal with its competitor, the House of Blues.

It was halftime during a May basketball game of 9- and 10-year-olds in Tarzana when referee Burt Nelson was last verbally assaulted by a parent. An irate man approached him, yelling profanities and demanding that another youngster on the court be ejected from the game for knocking down his son. "He got in my face. There was a lot of profanity. He said the kid was a cheap shot artist and told me I didn't have control of the game," Nelson recalled.

It was halftime during a May basketball game of 9- and 10-year-olds in Tarzana when referee Burt Nelson was last verbally assaulted by a parent. An irate man approached him, yelling profanities and demanding that another kid on the court be ejected from the game for knocking his son down. "He got in my face. There was a lot of profanity. He said the kid was a cheap-shot artist and told me I didn't have control of the game," Nelson recalled.

Hoping to drop the curtain on a long-running drama, the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission will decide today whether the Nederlander company should continue to operate the Greek Theatre, even though its bid is significantly less than a proposal rejected earlier this year. Nederlander emerged in September as the lone bidder on the lucrative operating contract after the company struck a deal with its competitor, the House of Blues.

Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn nominated five people Friday to the city Recreation and Parks Commission, selecting four new members and reappointing a political ally to the influential panel. The board not only has oversight of the city's extensive park system, but also controls contracts to operate city-owned venues such as the Greek Theatre. Attorney and lobbyist Lisa Specht was the only member of the previous five-member commission whom Hahn opted to bring back.

Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan on Wednesday appointed county attorney David Michaelson to fill the vacant seat on the city's Recreation and Parks Commission. Michaelson, who has worked in the Los Angeles County counsel's office since 1995, will replace former commission president Steve Soboroff if his nomination is approved by the City Council. Previously, Michaelson served as an assistant deputy mayor to Riordan, specializing in transportation, development and planning.

Writing the latest chapter in one of City Hall's most protracted political feuds, the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission voted Wednesday to reject bids from both Nederlander and House of Blues for a 10-year Greek Theatre operating contract, and to seek new proposals. The commission--which has deadlocked three times on who should run the theater--voted 3 to 1 to reopen the bidding process.

The Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission voted Monday to approve proposals by the Los Angeles Children's Museum to build campuses in the Hansen Dam Recreation Area in Lake View Terrace and the downtown Art Park area near Little Tokyo. The commission action, which still requires approval by the City Council, authorized a dollar-a-year lease for the museum on city-owned property at Hansen Dam.

The city's Recreation and Parks Commission voted Monday to approve proposals by the Los Angeles Children's Museum to build new campuses in the Hansen Dam Recreation Area in Lake View Terrace and the downtown Art Park area near Little Tokyo. The commission action, which still requires approval by the City Council, authorized a dollar-a-year lease for the museum on city-owned property at Hansen Dam.

A second proposal to build a soccer stadium in the San Fernando Valley with no public subsidy was unveiled Wednesday, creating competition between professional and amateur groups for the site in the renovated Hansen Dam Recreation Area. Steve Sampson, the former coach of the U.S. national soccer team who now represents Pueblo Corp.

Los Angeles city officials should reconsider granting a 30-year franchise to the operator of the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center because he abuses the public--including killing a children's horsemanship program--to score tactical points in his negotiations with the city, critics said Monday. Members of the Valley Horseowners Assn. assembled at City Hall for a scheduled hearing by the city's Recreation and Parks Commission on concessionaire Eddie Milligan's stewardship of the city-owned center.

The Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department will enter talks that could lead to a takeover of Van Nuys Golf Course from a contractor and expansion of the junior golfing program, the agency's board agreed Wednesday. The parks board authorized agency officials to approach the city Airports Department, which owns the golf course property next to Van Nuys Airport, and discuss the possibility of a 20-year lease.

A second proposal to build a soccer stadium in the San Fernando Valley with no public subsidy was unveiled Wednesday, creating competition between professional and amateur groups for the site in the newly renovated Hansen Dam Recreation Area. Steve Sampson, the former coach of the U.S. national soccer team now representing Pueblo Corp.