11 (4)
Jennifer L. Hall
From:kathy tran <mimozat4@yahoo.com>
Sent:Tuesday,
To:Ted White
Cc:Jose Diaz; Stephen Faessel; Public Comment
Subject:Re: \[EXTERNAL\] Regarding Item #11 Anaheim Lodge Motel convert to Art Lodge
Good Afternoon Mr. White,
Sorry for unable to answer your call yesterday and this morning. I am with patients. I do appreciate much of
your time to answer my questions and Please see my questions and comments below.
Thanks much again, and I hope I can receive my questions answer because Council meeting tonight.
Sincerely,
Kathy Tran.
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 6, 2023, at 4:01 PM, Ted White <TedWhite@anaheim.net> wrote:
Hi Kathy,
Please see my responses below. And, feel free to give me a call if you would like to discuss further.
All the best,
Ted White
PLANNING & BUILDING DIRECTOR | CITY OF ANAHEIM
tedwhite@anaheim.net
(714) 765-5209
From: kathy tran <
Sent: Sunday, February 5, 2023 10:31 PM
To: Ted White <TedWhite@anaheim.net>; Grace Stepter <GStepter@anaheim.net>; Jose Diaz
<JoDiaz@anaheim.net>; City Manager <Citymanager@anaheim.net>
Subject: \[EXTERNAL\] Regarding Item #11 Anaheim Lodge Motel convert to Art Lodge
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open
attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.
Hello Mr. White,
1
Thanks much for a phone call on last Thursday regarding the Item #11. After our conversation, I do
have a lot of questions and I would hope to get the answer prior City Council meeting, Tuesday, Feb 7,
2023.
Here are my/our questions:
1) What is your proposal for the this Public Art Challenge? West Anaheim residents would like to see
written documentation/ application that outline the city' plan for the Anaheim Lodge property. The City
would like to apply for a $1 Million grant for a temporary (2 year) art project at the former Anaheim
Lodge. The Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge is intended to “support innovative temporary
public art projects that enhance the vibrancy of cities”. Our innovative project would adaptively reuse the
former motel and turn it into an art incubator space and community space as an interim use before the
building is torn down and the property is developed with housing. We are in the early stages of building
partnerships, concepts, and operational ideas for the project.
Since you stated that “ We are in the early stages of ……. operational ideas for the project,” what are the topics or
themes that City plans to pitch / sale to/ for this Public Art Challenge?
2) Please share with residents the specific details and guidelines as how this grant can be used:
a) What type of expenditures are allowable versus what expenditures are not allowable? The
grant guidelines are not prescriptive in how the funds can used, except they are to be used to support the
“public art project”. The grant application asks for a general breakdown of how the money will be spent,
and we are working on a general outline of this, including physical improvements to the property, art
installations on the property, operations, and security. Please keep in mind that the long term plan for the
site is new housing development, which will require the demolition of the site at a later date, therefore,
grant funds will be heavily invested to support the art installations and components themselves.
…the grant funds will be heavily invested to support the art installation and components themselves.. Who is the
installers? Who owned those art pieces? What will happen to art pieces after the project complete ?
b) Can the City utilize the grant funds to upgrade the physical condition of the motel? The room
at the Lodge were previously associated with nefarious activities like prostitution and drug use/sale. I
would imagine that any plan to utilize the property for alternative purpose would include a plan to upgrade
and " clean up" the room and landscaping. Yes, we believe the grant guidelines will provide the
opportunity to make physical upgrades to the property like landscaping, clean up, painting, minor repairs,
etc. Please keep in mind that the long term plan for the site is a new housing development so therefore,
there will not be significant changes to the motel rooms themselves.
So basically, not much money to invest in physical upgrades?
c) Can the grant funds be uses to pay for 24 hours security of the property? Again, given the
previous activities associated with the property, security here is a necessary component of any upgrade. I
also would like to point out that neighboring business in area ( Subway, Waba Grill etc) continue to
experience difficulties with the criminal element along Beach Blvd. As the property owner, the City is
responsible for the maintenance, operations, and security of the property and is committed to maintaining
and securing the site regardless of whether or not these funds are received. The City is already
providing for property management, including security. 24-hour on-site security and/or property
management would continue as part of the plan of operation for the Arts Lodge project. Security will be
the first priority of the project and will inform all decisions regarding the operation of the project.
Is that mean
?? percent no money from the grant to pay for security?
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d) Can the grant pay for salaries or housing allowances for the artists? The grant is intended to
help fund artists and the creation of art. Compensating artists for their time and resources would be part
of the proposed grant budget. We do not anticipate paying direct housing allowances to artists. There
would be no artists living at the property. The only resident at the property would be an on-site manager,
for security purposes.
What are the requirements and criteria that the artists must qualify to receive the grant fund and what will happen to
the art pieces after been pay to create? who will owned its? City? Community or artists?
You stated, “ we do not anticipate paying directly housing allowance to artists”, would you please clarify that
statement?
e) Can this grant be spent on cleaning up the side walk, upgrading landscaping/ frontage in
front and adjacent to the property? Yes, we believe the grant can be used to make physical upgrades to
the property and provide for maintenance of the property during the duration of the grant. Our ability to
affect neighboring properties is limited as those properties are privately owned. However, to the extent
possible, the City will explore such options.
I believe City owned the side walk now , so at least one thing the City can do is power wash the entire sidewalk and that
won’t relate to any private owned matter. Can the grant fund pay for that service in those 2 years?
3) The duration for this grant is two (2) years, what will happen if the funds run out before the two (2)
year period? Who will bear responsibility to continue to pay for the property? Should the plan to revitalize
the property fail, are we required to return the fund? We believe the grant is adequate to cover expenses
associated with the operations of the project for a period of two years. As you are aware, the City has
been providing security at this property and the Covered Wagon since we purchased it. As property
owners, we will continue to ensure that proper security and maintenance is provided at the property.
Please answer my questions if that happens. The City better be managed the expenses and what happens if it fail? Who
is responsible for it?
4) Assuming the City is approved for the grant, does Anaheim plan on holding meeting or conducting
community outreach with West Anaheim residents? Absolutely! Community involvement will be integral
to the life and success of the project. The goal of the project itself is to create a community space that will
be visited and enjoyed by residents of all ages throughout the two year duration of the project – school-
age children, seniors, young adults, disabled, open to everyone.
Beside it’s a “community space” that will be visited and enjoy by our residents, What else’s will benefit for the
residents in this area?
5) Residents would like to know how the city plans to operate the Art Lodge Project:
a) What type of permit will be required? As a temporary use on a City owned property there is
no permitting requirement. However, there will be robust community engagement should the grant be
awarded and the project were to move forward. The City will have the ability to enforce operational
standards and modify those standards should additional measures be necessary.
b) Who is responsible for the daily operation of the location? The City, and our partners at
MUZEO
Which departments of City will be responsible?
.
c) Who is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the location? The City.
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Who will pay/ responsible for utilities and pick up trash?
d) What is the definition of Art incubator and Art Exhibit? Please explain. Existing motel rooms
would be adaptively reused as art studios and gallery spaces.
e) What is the definition of Artist Studio? A place for the creation of art. Not a residence.
f) Does City allow for any Artist to live on site/ over night? No, we do not envision the residential
use of the property. We do expect that we would have an on-site caretaker/property manager that would
live on the property full-time.
Just want to triple checked and please confirm that City does not allow any Artists to live on site, except for property
manager.? I would like this in writing, Please.
6) What type of art will be displayed: Landscape, human interest, political, special group? Will the
residents have input on what type of art is selected? The MUZEO, as the lead operational partner and an
experienced cultural and arts institution in the City, will work with the City and community to outline the
parameters for selecting artists for the studio spaces, designing public art installations and planning
community events.
Thanks much.
7) Is there a cost/fee to visit the Art Exhibit? How much and who will be benefit from this fee? What are
the planned hours/day of operation? We do not expect to charge a fee to access the art
project. However, it is very early in the planning stages, and I would not want to completely rule out the
possibility that there could be “ticketed” events held at the project.
Who is benefit for the tickets events?
8) Safety:
a) How many security officers will be onsite daily and what hours will they work? We do not
have specific information on the number of security officers that will be needed to safely operate the
property. That will be established as we develop more details regarding the operation of the
property. Safety and security will be the number one priority of the project. We will create a Security and
Operations Plan, in coordination with the Anaheim Police Department, to ensure that the property is
properly operated and will be an enhancement to the area.
9) Parking:
a) Where will visitors be permitted to park? We anticipate that the majority of the existing
parking spaces at the property will be maintained as parking spaces, with the potential for a few of the
spaces near the front of the property to be converted to outdoor community spaces.
b) I was advised that a tentative plan will be a parking allocation at the Covered Wagon site.
This is not in close proximity to the Anaheim Lodge and if the City would like to move forward with this
plan, then there need to be better solution to account for parking. While the Covered Wagon is not
adjacent to the Anaheim Lodge, it is in close proximity, with just one property separating the two
properties (less than 125 feet). Since the Cover Wagon is now demolished, there is approximately one
acre of open space to accommodate parking in addition to the parking stalls available at the Anaheim
Lodge.
c) Does the City plan to provide security at the Covered Wagon site as well? Yes
10) Noise:
a) How does City plan to prevent and control noise so that nearby residents are not affected?
Artists who are selected to participate at the Anaheim Lodge will be given an orientation on the history of
the site and be required to be good neighbors. Participation at the Art Lodge will be at the discretion of
the City and our partners, therefore the City maintains the ability to address any disruptive element should
such an event transpire.
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Thank you. Which department should we/ I need to contact regarding this matter?
We would like to have these questions answered prior to the meeting. West Anaheim residents have long
found for the revitalization of Beach Blvd and we have spent countless hours at meetings to impact
positive change. Steps have been taken to achieve this goal and I do not believe that this plan will help us
to accomplish the vision that we have for Beach Blvd and the elements set out in the Specific Plan.
Honestly to you, I ran out of faith and patience for the City. The most recent example that I can remind
you was about the " 8 foot block wall " that I found for more than decade, got approved by the City on last
year, April 12, 2022 and it is still not been build at this property.
Should there be a time constraint that requires this item be voted on immediately, then I
would ask that :
1. a requirement of the constructing an eight (8) foot high block wall abutting the
residential unites along the western property line, Plans for an 8 foot wall are
already in the works
Would you please elaborate more details of the plans and when the wall schedule to build?
2. a requirement of the grant application mandate a meeting with West Anaheim
residents to discuss the project as well as
Community engagement is planned and ongoing so we welcome these meetings.
Thank you.
3. requiring the city to demolish the Anaheim Lodge motel as soon as the Art Lodge
plan in completed.
The long term plan for the site is new residential that will necessitate that the
Anaheim Lodge be demolished. Therefore, this request aligns with the City’s plans
for the location.
Please have it in writing
Thanks you much and I am looing forward for the response.
Sincerely,
Kathy Tran.
Resident who live directly behind Anaheim Lodge Motel.
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