It has been almost two years since the Westside Waldorf School received a temporary certificate of occupancy (COO) to move to its Sunset Boulevard location providing that the school install a traffic signal at the critically dangerous intersection at Los Liones Drive and Sunset. The school has lagged on its $150,000 commitment, and in September asked the City Zoning Administration to postpone a hearing to review the school’s COO, in order to allow the school to first meet with Councilman Bill Rosendahl’s office, the L. A. Department of Transportation (LADOT)and community groups. No meeting date has yet been set. Rob Gritz, Waldorf’s chief administrative officer who replaced former administrator Jeffrey Graham this summer, requested the 45-day extension on the zoning hearing so ‘I can catch up and understand the history of this project and to be overt about our contribution as a matter of ethics.’ While reiterating the school’s commitment to the long-sought signal, Gritz told the Palisadian-Post that he sought the assistance of Rosendahl’s office to work to contain the scope and costs of the project. ‘The simpler it is and the more controlled the budget, the more rapidly the project will be executed.’ Gritz was hired as a part-time consultant in December 2006 to ‘help the school overcome challenges with its own construction and speed them into getting into the school’ he said. He became fully engaged in the school’s day-to-day affairs and finances in late August. In November 2006, the Department of Transportation allowed the K-8 school to submit an alternative circulation plan, which allowed the school to open its doors and gain more time to raise funds for its portion of the estimated $350,000 overall cost of the project. After several construction delays, the school finally moved from its Santa Monica location to the site of the former Santa Ynez Inn and Transcendental Meditation Center in January 2007. LADOT estimated a year ago that the project’s total cost would be $350,000, with construction expected to account for $270,000 of that cost. The Getty Villa Community Relations Committee agreed to commit $150,000 toward the total cost of the signal once Waldorf completed fundraising, former Director Graham told the Post in December 2007. Councilman Rosendahl has said he would use district funds to pay the difference between the final costs of construction, based on the 2007 estimates, and the $300,000 paid by Waldorf and the Getty Committee. Since then, the city traffic engineer has amended the original budget by adding six street lights to the project at an additional cost of $115,000. In the summer of 2007, Waldorf contributed $50,000 toward the design phase of the project, but the school’s fundraising efforts have yielded just a fraction of the school’s remaining commitment. Graham said last December that school-sponsored raffles and benefits had raised ‘close to $10,000,’ leaving the school roughly $85,000 short of what it must raise. Recently, Castellammare residents using Los Liones Drive exerted their influence by complaining that the intersection was becoming increasingly dangerous, and in a letter to the zoning administrator in September urged the city to withhold granting Waldorf permanent occupancy until the school completed funding the signal. Rosendahl has reiterated his position that the school will be held to its obligation. ‘The Council office is also asking for a commitment of a timeline,’ said Rosendahl’s Northern District Director Norm Kulla. ‘The temporary permit to operate the school will continue to include the traffic light.’ In addition, Richard G. Cohen, chairman of the Pacific Palisades Community Council, said that the council expects the city to uphold its rules, laws and ordinances. The zoning hearing officer will accept correspondence from the public until October 24. A hearing date has not been set. ‘This is a condition of their occupancy permit,’ said Shirley Haggstrom, a Castellammare resident. ‘The school is responsible for the traffic-light installation and the increased traffic at that intersection. Because of the school, the intersection has become more dangerous. Bottom line is safety of children and everyone who goes through that intersection.’ Waldorf’s Gritz said that he is willing to declare openly what our commitment is and hopes ‘to hear from the other stakeholders as to what they’re willing to do. We’re not trying to hide from it, but deal with it. We’re good citizens and will contribute fully to our portion.’
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