By Karl Abrams

The Venice Town Council convened its third monthly meeting, July 11, at the United Methodist Church auditorium. Since there were not enough people needed for the quorum required to pass resolutions, the meeting became more of an open and lively semi-structured discussion to prepare for the next monthly meeting, which is held on the second Friday of each month (the next meeting is Aug. 8). 

The meeting discussed these agenda items:

1. We unanimously agreed that the time allotted for discussing future resolutions needs to be increased so that all persons present can better understand the meaning and purpose of each resolution. 

2. One participant proposed creating an anti-war committee to work on long-term ways Venice can help to end the war (including short term of organizing an anti-war/9-11 event). 

3. Another participant informed the Council about a new French invention: the “Self-cleaning Bathroom.” We agreed that such bathrooms are needed in various locations throughout Venice, especially on Lincoln Blvd. The self-locking, self-cleaning devices (about 20 x 7 feet) are already in use throughout Europe. An amazing video demonstration of this pioneering contraption may be found on YouTube by searching “auto toilet” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYgzZJpIKwA&NR=1

 4. The topic of low income and affordable housing was brought up. We agreed that property developers in Venice must be watched carefully and continually pressured to include affordable housing as part of all future housing development proposals.

 5. Many town council participants felt having recycling bins on the boardwalk was too expensive. 

6. A letter opposing OPDs will be part of next month’s agenda. 

7. One participant expressed her frustration with the police knocking on her motor home at 2 a.m. A discussion of police tactics agreed that there must be a way to stop this unfair harassment. If the police think that you have an animal inside your RV, they can actually break into your vehicle.

 9. The last item on the agenda was the Ocean Front Walk. Many participants in the Town Council felt that “factory” jewelry is destroying the artistic spirit of the boardwalk and that police were harassing the crafts people of Venice.