International Right of Way Association

Chapter 1 - Los Angeles County

  Konstantin Akhrem - President

Find a Member  

                                                                     Page Updated: May 18, 2012                                                                               

This website is best viewed in Internet Explorer browser

Chapter's News & Announcements                                                                                      IMPORTANT NOTICE to MEMBERS of IRWA Chapter 1:   Dear Member of IRWA Chapter 1: Please join us for a general membership meeting on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. at Steven's Steakhouse located at 5332 Stevens Place, Commerce, California.  This important annual meeting serves to elect and install Chapter 1's slate of officers for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.  Chapter 1 Bylaws stipulate that the Chapter President Elect will be installed as President upon the commencement of the following fiscal year, while all other Chapter officers will be chosen by election.  David Graeler, Esq., the current Chapter President Elect, will assume the Chapter presidency effective July 1, 2012.  Chapter 1 members will elect, at the membership meeting scheduled for May 22, 2012, the following for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2012:  President Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, and Professional Development Committee (PDC) Chair. The Nominations and Awards Committee has nominated the following slate:  Kenneth Stanberry, SR/WA, President Elect; Theresa Armistead, Treasurer; Norman Eke, Secretary; Andrew Thompson, SR/WA, PDC Chair. Any member wishing to run from the floor will be given five minutes to present their qualifications to those in attendance prior to the elections. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please contact the Nominations & Awards Committee with your vote FOR or AGAINST the slate.  Otherwise, it will be assumed that members who do not show up at the meeting or contact the Nominations & Awards Committee with their vote, support  the slate presented above.  The Nominations and Awards Committee will also present at this meeting the Large Employer, Small Employer, and Professional of the Year awards. We are also very fortunate to have Daniel Stekol as our guest speaker at the meeting.  Mr. Stekol is the Business Development Officer at IRWA Headquarters and will present an IRWA fiscal year update and provide information regarding IRWA's upcoming 58th Annual Education Conference. RSVP - please respond to the e-vite that was previously circulated, or contact Luncheon Committee Chair Aaron Aftergut to reserve your space. Aaron may be contacted at aaftergut@irr.com or at 818-290-5434. Hot !  Young Professionals... See below! Newsletter Update: Current issue is being finalized. Please submit your news and announcements. Meanwhile, please enjoy the March and February issues. Next Educational Course: 5/21/12 - Business Relocation (course # 502). This intermediate-level, two-day course explores how to apply provisions of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, in conjunction with the Surface Transportation and Relocation Assistance Act of 1987, and subsequent revisions, to the relocation of non-residential entities.  This course presents the processes necessary to relocate a business. Participants will learn how to apply provisions of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, in conjunction with the Surface Transportation and Relocation Assistance Act of 1987, and subsequent revisions, to the relocation of non-residential entities. Participants must read 49 CFR Part 24 prior to attending this class. The course is on track - make your travel plans with confidence! At Chapter 1, we frequently have course participants from out of town, state, and region... They come to benefit from classroom interaction, network with local professionals, and enjoy the great weather and fun activities available only in L.A.!...   (current schedule and additional info)       58-th Annual Educational Conference: June 10-13, 2012, Seattle, WA (conference info) Young Professionals Event (June 8-10, 2012) - Hot !  The Chapter is going to sponsor two qualified members to attend this event. To be considered please contact the membership committee as soon as possible. Brand new IRWA Course Introduction to Presentation, Instruction and Facilitation (course # 219) is being offered on 6/14/12 - 6/15/2012 in Seattle right after the Conference.  This will be the second offering of this course. The pilot was done in February 2012.                                                                                     Local Agency News ... / Announcements... Hot !  [your agency's announcement here] East Los Angeles incorporation. February 8, 2012 Staff Report                                                                                  Local Public Agencies - We Want Your News! Please share any news relevant to the sphere of public real estate and Right-of-Way disciples, such as RFP/RFQ, project news, press releases, etc. Your news will be published on this web site and/or our Newsletter.  >>>  click here to submit <<<                                                                                         Education Planning...     Our course schedule is designed in a way that allows you complete all educational requirements for SR/WA designation within 3 years. However, if you need a course not currently scheduled, we want to hear from you - please contact Tom Hanley, P.E., Education Chair.     We are very good at responding to members' feedback and needs. To date many courses have been scheduled in response to members' suggestions and/or requests. Institutional Training available...     If your organization needs Right of Way training for large groups, please contact Konstantin Akhrem, President or Daniel Stekol, Business Development Officer, at IRWA HQ.     For information on candidacy for SR/WA designation or professional certification, please refer to the appropriate Program Guide on the IRWA's Credentialing web page.                                                                                         News Welcome - If your organization has newsworthy information and would like to have it published in the Chapter's Newsletter and/or on this website, please submit your news in the form of a "press release" to the Chapter's President. New Members - You are welcome to submit your photo and a brief paragraph about you for publication in the chapter's newsletter. Discover the power of networking! See you at the chapter functions and events! Not a member yet?.. Invest in yourself! Join IRWA and start enjoying the benefits of membership.   (Apply Now).                                                                                         For the Record... 4.24.12 - The Annual Valuation Conference was attended by 94 Right of Way professionals. Speakers' presentations are now posted here: Previous Valuation Conferences 3.27.12 - The Chapter conducted a traditional annual joint function with Southern California Chapter of Appraisal Institute. The guest speaker, Mr. Zoraster, talked about employment trends in Los Angeles County and their relationshios to the types of real estate which are occupied by the various employment sectors.  He discussed which types of real estate have enjoyed strong demand, and which types of real estate have experienced weak demand, due to trends in employment. A total of 84 members and guests attended the event. 01.24.12 - A.J. Hazarabedian, Esq., of California Eminent Domain Law Group, APC discussed "Strategies for Minimizing Litigation Expenses in Property Acquisition (While Getting Great Results): An Eminent Domain Attorney’s Perspective”   12.07.11 - Almost 170 members and guests enjoyed the       Tri-Chapter Holiday Luncheon yesterday at The Grammy Museum in L.A. Live. The event was appreciated by participants and sponsors.

11.03.11 - All presentations from the 2011 Fall Conference are now available for downloading - Enjoy! 10.26.11 - This year's Right of Way Fall Conference, held yesterday,  broke the attendance record. The conference was attended by 85 Right of Way professionals who came from all over the region, including Riverside, San Bernardino, and Santa Barbara Counties. This was a record breaking attendance. Most of the attendees were repeat and regular attendees, who recognize the significant value of this educational and networking event. Every surveyed attendee stated that the value they received in return for the invested time and money was several times the cost. Feedback from the attendees continues to pour in, praising the high quality of the presentations and confirming the great value of the event.  Congratulations on the success to the Co-Chairs Kelly Kitasato of City of Pasadena and David Graeler, Esq of Nossaman, who organized the conference!   = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Attention Candidates: If you were an SR/WA Candidate as of June 2011, see this important update from the Professional Development Committee going into effect in 2012. Also, see current Courses schedule. September 2011. This is the fourth year the Chapter's leadership is doing it. To support the professional development of Chapter 1 members, the Chapter's Executive Board has approved 2012 Educational Scholarships for Chapter 1 members who aim to achieve the SR/WA designation or professional certification. Two (2) scholarships will be awarded in 2012 by the Professional Development Committee (PDC) to qualified applicants. Applications deadline was October 14, 2011. (official details) Update: The PDC has awarded three (3) scholarships! The Awardees will be announced at the luncheon on January 24, 2012. (this update added on January 4, 2012)   9.27.11 - The quarterly networking luncheon and presentation were enjoyed by 73 members and guests. The slide presentation is now available for downloading from this page. Don't miss the next event!..   Take advantage - Members' NEWS Welcome... Chapter 1 members are welcome to submit articles of interest for publication in the Chapter's Newsletter. Technical articles may be subject to evaluation and/or revision by the appropriate industry committee.      >>>  click here to submit your article material  <<< = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

News You Can Use...

News & Updates...

 Industry Committees Updates

updated 5/15/12

Law Committee:                                                                 

(Chaired by Michael F. Yoshiba, Esq. )

Education:

C-800 - Principles of Real Estate Law (June 7-8, 2012)

C-801 - United States Land Titles   (July 19-20, 2012)

C-802 - Legal Aspects of Easements 

Industry News & Buzz...

Case of the Month: DAVID J. DUEA, as Trustee, etc., v. COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO. Look Before You Leap; Denial of Prop 13 Tax Basis Transfer from Property Under Threat of Condemnation to Re-placement Property. See March Newsletter

HSRA Chief Counsel recommends Inter-Agency agreement for legal services with Caltrans. Cost of services could reach over $7 million.  

Pipeline Committee:                                                         

(Chaired by Gary Valentine, SR/WA, MAI, ASA, CCIM)

Education:

C215 - Right of Way Agent's Development Program. This award-winning course was designed specifically for right of way professionals working in the pipeline industry. The class is scheduled for September 6-7, 2012 in Downey, CA. (education calendar)

Asset Management Committee:                                    

(Chaired by Duncan Robb, R/W-AMC).

Education:

C700 - Introduction to Property/Asset Management

C701 - Property/Asset Management: Leasing

C703 - Real Property Asset Management

Industry News & Buzz...

Port of L.A. Receives U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL GOLD LEED CERTIFICATION for New Port Police Building (March 2012)

Engineering & Surveying Committee:                    

Update pending. please check back soon...

Education:

C900 - Principles of Real Estate Engineering 

C901 - Engineering Plan Development & Application

C902 - Property Descriptions

Environmental Committee:                                   

(Chaired by Norman S. Eke)

Education:

C600 - Environmental Awareness

C600 - Environmental Awareness (online version)

C606 - The Environmental Process

C606 - The Environmental Process (online version)

Industry News...

Streamlined Environmental Review Proposed For Rail Projects [January 2012]

Local Public Agency Committee:                            

(Chaired by Kelly Kitasato, R/W-AMC)

Education:

C303 - Managing the Consultant Process

C304 - When Public Agencies Collide 

(download article: UGH!! Why doesn’t that other *%#^&@* agency realize I also am a public agency???)

Industry news & buzz...

4.19.12 - Port of L.A. Adopts a 5-year Strategic Plan

2.13.12 - City of Santa Monica to pay $300K to relocate trees...

3.21.12 - City of Beverly Hills to consider a legal action against MTA, new Mayor says. 

Relocation Committee:                                                   

Read Focus on Relocation in March 2012 Newsletter

Education:

The following courses are scheduled for 2012:

C501 - Relocation Assistance  (Delivered 5.4.12)

C502 - Business Relocation (Delivered 5.10.12)

C504 - Computing Replacement Housing Payments

C505 - Advanced Residential Relocation Assistance

C506 - Advanced Business Relocation Assistance

more info...

(Relocation courses are not available online.)

Transportation Committee:                                             (Chaired by Daryl Root, R/W-RAC)

Monitoring the California High-Speed-Rail Project -

Link to US House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. 

Utilities  Committee:                                                         (Chaired by Andrew Thompson)

Update pending. please check back soon...

Valuation Committee:                                                     

(Co-chaired by William Larsen, SR/WA and Diane Dominguez)

2012 Annual Valuation Conference was attended by 94 right of way professionals from 4  counties.  

Education:

See full list of Valuation courses.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Recovery Update:

- L.A. Recovery

- L.A. County Recovery Tracker

- Caltrans Economic Recovery Website 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Opportunities...

RFP, RFQ's etc.

Los Angeles Business Assistance Virtual Network

SCAG Vendor Portal

California Energy Commission 

Federal Business Opportunities

Doing Business with GSA 

Procurement/Project Info for Western Federal Lands

WANTED: Expert Consultants to Review Enforcement Cases. (California State Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.

Contracting Opportunities - San Bernardino Association of Governments (SANBAG).

Doing Business with Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC).