[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5520-5527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01940]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
West Los Angeles VA Medical Center; Draft Master Plan
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This Federal Register Notice announces publication of the
Draft Master Plan for the West Los Angeles (WLA) Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) campus (hereinafter referred to as the ``Draft Master
Plan''). This notice also responds to public comments received in
response to the Preliminary Draft Master Plan that VA published on
October 22, 2015.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
On October 22, 2015, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
published a notice in the Federal Register (80 FR 64061), seeking
public comments for 45 days ending on Monday December 7, 2015, on the
Preliminary Draft Final Master Plan for the Greater Los Angeles (GLA)
VA Medical Center. As indicated in the Federal Register announcement,
the campus consists of approximately 388 acres in the heart of Los
Angeles. It has approximately 104 buildings, 39 of which are historic,
12 which are in need of seismic improvements, and a number of which are
currently vacant or closed.
A key purpose for VA to solicit the public comments was to inform
the Department's ongoing process to revitalize the campus and make it
more Veteran focused (particularly for homeless, severely disabled,
aging, and female Veterans); help end Veterans homelessness in greater
Los Angeles, in coordination with key stakeholders (including former
plaintiffs in the Valentini v. McDonald lawsuit, pertinent federal,
state, and local authorities, legislators, Veteran Service
Organizations, Veterans, local community partners, outside experts, and
philanthropic entities); receive input to determine ways to make the
campus more of a welcoming and thriving environment for Veterans and
their families, whether living on or off campus, as they engage with
one another on a peer-to-peer level, and receive the healthcare,
benefits, and other services that they earned for serving our country;
improve the processes and procedures regarding the review, execution,
and administration of third-party land use agreements on campus, to
ensure that those agreements that are not Veteran focused and not
central to VA's mission and operations are as appropriate, modified, or
terminated in support of VA's ongoing campus revitalization efforts.
We are pleased to advise that as a result of this public process,
VA received a record number of comments: 1,002. They contained
invaluable feedback on a range of issues pertinent to the campus,
notably regarding: the enhancement of arts, entertainment, and
recreation facilities and opportunities; ways to improve campus
circulation, parking, security, and transportation; ideas for improving
campus integration with the surrounding community; suggestions for
increased and expanded clinical care including therapeutic and holistic
approaches; housing and campus restoration; ways to improve and address
third-party when you see agreements on campus; ways to improve benefits
and memorial services on campus, as well as other amenities such as
childcare services, legal counseling services, financial management
services, and parking; operational issues including improvements to the
organizational and leadership structures for the campus, to maximize
the potential and desire to better connect Veterans to the campus and
give them more opportunities to provide true insight and feedback;
emphasis on improving transparency and accountability regarding the
spectrum of healthcare, benefits, memorial service, and third-party
activities throughout the campus; options to improve access,
reintegration, employment, counseling, family well-being, and other
services for Veterans on the campus and within the surrounding
community.
VA has received numerous letters of support for legislation that
Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congressman Ted Lieu have introduced in
Congress to support VA's plan to revitalize the campus. The bill is
known as S. 2013 and HR 3484, and is title the ``Los Angeles Homeless
Veterans Act of 2015.'' The legislation would enable VA
[[Page 5521]]
to provide much needed supportive housing and services on the campus
for Veterans and their families. It would expressly prohibit VA from
permanently transferring, selling, or disposing of any of the land on
the campus, and would require leases to comply with applicable laws and
regulations in conjunction to pertinent congressional notification,
reporting requirements and Inspector General Reviews. VA is grateful to
Senator Feinstein and Congressmen Lieu for their leadership and support
during this exciting journey, and strongly supports this legislation as
it will serve as a key driver in VA's ability to successfully implement
the Draft Master Plan for Veterans in the Greater Los Angeles area.
As we proceed towards adoption of the Draft Master Plan and
commence its implementation, we envision the GLA campus serving as an
exemplary model for other VA facilities nationwide. We also look
forward to working with all stakeholders to ensure that this campus
transformation coincides with VA's I care values of integrity,
commitment, advocacy, respect, and excellence, relative to VA's
overriding objective of putting Veterans in control of how, when, and
where they want to receive their healthcare and services. With your
continued support we are confident that VA will be able to fulfill
President Abraham Lincoln's promise: ``to care for him who she'll have
born the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan,'' by serving and
honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.
To most efficiently review and respond to the 1,002 comments in the
Federal Register, VA organized the responses into nine categories.
Comments often addressed a range of topics, resulting in a single
comment classified under multiple categories. While there were 1,002
total comments submitted to the Federal Register, there were 1,732
total comment categorizations to account for the comments that
addressed multiple topics. Approximately 60% of the 1,002 total
comments fell within the scope of a master plan, while the remaining
40% addressed topics that are outside the scope of a master plan. VA
will address all comments, both within and outside the scope of a
master plan, in this document. The table below shows the number of
comments received for each subcategory.
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Total comment
Comment subcategory categorizations *
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Arts, Recreation & Entertainment..................... 93
Campus Circulation................................... 29
Clinical............................................. 145
Connectivity......................................... 155
Housing/Campus Restoration........................... 137
Land Use Agreements.................................. 397
Parking.............................................. 134
Transparency & Accountability........................ 146
Veteran Access....................................... 341
General Support...................................... 124
General Discontent................................... 31
Total Comment Categorizations *...................... 1,732
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* A single comment can be classified in as many as four subcategories,
allowing for more total comment categorizations than total comments.
In addition to the nine categories addressed in this document there
were 124 categorizations of non-specific comments expressing general
support for the Draft Master Plan and revitalization of the GLA campus,
and 31 categorizations of comments expressing general discontent with
VA.
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Definition of Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation subcategory: Any
comments requesting the development of new or altering the existing
artistic, entertainment, or recreational facilities on the VA GLA
campus.
Response
The public submitted comments on a breadth of topics under the
umbrella of Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation. These comments most
prominently covered the type and availability of recreational
activities on the Greater Los Angeles campus. Recreation-related
comments generally fell under a couple different categories. The first
category was comments seeking a centrally located recreation center and
other athletic, recreational, rehabilitative, and therapeutic
facilities established on campus. These comments will be taken into
consideration in the development of the Zone 5 outer ring of the
campus, and in each development which has been set aside for
development into recreational facilities. The Master Plan focuses on
developing supportive housing in conjunction with a healthy assortment
of recreational facilities, to serve the future resident population on
campus.
The second category was comments seeking the development of
meditative gardens and walking paths for Veterans, their families, and
their visitors. VA received several comments requesting arts and
entertainment options available on campus, as well. Comments focusing
on the arts either requested a centrally located arts facility or an
artistic means of honoring Veterans on campus. Commenters requested
that the former allow space to make and refine art, including but not
limited to screening rooms, audition rooms, makeup studios, a graphic
design lab, studio space, and hobby shops. As with the requested
recreational facilities described above, an arts facility could be
developed in Zone 4 of the campus. Commenters focusing on the latter
requested either that artist installations honoring Veterans be placed
throughout the campus or a public memorial be placed on campus to allow
Veterans to reflect, while also educating the public on the Veterans'
sacrifices. The feasibility of artist installations throughout the
campus will be explored and expanded, but the Grand Lawn in the
southwest corner of the north campus is intended to be a quiet memorial
space where Veterans and the general public can come to reflect and
learn. The last major topic focused directly on the entertainment
options to be available on campus. These comments were dedicated mainly
to development of three venues: An outdoor concert space, a movie
theatre, and an auditorium. The Greater Los Angeles VA can provide
these spaces, by leveraging existing and future facilities. These
issues are further addressed in the Chapter II, Section B section of
the Master Plan.
Campus Circulation
Definition of Campus Circulation subcategory: Any comments
discussing transportation within and around the campus.
Response
Campus Circulation concerns the movement of people and vehicles
around, to, and from the GLA campus. Many comments noted deficiencies
in the internal circulation of the campus, the lack of signage, and
problems of way-finding throughout the campus. Commentators believe
that the campus can be improved in its spatial organization to create a
more easily legible plan. Overall, the majority of comments concerning
internal circulation on campus asked for a variety of transportation
modes and supporting infrastructure including pedestrian and bicycle
pathways or routes; an improved, reliable shuttle to connect the
various campus centers with convenient stop locations; and sufficient
parking distributed throughout the campus.
There were also many comments voicing concern for circulation
beyond the GLA campus. Commentators noted that in the attempt to make
the campus
[[Page 5522]]
a ``hub'' for regional services, it is important to make it accessible
to all Veterans in the region. Some comments pointed out the difficulty
of getting to and from services and those at the VA campus,
particularly pointing out the desirability of a pedestrian and bicycle
access route on Constitution Avenue between the UCLA Medical School and
the VA Hospital. Comments expressed concern for the already grueling
traffic conditions in the Westwood/Brentwood/Sawtelle neighborhoods
that would only be added to with the increase of residents and visitors
on the VA site.
Responses to the Preliminary Draft Final Master Plan commented on
the poor quality of walkways, grade management, and visible bus stops.
Many requests were made to improve roadway infrastructure in the
surrounding areas particularly for safe and accessible bus/shuttle
stops as well as safer and better-designed entrance/exit ramps, bicycle
lanes and pedestrian infrastructure along Wilshire Boulevard.
Lastly, a number of comments to the Federal Register concerned the
current poor traffic flow in the West LA area and the probable impact
of the hundred or even thousands of new residents and visitors the
campus could bring to the area. The majority of comments asked for the
Draft Master Plan to carefully assess and plan for the growing traffic
conditions in areas around the campus.
Circulation is one of the key factors in the Draft Master Plan even
in its earliest conceptual development. Circulation considerations
include road, bike, shuttle and pedestrian networks; it also considers
site features, programming, security and accessibility concerns. The
Draft Master Plan evaluates all of the existing conditions both inside
and around the GLA campus based on available data. There are a number
of further studies that the plan recommends in order to optimize the
GLA campus circulation network designs, including a more in-depth
traffic study. Still, the circulation plan must aspire to optimize
development of the site and contribute to restoring the campus to its
legacy as a Soldier's Home.
A key priority of the Draft Master Plan is to include various forms
of transportation and to accommodate all Veteran needs on campus.
Therefore, the Draft Master Plan includes campus network designs for
pedestrian, bicycle, shuttle routes as well as a newly designed road
network. The campus will be able to be navigated by pedestrian,
bicycle, shuttle and vehicle routes. The design of these routes creates
zones with different levels of accessibility and security. The road
networks were designed to establish a hierarchy of routes that will
allow the campus to be efficiently connected and navigated. The Draft
Master Plan includes a design for a shuttle system with four routes
that provide transportation to each end of the campus as well as beyond
the campus boundaries. The shuttle routes radiate from key areas of
Veteran services and interaction, such as the Town Center and each of
the neighborhood centers.
The site's topography, including features such as the bluff and
arroyo, had a great influence on the Draft Master Plan's road network
design. The grade change throughout the campus was a concern for
pedestrian circulation throughout the site. It was important that
pedestrian circulation have a wide range of foot paths including routes
that pedestrians with physical disabilities would be able to move
throughout the campus. The Draft Master Plan proposed a pedestrian
``spine'' that runs to each end of the campus, including a pedestrian
bridge over Wilshire Boulevard, that maintains a maximum grade change
of 5%, serving as an important mode of accessibility.
The Draft Master Plan also proposed a 2.5 mile loop dedicated to
non-vehicular traffic. This loop will provide much needed recreational
space for the campus as well as contribute to the transportation
network of the campus. Apart from the loop, the plan provides over 5
additional miles of bicycle routes or lanes throughout the campus.
The Draft Master Plan adds an access point to the campus along the
north side and locates this point south of the Barrington Post Office
in order to reduce impact on the already high traffic intersections
around Brentwood Village. The Draft Master Plan adds access points
along the west side of campus, both from the north campus onto Bringham
Avenue and from the south campus onto Federal Avenue. The Draft Master
Plan also uses the Constitution Avenue entrance from Sepulveda
Boulevard for direct access into a proposed Reintegration Zone within
the Industrial District on the east side. Lastly, there are additional
access points to the south campus that run parallel to the existing
access point from Ohio Avenue, offering alternative access to the
southbound I-405 freeway. The update plan now includes a proposal for
the Transit Authority to have a station stop on the campus that will
have passenger portals with access to the medical section of the campus
and to the industrial and cultural district of the campus.
To address the surrounding community's concerns about traffic, the
plan aims to reduce potential negative impact of campus development by
providing multiple points of entry and egress to distribute traffic
among multiple route options. The Draft Master Plan encourages multiple
forms of transportation to reduce the dependency on the car. The
objective is for the campus to be completely accessible for all
Veterans without use of a private vehicle.
Clinical
Definition of Clinical subcategory: Any comments discussing the GLA
Medical Center clinical care as well as any comments discussing
expanding clinical care to include therapeutic and/or holistic
approaches to Veteran care.
Response
VA received numerous comments on clinical care and Veteran services
on the GLA campus. The majority of comments that fell under this
category focused on specific service areas, including: Self-care
instruction and volunteerism; peer-support specialist services
(including a concierge); family and caregiver support (including child-
care); housing (emergency, triage, bridge, transitional and permanent
supportive); integrative (non-traditional, alternative) healthcare;
rehabilitative services and healing arts; forums for traditional and
non-traditional spiritual practice; education, vocational training and
job placement; benefits, financial coaching and a full range of legal
services; on-site employment and entrepreneurism, and recreation
(individual/team sports, entertainment and leisure. Veteran comments
consistently requested enhancements to these service areas to provide a
holistic, 21st Century approach to Veteran care.
As VA revitalizes and reinvigorates the physical plan of the GLA
campus, it must also add to the service plan both on the campus and in
the community. The goal is to create a vibrant, welcoming, Veteran-
focused, outcomes-driven model for Veterans and their families. The
services must be strength-based, holistic, and aimed at helping the
Veteran and the Veteran's family beyond the traditional medical models.
Practically speaking, it means ``how'', ``when'' and ``where'' services
are delivered must conform to the needs of the Veteran. This is
particularly relevant for Veterans who are aging, disadvantaged, and
suffering from chronic debilitating illnesses like schizophrenia and
other psychotic disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),
addictions and/or
[[Page 5523]]
other medical complications that compromise the Veteran's quality of
life. It is particularly relevant for female Veterans who need
designated space and services to address their unique healthcare and
preventative healthcare needs. The campus must also have capacity to
address the wellbeing and preventative care concerns of younger
veterans transitioning back to civilian life by addressing their
employment, educational, familial and other reintegration issues.
Lastly there is a need to ensure
Services must also be delivered in partnership with VA's academic
affiliates, including UCLA, and other VA partners who have expertise in
caring for homeless and other vulnerable Veteran populations. As part
of the service enhancements, it will be critical to create improved
access processes through not only more effective staff and volunteer
efforts, but also through a resource center and the use of Veteran peer
supports (concierges) that improves the ease with which various parts
of the campus can be navigated.
VA also received numerous comments related to existing services
provided at the GLA campus (i.e., Mental Health Services). Comments of
this nature were outside the scope of a master planning process;
however, are still important feedback as VA evaluates and enhances GLA
campus operations. Comments relating to existing services and providers
on campus were grouped and forwarded to VISN leadership for
consideration as VA continues to evaluate the GLA Medical Center
organizational structure.
For more information on proposed Veteran services' enhancements,
please refer to Chapter II, Section B of the Draft Master Plan.
Connectivity
Definition of Connectivity subcategory: Any comment on integrating
the campus into the surrounding community, or public access to the
campus.
Response
There were some conflicting ideas on campus/public connectivity
submitted to the Federal Register. A small number of comment
submissions expressed the need for the campus to be entirely and
strictly returned exclusively to the Veteran community. Opposing
comments expressed the desire for some of the land to be utilized or
even bestowed for public or community use. However, the majority of
comments asked for the campus to have permeable space throughout the
campus that encourages Veteran/civilian interaction and community
building.
At 388 acres, the campus is big enough to accommodate a wide
variety of needs and conditions, but it must be used to service the
Veteran community. This includes the facilitation of reintegration and
community building desired by so many Veterans. The VA campus has
provided valued resources for the communities of Los Angeles for
decades. However, it is important that the Draft Master Plan focus on
providing an accessible, community rich, therapeutic space for
Veterans. The Draft Master Plan includes a variety of places that can
create a sense of security and safety for Veterans, and other more
permeable spaces that can be shared with others as appropriate in order
to ``emphasize community, not campus''.
The Draft Master Plan focuses on making the campus a destination
for all Veterans. The site is meant to be a home and a community. The
planning process recognizes 21st century models for re-integration that
connect with the community-at-large and the Draft Master Plan was
devised to build connections not just in spatial design but also in the
programming of supportive services on campus. The plan includes major
advancements in campus programming aimed at drawing in Veterans of all
demographics, as well as to give Veterans the opportunity to create
programs that can include members of the public, working together to
enhance the Veteran community on campus. For example, beyond the need
for Veteran housing and services, the plan proposed to incorporate
cultural activities, community spaces, recreation and entertainment,
and Veteran employment opportunities. The intent is to discourage the
isolation of Veterans by designating physical zones on campus that have
directed purposes and uses with varying degrees of public and Veteran
permeability.
The Draft Master Plan proposed five zones within the campus. The
most open and accessible of the zones, Zone 5, forms a ring around
Zones 2, 3, and 4 that hold the majority of non-medical Veteran
services including most of the campus housing. This peripheral zone
includes the campus recreational areas and green space as well as the
campus industrial district and is intended to be the permeable outer
ring of the campus. Although accessible and open, the outer ring also
acts as a subtle barrier, wrapping the Veteran community within the
exclusive core. The inner zones will be more exclusive areas that limit
public access and even create some spaces only accessible to resident
Veterans.
To address security concerns, the plan utilizes organizational and
landscaping techniques to create soft barriers throughout the campus.
This landscape and organization of the campus separates programs and
areas that are exclusive to Veterans such as supportive housing and
some counseling services. The organization of space as well as the use
of landscape divides these spaces from the more permeable areas of the
campus. In some particular situations, times or areas, a gate or access
cards may be employed to further strengthen security of areas of the
campus and select buildings.
The Veteran Vocational Enterprise and Cultural Center should be an
important part of Veteran reintegration through public interface. This
area of the campus should serve as a center of reintegration services
and will include education, training and career counseling as well as
entrepreneurial, employment and community spaces. As it is part of a
public access zone, the area would include public infrastructure such
as parking to accommodate its new uses. This area should utilize public
interest and volunteers to form an urban space that will help to ease
Veterans into civilian life in the Los Angeles area.
Also in Zone 5 is recreational and open space on the north end of
the campus. Already acting as green space, with a more efficient use of
space this area can provide the Veteran community and possibly the
neighboring communities with open space, gardens and fields. For
example, the area that is currently designated as the Veteran's parking
lot servicing Brentwood Village, can be utilized by Veteran-owned
businesses and still provide parking to the neighboring community.
Central to this concept of public access is that it is Veteran-owned
and Veteran controlled and the public is welcome to share it by
invitation.
Housing & Campus Restoration
Definition of Housing & Campus Restoration subcategory: Any
comments discussing housing development on campus, methods to foster a
sense of community among the campus residents, or the physical
revitalization of the campus.
Response
VA received numerous Federal Register comments related to housing
for Veterans on the GLA campus. There was overwhelming support for
providing housing for Veterans on the campus, and the majority of
comments addressed the types of housing to be provided.
[[Page 5524]]
Some common housing themes in the comments received include (1)
increase the amount of housing over the total units originally proposed
(2) add housing units as quickly as possible (3) ensure all housing is
low cost and affordable to Veterans (4) various types of housing (i.e.
housing and neighborhoods with character) and (5) the need for
permanent supportive housing. Some common themes also emerged regarding
the target population for the housing which generally fall into the
following three categories: (1) Ensure housing is open to those
Veterans with the most need (2) provide housing for female veterans
with and without dependents (3) allow access for Veterans in need but
not identified in the specific target populations. Finally, the
comments expressed a desire to build a sense of community with the
housing as opposed to purely functional housing.
VA committed to bringing affordable housing for Veterans to the GLA
campus, and the Draft Master Plan now includes housing for the
projected need of 1200 units, based on the Housing Needs and Analysis
contained in Chapter II. This accounts for 300 more units than was
identified in the initial plan. Chapter II of the Draft Master Plan
identifies specific target populations (severely disabled Veterans,
including chronically homeless Veterans; aging Veterans; and female
Veterans with and without dependents), but would be available to all
Veterans in need. The Draft Master Plan has planned for this housing to
be developed with a sense of `community', which is described in detail
in Chapter V of the Draft Master Plan.
Land Use Agreements
Definition of Land Use Agreements subcategory: Any comments
discussing existing use of or proposing future use of land by a third
party organization including UCLA, Brentwood School, Barrington Park
operators, and the Westside Breakers.
Response
Feedback provided to VA during this master planning process from
Veterans, Veterans Service Organizations, local authorities,
congressional delegates, philanthropic organizations, the local
community, and other stakeholders, expressed a consistent desire for
the campus to: maximize the potential to reflect a transformed,
strategic, and informed configuration and implementation focused on
Veterans and their families; provide convenient access to facilities
and resources via all pertinent modes of transportation; function
effectively with appropriate levels and types of VA and non-VA care and
staffing in pertinent and underpopulated disciplines; extend an
inviting, warm, and welcoming environment to attract Veterans and their
families across all spectrums; function effectively and in harmony with
the surrounding community and business activities; and foster
employment and career opportunities to help Veterans improve their
lives and continue as productive members of society--all as envisioned
in the 1888 deed that conveyed the campus to the United States.
Consistent with this appreciated feedback, VA's vision for the
campus includes a goal to provide various types of housing on campus
for Veterans and their families, particularly homeless, severely
disabled, aging, and female Veterans. This will improve the choice for
Veterans to either live on or off campus, in dignified facilities
reflective of the sacrifices they have made for their country. If
enacted, the Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act of 2015 (i.e.,
S. 2013 and H.R. 3484) that Congressman Ted Lieu introduced in the
House on September 10, 2015, and Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced in
the Senate on October 6, 2015, would allow VA to provide Enhanced-Use
(EU) Leases at the GLA campus.
VA's EU Lease authority as contained in 38 U.S.C. 8161-8169, would
enable us to outlease parcels on the campus to selected lessees for
terms of up to 75 years, to develop, operate, and maintain ``supportive
housing'' for Veterans and their families. The types of housing would
be a myriad of housing options to strategically serve Veterans in need,
regardless of era of service. Such housing types would consist of
transitional housing, single room occupancy housing, congregate living
housing, independent living housing, assisted living housing, and other
modalities of housing. When using this authority, VA would be expressly
prohibited from disposing of the land and improvements involved in the
projects at the GLA campus. At the end of the lease term, the real
property would revert back to VA. Currently at other VA campuses
nationwide, VA has 1,909 units of EU Lease housing currently
operational, 1,046 units under construction, and 494 units planned, for
a total of 3,994 units.
These two bills would also help VA revitalize the campus, by
allowing VA to grant leases for terms of up to 50 years, to provide
amenities and services, where Veterans can engage with one another and
their families, and pursue a wide range of activities centered on their
social, entertainment, healing, spiritual, employment, recreational,
and rehabilitative interests and well-being.
Examples include spaces to accommodate Veteran and family
interaction, peer support, restaurants, eateries, child care, legal and
benefits assistance, movie and play theaters, art studios, a Veteran
employment center, sports fields, a gymnasium, swimming pool, golf
course, bike paths, parking spaces, dog park and kennel, church
services, weddings, funerals, internments, non-profit Veteran support
centers, hotel, dentist office, motorcycle training, a metro stop, and
retail areas.
The two bills would also allow VA to grant a lease to institutions
of the state of California, for a term of up to 10 years, in return for
the provision of services to Veterans. Such services may include
activities to directly support the medical, clinical, therapeutic,
dietary, rehabilitative, legal, mental, spiritual, physical,
recreational, research, and counseling needs of Veterans and their
families. In an effort to maximize that opportunity, VA will explore
the viability of further leverages to the current medical and academic
affiliation with the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). The
providing of such services for Veterans and their families on and off
the Greater Los Angeles campus, including through sports, recreational,
educational, employment, and entertainment activities at the existing
Jackie Robinson baseball stadium, will be a force multiplier in VA's
efforts to revitalize the campus.
It will enable UCLA to confirm and demonstrate its firm commitment
going forward, to ensure that its relationship with VA, Veterans, the
local community, and other stakeholders, is one of true unwavering
significance and substance in those areas for Veterans, as well as for
educating future generations of doctors, nurses, researchers, and
academics at VA and UCLA sites of care. This synergy could provide a
framework and model to improve other academic and medical affiliations
between VA and other medical schools and educational institutions
nationwide, and provide benefits that transcend the paradigm of VA, the
universities, institutions, and Veterans involved. For example, it
could assist VA with its other potential partners such as: The
Brentwood School, which has offered to provide therapy and recreational
opportunities on its campus, along with scholarships for children of
Veterans; the Red Cross, which has offered to assist VA in its disaster
preparedness responsibilities and obligations, which will help improve
campus capabilities and ensure
[[Page 5525]]
sustainability; and bolster VA's ongoing implementation of key Veteran
programs like the G.I. Bill.
While working to achieve this vision for the campus, VA will
evaluate existing and future land use agreements to ensure they are
``Veteran focused.'' This means the arrangements must provide direct
benefits to Veterans and their families, and provide negotiated fair
market rent to VA. VA will also continue its ongoing efforts to
terminate any existing third party use arrangements, which fall outside
of providing direct benefits to Veterans. VA will do so in a manner
that takes into account the legal parameters for doing so, based on the
underlying contract provisions at issue, and the need for VA to be
stewards of tax payer resources. And it will be VA's objective going
forward, to work with Congress to ensure that if S. 2013 or H.R. 1543
is enacted, the revenues paid to VA from Veteran focused land use
arrangements, will be directed to help renovate the GLA campus. Doing
so will help us maintain and renovate the campus in accordance with
applicable law and regulations, along with funding that VA receives
through other prioritization, budgetary, congressional authorization
and appropriation legislative, and enactment processes.
We will also effectuate these land use activities in a way that
fosters ongoing engagement with and input from Veterans, Veteran
Service Organizations, the local community, and other stakeholders, and
ensures the continued safety of Veterans, VA personnel, and other
persons traversing on and off the campus. And it is worth repeating
that such reuse activities will not include VA selling or disposing of
any of the land at the campus to third party entities. And the land use
projects and activities will comply with all pertinent laws and
regulations. This includes those regarding environmental and historic
preservation, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C.
4321-4370h); the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470, et
seq.); and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601-9675).
Going forward, VA's efforts to revitalize the campus will only
include `Veteran focused' agreements, or agreements that result in
additional healthcare, benefits, services, or resources being provided
directly to Veterans and/or their families on the GLA campus. Monetary
proceeds paid to VA alone will not constitute an acceptable agreement.
Neither will agreements that only benefit the public at large, versus
Veterans and their families. This concept will be a key consideration
in terms of how existing and any future land use agreements are
evaluated for approval, rejection, or termination.
VA's review of any proposed third party land use agreements will
entail a linear, multilayered process, to ensure adequate due diligence
occurs. At a minimum, each agreement will receive input from the
following VA personnel:
(1) West LA Chief of Outreach
(2) VAMC Director
(3) VISN 22 Director
(4) SAO West Land Use Contracting Officer
(5) The San Francisco Regional Counsel Office (now known as the Pacific
District (North))
(6) OGC's Real Property Deputy Chief Counsel in VA Headquarters
This Veteran focused intent for all land use agreements at GLA
going forward is absolutely appropriate and warranted, particularly
given the lessons learned from the August 2013 District Court for
Central District of California decision in the Valentini v. McDonald
case, which held that nine of the existing land use agreements were
illegal as they did not constitute a valid sharing of ``health-care
resources'' under VA's Enhanced-Sharing Authority. Given those two
clear principles, and as part of the ``Principles for Partnership
Agreement'' that settled the Valentini lawsuit in January 2015, VA
Secretary Robert McDonald commissioned an extensive review of the land
use agreements at GLA, including those nine voided agreements. The nine
agreements voided under the Court decision were as follows:
1. Brentwood School
2. Sodexho Marriott Laundry Services
3. UCLA Regents (Baseball Stadium)
4. 20th Century Fox TV
5. Veterans Park Conservancy
6. Westside Breakers Soccer Club
7. Westside Services Parking
8. TCM Farmer's Market
9. Filming Agreement ESAs
All land use agreements at the GLA campus, including the above nine
agreements, have or are being reviewed, to determine whether they are
or can be made sufficiently Veteran focused (thru fair market value
rent to VA and services directly benefitting Veterans and their
families), and fit within the overall needs and vision for a
revitalized campus. To date, the terminated agreements include Richmark
Entertainment; various filming agreements; Sodexo laundry agreement;
20th Century Fox; Westside Breakers; TCM Farmer's Market; and Veterans
Garden (Rancho Santa Ana). VA is also in negotiations with the
principals of certain existing land use arrangements (e.g., Brentwood
School, UCLA, Westside Services, and Veterans Park Conservancy), to
help assess the potential for Veteran focused consideration, and
compatibility with the Draft Master Plan. As appropriate for those
arrangements deemed to be Veteran focused, VA will seek to negotiate
deals that are good for Veterans, their families, and our nation's tax
payers, through a combination of fair market value rents, and Veteran
focused consideration (such as in-kind consideration and use of
existing and future facilities under those arrangements for purposes
tied to recreation, rehabilitation, therapy, mental health support,
legal and addiction services). The consideration generated will help VA
significantly to transform and revitalize the campus into a state-of-
the art model for other VA campuses nationwide.
Parking
Definition of Parking subcategory: Any comments discussing current
or potential parking issues on campus including the Brentwood Village
parking lot.
Response
VA received a number of Federal Register comments related to
parking on the Greater Los Angeles campus. Parking related comments
generally fell under one of two topics; comments requesting adequate
parking for the main hospital building and comments regarding the
Brentwood Village parking lot on the northern portion of the campus.
The majority of comments regarding the Brentwood Village parking lot
were in support of keeping this lot open for public use while
simultaneously building Veteran focused partnerships with local
community and businesses; however, there were also some comments that
supported closing the Brentwood Village lot off to the general public.
VA is aware of the need for adequate parking at the main hospital
building and throughout the campus, and as part of the implementation
of the Draft Master Plan VA plans to improve the efficiency of the
existing parking assets. Moreover, a critical component of the New Bed
Care Tower (Replacement Hospital) project will be associated parking
that should accommodate all parking demand for Veterans, employees, and
visitors at the GLA Medical Center.
VA would not be opposed to keeping the Brentwood Village parking
lot
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operational, as long as any land use agreement is Veteran focused and
complies with the land use procedures described in further detail in
the Land Use Agreements section of this document.
To maintain flexibility for the potential of continued public use,
VA has edited the Preliminary Draft Final Master Plan by relocating the
campus access point that had previously required the demolition of the
Brentwood Village parking lot. Additional information regarding the
proposed parking can be found the Draft Master Plan, Chapter V, Section
B--Master Plan Framework, Subsection Campus Mobility Plan.
Transparency & Accountability
Definition of Transparency & Accountability subcategory: Any
comments discussing or raising issues to the VISN or VAMC level
leadership as well as any comment proposing the implementation of an
external campus oversight council.
Response
A number of Transparency & Accountability comments raised concerns
regarding the transparency of VISN and VAMC during strategic decision
making processes. These comments generally requested that procedures be
put into place to ensure that VA leadership keep the local Veteran
population apprised of developing changes within the VISN and on GLA
campus. The other common thread among these comments stressed that VISN
and VAMC level leadership must hold poorly performing employees
accountable. Many of these comments were general in nature, but noted
past unpleasant experiences at VISN 22 facilities or at GLA campus
specifically. They asked that VISN and VAMC level leadership open
themselves to criticism more frequently and respond quickly.
To address concerns over transparency, VA plans to augment its
current efforts to provide stakeholder updates and open the floor to
Veteran and civilian input through regular VSO meetings, congressional
meetings, and Town Halls. The first of such meetings will be planned
for 90 days after VA Secretary Robert McDonald adopts the Draft Master
Plan. In collaboration with Veteran groups, community partners and
other stakeholders, VA will periodically review and reevaluate the
Draft Master Plan every three years, to ensure the plan continues to
meet the evolving needs of Veterans. The feedback process will be
continued as VA selects new leadership for the GLA Campus (i.e., three
senior executives--specifically the new GLA Medical Center Director;
the Director of Land Use Agreement & Community Engagement and
Reintegration Services; and Director of Community Based Care, including
the Sepulveda campus and Community Based Outpatient Clinics).
To more promptly respond to criticisms of provided services, VA
plans to strengthen the MyVA communities in the Los Angeles area. MyVA
Communities are a collaborative network of Veterans, advocates,
resources, and other stakeholders who organize through community
Veteran Engagement Boards, to improve outcomes for Veterans, and their
communities. The MyVA Communities model enables Veteran advocates,
service providers, Veterans, and stakeholders to have a voice in
providing input and feedback to VA, and identifying their goals and
ways to engage and improve service delivery for Veterans and their
families. The Los Angeles area Veteran Engagement Boards will carry the
visions of the Draft Master Plan forward. Building and sustaining these
avenues for continued Veteran feedback is a critical component of
maintaining the Draft Master Plan, as a guiding resource for
revitalizing and enhancing the GLA campus. All of this will be done to
ensure appropriate oversight and Veteran collaboration while increasing
transparency and accountability.
The Draft Master Plan document introduces the Community Veterans
Engagement Board which is a collaborative, coordinated process to
amplify the Veterans voice in matters that affect how, where, and when
they receive care and services. Additional information can be found in
Chapter III of the Draft Master Plan.
Veteran Access
Definition of Veteran Access subcategory: Any comments emphasizing
the need to promote access of specific Veteran populations on campus or
requesting additional services to eliminate barriers to accessing the
campus. These comments also include various other operational requests
to promote and enhance Veteran access to the campus such as Veteran
employment and education opportunities, family services, Veteran
Benefits assistance, Transition Center, legal counsel services,
emergency preparedness services, extended hours of operations, etc.
Response
The public comments suggested that there should be no VA sale of
any portions of the campus, to third parties for commercial uses. Other
comments indicated a desire for a facility to add a focus aimed at
assisting with the transition of active-duty military personnel to
Veteran status. Other comments regarded the need to expand existing
mental health, addition services, and transition services for active
duty members entering the VA system. Comments also expressed desire for
VA to collocate VBA onto the campus for improved ease to conduct
business relating to VA's benefits system. Others want VA to establish
a wellness or well-being center on campus, where Veterans can engage in
peer to peer interaction and socializing, each other and their
families. Other comments involved a need for support and special
housing facilities for Veterans comprising the underserved
populations--namely those that are homeless, severely disabled, aging,
and women--particularly females with children, to assist in the
recovery for those that have suffered sexual trauma, mental or physical
abuse, or PTSD.
In response to these comments received, it is first important to
note that neither VA nor the Draft Master Plan contemplated VA selling
or disposing of any of the land and improvements at the Greater Los
Angeles campus. VA envisions the development of supportive housing on
campus pursuant to legislation Congress recently introduced in both
houses of Congress--specifically, the Los Angeles homeless Veterans
leasing act of 2015 (Senate Bill S. 2013 and corresponding house Bill
HR 3484). VA has a phased development plan of 1,200 supportive housing
units on the campus. The proposed timeline involves developing 60 units
within the next 12 months, 150 units over the next 24 to 30 months, 280
units over the next 30 months, 280 units over the next 4 to 5 years,
and 430 units over the next 6 to 10 years--all totaling 1,200 units. VA
plans for those units to have special emphasis on homeless, severely
disabled, aging, and female Veterans. The goal will be to strategically
locate units designated for those underserved populations, in a manner
to provide convenient access to the pertinent care and services that
they will need, in a safe setting and environment. Along with
development of those units would be Veteran focused supportive service
leases, geared towards Veteran Health and wellness, nutrition and
spiritual wellness, education, vocational training, skills building,
peer activities, socialization, and physical recreation, assistance
with legal issues and federal benefits,
[[Page 5527]]
volunteerism, family support services, child care services, and
transportation.
Regarding the issue of helping active-duty service members to
transition to Veteran status, VA plans to offer and provide transition
services in the southwest corner of the VA campus, near the U.S. Army
Reserve Center and Army National Guard Recruiter facilities adjacent to
the GLA campus. VA understands that service members often encounter a
series of needs as they transition out of the military. Such needs
could include securing employment and housing, addressing physical or
mental health issues, and adjusting to civilian culture. The ease
through which this transition is made has a profound impact on post
service well-being. To complement the planned transition services, VA
has also established a new Welcome Center in Building 257, where
Veterans have access to a facility and setting that facilitates peer to
peer interaction and socialization, and VA and non-VA support
providers. Improved transition into VA will heighten the existing need
for expanded primary care and targeted hiring. VA plans to address
those needs through more targeted VA hiring at the campus, and improved
options for Veteran care through the Choice Act. For more information
on these issues, see Chapter IV, Figure V-7, and Chapter V of the Draft
Master Plan.
The Draft Master Plan is available to the public at http://www.losangeles.va.gov/.
Dated: January 29, 2016.
Michael Shores,
Chief Impact Analyst, Office of Regulation Policy & Management.
[FR Doc. 2016-01940 Filed 2-1-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P