Updated: Next Step in Autry Expansion Approval Process Still Uncertain

After taking nearly two hours of public comments regarding the Autry's proposed $6.9 million renovation of their Griffith Park museum space on Friday morning during a special meeting of the Arts, Parks, Health and Aging committee, the next step in the approval process for the controversial project now rests in the hands of committee chairman Tom Labonge.

LaBonge (CD4), who represents parts of Griffith Park, where the museum expansion would occur, told the approximately 50 members of the public who attended Friday morning's hearing that he could now either direct the issue back to the city council, call another special sub-committee meeting to hear more comments or hold off on making any decision until the next regular meeting of the committee on June 14.

As of Friday morning, no decision had been made yet,  however, since the city council claimed jurisdiction over the Autry's expansion through section 245 of the Los Angeles city charter on May 31, they are required to come to some decision within 21 days, which would be Tuesday, June 21.

The city council claimed jurisdiction over the Autry's proposed expansion and renovation plan after receiving numerous calls and e-mails from members of the public who claimed they were not properly notified of the May 20 meeting of the Recreation and Parks Commission board, during which the plan was initially approved.

Numerous residents of Highland Park and Mount Washington fear that the expansion of the Autry's Griffith Park museum space will further marginalize the , which the Autry has owned since 2003.

claim that the Autry took possession of the Southwest Museum's vast collection but have never made an honest attempt at re-opening the museum to the public after closing it for renovations in 2005.

Autry representatives, though, say they are currently seeking community who can assist them operate Southwest Museum in a financially viable manner.

updated: 4:41 p.m. "In 2002, the Southwest Museum was on the verge of bankruptcy. We simply could not get enough people to go to that location to support our operation," said Don Lee, an attorney for the Autry. "Also, despite tremendous effort to raise money to support the museum, we simply could not. Since that time the Autry has done everything and more to comply with the terms of that agreement, to support and care for that wonderful collection."

Councilman Ed Reyes (CD1), who sits on the Arts, Parks, Health and Aging committee, said that though no concrete decision was made about the Autry's expansion plan on Friday morning, he considered it a positive step that the public was given a forum to voice their concerns about the plan.

"I think today we finally put on the record some of the key issues and elements of an argument that seems to have different interpretations. I keep trying to go back to one city, one sense of purpose for all communities, including Highland Park, Mount Washington, and Los Feliz and Griffith Park," Reyes said. "I'm trying to get a solution, I'm trying to get to a place that gives us a win-win. I don't want to spin our wheels fighting, it's more about publicly creating solutions and I'm hoping this is one of the steps that gets us back on track."