West L.A. Neighborhood Council News/Events October 2009

-Lead Item-

WEST LA MONTHLY NEWS
Current goings-on in and around West L.A.

<<< Left-panel QUIK CLIKS: Learn about committee meeting
times and agendas, city department alerts and programs,
local business community organization events, etc.

Send comments and announcements for publication
in the November issue by Thursday, October 29.

Email the Editor
_________________________________________________________

PUBLIC NOTICES

COMMUNITY ALERT
Multi-Unit Apartment Buildings Targeted in WLA
Unknown suspect(s) enter apartment buildings by following delivery personnel or requesting permission to enter via the intercom entry system. Suspect(s) utilize lock pick tools to defeat door lock mechanism. It is imperative that residents utilize the dead bolt lock as it takes more time for suspect(s) to unlock two locks. Do not allow access to anyone via the intercom system that is a non-resident or does not have business at the location.
Locations Targeted: Multi-Unit apartment buildings within the West Los Angeles area. Contact Detective Prosser, WLA Detectives, 310-575-8441 for further information.

NEW WLANC COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES FORMED
Public Safety
The WLANC has appointed Mr. Peter Seeves as its new chair of Public Safety. Mr. Seeves is owner of a local karate studio on Sawtelle. It's meeting days and times will be posted shortly.

Civic Center/Farmers Market Committee
The WLANC has split the Civic Center and farmers market issues from the Outreach committee and has formed a new Standing Committee. The N.C. has appointed Mr. Danny Meyer as its new chair. Mr. Meyer is one of the founders of the farmers market, as well as the producer of the Youth Concerts at the Civic Center. Committee meeting days and times will be posted shortly.

Veterans Affairs Committee
The WLANC, bordered on the North by the Veterans Administration property, has formed a Veterans Affairs Committee. The purpose of the committee is to interact with the local veterans property on issues impacting our district. This is an Ad Hoc committee. All stakeholders are invited.

New Task Forces
The WLANC has formed new task forces to help with quality of life issues in our district. The Illegal Poster task force will be meeting as needed to schedule days and times to walk the district to remove all illegally posted signs on utility and light poles. All stakeholders are invited to attend and help. An integral part of this task force is the inclusion of the volunteers from idepsca, the local Day Labor site on Sawtelle and Exposition.

Clean Up Task Force
The WLANC, in conjunction with the Farmers market and the day labor site organizers (idepsca), will be holding a WLA clean up day at the civic center. Date and time to be announced.

"Fuel Boards" Inventory Task Force
The WLANC, in conjunction with community partners, will be holding an "Inventory Day". The purpose is to inventory all of the illegal "Fuel" poster boards in our district. All stakeholders are encouraged to help.

COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP DAYS
Coming soon: two days with help from area day labors
The West L.A. Neighborhood Council, in conjunction with the Westside day labor site, will be holding 2 community clean up days
The first will be a walk through the district to remove all of the illegal poster signs on poles. The second will be a clean up of the West L.A. Civic Center, home of the Sunday farmers market. Watch our website for further details. We invite all of the community to participate.

WEST L.A. POLICE STATION OPEN HOUSE
Community Police Station Holding Annual Open House
October 4, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Featuring:
Moon Bounce
Antique Police Cars
Clown and Face Painting
FREE Refreshments
Child Seat Inspections
Firearm Simulator
FREE engraving on bikes and electronics.

PUBLIC SCOPING MEETINGS: WILSHIRE BUS RAPID TRANSIT
Metro, the City of Los Angeles, and Los Angeles County are considering the feasibility of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project
on Wilshire Boulevard.
Monday, October 5, 6:00 - 8 pm
Felicia Mahood Senior Center
11338 Santa Monica Bl
Los Angeles, CA 90025
and
Thursday, October 8, 6:00 - 8 pm
Westwood Presbyterian Church
10822 Wilshire Bl
Los Angeles, CA 90024
The EIR/EA, which will be prepared in compliance with State and Federal environmental requirements, will examine the potential for dedicated curbside bus lanes during the morning and evening rush hours along Wilshire Boulevard, from just west of the I-110 freeway to the Santa Monica city line, excluding the City of Beverly Hills. These same three agencies began evaluating the proposed Wilshire BRT Project in November 2008 as part of preparing an Initial Study/Environmental Assessment (IS/EA). An EIR/EA is now being prepared as a result of input received at several community meetings held along the corridor at that time, additional public input, and technical analyses that have been conducted.
For additional information or questions, please visit the Wilshire Bus Rapid Transit EIR/EA website at metro.net/Wilshire.

PROGRESS UPDATE ON THE EXPO PHASE 2 FEIR
Exposition Construction Authority (EXPO) community meetings to update Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR)
In February, Expo held Public Hearings to obtain community input and receive comments on the Draft Environmental Impact
Report (DEIR). Over the past six months, the Phase 2 team has been working with agencies and stakeholders to address issues
raised during the DEIR process. This meeting is for sharing the latest findings and answer questions before the FEIR is finalized.
Planned Agenda for Community Meetings
Open House: 6:00 to 6:30 pm
Progress Update Presentation: 6:30 to 7:00 pm
Question and Answer Session: 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Format and information presented at all meetings ise identical,
so individuals, organizations and public agencies are welcome
to attend on any of the following days:
Dates and Locations:
Monday, October 5, 2009
Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, Gymnasium
3200 Motor Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
St. Andrewʼs Lutheran Church, Nolte Hall
11555 National Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, East Wing Meeting Rm
1855 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
For more information please visit the project website at BuildExpo.org or call the Expo Hotline at 213-922-3976.

CONGRESS OF NEIGHBORHOODS & COMMUNITY BUDGET DAY Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., October 10, 2009
Los Angeles City Hall, 200 North Spring St., LA, CA 90012
Empower LA 2009: A Congress of Neighborhoods is a powerful one-day opportunity featuring intensive workshops, forums and meetings for residents, Neighborhood Council (NC) leaders, community activists, and local non-profit organizations to learn about, discuss, and act on the pressing issues that City government and neighborhoods can best address together for long-term success.
Everyone is invited! Free workshops, food and parking!
A few programs and activities hundreds of your neighbors across the City will be participating in:
Your Neighborhood as a Cultural Destination... How Arts and Entertainment can Drive Local Business and Transform Your Community; Water and Power to the People! The future of the DWP Memorandum of Understanding with Neighborhood Councils, impending rate hikes, and challenges to the City's water and electrical infrastructures; Basic Social Networking... We're all "A-twitter"... How to use social networking to improve your NC's outreach efforts; Emergency Preparedness... A Crash Course to Help You, Your Family and Friends Prepare for a Catastrophic Emergency; Meet the Electeds... A Spirited Discussion in Face-to-Face Time with Our City's Elected Officials; etc.
Featured speaker: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
During Community Budget Day, the Mayor will provide information on the City's fiscal status and previews opportunities for NCs and all the people of Los Angeles to give their input on the budget he is proposing for the upcoming fiscal year. This year a special session on the budget has been added to the Congress event programs to provide a more in-depth understanding of the fiscal challenges the City faces and how the Mayor's proposed 2010-2011 budget will address them.

CERT MEETING: BATALLIONS 4, 9, & 18
Thursday, 7:00-9:00 p.m., October 22
Fire Station 59, 11505 W Olympic Blvd, LA, CA 90025
Enter from side gate on Butler. The classroom is actually on the corner of Butler and Mississippi. Topics will be the flu shots and
El Nino. This season's flu shot campaign is the largest vaccination effort in America since polio. In case you had not heard, you'll need three shots this season. Also, CERT has been invited to work at Department of Public Health flu shot locations, called PODs - points of dispensing. Let's answer their request for help!
Learn more: http://www.cert-la.com/calendar/calendar.cgi?calendar=H1N1PODs&template=default.html
If you find a date/location that suits your schedule, then click the
"let us know" link to sign up for that one as a volunteers.
As far as El Nino goes, there still seems to be mixed reporting as to whether or not we should be expecting severe storm weather this Winter. Some sources are saying that it will be a mild El Nino;
others are saying that it's too early to tell.
Other notes:
· Please register for an participate in the ShakeOut on October
15. Register your families, workplaces, and other organizations to
which you belong. There are already more than five million registered people. Take a look: www.shakeout.org and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opXZY1zZ8xk
· The pancake breakfast fundraiser at Fire Station 59 has been
postponed. We do not yet have a new date.
· A new CERT Class is starting at UCLA on October 15. Get Info

CITY OF LOS ANGELES BICYCLE PLAN
Complete Bicycle Plan draft available for review and comment.
The Bicycle Plan draft includes the bikeway maps released to the public in May, as well the plan text and appendices. They are posted on the LA Bike Plan website www.labikeplan.org. Hard copies for regional libraries and Department of City Planning offices are available for reading.
West Los Angeles public hearing:
Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m, October 28
Felicia Mahood Multi-Purpose Center
11338 Santa Monica Blvd.
Comment will be accepted through November 6, to be addressed in a final draft, the subject of public hearings at a later date. All comments or questions should be directed to Jordann Turner via email: jordann.turner@lacity.org or via phone: (213) 978-1379.

JOIN AN LAPD CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM
West Los Angeles Community Crime Watch
The West L.A. Police Station is looking for Citizen Volunteers
to join in a crime prevention program.
If you are interested, contact Officer Ray Barron @ 310-444-0730
PROGRAMS:
Neighborhood Surveillance teams
Video Surveillance
Ham Watch (Radio Operators)
Graffiti Abatement
Community Service Centers
Neighborhood Watch
Community Watch Academy

EXPO LINE E-NEWSLETTER
Keep up-to-date on the status of the Expo Line:
Newsletter with comprehensive information:

EXPO NEWSLETTER

WLAPD STATION GETS A MAKEOVER
On Saturday, September 26th, the WLAPD station outside was cleaned up, landscaped and fully trimmed.
Officers donated their time, in conjunction with IDEPSCA, the organization that manages the day labor site in West L.A. 15 day laborers volunteered the day to work hand in hand with LAPD and the community to help beautify the station. The partnership was created through the efforts of the WLA Neighborhood Council.
Pictures

REPORT GRAFFITI
Reminder that you can report graffiti to us!
Send an email to graffitiwla@aol.com. The municipal code (LAMC91.8104.15) requires property owners to remove graffiti
within 48 hours.