January 24, 2014
Empower LA Newsletter header

General Manager's Update 

 

I hope this newsletter finds you well. I've been fighting off that stomach flu bug this week that's going around with a lot of vitamin C. I do need to shake it fast since I need all my energy to keep up with the Neighborhood Councils, who are doing awesome work as usual. Congratulations to Tarzana Neighborhood Council for being selected by the City's Emergency Management Department as the model for their Shakeout 2014 Community Emergency Plan/Shakeout Exercise! Tarzana beat out other Neighborhood Council submissions to receive this opportunity to work with EMD for their Community Emergency Plan.

 

Speaking of community safety, Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council is doing their  LA Public Safety Summit tomorrow. Then, EmpowerLA is partnering with the LAPD and Neighborhood Councils next Wednesday for the  State of the Valley Public Safety Town Hall with Councilmember Paul Krekorian and LAPD Deputy Chief Jorge Villegas.

 

So also speaking of partnering with Neighborhood Councils, I received requests in the last few days from  Neighborhood Housing Services, our own  Bureau of Engineering and LA City  Ethics Commission to collaborate with Neighborhood Councils. Of course, this is in addition to the federal Promised Zone work and White House  Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative that Neighborhood Councils and EmpowerLA will be newly supporting as well. Now you can understand why I need more energy! Neighborhood Councils are rocking, and I'm beyond delighted that people are taking notice.

 

Thanks to IEA Jose Sandoval, our elections team and the City Clerk, we successfully closed out Region 1 candidate filing this week. We'll be launching our Candidate Workshops tomorrow in Porter Ranch for Region 2. Our NEAs have also been hard at work the last few weeks updating all 95 bylaws with the new stakeholder definition and updated maps. Expect to see those coming your way next week and uploaded to our website, too.Neighborhood Councils and EmpowerLA were out in force last night at Mayor Garcetti's City Budget 101 Workshop in South LA. Thanks to our fabulous EmpowerLA crew, we signed up 15 volunteers for Neighborhood Council elections. Mayor Garcetti's heading to the Valley on February 3rd to join up with Councilmember Mitch Englander for his next presentation so I hope to see our Neighborhood Council folks there, too.


 

I'm resting up this weekend so I'm fresh for the excitement of next week, which starts with the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners' retreat on Monday, January 27th, continues with Controller Ron Galperin's ControlPanelLA (so neat!) Workshop at City Hall on Tuesday, then our LAPD State of the Valley Public Safety Town Hall on Wednesday and ends with Neighborhood Council LADWP MOU and LANCC meeting on Saturday. Come join us if you have the time!

 

Have a relaxing weekend!

 

Best,

 

Grayce Liu,

General Manager

Department of Neighborhood Empowerment  

 

Empower Yourself.

Empower Your Community.

Empower LA.

    



 

Taking Back the Streets for the People I am pleased to invite you to present your ideas to be a part of People St, a program to transform neighborhoods across our city. People St was developed by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation in collaboration with the our Departments of Public Works and City Planning, and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, all of whom will...

  

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The Candidate Filing period for the North West Valley and the North East Valley has closed, yielding a bumper crop of passionate and enthusiastic candidates that are now getting their campaigns together and engaging their friends, neighbors and coworkers on the issues that resonate in their respective Neighborhood Councils. Candidate filing is now open in the South West Valley, the South East Valley, Central LA...

 

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Mark your calendar: the Department of Recreation and Parks will host a community meeting on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to decide the business future of the iconic Greek Theatre. At the meeting, you'll have the chance to discuss the research findings of a consulting firm that was hired by the Department of Recreation and Parks to review "best business practices" for the maintenance...


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Mayor Garcetti and his budget team were in South LA this week, engaging community members on the City of LA's budget and establishing community-based priorities. More than 400 people attended the Budget 101 Workshop and it was standing-room-only, resulting in an overflow crowd in an adjacent facility. The Mayor gave an overview of the city's budget process and reiterated a key point that made throughout his....

 

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On Monday, January 26, 2014 the newly minted Community Interest Stakeholder becomes official as LA City Ordinance 182830 goes into effect, just in time for the upcoming 2014 Neighborhood Council elections. The new Community Interest Stakeholder is defined as a person who affirms a substantial and ongoing participation within the Neighborhood Council's boundaries and who may be in a community organization...

  

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The State of Public Safety in the Valley Town Hall is fast approaching! Don't forget to contact your Independent Election Administrator about this event hosted by LAPD's Operations - Valley Bureau and co-sponsored by the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils at Van Nuys City Hall. Click here for an updated flyer. In addition to Deputy Chief Jorge Villegas, another special guest will join the conversation...

 

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"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle." -- Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Greetings, Neighborhood Council Treasurers, Board Members, and stakeholders! I hope this article finds you all in good health and spirits. The mission to open the NC Checking Accounts continues and we draw ever closer to achieving this goal. I will continue to provide updates as...

 

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I hope our newsletter finds you well. I haven't addressed you via our newsletter since last year, so warm wishes for a Happy New Year are in order! Please know that there are some changes coming which impact our field division. We are currently working on a plan to restructure our work assignments a little differently and as a result, your area may be reassigned to another Neighborhood Empowerment...

 

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Wood-frame residential buildings, drinking fountains, and beekeeping are at the center of three citywide issues that a number of Neighborhood Councils have recently weighed in on through Community Impact Statements. These Neighborhood Councils have had their positions included in City Council agendas and posted in Council Files 13-0964, 13-1234, 12-0785 respectively. What does a Community Impact Statement...

 

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EmpowerLA is encouraging all Angelenos to volunteer as poll workers for the upcoming Neighborhood Council elections that will take place throughout the City March 1st through May 18th. If you have any desire to assist as a volunteer or to be a poll worker and play a role in supporting the grassroots democratic process, this is your opportunity to get involved... 

  

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The Bureau of Street Services is at it again! You've got potholes, and they're ready to fill them. It's time for the second round of the Neighborhood Council Blitz. Last year, Mayor Eric Garcetti and BSS Director Nazario Sauceda launched the initiative in Sherman Oaks. Twice a year, the Bureau of Street Services sets out on its Neighborhood Council Blitz to bring asphalt repairs to every neighborhood...


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EmpowerLA has been using Google Hangout to reach people that are not able to make a meeting or presentation. It's a great tool to connect with others that may be on the road or simply cannot make it to the meeting location. It's easy, and it works. And best of all, it's FREE. Are you ready to try Google Hangout? Follow the simple steps below. First: You need to have a Google account. That means...

 

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The latest version of NC Viz Data takes a look at 18 months of Neighborhood Council expenditures and breaks it down into five categories; Operations, Outreach, Elections, Improvements, and Neighborhood Purpose Grants. The data is sorted region by region and then council by council. For those who would like to dig a little deeper and look at the data item by item, it is also available in spreadsheet...

 

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In December, Metro announced that it was leading the feasibility study for an 8.3-mile walking and cycling corridor along Slauson Boulevard in South Los Angeles called Rail to River. The unused railway that stands there now would become a trail running from the future Crenshaw-to-LAX light rail station in Inglewood to just north of Washington Boulevard near the Los Angeles River.  On February 26...

 

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DEADLINES

 

10 days after your
January NC Board Meeting
 
December Monthly Expenditure Reports due

  

SURVEYS

 

Let the Fire Department know what services are most important to you

Tell Recreation and Parks what the Greek Theatre means to you

 

    

PARKING PASS LINK:

 

Neighborhood Council Parking Passes

UPCOMING
 EVENTS

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Neighborhood Council Candidate Workshop Region 2

Sat, Jan. 25
Time 12:30 - 2:30 pm

Shepherd of the Hills

19700 Rinaldi St.

Porter Ranch 91326

 
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Board of Neighborhood Commissioners Special Meeting - Board Planning Retreat
 
Mon, Jan. 27
Time: 1 - 5 pm

Audubon Center at Debs  Park - Discovery Room
4700 North Griffin Avenue
Los Angeles 90031

  

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LAPD - State of the Valley Public Safety Town Hall
 
Wed, Jan. 29
Time: 6 - 8 pm

Van Nuys City Hall
14410 Sylvan Street
Van Nuys 91401
 
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Region 4 "Rally in the Valley" Event

Fri, Jan. 31

Time: 6:30 - 8 pm

Mayflower Club
11110 Victory Bl.
North Hollywood  91606

For info:

********  

 

  

Email City Hall at
Council File
Hot Sheet

 

Active Council Files that affect Neighborhood Councils citywide, which your Neighborhood Council may want to weigh in on:

  

Neighborhood Council System:

 

Information and Communication Network / Neighborhood Council and Public Use / Creation and Maintenance

Report referred to Education and Neighborhoods Committee  12/18

 

11-1017-S1 Investigate Allegations of Discrimination and Harassment; Training of NC Board Members

11/19  Education and Neighborhoods Committee  continued to date TBD  

   

12-1682-S1 New Neighborhood Council Stakeholder Definition

Pending in Education and Neighborhoods Committee  
 

12-1682 - Neighborhood

Approved by City Council 12/18; Acting Mayor signed 12/24; Ordinance effective 1/26/14
  
11/19 Education and Neighborhoods Committee continued to date TBD

11/19 Education and
Neighborhoods Committee continued to date TBD; Department report dated 11/19 received

11-1018  Neighborhood Council Grievance Policy and Process
Approved by City Council 12/3; City Attorney to draft ordinance to be effective 7/1/14 

Citywide Issues:


1/14 Department to report to Planning and Land Use Management Committee in 60 days

 

13-1152-S1 Hydraulic Fracturing / Fracking / Prohibition of Well Stimulation Activities

Referred to Energy and Environment Committee and Planning and Land Use Management Committees 9/4

 

13-1374 Prohibit growth of genetically modified crops within City

Referred to Arts, Parks, Health, Aging, and River

Committee 12/3 

 

11-0923-S2 Allow Art Murals on Single Family Residences in Council Districts
1, 9, and 14
 City Council approved as amended 12/10; approved by Mayor 12/17; ordinance effective 1/27/14

 

13-1513 Increase Number of Cats Allowed Per Residence From Three To Five 

11/19 Personnel and Animal Welfare Committee

continued to date TBD 

 

13-0025-S1 Rewards for Hit-and-Run Crimes 

Referred to Budget and Finance and Public Safety Committees 9/27/13 

12/10 Planning and Land Use Management Committee approved as amended; scheduled in City Council 2/4

08-2020 Sign Ordinance Revision
Proposed ordinance pending in Planning and Land Use Committee; 10/17 Planning Director's and City Attorney's reports received 

13-0046 Consolidation of Planning and Building and Safety Departments, etc.    

Approved by City Council 5/29; Motion to delay consolidation introduced 9/13; Approved by City Council 11/6; Planning and Land Use Committee approved as amended 12/3; 12/11 City Council approved; Mayor approved 12/17 
 

13-1300-S1  Street Repair and Safety General Obligation Bond Program 

 24 recommendations approved by City Council 8/21; CLA and CAO report approved by Council 9/17; Mayor signed 9/27 

 

13-0953 Citywide Municipal WiFi Initiative

Approved as amended by City Council 11/5

 

 13-0941  Sidewalk Repair Adjoining Property Owner  Fee Elimination  

 Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee approved as amended 12/4; referred to Budget and Finance Committee 12/4 

 

13-0909  DWP Unlimited
Sick Pay Policy

Referred to Energy and Environment Committee  7/26
  

09-2645 - Cell Tower (AGF) Regulations in Public
Right of Way

Approved as amended by  Planning and Land Use and Public Works and Gang Reduction Committees 10/8; City Attorney requested to prepare ordinance

 

Five year effort underway; updates at recode.la

    

11-0262 - State Licensed Facilities/Community Care Facilities

Ad Hoc Committee on Community Care Facilities continued to date TBD

 
 
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City Council Files

  

City Clerk's Referral Memoranda

  

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City Council Files

  

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