February 07, 2014
Empower LA Newsletter header

General Manager's Update 

 

I hope this newsletter finds you well. Greetings from chilly Memphis, TN! I'm here with one of our South LA Neighborhood Council leaders, Empowerment Congress West's President, David Winston, for a White House Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative project. We traveled all day yesterday to spend Friday and part of Saturday with community leaders and City officials to assist them with their new Neighborhood Council. I'm excited to share our entire experience in next week's newsletter.

 

 

I spent my time earlier this week at the LANCC on Saturday where the Ethics Commission was seeking feedback from Neighborhood Councils and their stakeholders on the proposed campaign financing reforms. A lot of great points were made about the importance of such reforms so please weigh in and get your stakeholders to weigh in by emailing [email protected]. The Ethics Commission will review the feedback in their upcoming meetings the next few months.

 

On Monday, I swung by Porter Ranch to participate in Mayor Garcetti's Budget 101 Workshop. It was super to see a lot of Neighborhood Council faces in the over 200 strong crowd. After a great presentation by Deputy Mayor of Budget and Innovation, Rick Cole, the crowd broke off into smaller groups to work on recommendations. My group (I swear I didn't influence them at all to say this) thought community involvement was the most important part of LA's future. In fact, Neighborhood Councils were brought up several times during the presentation to Mayor Garcetti and Councilmembers Englander and Blumenfield later as key to LA's future success. To top it off, we all sang an early Happy Birthday to Mayor Garcetti whose birthday was on Tuesday.

 

 

Speaking of performance budgeting and metrics, I'd like to get Neighborhood Council feedback on what you think would be meaningful measures of a Neighborhood Council success. We're already tracking the number of Community Impact Statements submitted since that ties directly into the Neighborhood Council mission, but what else should we be looking at? Some suggestions I've heard are number of general/committee meetings and attendees, how funding is spent, number of requests for action from City Council members and departments, etc. We'll be using this information to put together a self assessment at the end of this fiscal year and the strategic plan template for next year so please let us know what you think by emailing [email protected].

 

Don't forget about PlanCheckNC tomorrow and our Region 3 Election Candidate Workshop. Have a warm weekend, and I'll leave you with a smile from Del Rey Neighborhood Council's neat election outreach video.

 

Have a super weekend!

 

Best,

 

Grayce Liu,

General Manager

Department of Neighborhood Empowerment

 

Empower Yourself.

Empower Your Community.

Empower LA.

    



 

Mayor Garcetti today appointed Peter Marx as the city's first Chief Innovation Technology Officer. A key part of Mayor Garcetti's back to basics agenda, Marx will oversee the implementation of new tools and technologies across L.A. city government to better solve problems for residents and make City Hall work more efficiently and effectively. In addition, he will partner with L.A.'s growing tech industry...

  

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A summer job has always been a rite of passage, but a recent survey found that two-thirds of America's businesses did not hire any youth for the summer of 2012. Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City Council plan to change that with HIRE LA's Youth, a program that links local businesses to young employees for summer employment. The goal is to put 10,000 L.A. low-income youth aged 14-24 into summer employment...

 

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Last week, we reported on the results of our random alphabet drawing to determine the order of candidates for the upcoming Neighborhood Council Elections. To clarify, the legal names of candidates in each of the 12 regions will appear on the ballot according to this random order...


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The wheels are turning on the beekeeping front. This week, the City Council voted in favor of a  motion submitted by Councilmembers Rosendahl and Labonge to request a report from the Department of City Planning and Department of Animal Services on the feasibility of allowing beekeeping in R1 zones. The Department of City Planning and Department of Animal Services have 60 days to report back to the...


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Starting March 1, over 200 people are taking on a unique challenge: walking 14 miles a day, for eight straight months, on a journey that adds up to nearly 3,000 miles. Why? They're messengers for the Great March for Climate Action. Beginning here in Los Angeles and ending in Washington DC just before the November elections, the are taking their stories to Congress about how climate disruption is...

 

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LA's Neighborhood Council elections have already drawn almost 800 passionate candidates who are volunteering their time to make their communities better and to engage their neighbors in the process of connecting with City Hall and monitoring the delivery of City Services. There are 95 Neighborhood Councils and they are divided up into 12 regions with the first 4 just completing their Candidate filing...

  

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Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish - John Quincy Adams Greetings, Neighborhood Council Treasurers, Board Members, and stakeholders! February is a short month, so things tend to move more quickly and before you blink, March arrives. That being said, the funding team asks that you please take the time this month to finalize several...

 

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At its February 4th meeting, the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners (Commission) unanimously voted to accept the Neighborhood Council Plan Review committee's recommendation on posting. By doing so, the Commission has taken the first step in changing its 5 posting requirement for Neighborhood Councils. Currently, Neighborhood Councils are required to post their agendas in five physical locations....

 

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Nearly 800 people have filed to run for the Boards of the Neighborhood Councils in the 34 Neighborhood Councils in the Valley, prompting some people to ask "How did they qualify?" and other people to ask "How do I challenge the process?" The Candidate Filing Forms are public records and a request to view the documents can be tendered...

 

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This week's Council File touches on an issue that affects the daily lives of all Angelenos: the worst drought to hit California on record. Governor Brown announced the drought emergency last week. Now the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has released a report on how the Governor's declaration of drought emergency would affect City departments and City residents and the status of its water...

 

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I hope our newsletter finds you well and that you are keeping warm and dry during this cold and rainy weather. As I mentioned in my prior communication to you, the Field Division will be undergoing some significant changes in terms of structure. The field division is happy to welcome Joseph Hari to the the team. Joe will be supervising three Neighborhood Empowerment Advocates (NEAs) and overseeing...

 

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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 in the Neighborhood Council Election process!..

 

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From Her: An Exhibition by Women about Women El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument is putting together an an exhibition entitled From Her: An Exhibition by Women about Women from March 19 - March 31, 2014 at the Pico House Gallery, 424 N. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. They are seeking submissions by emerging female artists of all mediums. All submissions must be received by Monday February... 

  

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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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PlanCheckNC Meeting

Sat, Feb. 8
Time 10 - 1 pm

Historic Downtown Outreach Center

114 W. 5th Street

Los Angeles 90013

 
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Region 3 Candidate Workshop
 
Sat, Feb. 8
Time: 2 - 4 pm

Encino Community Center Auditorium

4935 Balboa Bl.

Encino 91316

  

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Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils Meeting
 
Thurs, Feb. 13
Time: 6:30 - 9 pm

Sherman Oaks Hospital
Doctor's conference room 
4929 Van Nuys Blvd
Van Nuys 91403
 
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Region 4 Candidate Workshop (start time tentative) 

Sat, Feb. 15

Time: 1 - 4 pm

Location: TBD

  

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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:

 

Referred to Planning and Land Use Management Committee 1/28

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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