Thursday, August 25, 2022 – 7:30 pm

Meeting Agenda

VIRTUAL MEETING BY TELECONFERENCE

Zoom Meeting Online or By Telephone

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VIRTUAL MEETING TELECONFERENCING and PHONE NUMBER FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

In conformity with the September 16, 2021 Enactment of California Assembly Bill 361 (Rivas) and concerns over COVID-19, the Woodland Hills Issues and Policies Committee meeting will be conducted entirely telephonically with a call-in option or internet-based service option.

Every person wishing to address the Neighborhood Council must dial 1 669 900 6833 to access by phone or internet via browser or the “Zoom” App and enter Webinar ID # 890 7787  1030 and then press # to join the meeting. The Chair will give listeners instructions for providing public comments at the start of the meeting. When calling-in telephonically, the public is requested to dial *9, when prompted by the Chair or Moderator, to address the Committee on any agenda item before the Committee takes action on each item. Zoom users should use the “raise hand” feature.

AB 361 Updates: Submission of Public comment cannot be required in advance of the meeting, only real-time

public comment is required. If broadcasting interruptions prevent the public from observing or hearing the meeting, the meeting must be recessed or adjourned. If the people cannot provide public comment or cannot be heard due to issues within the Neighborhood Council’s control, the meeting must be recessed or adjourned.

Messaging and virtual backgrounds are in the control of the individual Committee member in their personal capacity. They do not reflect any formal position of the Neighborhood Council or the City of Los Angeles.

• PUBLIC INPUT ON AGENDA ITEMS – The public may address the Committee on any agenda item before the Committee takes action on an item. The Committee will accept comments from the public on agenda items only when the Committee considers the individual item.
• PUBLIC INPUT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA – During the General Public Comment period, the Committee listens to comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the agenda that are within the Committee’s jurisdiction. Please note that the Brown Act prevents the Committee from acting on an issue that you bring to its attention during the General Public Comment period; however, the issue raised by a public member may become the subject of a future Committee meeting.

Public Comments are limited to two (2) minutes per speaker unless adjusted by the presiding member of the Committee. The presiding member may impose time limits per each agenda item as needed.

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AGENDA

1. Call to Order
2. Establish Quorum: Roll Call — Heath Kline, Kathleen Barth, John Sandy Campbell, August Steurer
3. Comments by the Public regarding Issues NOT on the Agenda.

(2 minutes each)

4. Approval of Available Committee Minutes: Roll Call Vote

Draft minutes posted when available on whcouncil.com event page for this meeting.

Committee Items for Discussion and Possible Action:

All comment is limited to 2 minutes per speaker unless adjusted by the presiding member of the Committee.

5. DWP Rates

Consideration and possible action to Support of Motion from Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils with motion from WHWCNC.

“The Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils supports the use of the ratepayer categories used in the Water and Power Associates recommendation letter of June 30,2022 for the purpose of projecting rate increases from the LA100 Power System program for each year into the future where rates are forecast”.

 

6. Animal Services Department

Discussion with possible action regarding WHWCNC Board’s position whether to join in and support of Two resolutions from the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils.

At its monthly meeting on August 11, 2022, the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils passed the following two resolutions:

1. Suspension or Termination of Animal Services Department Volunteers.

RESOLVED, that the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils (VANC), representing the 34 Neighborhood Councils throughout the San Fernando Valley, strongly condemns the suspension or termination of Volunteers for speaking with the press about conditions in the City Animal Shelters or exercising their First Amendment rights.

In discussion of the motion and in the Hot Topic #5 explanation attached to the agenda, it was noted that in the last month, the Los Angeles Times, as well as other news outlets, have run stories very critical of the Animal Services Department and conditions for animals in the City Animal Shelters, for example:

‘It’s Inhumane’: Dogs At L.A. Animal Shelters Go Weeks Or Months Without Being Walked: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-14/la-city-animal-shelters-dogs-sit-in-kennels-weeks-months-without-walks

‘Horrified’: L.A. City Council Members Call For Action On Overcrowded Animal Shelters: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-16/l-a-city-council-members-called-for-action-city-shelters

LA Animal Services Officials Blame Staff Shortage, Pandemic Challenges For Issues At City Shelters: https://abc7.com/animal-shelters-la-city-council-concerns-emergency-meeting/12061158/

Volunteers who spoke with the press and others about conditions at the City Animal Shelters have been suspended or terminated. As well as likely being a First Amendment violation subjecting the City to potential liability, this harms the animals who are deprived of the essential care given by these Volunteers, making the conditions exposed in these articles even worse.

 

The problems at the City Shelters have been brought up at the Board of Animal Services Commissioners (BASC) meetings for many months, to no avail.  For the most part, the BASC and Department Management did little or nothing to fix the problems.  And recently, the Commissioners have taken steps to severely limit public comment, and to prevent Neighborhood Council resolutions and Community Impact Statement from being heard at their meetings.

So it’s no wonder that Shelter Volunteers, who care deeply about the animals, spoke to the press, newspapers and television news, about what is going on at the Shelters.  The Commissioners and Animal Services Department management were ignoring their complaints.  In a further attempt to cover-up conditions at the Shelters, the Animal Services Department management, with the apparent approval of the Commissioners, have suspended and terminated Volunteers, in an attempt to intimidate Volunteers into silence.

The above resolution passed with 17 in favor, 3 abstentions.  (Only one representative from each Neighborhood Council is allowed to vote.)

 

2. Northeast Valley Animal Shelter

RESOLVED, that the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils (VANC), representing the 34 Neighborhood Councils throughout the San Fernando Valley, believes the Northeast Valley Animal Shelter should be a full-service municipal animal shelter as contemplated by Proposition F and that no action should be taken on the RFP (Request for Proposal) until it is determined if this can be done.

In discussion of the motion and in the Hot Topic #4 explanation attached to the agenda, it was noted that at last month’s VANC meeting, we passed the following resolution regarding the Northeast Valley animal shelter:

The Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils (VANC) represents the 34 Neighborhood Councils throughout the San Fernando Valley, including all of the Neighborhood Councils in the vicinity of the Northeast Valley Animal Shelter.  This shelter is a City facility built with Proposition F funds to be a municipal animal shelter, open to the public.  It was not meant to be a private facility to house rescue organizations.  Nevertheless, the Board of Animal Services Commissioners has issued an RFP (Request for Proposal) to do just that, lease the Northeast Valley Animal Shelter to rescue organizations to operate.  The Board of Animal Services Commissioners and Animal Services Department did not provide an opportunity for the affected Neighborhood Councils to provide input into this decision.  Therefore, it is RESOLVED that VANC takes the position that the Department of Animal Services and City Council should receive input from the affected Neighborhood Councils before releasing the Request for Proposal for rescue organizations to operate the Northeast Valley Animal Shelter.

The RFP was released without input from the affected Neighborhood Councils.  In response to VANC’s motion, the City Council introduced a resolution (Council File 22-0897, Koretz and Blumenfield) to amend the City Charter to make sure things like this don’t happen in the future.  The proposed charter amendment would require that the commission associated with any department contemplating the issuance of an RFP hold a public hearing or the department hold a public meeting, to provide members of the public an opportunity to offer relevant ideas for consideration by the department prior to the drafting of the RFP.

But the Animal Services Commission doesn’t appear to be doing anything to stop the RFP for the Northeast Valley Shelter.  So the resolution above was passed, 18 in favor, 3 abstentions.

7. COUNCIL FILE 21-1472: NOVEMBER 2022 BALLOT MEASURE FOR INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING

Discussion with possible action regarding WHWCNC supporting placement of a City Charter Amendment to create more-independent Redistricting Commissions

8, Committee consideration of Possible issues for future Committee meeting agendas.

Issue suggestions posted when available on the whcouncil.com event page for this meeting.

9. Adjournment of Meeting

Meeting dates for the 2021-2022 year: Committee holds meetings on the second and fourth Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm. Check the NC website calendar for a complete committee and board meetings list. Meeting dates and times are subject to change. Check the NC calendar for updated meeting schedules.

The next Regular Committee Meeting will be held on September 8, 2022, via teleconference. Please visit the calendar page at whcouncil.org for the complete details and confirm the date and time. Any needed Special Meetings before the date will be posted there also.

Due to COVID 19, virtual teleconferencing replaces ALL in-person Committee meetings. However, please check the www.whcouncil.org website calendar page for any changes that may occur.

• Notice to Paid Representatives – If you are compensated to monitor, attend, or speak at this meeting, City law may require you to register as a lobbyist and report your activity. See Los Angeles Municipal Code §§ 48.01 et seq. More information is available at ethics.lacity.org/lobbying. For assistance, please contact the Ethics Commission at {213) 978-1960 or ethics.commission@lacity.org
• THE AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT – As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate based on disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, and other auxiliary aids or services, may be provided upon request.
• To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least (3) business days (72 hours) before the meeting you wish to attend by contacting Joyce Fletcher at (818) 340-6554 or email j.fletcher@whcouncil.org or the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment at (213) 978-1551 EmpowerLa@LACity.org
• SERVICIOS DE TRADUCCIÓN – Si requiere servicios de traducción, favor de avisar al Concejo Vecinal 3 días de trabajo (72 horas) antes del evento. Por favor contacte a Joyce fletcher de la Mesa Directiva, al j.fletcher@whcouncil.org o por correo electrónico avisar al Concejo Vecinal.
• PUBLIC ACCESS OF RECORDS – In compliance with Government Code section 54957.5, the Committee provides non-exempt writings distributed to a majority of all of the Committee Members in advance of a meeting on the WHWCNC website: www.whcouncil.org or via the scheduled meeting video presentation. In addition, if you would like a copy of any record related to an item on the agenda, please contact Joyce Fletcher at (818) 340-6554 or email j.fletcher@whcouncil.org
• PUBLIC POSTING OF AGENDAS – agendas are posted for public review as follows: www.whcouncil.org and go to the Calendar page and click on the date. You can also receive Committee agendas via email by subscribing to LA City’s Early Notification System at https://www.lacity.org/subscriptions

A copy of this agenda is also physically posted outside of the West Valley Warner Center Chamber window located at 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Ste 2330, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. The Chamber offices are at the Promenade Mall outside the mall’s east entrance and south of Ruth Chris Restaurant. Access the offices from Owensmouth Street. Parking is free.

• RECONSIDERATION AND GRIEVANCE PROCESS – For information on the WHWCNC process for board action reconsideration, stakeholder grievance policy, or other procedural matters related to this Council, please consult the WHWCNC Bylaws. The Bylaws are available at our website at www.whcouncil.org