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WHWCNC FULL BOARD MEETING
November 9, 2022 @ 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm PST
AGENDA
Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council
FULL BOARD MEETING
Wednesday, November 9, 2022, 6:30 pm
VIRTUAL MEETING BY TELECONFERENCE
Zoom Meeting Online or By Telephone
(https://us02web.zoom.us/j/96493712127 )
Dial (1 669 900 6833) to Join the Meeting
Then Enter This Webinar ID: 964 9371 2127 and Press #
Click for September 14th Minutes
Board Members Eligible for VP Position
PLUM 6400 Canoga Hotel Case Report
PLUM Case Report Dish Location
VIRTUAL MEETING TELECONFERENCING and PHONE NUMBER FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
In conformity with the September 16, 2021 Enactment of California Assembly Bill 361 (Rivas) and due to concerns over COVID-19, the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council 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 either dial 1 669 900 6833 or go online via Zoom and enter Webinar ID # 964 9371 2127 and then press # to join the meeting. Instructions on how to sign up for public comment will be given to listeners at the start of the meeting. When calling-in telephonically, the public is requested to dial *9, when prompted by the presiding officer, to address the Board on any agenda item before the Board takes an action on an item. Zoom users should use the “raise hand” feature.
AB 361 Updates: Public comment cannot be required to be submitted in advance of the meeting, only real-time
public comment is required. If there are any broadcasting interruptions that prevent the public from observing or hearing the meeting, the meeting must be recessed or adjourned. If members of the public are unable to provide
public comment or be heard due to issues within the Neighborhood Council’s control, the meeting must be recessed or adjourned.
Any messaging or virtual background is in the control of the individual board member in their personal capacity and does 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 Board on any agenda item before the Board takes an action on an item. Comments from the public on agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered. Public comment is limited to (1) minute per speaker.
*PUBLIC INPUT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA – Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the agenda that are within the Board’s jurisdiction will be heard during the General Public Comment period. Please note that under the Brown Act, the Board is prevented from acting on a matter that you bring to its attention during the General Public Comment period; however, the issue raised by a member of the public may become the subject of a future Board meeting.
General Public Comment is limited to (1) minute per speaker and 20 minutes total unless adjusted by
the presiding officer of the board.
___________________________________________________________________________________
AGENDA
Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
Public Announcements:
Office of Councilmember Bob Blumenfield (2 minutes)
Office of Local and State Officials – if available (2 minutes each)
Other Local Agencies – if available (2 minutes each)
General Public Comment, by the Public, on Non-Agenda Items:
General Public Comment is limited to (1) minute per speaker and 20 minutes total.
___________________________________________________________________________________
- Organization, Operation, Policies, & Procedures:
All comment is limited to 1 minute per speaker, unless adjusted by the presiding officer of the Board.
Time limits set for each agenda item may be adjusted by the presiding officer of the Board. Time limits may vary so the public is encouraged to join the meeting several minutes PRIOR to a specific agenda item being discussed.
A.Approval of Minutes: Board Meeting – September 14, 2022 (5 minutes)
Board Meeting – October 12, 2022 (adjourned before Organization, Operations, Policies and Procedures occurred due to lack of quorum)
See posted support document Roll Call Vote
- Officer Reports (5 minutes)
President – Dena Weiss
Vice President – Vacant
Treasurer – Paul Lawler
Parliamentarian – Mihran Kalaydjian
- Items for Discussion and Possible Action:
Item No. (1) Paul Lawyer, Treasurer, and Dena Weiss, President,
(22-092) ) Financial Officers Letter of Acknowledgement and Agreement
Discussion and possible action: (5 minutes)
Per requirement by EmpowerLA, a motion for the board to approve the “Financial Officers Letter of Acknowledgement and Agreement” which makes President Geraldine / Dena Weiss the second signer on funding documents and second bank card holder of the WHWCNC.
See posted support document Roll Call Vote
Item No (2) Governance Committee, Dena Weiss, Chair
(22-093) Stakeholder Appointment to Area 2 Alternate Board Seat
Discussion and possible action: (5 minutes)
Motion for the board to appoint Philip Swain to the Area 2 Alternate board seat.
Roll Call Vote
Item No (3) Governance Committee, Dena Weiss, Chair
(22-094) Stakeholders Appointment to Area 3 Residential Board Seat and Alternate Seat
Discussion and possible action: (20 minutes)
Motion for the board to appoint Annmarie Donkin or Mark Ball or Lynn Martines to the Area 3 Residential board seat. The first runner up will be appointed to the Alternate seat.
Roll Call Vote
Item No (4) Governance Committee, Dena Weiss, Chair
(22-095) Stakeholder Appointment to Area 5 Residential Board Seat and Alternate Seat
Discussion and possible action: (15 minutes)
Motion for the board to appoint Gretchen Gesell or Christopher Waddy to the Area 5 Residential board seat. The first runner up will be appointed to the Alternate seat.
Roll Call Vote
Item No (5) Governance Committee, Dena Weiss, Chair
(22-096) Stakeholder Appointment to Area 7 Residential Board Seat and Alternate Seat
Discussion and possible action: (20 minutes)
Motion for the board to appoint Christopher P. Curl or Christine K. Robinson or Aaron Williams to the Area 7 Residential board seat. The first runner up will be appointed to the Alternate seat.
Roll Call Vote
Item No (6) Governance Committee, Chair Dena Weiss
(22-097) Board Member or Stakeholder Appointment to At Large Board Seat and Alternate Seat
Discussion and possible action: (20 minutes)
Motion for the board to appoint Reina Cerros McCaughey or August O. Steurer or Bobbie Wasserman to the At Large board seat. The first runner up will be appointed to the Alternate seat
Roll Call Vote
Item No. (7) Governance Committee, Dena Weiss, Chair
(22-098) Election Of Vice President
Discussion and possible action: (15 minutes)
Nominations will be accepted for the position of Vice President.
The new Vice President will serve until the 2023 WHWCNC Election has been certified by the City
Clerk and then a WHWCNC Officers Election will be held at the next regular Board Meeting. The 2023 WHWCNC election will be held on June 18. 2023.
Description Per the Bylaws:
Section 2: Duties and Powers
Vice-President. The Vice-President shall act as a presiding officer in the absence of the President. In case of vacancy in the office of President, or in the case of the President’s unavailability due to sickness, disability, death or resignation, the Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President and when so acting shall have all the powers and perform such other duties the Bylaws and Standing Rules and EmpowerLA may prescribe. The Vice-President shall be responsible for the oversight and compliance of the Standing Committees of the WHWCNC.
Election of Vice President:
The Officers must be elected members of the Board … or
an appointed member of the board can be elected as an Officer, should no elected member agree to be
nominated for a specific Officer position or no elected member is elected by a majority vote of the board for a specific Officer position.
The Youth Member and Alternate Representatives cannot serve as an Officer of the Board.
The Youth Member can vote in the election.
Alternate Representatives cannot vote in the election unless one of their area reps is absent.
If there are more than two (2) candidates for an office and none receives a majority vote on the first election, a run-off election shall be held immediately between the two (2) candidates receiving the highest number of votes.
See posted list of elected board members and appointed board members eligible for nomination for Parliamentarian.
Roll Call Vote
Item No. (8) Governance Committee, Dena Weiss, Chair
(22-099) Funding for WHWCNC Website – Webmaster Management
Discussion and possible action: (5 minutes)
MOTION for the Board to approve $2,000.00 in funding from the board approved WHWCNC 2022-2023 Budget (Line Item, Webmaster) for webmaster Wendy Moore (Moore Business Solutions) to be available to make any necessary improvements or repairs to the WHWCNC website and assistance
with technology as needed. Wendy Moore has been providing maintenance and updates to the website for the past (4) years.
Roll Call Vote
Item No. (9) Community Services / Public Safety, Dena Weiss, Chair
(22-100) Motion to Approve Letter to Request and Increase in Resources and Allocation of Police to the Topanga Division
Discussion and possible action: (10 minutes)
To Chief Michael Moore and Valley Bureau Chief Alan Hamilton (with ccs to Bob Blumenfeld, Seth Samuels and John Popoch:
The Topanga Division needs a deployment of additional officers and resources.
The citizens of Woodland Hills-Warner Center are deeply concerned over the dramatic spiral of violent crime and murders of innocent stakeholders in our neighborhood. Our area ranks first in crime increase, in the Los Angeles area in most categories. Woodland Hills is a peaceful area of the San Fernando Valley where families come and settle and to safely work and raise their children. It is concerning that there has been 10 homicides so far this year in our area. This is twice as many as in 2020 (100% increase) and 4 more than in 2021 (67% increase). Overall total violent crimes are up 16% since 2020 and 26% since 2021. Property crimes also have risen.
For such a dramatic increase in overall crime, there must be a dramatic reaction and solution.
Woodland Hills Warner-Center Neighborhood Counsel requests request that the City and its officials responsible maximize allocation of officers and resources to the Topanga division. Additional officer deployment and allocation is crucial in an area of Los Angeles where crime is skyrocketing, and the residents are fearful. The consequence of inaction will be preventable loss of life and property.
Very truly yours,
Concerned Citizens of Woodland Hills Warner Center through its Neighborhood Council.
See attachment of Topanga Area Crime Profile from 9-11-22 through 10-8-22.
Roll call vote
Item No. (10) Planning, Land Use and Mobility Committee [PLUM] – Don Patterson, Chair
(22-101) Conditional Use Permit – Wireless, Case No. ZA-2022-4017, ENV-2022-4018, Conditional Use – Wireless LALAX04022B, 11/03/2022.
Discussion and possible action: (15 minutes)
Application for a Conditional Use Permit for an array of wireless antennas and a wireless telecommunications facility to be located at 21859 W. Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, on top of the Marriott Hotel.
RESOLUTION:
The Planning Land Use and Mobility committee of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council (WHWCNC), having held one remote meeting via ZOOM on the DISH Wireless WTF request and has made the following finds and recommends the support of the Board of the WHWCNC as follows:
WHEREAS: DISH Wireless proposes installing a wireless facility consisting of 3 new FRP Screen Box for 3-panel antennas divided into three sectors, twelve 12 remote radio units (RRUs) – four located at each sector installed on the existing rooftop. The antennae’s associated equipment will be on an equipment platform on the rooftop, and
WHEREAS: Existing service is insufficient to meet existing demand by customers in the West Valley due to overloaded existing facilities resulting in interrupted service, dropped calls, or complete denial of service during peak usage hours, and
WHEREAS: The LAMC authorizes the Zoning Administrator to grant Conditional Uses, allows conditional use of Wireless Telecommunications Facilities, and
WHEREAS: Dish satisfies LAMC Sec: SEC. 12.21.20 that sets Wireless Telecommunication Facilities (WTF) Standards, qualifying for a conditional use that allows for antennas located on an existing transmission tower on a parcel zoned C4 and meet by-right criteria, and
WHEREAS: The location meets the minimum distances to habitable structures required by the FCC. The antennas will be painted matte in a non-reflective color to match the existing transmission tower where they will be installed. The proposed antennas meet setback requirements from all abutting streets, residential uses, and all zones, and
WHEREAS: DISH RF emissions are regulated by the FCC to ensure public safety standards based on peer-reviewed scientific studies, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Drug Administration (FDA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and
WHEREAS: DISH Wireless analyzed several alternate locations as candidates for a DISH WTF, and the subject location is the only location that has the requisite space, power, and telco utility availability on site, as well as land-lord interest in leasing space to DISH Wireless for a new WTF, and
WHEREAS: The site is of adequate size, shape, topography, location, and access to utilities to accommodate the proposed wireless facility in that all setbacks are met, and it has access to power and telephone connections, and
WHEREAS: The use and development will be compatible with the intended character of the area and are similar to other rooftop approvals elsewhere in the City, and
WHEREAS: DISH Wireless will operate this facility in full compliance with the regulations and licensing requirements of the FCC, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the CPUC, governed by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and other applicable laws.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED; That the Planning, Land Use, and Mobility Committee, for the findings and conditions stated herein, finds that the submitted application and plans by DISH Wireless for the proposed Conditional Use Permit at the Warner Center Marriott located at 21850 W. Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367, receive the support of the Board of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council for the requested actions. Further Neighborhood Council advises the City of Los Angeles Planning Department and Council District 3 Councilmember Bob Blumenfield of its findings and its subsequent supporting recommendation to approve this application as presented on November 9th, 2022.
Roll call vote
Item No. (11) Planning, Land Use and Mobility Committee [PLUM] – Don Patterson, Chair
(22-102) Case No. ADM-2022-4764 (Administrative Review) / ENV-2008-3471-EIR 6400 Canoga Hotel, 6400 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills, 91367 (Downtown District-Warner Center)
Discussion and possible action: (15 minutes)
Project Description
The requested application is an Administrative Review and Clearance (No conditions and Planning Director makes determination) to turn the existing three-story Atrium office complex on Canoga Blvd. into a hotel, ballroom and restaurant complex on virtually the same footprint as the existing office complex. (Allowed under the 2035 Warner Center Specific Plan –Section 5.3.2.1). Also asking for Administrative Clearance to permit a vertical and horizontal additions (Primarily two new Porte Cocheres/entry awnings and a 4th story pool/cabana area and guest rooms above the western portion of the building) to an existing structure as allowed in Section 5.3.2.7 of the WC 2035 Plan.
PLUM Motion
As pertaining to Cases ADM-2022-4764 and ENV-2008-3471-EIR at 6400 Canoga Avenue, Woodland Hills, 91367, having held one public meeting for the application filed by 6400 Canoga Owner, LLC for the change of use and vertical and horizontal additions to an existing 3-story, 45-foot tall, 141,303 sf Atrium office building, and remodeling it for a conversion to a hotel and restaurant that will rise to 4-stories in one portion of the building, increase square footage to 152,619 sf, and have 240 guest rooms, a ballroom, and a restaurant activating Canoga Avenue, the WHWCNC Planning, Land Use and Mobility Committee (PLUM) hereby finds that:
WHEREAS, the proposed project designs and plans adhere to all of the requirements of the Downtown District of the 2035 Warner Center Specific Plan without requesting variances or exemptions; and
WHEREAS, the commercial requirement(s) of the Downtown District will continue to be met by turning existing commercial office space into commercial hotel and restaurant space; and
WHEREAS, the proposed site plan will maintain the same building footprint and parking facilities currently being used to accommodate 340 cars in the existing 3-story elevated parking structure and on the existing surface parking lot.; and
WHEREAS, a total of 79 new bike spaces will be provided; and
WHEREAS, a new 5,575 sf (indoor) restaurant that includes outdoor dining space on the north and west facing sides will be constructed activating that area of Canoga Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the applicant has agreed to the “request” to constructively work with all future adjacent redevelopment projects to facilitate the mandate Specific Plan requirement for connectivity and mobility between projects through the block; and
WHEREAS, the Applicant has agreed to provide a landscaping plan and planting palette to the WHWCNC PLUM Committee and WHWCNC Board, and to the CD-3 and City Planning before final City approval is rendered; and
WHEREAS the Applicant has agreed to attempt to fulfill the “requests” that the WHWCNC Board is making in lieu of formal Conditions because this is an Administrative Review application.
Therefore, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Planning Land Use and Mobility Committee of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council, for the findings stated herein, finds that the submitted application and plans from Sandstone Properties receive the support of the Board of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council (WHWCNC), with their agreement to try to fulfill the following “requests”:
Requests
Because Administrative Clearance approvals do not allow any Conditions of Approval, The WHWCNC is listing the following items as “requests” because questions or issues sometimes arise within City Planning or with the public, and these “requests” can help resolve those questions. Additionally, the Applicant has suggested that they would return to PLUM or the WHWCNC Board as a courtesy with landscape plans and any changes to the design once the permitting process has commenced.
- All plans presented November 9, 2022 at the Board of the WHWCNC shall be dated as such and, upon revision of the revised plan package reflecting the Revised Site Plan included herein, shall be re-submitted to Planning as an (updated) project plan application submittal.
- The applicant will not submit any significant, further updated plans without first presenting them to the WHWCNC for support.
- The Applicant will place a project sign on the project under construction which is clearly visible to the street showing a rendering of the proposed/approved project building(s), plus specifics as to the size (number of units), ownership and contact information.
- Additionally, all “requests” herein shall be printed on one of the Project Summary pages.
- Appropriate liquor licenses shall be obtained for the restaurant, bar areas and all other areas where liquor will be served. If liquor is to be served on the restaurant patio(s), the necessary railing/fencing must be installed.
6.) The owner/developer shall work through the CD-3 to establish agreements and rules with adjacent property owners to insure that perpetual connectability to and through their properties is maintained as required in the WC 2035 Specific Plan.
The Planning, Land Use and Mobility Committee recommends that the Board of the Woodland Hills– Warner Center Neighborhood Council advise the city of Los Angeles Planning Department and Council District 3 Councilmember Bob Blumenfield of its findings and subsequent recommendation to APPROVE this application presented on November 3, 2022.
See posted support document
Roll Call Vote
Item No. (12) Community Services Public Safety Committee, Dena Weiss, Chair
(22-103) Yellow Bike Memorial
Discussion and possible action: (10 minutes)
Motion for the board to approve a letter of support to the Department of Public Works for a Yellow Bike
memorial in Woodland Hills. See background description: http://yellowbikeproject.com
Proposed letter of support would read:
The Department of Public Works Office of Community Beautification
Attn: Gerry Valido
200 N. Spring St., Room 361
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Re: Support for Adopt-a-Median Application re Yellow Bike Project
Dear Mr. Valido:
This letter is to express the support of the WHWCNC for the Adopt-A-Median project proposed at 5520 De Soto Avenue in Woodland Hills.
On April 1, 2018, 15-year-old Sebastian Montero, a resident of Tarzana was killed when he was hit by a motorist while riding his bicycle at De Soto Avenue and Burbank Boulevard. The community and the Montero family would like to memorialize this tragic loss by erecting a marker at the site of the accident. This memorial consists of a 16′ pole topped with a sculpture of a bicycle and a placard with Sebastian’s name, the date of the collision, the reminder “Streets Are For Everyone” (S.A.F.E) and the hashtag #SafetyMatters.
The design of the sculpture has been approved by LADOT as visually safe for passing motorists and the structure of the sculpture has been engineered to safety standards. The installation will be performed by the artist, Scott Froschauer, and maintenance of the sculpture will be overseen by S.A.F.E., a bicycle safety advocacy nonprofit in conjunction with the artist. The location where the memorial is proposed is within the jurisdiction of Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council and we support this project.
See attached photo
Roll Call Vote
Item No. (13) Woodland Hills Issues & Policy Committee [WHIP] – Heath Kline, Chair
(22-104) Community Impact Statement RE: Community Impact Statement Portal / Neighborhood Council Transmissions / City Commissions / Technological Upgrades CIS CF 22-1146
Discussion and possible action: (10 minutes)
Summary CF 22-1146:
The Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council thanks Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Paul Koretz for putting forth this much-needed motion. Circumstances require attention due to the revelation that CISs submitted via the DONE CIS portal to specific city departments, commissions, and committees have not arrived at their destination. The proper functioning of this Portal for submitting Community Impact Statements is essential to the function of the Neighborhood Council System.
We heartily support the actions requested in CF22-1146, which requires: “that the City Council instruct the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment to report back in 45 days on the status of the Community Impact Statement Portal, including the issues that led to numerous Community Impact Statements not being transmitted, the length of time the errors were present in the system, the list of the City Commissions that were impacted by not having the correct email configurations on the portal, the number of Community Impact Statements that were not transmitted as intended by the Neighborhood Councils, and the steps taken to remedy the issue and prevent this from happening again in the future.” We caution the City Council that the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment previously engaged in deceptive and diversionary practices with Neighborhood Councils when replying to requests like the City Council’s questions. Please see attached complete CIS.
Motion:
The Woodland Hills Issues and Policies [WHIP] Committee unanimously recommends that the Board of the Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council adopt the following Community Impact Statement:
Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council Community Impact Statement (CIS) Regarding CF 22-1146: Community Impact Statement Portal / Neighborhood Council Transmissions / City Commissions / Technological Upgrades
The Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council thanks Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Paul Koretz for making this much-needed motion. Circumstances require immediate attention due to the revelation that CISs submitted via the DONE CIS portal to specific city departments, commissions, and committees have not arrived at their destination. The proper functioning of this Portal for submitting Community Impact Statements is essential to the function of the Neighborhood Council System.
We heartily support the actions requested in CF 22-1146, which requires: “that the City Council instruct the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment to report back in 45 days on the status of the Community Impact Statement Portal, including the issues that led to numerous Community Impact Statements not being transmitted, the length of time the errors were present in the system, the list of the City Commissions that were impacted by not having the correct email configurations on the portal, the number of Community Impact Statements that were not transmitted as intended by the Neighborhood Councils, and the steps taken to remedy the issue and prevent this from happening again in the future.” We caution the City Council that the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment previously engaged in deceptive and diversionary practices with Neighborhood Councils when replying to requests like the City Council’s questions.
We also support the additional actions requested, which require the following:
The City Council instructs the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, with the assistance of the Information Technology Agency, to report back in 45 days on the necessary technological upgrades needed to the Community Impact Statement Portal to ensure that the Community Impact Statement submissions are as seamless and streamlined as possible; furthermore, ensure that technical issues of this sort will not arise in the future.
Currently, the CIS Portal appears inconsistent and “glitchy,” preventing submissions. At the same time, this causes frustration and doubt with the designated NC submitters, who cannot tell if their actions are the problem or if the CIS Portal Page is the problem. The primary problem experienced relates to the submittal of PDFs. If there is proper maintenance and upgrades, this should not happen. A newly designed CIS portal page should use current industry best practices for layout and back-end processing; for example work without the use of pop-up windows and should work seamlessly with current Chrome, Edge, Fire Fox and Safari browsers. The submission site should allow for drag and drop or navigating to and selecting attachment files.
While we applaud this measure, we request the reassurance that needed technological upgrades, if any, be integrated into the new citywide technology plan. Optionally, we also request consideration of the transference of the DONE CIS maintenance responsibilities to the City Clerk’s office.
As an additional safeguard, we propose that all Neighborhood Councils receive an automated alert when an email from the current NC CIS system bounces back to the server until the review above is completed and reviewed by the City Council.”
Submitted by:
The Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council
Roll Call Vote
Item No. (14) Woodland Hills Issues & Policy Committee [WHIP] – Heath Kline, Chair
(22-105) Community Impact Statement RE: Charter Reform / Ethics Commission / Powers and Responsibilities / Ballot Measure
Discussion and possible action: (10 minutes)
Supplemental Reference Material: Ethics Commission File (Charter Sec 700 Ethics Reforms)
Council File Number CF 22-1232:
Summary:
The Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council supports the recommended changes to the charter from the Ethics Commission only if amended. Therefore, we ask for the following amending actions.
- Genuine Independent Appointments
- More Restrictive Eligibility Requirements
- Raise the vote threshold for removal of a commissioner
- Increased maximum penalty
- Increase the minimum commission budget
- Independent outside counsel for the Commission
These reforms would ensure the Commission is sufficiently independent enough to be entrusted with the expanded power offered.
Motion
The Woodland Hills Issues and Policies [WHIP] Committee unanimously recommends that the Board of the Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council adopt the following Community Impact Statement:
Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council Community Impact Statement (CIS) Regarding CF 22-1232 : Charter Reform / Ethics Commission / Powers and Responsibilities / Ballot Measure
WHWCNC Position: Support If Amended
The Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council supports the recommended changes to the charter from the Ethics Commission only if amended. Therefore, we give the following amending actions required below.
The City of Los Angeles’ Ethics Commission was once a model for the nation over three decades ago. Given recent events of the last decade, an update is long overdue. The city must immediately start the work necessary to put a Charter Reform proposal on a near-future ballot.
However, you must not rush this work and waive it out of committee as a convenient answer to the ever-continuing scandals at City Hall. It deserves a full and fair hearing in committee with robust public involvement and discussion, including Neighborhood Councils.
The Ethics Commission’s recommendations broadly reflect input it received regarding the empowerment of the body to enforce the law, meaningfully change policy, and change the power dynamics at City Hall.
However, we believe they fail to enhance the Commission’s independence sufficiently. We still see the opportunity for elected officials to strong-arm commissioners and meddle with the enforcement actions and policy proposals of the Ethics Commission in the same way elected officials manipulated the Redistricting Commission when those officials were not getting what they wanted.
We recommend the following specific amendments:
- Independent Appointment: The City of LA cannot have a genuinely independent Ethics Commission until there is no involvement of elected officials in the member appointment process. The incumbent commissioners should be responsible for accepting and vetting applications through a public process.
- Eligibility Requirements: The Commission proposes adding restrictions excluding any bidder, contractor, developer, or someone with a direct financial interest in the city’s work from serving on the Commission. These restrictions are warranted but incomplete. We also recommend excluding anyone affiliated with the management of an employee union, a recent candidate for the City of LA, former elected officials in the City of LA, and anyone who has donated or raised above a certain threshold for local candidates.
- Raise the vote threshold for removal of a commissioner: The Commission recommends increasing the number of elected officials who may initiate removal and reducing the threshold to a majority vote. Due to the presence of “tribal” factions in the City Council, removal should require action by a supermajority of the City Council, so we recommend requiring a 2/3rds vote for all proceedings removing Ethics Commissioners.
- Increased maximum penalty: The Commission recommends increasing the administrative penalty to $10k per violation. We recommend adopting Chicago’s maximum fine of $20k indexed to inflation per violation.
- Raise minimum budget: The Commission recommends their budget be set at $4.5 million and tied to CPI. While this would protect against retaliation or defunding during a financial crunch, this essentially freezes the status quo into the charter. If the City Council expands, ethics will require more money. The budgeted minimum must be indexed for growth in the number of elected officials and separately indexed for the number of employees. $4.5 million is only a few hundred thousand above the Commission’s current budget.
- Independent outside counsel: Realistically the City Attorney cannot serve multiple masters in these matters. The Commission’s recommendations include new expenditures, like having independent outside counsel, which is essential for good governance. These new additions will require even more money. A minimum budget of $7-10 million to be indexed for inflation would start the Commission with the resources needed to fulfill its broad mandate.
These reforms would ensure the Commission is sufficiently independent enough to be entrusted with the expanded power offered.
We appreciate your immediate attention to this topic,
The Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council
Roll Call Vote
Item No. (15) Woodland Hills Issues & Policy Committee [WHIP] – Heath Kline, Chair
(22-106) Community Impact Statement RE: Elected Officials / Offensive Misconducts / Immediate Resignation Demand / Censure / Racially Insensitive and Divisive Statements / Professional Conduct Failure
Discussion and Possible Action: (10 minutes)
Council File Numbers CF 22-1189 & CF 22-1195:
Summary:
The Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council heartily supports the actions taken by the City Council on October 26, 2022, to censure Councilmembers Nury Martinez, Kevin de León, and Gil Cedillo. Their behavior would never be tolerated at the Neighborhood Council level. Neighborhood Council members must adhere to a Code of Conduct and take Anti-Bias training as part of our service. Unfortunately, it appears that a double standard exists for members of the City Council. This Neighborhood Council demands the immediate resignations of Councilmembers de León and Cedillo so the City can begin trusting and respecting City leaders.
Motion
The Woodland Hills Issues and Policies [WHIP] Committee unanimously recommends that the Board of the Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council adopt the following Community Impact Statement:
Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council Community Impact Statement (CIS) Regarding CF 22-1189 & CF 22-1195: Elected Officials / Offensive Misconducts / Immediate Resignation Demand / Censure / Racially Insensitive and Divisive Statements / Professional Conduct Failure
WHWCNC Position: Support
The Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council heartily supports the actions taken by the City Council on October 26, 2022, to censure Councilmembers Martinez, de Leon, and Cedillo.
The behavior evidenced by Nury Martinez, Kevin de León, and Gil Cedillo would never be tolerated at the Neighborhood Council level. Neighborhood Council members must adhere to a Code of Conduct and take Anti-Bias training as part of our service. We believe the City Councilmembers should lead with their behavior rather than become a national mockery. The rules around our decorum and training are clear. Equally clear is the double standard that exists for members of the City Council. Were Neighborhood Council members to behave similarly, we would face censure, removal, and dismissal by our board, the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, and the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners. Indeed, they removed elected NC board members from Neighborhood Councils for far less egregious violations than what we are sickened to have heard from these disgraced city and union leaders.
Our City of LA is a rich amalgamation of residents of global origins. In 2022, we don’t expect to hear explicit recordings of literal bigotry, recordings of the leaders of City Hall participating in offensive rhetoric against numerous cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, and sexual identities while discussing gerrymandering based on race and socioeconomic status, and backroom deals to keep themselves in power.
This Neighborhood Council demands the immediate resignations of Councilmembers de León and Cedillo so the City can begin trusting and respecting City leaders.
Submitted by:
The Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council
Roll Call Vote
- Area Reports – (10 minutes)
Area 1 – Aaron Quantz, Karen DiBiase, Mark Schwartz, Reina Cerros-McCaughey
Area 2 – Arturo Velasquez, Paul Lawler, Sean McCarthy
Area 3 – John Sandy Campbell
Area 4 – Don Patterson, Martin Lipkin, Dena Weiss
Area 5 – None
Area 6 – Leslie Simon, Mihran Kalaydjian, Heath Kline
Area 7 – Houtan Hormozian
At-Large –None
Youth Member – Talia Isaacs
- Committee Reports – (10 minutes)
Budget Committee – Paul Lawler – Chairs
Community Services Committee / Safety – Dena Weiss, Chair
Education Committee –Mihran Kalaydjian – Chair
Environmental & Beautification Committee – Karen DiBiase, Chair
Governance Committee – Dena Weiss, Chair
Public Health and Homelessness Committee –Aaron Quantz, Chair
PLUM Committee – Don Patterson, Chair
WHIP Committee – Heath Kline, Chair
Ad-hoc Committee – Flight Path and Noise Advisory Committee – Martin Lipkin, Chair
Announcements:
The next Regular Board meeting will be held on December 14, 2022, by teleconference. President Dena Weiss will prepare the Agenda but be unable to attend due to family commitment overseas. Please visit the calendar page at whcouncil.org for the complete details and to confirm the date and time.
Meeting dates for 2022 -2023 year: Full Board meeting are held the second Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Check the NC website calendar for a complete list of committee and board meetings. Meeting dates and times are subject to change. Check the NC calendar for updated meeting schedules.
Due to COVID 19 ALL in person meetings have been moved to virtual teleconference.
HOWEVER, please check the www.whcouncil.org website calendar page for any changes that may occur.
Adjournment of Meeting:
*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 on the basis of 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 and/or services, may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least (3) business days (72 hours) prior to the meeting you wish to attend by contacting Dena Weiss, at email address d.weiss@whcouncil.org or the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment at (213) 978-1551 EmpowerLa@LACity.org
*PUBLIC ACCESS OF RECORDS – In compliance with Government Code section 54957.5, non-exempt writings that are distributed to a majority or all of the board in advance of a meeting may be viewed at our website: www.whcouncil.org or at the scheduled meeting. In addition, if you would like
a copy of any record, if available, related to an item on the agenda, please contact Dena Weiss, at email address d.weiss@whcouncil.org.
*PUBLIC POSTING OF AGENDAS – agendas are posted for public review as follows:
• www.whcouncil.org and go to the website Calendar page and click on the date – Board meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month. Check the calendar for any change of meeting date
and/or time.
• You can also receive our agendas via email by subscribing to L.A. City’s Early Notification System
at https://www.lacity.org/subscriptions
- A copy of this agenda is also physically posted on the outside of the window of the West Valley Warner Center Chamber located at 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Ste 2330, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. The Chamber is located at the Promenade Mall outside the east entrance of the mall and to the left of Ruth Chris Restaurant. The Chamber office is accessed from Owensmouth Street. Parking is free.
*RECONSIDERATION AND GRIEVANCE PROCESS – For information on the WHWCNC process for board action reconsideration, stakeholder grievance policy, or any other procedural matters related
to this Council, please consult the WHWCNC Bylaws. The Bylaws are available at our website at www.whcouncil.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 Dena Weiss al d.weiss@whcouncil.org o por correo electrónico avisar al Concejo Vecinal.
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