November Full Board Meeting

AGENDA

Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council

FULL BOARD MEETING

Wednesday, November 10, 2021, 6:30 pm -10:00pm

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 Board Meeting Agenda

Click for October Minutes

Click for October MER

Click for LAUSD Redistricting Map

Click for Paoli’s Case Report

Click for CS Solar Light Description

Click for Proposed Bylaws Changes Pages 1-11

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
AGENDA
Call
Call toto OrderOrder PledgePledge ofof AllegianceAllegiance
Roll
Roll CallCall
Public Announcements:
Office of Councilmember Bob Blumenfield – if available (5 minutes)
Office of Local and State Officials – if available (3 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.
_______________________________________________________________________________
I. 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.
A. Approval of Minutes: Board Meeting – October 13, 2021 (5 minutes)
See posted support document. Roll Call Vote
B. Officer Reports (5 minutes)
President – Joyce Fletcher
Open seats on the WHWCNC board – Area 5 Residential, Area 4 Alternate, Area 5 Alternate, Area 7 Alternate, Area 7 Residential. The Governance Committee will accept applications until the November Governance Meeting. After November, any open seats will remain open for stakeholder applications. Applications for Youth Member ages 14-17 will be taken until January 10, 2021.
Vice President – Dena Weiss Treasurer – Paul Lawler
Secretary – Karen DiBiase
Parliamentarian – Sean McCarthy
2. Items for Discussion and Possible Action:
Item No. (1) Treasurer, Paul Lawler
(21-088) Approval of October 2021 MER
Discussion and possible action: (5 minutes)
Motion to approve the WHWCNC Budget/Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Monthly Expense Reconciliation
[MER] for October 2021.
See posted support document Roll Call Vote
Item No. (2) Education Committee – Reina Cerros-McCaughey, Chair
(21-089) LAUSD Redistricting – Council File:20-0668-56
Discussion and possible action: (15 minutes)
Opposition to LAUSD Redistricting Commission Recommended Map
The Woodland Hills – Warner Center Education Committee unanimously* moves that the full WHWCNC Board strongly oppose the LAUSD Redistricting Commission Final Recommendation Map sent to the LA City Council for ratification. Instead, the LA City Council should adopt the original unrevised LAUSD DRAFT Map 2 to establish the district boundaries for LAUSD District 3 for the West San Fernando Valley and District 6 for the East San Fernando Valley. Using the original unrevised Draft Map 2 boundaries will result in each district having school board members who can focus their attention and understanding on unique compact districts of numerous overlapping common communities of interest and concern.
The LA City Council should keep LAUSD District 4 on the south side of the Santa Monica Mountains to serve West Los Angeles and adjoining LAUSD beach communities. These recommendations are based on the following CIS statement-report and attached map. Community Impact Statement from the Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council Re: Council File: 20-0668-S6- LAUSD Redistricting Commission Recommended Map To: Los Angeles City Council, Office of Mayor Garcetti From: Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council (WHWCNC) Re: Council File: 20-0668-S6- LAUSD Redistricting Commission Recommended Map
The Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council [WHWCNC] strongly opposes the Final Recommendation Map adopted by the LAUSD Redistricting Commission submitted on October 29, 2021,
to the Los Angeles City Council.
Instead, the WHWCNC endorses and asks the LA City Council to adopt the original, unrevised LAUSD DRAFT Map 2 [see referenced maps below] to establish the district boundaries for LAUSD District 3 for the West San Fernando Valley and District 6 for the East San Fernando Valley.
The Los Angeles City Charter frames several key criteria and standards applicable to redistricting; equal population and the consideration of traditional redistricting criteria such as communities of interest, existing boundaries and geographical compactness, compliance with the Voting Rights Act. Ignoring these requirements, the LAUSD Redistricting Commission placed a small section of the West San Fernando Valley (portions of Woodland Hills and Reseda, and Encino and Tarzana communities) into Board District
4 and not into the adjoining West San Fernando Valley Board District 3.
The currently proposed District 4 has the largest population of any district; 705,226. The presently proposed District 4 has the highest CVAP (Community Voting Age Population) percentage of white voters; 65.94%, and only 14.68% Latino and 5.64% Black.
The charter mandates that Neighborhoods and Communities of Interest should be preserved by drawing boundary lines to maintain communities that share common interests in a single district.
A community of interest is a population that shares common social and economic interests and should be kept together in a single district to provide fair and effective representation:
• shared housing patterns
• income levels
• cultural and language characteristics
• work opportunities
• crime related issues
• social infrastructure-neighborhood councils, community service organizations, feeder schools, sports leagues, recreational areas, religious institutions, and public infrastructures such as public transportation, fire, and police precincts.
The charter mandates that neighborhoods and communities should be kept intact and utilize natural boundaries and street lines and be geographically compact respecting:
• Contiguity; all parts of a district should connect
• Compactness; a district should be geographically compact
• Existing Boundaries; the redistricting commission should consider geographic, street, and natural boundaries.
The currently proposed District 4 map ignores all the above redistricting criteria:
• The New District 4 has the largest population in Los Angeles
• The new District 4 is the least diverse school board district
• The communities in the West San Fernando Valley were separated from their neighboring communities of interest. Carving off some schools and placing them as orphaned appendages to a district focused on the other side of the Santa Monica Mountains, where they share no common interests, social or public infrastructure, or feeder schools. What does Woodland Hills share or have in common with Pacific Palisades, Westchester, or Larchmont?
• The New District 4 is the largest geographical district in the LAUSD, extending from north of Mulholland to as far south as Redondo Beach and Larchmont to the east. District 4 should use the natural boundary line of the Santa Monica Mountains, south of Mulholland, as its border and not isolate a small portion of the San Fernando Valley north of Mulholland from its adjoining neighbors.
The LAUSD Redistricting Commission ignored the community impact statements, emails, and public comments from the West San Fernando Valley. Therefore, the WHWCNC opposes the Final Recommendation Map adopted by the LAUSD Redistricting Commission that separates a small portion of our community and schools from the rest of the West San Fernando Valley, which is in District 3 and places part of our neighborhood and its schools incongruously in District 4.
We urge the Los Angeles City Council to reject the Final Recommendation Map and unite the entirety of Woodland Hills, Reseda, Tarzana, and Encino with their neighbors in LAUSD Board District 3 as drawn in the original unrevised Map 2. Please do not disenfranchise the needs and concerns of the West San Fernando Valley.
See posted support document which includes various maps ROLL CALL VOTE
Item No. (3) President, Joyce Fletcher
(21-090) December WHWCNC Board Meeting (10 minutes)
Discussion and possible action:
Motion for the board to approve that the WHWCNC will not have a board meeting in December and will reconvene on January 12, 2022. Committees will meet in December at the discretion of each committee.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Item No. (4) PLUM Committee – Lauren Coffman, Chair
(21-091) DIR-2021-6537-SPP
21016-21020 Ventura Blvd., Paoli’s Piano Bar and Pizza Restaurant
Discussion and possible action: (15 minutes)
As pertains to Case DIR-2021-6537-SPP and Case ENV-2021-6538-CE, having held 2 public PLUM teleconference meetings, regarding the proposed projects at 21016-21020 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA, 91364, and the application to remodel Paoli’s Piano Bar and Pizza Restaurant as well as expand applicant’s business into an adjacent structure, to be remodeled from a retail space into a restaurant intended to be called Mykonos Deli, and to request variances regarding parking requirements, the Planning, Land Use and Mobility Committee hereby finds that:
WHEREAS, Paoli’s Piano Bar and Pizza Restaurant has been operating for 36 years with no reported related negative incidents; and,
WHEREAS, the applicant’s anticipated new business may result in some additional traffic and street parking; and,
WHEREAS, the applicant is requesting to reclassify the space adjacent to his existing business from a retail designation to restaurant designation to be consistent with anticipated use; and,
WHEREAS, the applicant is proposing to remodel the existing business space (Paoli’s Piano Bar and Pizza Restaurant) and the adjacent space for an anticipated business (Mykonos Deli); and,
WHEREAS, at the conclusion of the changes to the building and space from a retail designation to restaurant designation, the seating capacity of the interior rear dining area and the remaining patio will be unchanged; and,
WHEREAS, the applicant, unable to provide additional on-site parking spaces is requesting relief per the Ventura/Cahuenga BLVD Corridor Specific Plan per Section 7,F, 2., “Alternative for Parking,” and,
WHEREAS, the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council requests that the kitchen and the bathroom remodel effectively improve the current LA County Health Department rating to be brought up to an “A;” and,
WHEREAS, the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council strongly requests valet parking with an agreement with a local business to rent parking spaces as a solution to the lack of the 6 required spaces for Mykonos Deli in lieu of paying the parking space penalty fees.
THEREFORE, the Planning, Land Use, and Mobility Committee, for the findings and
conditions stated herein, finds that the submitted application and plans by Paoli’s Piano Bar and
Pizza Restaurant and Antonio’s Simos of ASIMOS Design for the proposed expansion and request for variances regarding parking requirements at 21016-21020 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91364, receive the support of the Board of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council for the requested actions contingent upon the following conditions:
Conditions
1. Because Paoli’s Piano Bar and Pizza Restaurant and Mykonos Deli are joined by an interior hallway, the applicant must provide documentation showing the existing liquor license complies with the addition of the new deli space and update the liquor license if required.
2. If Mykonos Deli keeps the existing signage boxes, they must comply with the requirements for signs in the Ventura/Cahuenga BLVD Corridor Specific Plan.
FURTHERMORE, The Planning, Land Use, and Mobility Committee recommend 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 its subsequent recommendation to support this application as presented on November 10, 2021.
See posted support document ROLL CALL VOTE
Item No. (5) President, Joyce Fletcher
(21-092) Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance
Discussion and possible action: (5 minutes)
Motion for the board to approve the appointment of Brian Archibald, Chair of the Environmental, Sustainability and Beautification Committee to represent the WHWCNC on the Neighborhood Council
Sustainability Alliance.
Link: https://www.ncsa.la/ Roll Call Vote
Item No. (6) Community Services Committee – Dena Weiss, Chair
(21-093) Funding for Solar Lights on Ventura Blvd.
Discussion and possible action: (10 minutes)
Motion to approve $1,000 from the 2021-2022 Budget (Budget Line Item – Community Services Committee budget $1000) for the purchase of additional solar lights, any required replacements and other holiday decorations in the form of decorative solar balls for 20 trees along Ventura Blvd. from Topanga Blvd. to De Soto Avenue. The balls will be purchased from Amazon which is cost effective. The Council office has approved installation. They lights will be hung by volunteer board members.
See posted support document Roll Call Vote
Item No. (7) Governance Committee – Joyce Fletcher, Chair
(21-094) WHWCNC Bylaws Page 18 – Article XIII – Amendments
Discussion and possible action: (15 minutes)
Motion for the board to approve this revision to the WHWCNC Bylaws as follows, so the board can
approve the Bylaws and Standing Rules in a much timelier manner. This revision allows the board to approve any Bylaw or Standing Rule revision at one board meeting, by a majority vote of the board and at both a regular and special meeting as opposed to being severely restricted by a 2/3 vote of the board at two consecutive board meetings and only at a regular meeting. New changes are in red and language being deleted is indicated by strikethrough.
The deadline for Bylaw changes for this fiscal year, is April 1, 2022.
Revision:
Bylaws, Page 18: ARTICLE XIII – AMENDMENTS
Requests for Amendments, changes, additions and/or deletions to the these Bylaws or Standing Rules may be proposed by the a member of Board, by Stakeholder(s) or a Neighborhood Council Committee. This may be done during the public comment period or set as an agenda item for a regular Neighborhood Council meeting. A proposal to amend, however, must then be formalized in writing and filed with the Secretary.
All proposed amendment(s) will be reviewed by the Governance Committee for analysis and recommendation(s) shall be submitted reported to the Board. The proposed amendments will be placed on the agenda for public discussion at any the next two (2) consecutive scheduled Neighborhood Council
Board meeting including regular and special meetings.
A recommendation for amendment, change(s), addition(s) and/or deletion(s) of the these Bylaws or Standing Rules requires an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the full 23 member a majority vote of the Board members present and voting. Thereafter, and within fourteen (14) days after a vote recommending amendment, change(s), addition(s) and/or deletion(s) to the Bylaws, a Bylaw Amendment Application shall be submitted to EmpowerLA the Department for review and approval by the Department all in accordance with the Plan. in accordance with all rules and regulations.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Item No. (8) Governance Committee – Joyce Fletcher, Chair
(21-095) Second Vote to Approve Standing Rule 27
Discussion and possible action: (10 minutes)
Per current Bylaws, Page 18: ARTICLE XIII – AMENDMENTS
“The proposed amendments will be placed on the agenda for public discussion at the next two (2) consecutive scheduled Neighborhood Council meetings.”
Motion for the Board to approve Standing Rule 27 by a second 2/3 vote of the board if the board does
not approve Item No, (7) on this agenda.
The first vote was taken at the October 13, 2021 Board Meeting and was approved by the board
by a vote of:
PASS Yes: 17 No: 2 Abstain: 0 Ineligible: 3 Total: 22
Standing Rule 27
Board Meeting agenda items, including revisions to the Bylaws, may be discussed and voted on at both Regular and Special meetings of the board.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Item No. (8) Governance Committee – Joyce Fletcher, Chair
(21-095) WHWCNC Bylaw Revisions
Discussion and possible action:
Motion for the board to approve revisions made to pages 1 through 11 of the WHWCNC Bylaws.
The deadline for Bylaw changes for this fiscal year is April 1, 2022.
See posted revised Bylaws and current Bylaws Roll Call Vote
3. Area Reports – (20 minutes)
Area 1 – Aaron Quantz, Karen DiBiase, Mark Schwartz, Reina Cerros-McCaughey
Area 2 – Arturo Velasquez, Paul Lawler, Sean McCarthy, Kathleen Barth Area 3 – Nancy McLean, Angela Dawson, John Sandy Campbell, Alex Farassati
Area 4 – Brian Archibald, Martin Lipkin, Dena Weiss
Area 5 – Lisa Meyer, Peter Fletcher Area 6 – Leslie Simon, Mihran Kalaydjian, Heath Kline, Lauren Coffman
Area 7 – Joyce Fletcher, Houtan Hormozian At-Large – Sam Evans Youth Member – Vacant
4. Committee Reports – (20 minutes)
Budget Committee – Paul Lawler and Joyce Fletcher, Co-Chairs
Community Services Committee – Dena Weiss, Chair Education Committee – Reina Cerros McCaughey, Chair & Mihran Kalaydjian, Vice Chair Environmental & Beautification Committee – Brian Archibald, Chair
Governance Committee – Joyce Fletcher, Chair
Public Health and Homelessness Committee – Sam Evans, Chair PLUM Committee – Lauren Coffman, Chair
Public Safety and Transportation Committee – Houtan Hormozian, Chair Social Media & Community Outreach Committee – Peter Fletcher, Chair & Kathleen Barth, Vice Chair WHIP Committee – Heath Kline, Chair
Ad-hoc – Westfield Promenade 2035 Project – Joyce Fletcher, Chair Ad Hoc Committee – Measure A. Parks Program – Peter Fletcher, Chair Ad Hoc Committee – Arts Fees and Cultural Amenities – Lauren Coffman, Chair
Ad-hoc Committee – Flight Path and Noise Advisory Committee – Martin Lipkin, Chair
Announcements:
The next Regular Board meeting will be held on December 8, 2021, by teleconference. Please visit the calendar page at whcouncil.org for the complete details and to confirm the date and time.
Meeting dates for 2021 -2022 year: Full Board meeting are held the second Wednesday of every month at 6:30pm. 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 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
*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 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 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 Joyce fletcher de la Mesa Directiva, al j.fletcher@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
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