WHWCNC Education Committee

WHWCNC Education Committee Meeting Sep 1, 2020 

AGENDA – WHWCNC EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING

1 September 2020, 6:30 P.M.

VIRTUAL MEETING BY TELECONFERENCE

VIRTUAL MEETING TELECONFERENCING and PHONE NUMBER FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

In conformity with the Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20 (MARCH 17, 2020) and due to concerns over COVID-19, the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council meetings will be conducted entirely telephonically.

Every person wishing to address the Neighborhood Council must dial +1 669 900 6833, and enter Zoom ID No. 930 6239 0507 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. 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.

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

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 the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment by email: NCSupport@lacity.org or phone: (213) 978-1551.

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 on  our website at : 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) 639-9444 or email: j.fletcher@whcouncil.org

PUBLIC INPUT AT NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEETINGS – The public is requested 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. Comments from the public on agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered. 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. Public comment is limited to two minutes per speaker, unless adjusted by the presiding officer of the Board.

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

PUBLIC POSTING OF AGENDAS – Neighborhood Council agendas are posted for public review as follows:

• Council website – whcouncil.org and go to the calendar page and click on the date, then meeting and agenda
• You can also receive our agendas via email by subscribing to L.A. City’s Early Notification System at https://www.lacity.org/subscriptions

 AGENDA

1. Call to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
4. Approval of Minutes, August 4, 2019 Committee Meeting
5. Public Announcements – (2) minutes per speaker
6. Public Comment Period (on items not on the agenda): (2) minutes per speaker

___________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Items for discussion and possible action:

 Item No. (1):  Working with Foundations

 Guest Speaker, Robert Brostoff, West Hills NC

1. Discussion

 Item No. (2):  Gina K. Thornburg – Neighborhood Purposes Grant for the Foundation for Pierce College earmarked for the sole purpose of supporting the Brahma Pantry

Discussion and Possible Action:

Over the past year the Education Committee has explored ways to support the work of the Brahma Pantry, a food pantry on the campus of Los Angeles Pierce College. The Brahma Pantry provides valuable services and support to help students fill gaps in their basic needs, such as housing, food, childcare, health care, and educational costs. Meeting food costs was difficult for many students before the pandemic and has become increasingly difficult because of employment loss and the looming threat of evictions. The committee’s fact-finding activities include several conversations between committee member Gina Thornburg and the pantry manager, as well as a visit to the pantry; a tour of the pantry last fall by three committee members; research on the plight of California community college students by committee member Dan Chernow; and a Q&A with the pantry manager, D’arcy Corwin, at the August 2020 Education Committee meeting. Therefore, the Education Committee finds that:

WHEREAS a recent research article in Ed Source (https://edsource.org/2020/community-colleges-struggle-with-students-food-needs-as-pandemic-increases-demand/634155) reports that out of 46 responses to an EdSource survey of the 115 community colleges in California, all 46 have campus food pantries, with 26 continuing to distribute food despite campus closures. Twenty-one say their food pantries have seen an increase of applications for food and/or an increase in the amount of food being requested; and

WHEREAS Governor Newsom defunded food pantries on the state’s community college campuses, removing $11.4 million for them from the California Community Colleges 2020–21 budget (https://www.google.com/search?q=California+Community+Colleges+may+
revision+budget&oq=California+Community+Colleges+may+revision+budget&aqs=chrome..69i57j33.12646j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#); and

WHEREAS LA Pierce College is the sole community college in the Woodland Hills–Warner Center Neighborhood Council district; and,

WHEREAS members of the WHWCNC Education Committee have conducted due diligence in understanding the need for monetary donations to support the hunger-alleviation work of the Brahma Pantry; and

WHEREAS the Foundation for Pierce College is the fiscal agent responsible for receiving and paying out donations to the on-campus Brahma Pantry;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the WHWCNC Education Committee recommends that the board of the Woodland Hills–Warner Center Neighborhood Council APPROVE the following Neighborhood Purposes Grant:

According to the Office of the City Clerk Neighborhood Council Funding Program, issue a Neighborhood Purposes Grant in the amount of $2,500 to the Foundation for Pierce College, earmarked solely for the purpose of supporting the Brahma Pantry’s hunger-relief activities, including grocery-store gift cards for students during the pandemic and the purchase of food items for the physical pantry once the campus is reopened

Item No. (3):   LAUSD Hygiene Project

1. Sisters on the Street Activities – Doug Marriott
2. Discussion

Item No. (4):  West Valley Occupational Center HiSet Program

 

1. Follow up with Monica Balbuena – Gina Thornburg
2. Discussion

 

Item No. (5): Discussion of Possible Project with Girl Scouts and / or Boy Scouts

1. Research Results – John Sandy Campbell & Ginny Sand
2. Discussion

Item No. (6):  Discussion of Possible Jobs Fair Project

1. Preliminary Cost Estimates – John Sandy Campbell
2. Discussion

Item No. (7):  Discussion FY 2021 Budget / Timeline

1. Possible New Budgeting Time Line – Paul Lawler
2. Discussion

Item No. (8):  Taft Improvement Project Public Meeting 27 August 2020

 

Item No. (9):  Discussion Committee Administration

1. New Members
2. Other

Item No. (10):  New Business

 

 

Adjournment of meeting:

 

 

*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 Board meetings and our website at www.whcouncil.org

 

 

 

TAFT IMPROVEMENT  PROJECT

8/27/20 public meeting

 

 

Project Q monies. 22 school projects using 7 billion dollars in funding. Taft project cost is 146.5 million dollars.

 

3 phases/ with completion dates:

1. Underground utilities. 2020-22
2. Football field and facilities. 2021-23
3. Comprehensive modernization of multiple buildings. 2022-2026

 

 

Taft was chosen due to seismic deficiencies and conditions; multiple portables still in use; and, poor conditions thought the 60 year-old campus.

 

The underground portion will take 18 months to complete.  Plumbing, electrical, and storm water revisions are substantial.

 

The football field and its facilities are to be replaced with state-of-the-art facilities. Artificial turf and easier entrance from the parking lot.

 

Most buildings will get updates plumbing, electrical, accessibility, and air conditioning, as well as technology upgrades. Being done after the football field due to the extensive storm water work to be done. Also, only two contractors allowed on project at one time.

 

An environmental impact was done for 20 checkpoints and only two necessitated “less than significant impact with mitigation” ratings. Geology & soil and hazard & hazardous materials. These were primarily in planted and lawn areas and are easily mitigated.

 

After the portables are removed, a new softball field will be installed.

 

The presentation is available on the LAUSD Community Relations Website.

 

It appears the project is on schedule and budget so far. Presentation was complete and very clear with questions answered completely. 70 person were on the Zoom call.