LA City Councilman Tom LaBonge Confirmed For Van Nuys Neighborhood Council Disaster Preparedness Summit, April 30, Tomorrow @ 6:00 pm!

Councilman Tom LaBonge & LAFD Captain Stacy Gerlich from the Department of Homeland Security to Headline the Event

VAN NUYS, CA — The Van Nuys Neighborhood Council is hosting a Special Council Meeting this coming Wednesday, April 30th to address disaster preparedness.  The recent earthquakes in Southern California have highlighted the importance of the issue and the largest neighborhood council in the San Fernando Valley is taking the lead in getting everyone prepared for “The Big One.”

“This summit has been a joy to plan, and I would like to thank LAPD Volunteer Cheryl Cashman, Local Businessman Kambiz Merabi, and Van Nuys Neighborhood Councilman Josef Lazarovitz for all their hard work bringing this together.  We have reached out to all of the neighborhood councils in the San Fernando Valley as well as other local municipalities in the area. We are bringing the experts, our community leaders and the general public together and getting everyone prepared,” said George Christopher Thomas, President of the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council.
“The focus of this event is to inform the community about disasters and earthquakes in the Los Angeles area, primarily getting prepared and what steps they need to take in order to do that.  This event is open to the entire San Fernando Valley and the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council is anticipating a large turnout,” said Thomas.

“Our council has purchased lighted whistles and ‘Go Bags’ as free give-aways. We have Emergency Preparedness Guides from the Red Cross, SOS Survival catalogs, some specific handouts on CERT and a checklist.  LAPD and LAFD will talk about their roles during and after a disaster, where they will be and won’t be, as well as their input on how the community can help by being prepared. LAFD will talk more in depth about preparedness and the CERT program,” said Thomas.

The confirmed speakers are:
LA City Councilman Tom LaBonge
LAPD Commander Operations Regina Scott Valley Bureau
LAFT Captain Stacy Gerlich Homeland Security Division, Catastrophic Planning and Captain Keith Scott CERT Commander
Gas Co. Charles Poepke Field Operation Supervisor II
Red Cross Cheryl Cashman
Map Your Neighborhood Kristin Sales

Mr. Charles Poepke will talk about how to turn off the gas, when you need to turn off your gas and the seismic shut off valves that many homes have and people don’t understand. Cheryl will be talking about “Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed” for your home, work and car.  And Mrs. Kristin Sales, who has implemented the Map Your Neighborhood program in her neighborhood, will give a brief overview of the program. (Also scheduled to present and speak are Captain Keith Scott, CERT Commander & Charles Poepke, Field Operation Supervisor II for the Southern California Gas Company.)

The Van Nuys Neighborhood Council has selected Wednesday, April 30th for the Disaster Preparedness Summit.  The location will be the Marvin Braude Constituent Services Center at 6262 Van Nuys Boulevard. Additional details will follow early next week.  (http://www.tomlabonge.com/)

1. Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America
2. Roll Call (Quorum Call)
3. Comments from the Chair — *Speaker Cards: 2 minutes, 2 Public Comment Times. (This includes speaker cards on any and all agenda items — a limit of 10 minutes for the entire meeting per Stakeholders and Councilmembers alike)
4. Public Comment (On matters within the VNNC Board’s Jurisdiction.)
5. Secretary’s Report — (Jon Hendry)
6. Treasurer’s Report — Jeanette Hopp
7. Committee Chairperson’s Reports, Budget Advocate’s Report, Elected Officials’ Reports & Election Chair’s Report
8. New Business
a. Remarks from LA City Councilman Tom LaBonge (10 minutes) 6:31-6:41pm
b. Remarks from LA City Councilwoman Nury Martinez (10 minutes) 6:41-6:51pm
c. Remarks from Stacy Gerlich, LAFD Captain, Homeland Security Division (15 minutes) 6:51-7:06pm
d. Remarks from Keith Scott, CERT Commander (10 minutes) 7:06-7:16pm
e. Remarks from Regina Scott, LAPD Commander Operations Valley Bureau (10 minutes) 7:16-7:26pm
f. Remarks from LAPD Volunteer & Red Cross Representative Cheryl Cashman (15 minutes) 7:26-7:41pm
g. Remarks from Kristin Sales, Map Your Neighborhood (10 minutes) 7:41-7:51pm
h. Remarks from Charles Poepke, Field Operations Supervisor for the Gas Company (10 minutes) 7:51-8:01pm
i. Breakout Session in Adjacent Room to Council Chambers (8:01-9:00pm)
9. Public Comment
10. Announcements
11. Adjournment

FlyerSummit2014

SpecialSummitAgendaVNNCApril30th

Gender Breakdown in City Government

From the office that brought you Control Panel LA, now an excellent infographic to show the disparities between female and male City government employees. Controller Ron Galperin has just released a series of statistics comparing salaries and percentage of employees broken down by department.

Some surprising stats are readily visible on the infographic, but the more exhaustive information is found on the Control Panel LA website. Now that it’s public information, departments can think about how to act on the numbers– even if the numbers are looking pretty good. What do you think the infographic for your Neighborhood Council Board would look like?

VNNC PLUM Committee meeting, March 18, 6:30-10:00pm @ the Van Nuys Police Station in the community room

bench with book sculpture art attached in front of Van Nuys Branch Library.

1. Call To Order & Pledge Of Allegiance To the United States of America.

2. Roll Call (Quorum Call)

3. Comments from the Chair — Speaker’s Times, Cell Phones, Conversations,
Correspondence Received. Introductions of first time attending stakeholders. *Speaker Cards: 2, minutes, 2 Public Comment Times. (This includes speaker cards on agenda items — a limit of 10 minutes for the entire meeting per stakeholder.)
4. Public Comment (On matters within the VNNC Board’s Jurisdiction.)

5. New Business
a. Ad-hoc Community Beautification Committee – Course of action; outreach, partnership, location, data.

• aa. Raymer Street Pedestrian Bridge update: Collaboration with Panorama City Neighborhood Council in bringing a letter of resolution to City Council in improving the condition & safety of the bridge.
• bb. People St. update: finding possible location, outreach and support from
• cc. Neighborhood cleanout blitz – program in a monthly cleaning blitz in the neighborhoods around the Van Nuys Neighborhood.

b. 7036-7040 N Van Nuys Boulevard. Elder Facility Unified Permit and Site Plan review. Proposed project is for the new construction of a 5-story, 132-unit licensed Residential Care Facility for the elderly (RCFE) with 87,875 square feet of floor area and 61 parking spacing.     Case no.: ZA 2014-0625 (Dana A. Sayles)                                                                                               Documents for review: Arch drawings, Photo_Boards, Master Land Use Permit Application
c. 14401 Valerio Street: Resubmitted; Change R1 Zone into an RD 1.5 Zone for a small lot subdivision. Planning committee ask at the previous meeting to outreach to the neighbors for their input, reduce the amount of units to allow for guest parking & open space, and revise the design of exterior elevations – Case no.: APCSV-2013-3648-2C (Regina Minon)                Documents for review: 14401 Valerio St_2014.2.14, SITE-13021-2-26-2014
d. 5944 Calhoun Ave./ 14157 W. Tiara St. Subdivision of one existing lot into 3 unit new condominiums in RD2-1 Multi-Family zone. To allow subdivision of one lot into 3-unit new condominiums, waiver from final parcel map and letter of approval –                                          Case no.: AA 2014-200  (Hayk Martirosian)                                                                                Documents for review: Preliminary Parcel, Master Land Use Application, Location Map, Letter of expedition

e. 5608 Van Nuys Blvd. Conditional Use Beverage to serve beer and wine in a fast- casual restaurant. Proposing for the conditional use permit to permit the sale and dispensing of alcoholic beverages on-site consumption in conjunction with the proposed restaurant. Beer and wine only. Hours of operation: 11 am- 10:00 pm daily to match open/close of restaurant.      Case no.: ZA 2013-4137 CUB (Greg Taylor)                                                                                Documents for review: Business info, Floor Plans, Master Land Use Application-frt only, Map info,
f. Additional items.

g. Request for letters of support.

6. Public Comment

7. Announcements

8. Adjournment

Van Nuys Neighborhood Council General Meeting, March, 12, 7:00pm at 6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Council Chambers Room.

This Wednesday, March 12 is the VNNC General Meeting. Below are the agenda items with supporting documents for agenda items 8c. and 8d.

1. Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America

2. Roll Call (Quorum Call)

3. Comments from the Chair — *Speaker Cards: 2 minutes, 2 Public Comment Times. (This includes speaker cards on any and all agenda items — a limit of 10 minutes for the entire meeting per Stakeholders and Councilmembers alike)
4. Public Comment (On matters within the VNNC Board’s Jurisdiction.)

5. Secretary’s Report — (Jon Hendry) — Approve February Minutes & December Special Minutes

6. Treasurer’s Report — Jeanette Hopp and/or Maria Skelton (Second Signatory) — Approve
Treasurer’s Report

7. Committee Chairperson’s Reports, Budget Advocate’s Report, Elected Officials’ Reports & Election Chair’s Report

8. New Business

• a. The Van Nuys Neighborhood Council is hosting a debate for all of the Sheriff’s Candidates in the primary election for Los Angeles County Sheriff. Guidelines were determined at the Executive Committee Meeting held on March 3rd. There will be a 2 minute opening statement, 5 questions from the VNNC with 90 seconds to answer, 5 questions from the general public with 90 seconds to answer, and a 2 minute closing statement for all qualified candidates. All 7 candidates have been informed and invited to the debate. (Olmsted, Vince, McDonnell, Rogers, Tanaka, Gomez & Hellmond)

• b. Submit a “Community Impact Statement” applauding the Los Angeles City Council’s support for Councilman Bob Blumenfield’s measure that makes Los Angeles the first City to be in full compliance with the Iran Contracting Act of 2010. In 2010, Congress extended US sanctions to parties involved in Iran’s energy sector through the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act (CISADA). Section 202 of CISADA authorized state and local governments to divest their funds from parties involved in Iran’s energy sector and to bar such parties from state and local government contracts. The Iran Contracting Act of 2010 made California the first state in the nation to enact a law pursuant to Section 202.

• c. 5746 – 5750 N. Sepulveda Blvd. and 5747 – 5751 Halbrent Ave. Zone Change/ Height District Change, Conditional Use, Zone Variance and Zoning Administration Adjustment. Demolition of existing hotel and the construction, use and maintenance of a 4-story hotel and accessory 2-­level parking garage, providing 73 guest rooms, 1 managerʼs unit and 60 parking garages. Case no.: CPC 2013-3554-ZC-HD-CU-ZV-ZAA (Peggy Malone-Brown). The PLUM committee met on February 18th, 2014 to review the item agenda and approved it to go forward to the General Meeting with 4 votes yes and 1 vote abstain.

Documents for review: Arch & landscape plans, Site Photos, Vicinity Map, Master Land Use Permit Application Form

• d. 5700- 5720 Sepulveda Blvd. and 5703-5707 Halbrent Ave. Density Bonus and Affordable Housing Incentives. Development of a 131 multi-unit Apartment with 8,621 sq ft of ground floor commercial space with in an approximately 160,594 sq ft building. Case no.: DIR 2013-3832- DB-SPR (Eric Leiberman). The PLUM committee met on February 18th, 2014 to review the item and approved it to go forward to the General Meeting with a unanimously vote.

Documents for review: Arch Plans Current 11×17 Van Nuys PLUM, 20140113_Sepulveda Rendering, 20140121 Halbrent Rendering Accent 1-2 2-3-14, MLUA-fr Stamped

• e. Officially elect and/or appoint Councilmember(s) to be in charge of submitting “Community Impact Statements” as well as reconfirm President George C. Thomas a CIS submitter.

• f. Start planning and working on the 4th of July Concert at the Van Nuys Civic Center.

• g. Elect a Chair for Van Nuys Parking Ad Hoc Committee

• h. Informational update on the VNNC “Vote By Mail” status for the March 20th election.

• j. Candidates’ Forum for VNNC Election to be hosted by Honorary Mayor of Van Nuys James “Jamie” Cordaro. (5:30pm – 7:00pm — With same rules as Sheriff’s Debate)

• k. Plan to bring back the Van Nuys Video Conference to LA City Hall Council Meetings (With costs to be shared equally by all Valley Neighborhood Councils) Proposed Funding NTE $999

9. Old Business

• a. The VNNC website to switch from Godaddy website builder to WordPress — Howard Benjamin & Quirino de la Questa (NTE $600)

10. Public Comments

11. Announcements

12. Adjournment

LA City Attorney Mike Feuer to host town hall forum, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

City Attorney Mike Feuer will host a community town hall meeting in the San Fernando Valley for members of the Van Nuys, Valley Glen and Lake Balboa communities.

The City Attorney will share and take questions from residents on his priorities for the Office as well as discuss a number of initiatives, actions and programs he has taken to improve the quality of life of our neighborhoods.  These efforts include focusing on preventing gun violence, school safety and doubling the number of neighborhood prosecutors.

WHO                                                                                                                                                             Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer

WHEN                                                                                                                                                 Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

WHERE                                                                                                                                                     Valley Presbyterian Hospital                                                                                                                          Health Education Center Auditorium                                                                                                 15107 Vanowen Street, Van Nuys

INFO                                                                                                                                                         Open to the public. Parking available in the Noble Parking Structure.

Pictures of Holiday with a Heart Event, 2013

Last year X-mas holiday event, Holiday with a Heart at the South Valley Family Source Center in Van Nuys, was organized by the New Economics for Women Organization, which the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council donated 500 dollars to the event. We have pictures of the event, which shows it was a successful event where the children enjoyed their gifts and party favors, and the some of the girls and their moms had their hair style by Marinello Beauty School.

Thank you, Lizette Arzola, for inviting the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council to the event and your support to the community.

Governor Brown Declares Drought State of Emergency

With California facing water shortfalls in the driest year in recorded state history, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today proclaimed a State of Emergency and directed state officials to take all necessary actions to prepare for these drought conditions.

“We can’t make it rain, but we can be much better prepared for the terrible consequences that California’s drought now threatens, including dramatically less water for our farms and communities and increased fires in both urban and rural areas,” said Governor Brown. “I’ve declared this emergency and I’m calling all Californians to conserve water in every way possible.”

To see more information, Click here.

Fire Station #39 Actions & Information

Greetings Van Nuys Council-members, Community Leaders & Stakeholders,

This coming Tuesday (Tomorrow) the Los Angeles City Council will be voting on the Fire Station #39 relocation in Van Nuys, CA.  As we all know, this is a very important issue and there has been much discussion and debate on the subject.

If you can make it to the meeting next Tuesday and let your voice be heard, that would be great. I am attaching the official language on which the LA City Council will vote, as well as the Bureau of Engineering report for Fire Station #39.

I have also successfully submitted the Community Impact Statement that was voted on and passed by the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council at our General Meeting this past January the 8th. 

Thank you for being involved in our community, and have a wonderful holiday weekend.  Cheers.

-George Christopher Thomas, President of the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council                     www.vnnc.org

ITEM NO. (3) 13-1103 CD 6

INITIAL STUDY/NEGATIVE DECLARATION and PUBLIC WORKS AND GANG REDUCTION COMMITTEE REPORT for the Van Nuys Fire Station No. 39 to be located on the 14600 block of Oxnard Street (Work Order No. E170094B)

Recommendations for Council action:

1. FIND that there is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment pursuant to the City’s Environmental Guidelines and is in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); that the Initial Study/Negative Declaration reflects the independent judgment and analysis of the City of Los Angeles; that the documents constituting the record of proceedings in this matter are located in Council File No. 13-1103 in the custody of the City Clerk; and ADOPT the CEQA Initial Study/Negative Declaration (Work Order No. E70094B) filed on May 16, 2013.

2. APPROVE the Van Nuys Fire Station No. 39 project to be located on the 14600 block of Oxnard Street (Work Order No. E170094B) as described in the August 21, 2013 Board of Public Works report, attached to the Council file.

Fiscal Impact Statement: The Board of Public Works reports that the project has a budget of approximately $20,200,000 with funding from the surplus Proposition F Fire Facilities General Obligation Bond Program savings, program contingency, and accrued interest.

13-1103_rpt_boe_1-10-14.pdf (297K)

UCLA Urban Planning Report Study

In December, EmpowerLA had the opportunity to sit in on Professor Ong’s Urban Planning class at UCLA as students presented their neighborhood profiles, finished products of the neighborhood analyses they conducted in collaboration with seven Neighborhood Councils.

We promised to share these great profiles with you, and we are excited to present them as PDFs here for you to peruse online. Students created these in-depth reports using the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and collecting information from the field through partnerships with seven Neighborhood Councils.

The presentations include historical background on each of the communities as well as detailed analysis of demographic composition, socioeconomic status, housing characteristics, the local economy, and other local features.
In each study, the presentations conclude with recommendations for the Neighborhood Council on how to maximize their positive impact on their community. Neighborhood Councils now have a data-driven reference to inform their work and gain an accurate picture of their neighborhood from a variety of angles.

“I am so impressed by the caliber of the students’ work,” said Grayce Liu, General Manager of EmpowerLA. She listened in on the presentations in December and sees great value in the partnership between UCLA graduate students and Neighborhood Councils.

“I think this asset mapping is essential for all Neighborhood Councils, and I hope to find the resources to create such profiles for all of the Neighborhood Councils.”

Click on the Neighborhood Council name to read about:

Empowerment Congress Southwest

Greater Valley Glen

Historic Highland Park

Lake Balboa

South Central

Sunland-Tujunga

Van Nuys