Board of Neighborhood Commissioners (BONC)
Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE)

2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007
(see below for an explanation of BONC and DONE)

Housing and Community Development
- assessing the needs of your community
Community Meetings - September 18 thru October 20

Los Angeles Citywide Alliance
of Neighborhood Councils Meeting
Saturday, September 20th - at the LA City College on Vermont

DONE - Neighborhood Council Election Procedures
Proposed by Greg Nelson, 7/14/03

Brown Act Primer for Neighborhood Councils
LA City Attorney's Opinions

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NOTICE OF POSSIBLE BOARD ACTION
Revisions to the Departmental and Neighborhood Council
Conflict of Interest Codes - meeting on: APRIL 29, 2003 - 6:30 P.M.

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Joint Board of Neighborhoods and Public Safety Committee
Special Meeting on Task Force Recommendation for
LAPD's Verified Burglar Alarm Policy
Meeting on April 15th, Council Chambers

Burglar Alarm Task Force
Invitation to Participate - Agenda

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Current Education and Neighborhood Committee News
LA City Council

Stored Value Card Issued to Reseda Neighborhood Council
Mayor announces plan to fund NCs - 3/18/03

NC Community Impact Statement Passes LA City Council
by Mike Gealer, GPNC member

Mayor Hahn Announces New Mayor's Office of Operations
A reorganization plan for neighborhood-based government

LA Citywide Alliance of Neighborhood Councils forum - Report
Saturday, January 25, 2003 - Los Angeles City College

Quick Things ...
The next Congress of Neighborhoods is scheduled for April 5th.
Congress of Neighborhoods planning meeting is scheduled for February 6th.
Offer to Neighborhood Councils from the Dept of Aging.

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Neighborhood Councils - what's a BONC? ... what's a DONE?

If you're new to the concept of Neighborhood Councils we wish to encourage you to look into them.

Essentially the Neighborhood Council system was instituted by City Charter to give the LA resident, referred to as a "stakeholder" (someone who lives, works or owns property in an area), a bigger voice in local decision making.

A proposed Neighborhood Council committee submits an application to the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners (BONC) which is their plan for how they wish to establish their own specific council. The staff of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) is charged with assisting the BONC in any number of ways ... helping groups prepare applications, interacting with other City Departments, helping to set guidelines, and facilitating meetings, etc.

You may find the DONE website (Department of Neighborhood Empowerment) interesting and informative.

While Neighborhood Councils will have no legislative ability themselves, they will certainly act in an advisory capacity to the City of Los Angeles in helping understand the needs and desires of local communities, thereby having a powerful voice which will help shape communities they serve.

A limited amount of financial support is to be provided each Neighborhood Council, through a pool of money set aside in the LA city budget.

As of this writing, some 38 Neighborhood Councils have been "certified" by the City, meaning they officially exist, with at least 30 more applications pending. Beyond this are another 30 or so groups who have expressed a desire to apply by sending BONC, through DONE, a "letter of intent."

It is possible that after the dust settles we may have over 100 local Neighborhood Councils, each serving the needs of the stakeholders in the geographic area they represent!

The residents of Los Angeles are understandably hoping this works ... giving them a meaningful voice and a much bigger say in what happens in their local neighborhoods.

So are we ...