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Department of Neighborhood Empowerment
Newsletter
July 29, 2003
Re: Budget Day Report. Neighborhood Council Accomplishments.
Review of Bylaws. Roster of Neighborhood Councils. Neighborhood
Councils Success Story. Logos/Certification Stamps. Funding Program
Problems? Having Trouble Figuring Out What to Do Now? Early Notification
System. Donations Ordinance. Computers. Inventory.
BUDGET DAY REPORT
Budget Day last Saturday was a roaring success. Once again, attendance
exceeded expectations – over 200 people. We’ll notify you shortly
as soon as the handout material is posted on our Web site. If you
would have to have the PowerPoint presentation sent to you so that
you can show it to others, just contact Taneda Jordan at tjordan@mailbox.lacity.org,
or Emily White at ewhite@mailbox.lacity.org.
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The most oft-asked question from the media is what the Neighborhood
Councils have been doing. On our home page there is a list that
we have been trying to keep current. Whenever your Neighborhood
Council has something that you’re so proud of that you want to burst,
let us know and we’ll include it on this list for the world to see.
REVIEW OF BYLAWS
This 53-page report can also be found on the home page. We reviewed
the bylaws of the Neighborhood Councils that have been certified,
and we have summarized how each Neighborhood Council differs in
regard to (1) definition of “stakeholder”, (2) governing board structure,
(3) how they make decisions, and (4) their grievance procedure.
Please take a look at this and let us know of any errors.
ROSTER OF NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS
Something else on the home page. This is THE list of Neighborhood
Councils and their leaders. We need to know the names of all the
board members on the elected boards, and a way through which they
can be contacted. If people choose to not list their phone number
or e-mail address on this public document, then there should be
an address of some sort where information addressed to them can
be sent. We trying not to be jerks about this, but the public has
a legal right to know who their representatives are and a way to
communicate with them. When financial disclosure statements become
due, this becomes especially important. DONE will be responsible
for collecting the information from those who are required to file.
There are serious penalties for not complying with the law. In too
many cases, the Neighborhood Councils will still not give us this
information.
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS SUCCESS STORY
Click on this place on our home page and see show photos of the
celebration that was held with the Mayor and the Pico Union and
MacArthur Neighborhood Councils at Mama’s Hot Tamales. The quality
of the photos isn’t all that great, but some of them we taken with
a cell phone that had a built-in digital camera that we were testing.
Feel free to send us your pictures too.
LOGOS/CERTIFICATION STAMPS
The Education and Neighborhoods Committee has before it a motion
that calls for us to develop a “logo” for each certified Neighborhood
Council to use to show that it is, in fact, an official Neighborhood
Council. As we got further into the matter with the City Attorney,
we realized that we weren’t developing a logo at all, but rather
a Certification Stamp. Think of it like a tiny “union bug” that
you see at the bottom of materials that we printed at a print shop
that employs union labor. Or like a USDA stamp, or that UL stamp
that you see on electrical products.
Anyway, the committee wanted us to develop a few ideas and show
them first to the Neighborhood Councils to their opinions. In keeping
with our promise to avoid e-mail attachments at all costs, please
visit our home page again take a look at the three different designs
we came up with. Each design is shown in it’s blown-up size, but
most importantly it is also shown in the small size that more closely
reflects how it will appear at the bottom of letterhead or business
cards. Only official Neighborhood Councils will be allowed to use
it, and after a while people will know to look for this to determine
if they’re dealing with a legitimate Neighborhood Council. It’s
use wouldn’t be required. A Neighborhood Council could also choose
to just write words such as “Officially Certified Los Angeles Neighborhood
Council,” or some other statement that couldn’t be true for any
other group in the area.
You can respond to this e-mail or to Emily White at ewhite@mailbox.lacity.org.
FUNDING PROGRAM PROBLEMS?
If you haven’t already written to us with the problems you are experiencing
with the Funding Program, we need to document those problems so
they can be included in our report to the City Council.
HAVING TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHAT TO DO NOW?
Several times, I’ve asked Neighborhood Councils for advice on what
types of training they feel they need, especially once they’ve had
their elections. We’re preparing an extensive training program,
and we value your input.
EARLY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
Some time ago, the 16 recommendations to improve the city’s early
notification system were discussed by the Education and Neighborhoods
Committee. Some recommendations were approved and sent to the Rules
and Elections Committee. Others were held in committee for further
discussion. I have been tardy in posting those results on the Web
site. Sue me!
DONATIONS ORDINANCE
The City Council approved a motion that directed the Office of the
City Attorney to work with DONE and quickly prepare an ordinance
that would detail a procedure through which Neighborhood Councils
could receive donations under $_____ without first getting approval
of the City Council. It would also set up a system through with
DONE could easily receive donations for all the Neighborhood Councils.
COMPUTERS. WE’VE GOT COMPUTERS.
If your Neighborhood Council is certified and you haven’t taken
us up on our offer to give you a surplus computer and help you upgrade
it, tell your Project Coordinator. We’ve got plenty of surplus computers
sitting around, and as they say in the auto dealer business, “we’ve
got to move ‘em out!” Tell you Project Coordinator if you want to
have some of the surplus computers as is. You can use them for parts,
give them to schools, nonprofits, whatever.
INVENTORY
As you receive equipment such as computers, equipment that belongs
to your Neighborhood Council, make sure that you tag it with an
ID number and keep a log of it. We’ll be sending some additional
tips on how to do this shortly. But for now, just use common sense.
THE END (for now)
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Greg Nelson
213 / 485-1360
866 / LA HELPS toll-free
213 / 485-4608 fax
done@mailbox.lacity.org
email
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