Department of Neighborhood Empowerment
Newsletter

March 16, 2004

Re: Congress of Neighborhoods Date Changed. Cutting the Bureaucracy and Paperwork. MOU with Public Works.

CONGRESS OF NEIGHBORHOODS – DATE CHANGED

The new date for the next Congress of Neighborhoods is Saturday, May 22. The change was requested by many Neighborhood Council leaders who also wanted to attend the annual conference of the Community-Police Advisory Boards (the C-PAB Summit). The starting time should be the same: 8:30 a.m. The location will remain at the Convention Center.

CUTTING THE BUREAUCRACY AND PAPERWORK

Following past requests, you have sent examples of how state laws or city bureaucracy has been a hindrance to your work as a Neighborhood Council. That information has been very helpful. It’s one thing for me to explain this to the decision-makers, but it’s another thing to have specific examples from you to support the need for change. Whether it’s the Brown Act, the Political Reform Act, the Neighborhood Council Funding Program, whatever, please send it to me. If you don’t want your communication to be part of the public record, let me know.

IMPROVING THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES

On February 20, 2004, the Department of Public Works and four Neighborhood Councils signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

The MOU formalized and clarified the relationship between the city’s third-largest department and the Greater Toluca Lake, Mid-Town North Hollywood, Studio City, and Valley Village Neighborhood Councils. A key component guarantees that each Neighborhood Council will have vital information about public works projects in their communities prior to the City’s budget process. The MOU will allow both parties to advocate their position and to form a partnership with elected officials.

The department, the Mayor’s Office, and the Neighborhood Councils were brought together by USC’s Neighborhood Participation Project for three meetings to formulate the plan.

Terry L. Cooper, Ph.D., of the USC School of Policy, Planning and Development said, “At first there was a great deal of skepticism on both sides that a plan could be adopted that would satisfy everyone. Once everyone voiced their concerns and their goals, we started making progress.”

Board of Public Works President Valerie Lynne Shaw described the MOU as an example for other departments and Neighborhood Councils to follow.

Paul Waters, secretary of the Studio City Neighborhood Council, who participated in all three meetings and served as a facilitator for the final phases of the MOU, said, “I believe our MOU will pass the test of time. There is no doubt that Public Works is taking Neighborhood Councils seriously, and we all look forward to a long and productive relationship, working as partners to make our neighborhoods a better place."

For more information, contact:

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Greg Nelson

866 / LA HELPS
213 / 485-1360
213 / 485-4608 fax
done@mailbox.lacity.org email
www.lacityneighborhoods.com website