LACP.org
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DONE Newsletter
from the desk of BongHwan Kim

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Department of Neighborhood Empowerment

DONE Newsletters 2009


February 18, 2009

To:
  Neighborhood Council Leaders
From:
  BongHwan Kim, General Manager
....Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE)
E-mail:
  done@lacity.org

DONE NEWS

Regional Town Halls Available on Channel 35
Thank you to the nearly 200 Board members and stakeholders who attended our three Regional Town Halls around the City.  For those of you who were not able to make it, Channel 35 taped the January 31st Central East Regional Town Hall. The production has been archived on Channel 35's Online Video Library, which can be accessed through their website.

The Regional Congress Comes to the San Fernando Valley in Spring 2009
The Regional Congress in South Los Angeles this past May showcased a regional collaboration of Neighborhood Councils within the area and a greater partnership with us and the various City organizations to address issues of importance in the region.   Learning from that experience, we are thrilled to inform you that the next Regional Congress is scheduled for the San Fernando Valley in late Spring. This is a unique opportunity for the Valley Neighborhood Councils to enrich their collaboration in addressing regional priorities and concerns and perhaps even building from pre-established successes on issues of concern in the Valley. 

The first focus group meeting for the Valley Regional Congress is scheduled for Thursday, February 26, 2009, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Marvin Braude Constituent Service Center, 6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys in Conference Room 3B.  Please respond to confirm your attendance with Diana Estrada at (213) 473-4529 or via email at diana.estrada@lacity.org .  Light refreshments will be provided.  Parking is available along Van Nuys Blvd. and Sylvan Street .  This meeting is open to all interested stakeholders in the City.  We look forward to seeing you on the 26th!

BONC NEWS

Summary of the Commission's Recent Work for the Neighborhood Council System
The Board of Neighborhood Commissioners (Commission) adopted policy making values and criteria for itself at its last meeting and urges Neighborhood Council's to access and review the principles.  The Commission is also preparing to send a letter to the City Council in order to draw their attention to the serious flaws in the City's recently adopted Financial Disclosure Form 54 and to ask them to revisit the decision based on the analysis by the City Ethics Commission.  Click here to see the report.

The Commission's Next Meeting Is on Wednesday, March 4th
Please note the Commission's Regular Meeting on February 16, 2009 has been canceled in observance of the President's Day holiday.  A Special Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2009, beginning 6 p.m. at 135th Street Elementary School - Auditorium, 802 W. 135th Street, Gardena, CA 90247 in the Harbor Gateway North Neighborhood Council area to replace the cancellation of the Tuesday, March 3, 2009 Regular Meeting canceled due to City elections.

The Commissions's next Regular Meeting is on Monday, March 16, 2009 at City Hall, 10th Floor Conference Center, Room 1060, 200 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.  To obtain the future meeting schedule of the Commission directly, please visit the City's website at www.lacity.org and subscribe to the Commission's agendas through the Early Notification System (ENS). .

CITY NEWS

Department of Planning Is Revising the Citywide Sign Ordinance
The Department of Planning will be proposing revisions to the citywide sign ordinance.  City staff will present the proposed ordinance at a public hearing of the City Planning Commission (CPC) on February 19, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. in Room 350 of City Hall at 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.  The proposed revisions include: prohibiting digital signs citywide, restricting the size, height and number of signs and tightening the criteria for establishing Sign Districts.  For more information, please see the flyer.

Bureau of Sanitation Is Reminding Stakeholders to Inspect Their Sewer Lines
The Department of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation (BOS) requests that stakeholders inspect their lateral sewer and take corrective action as necessary to avoid emergency and costly repair. Aging laterals are susceptible to damage. Tree roots and debris can enter a lateral through cracks or loose joints and restrict sewage flow. Roots can ultimately cause collapse of the lateral over time. For more information, the BOS provides brochures in English and Spanish.  Please e mail questions to sewer.root@lacity.org .


Planning Department Is Hosting Hillside Kick-Off Meetings
The Department of City Planning invites you to attend the Hillside Kick-Off Meetings.  Department staff will be conducting a series of public meetings throughout the City in order to hear your comments and discuss issues related to development in Los Angeles hillside neighborhoods.  Your input will help staff identify concerns as well as influence the scope of the citywide hillside project.  These efforts will ultimately result in proposed code amendments affecting single-family development in the City's hillside areas.  The meetings will start with a presentation from staff and will move on to general comments.  Please see the flyer for meeting dates.

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Community Health Councils Hold a Town Hall on the Marketplace in South Los Angeles
Community Health Councils (CHC) will be holding a town hall meeting Saturday, February 21, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Center of Hope First Church of God, 9550 Crenshaw Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90305.  CHC has joined with community partners for an open dialogue on the state of grocery stores and the shopping experience in South Los Angeles and Inglewood.  The Town Hall will give residents an opportunity to speak up for change in the marketplace and create greater equity for South Los Angeles.  For more information or to RSVP, please contact Mia Boykin at mia@chc-inc.org or call 323-295-9372, ext. 216. 

Korean Resource Center & Community Health Promoters Hold a Town Hall on Language Rights
The Korean Resource Center & Community Health Promoters will be holding a town hall meeting on Language Rights Los Angeles on Friday, February 27, 2009, beginning at 10 a.m. at Immanuel Church, 3300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010.  The meeting will address the critical issue of language rights for various audiences (DPSS, LA County Supervisors and community groups) and develop a comprehensive strategy that speaks to the linguistic barriers preventing all LEP (Limited English Proficient) persons from fully understanding important information regarding their health care.  For more information, please see the flyer.

NUSA Is Accepting Submissions for the 2009 Neighborhood of the Year Awards

Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA) is accepting submissions for its competition for the 2009 Neighborhood of the Year Award.  The 2009 Neighborhood of the Year Awards program will recognize exceptional accomplishments by neighborhood organizations during 2008.  Awards will be given in three categories:

1) Physical Revitalization/Beautification in a Single Neighborhood;
2) Social Revitalization/Neighborliness in a Single Neighborhood; and
3) Multi-Neighborhood Project Partnerships. 

Judging will be based on the extent of innovation, grassroots participation and capacity building exhibited by the nominated organization.

This year marks the 25th year that NUSA will recognize the outstanding work of neighborhood organizations from all across the United States, particularly for their efforts to improve the quality of life in their communities. A distinguished panel of judges will select four finalists in each category.  Finalists will be invited to make presentations at the 2009 NUSA Conference to be held May 21- 23, 2009 in Spokane, Washington, where a new panel of judges will then select a winner in each category plus an overall grand prize winner.  Eligibility requirements and application guidelines can be downloaded from the NUSA website: www.nusa.org
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BongHwan Kim, General Manager
done@lacity.org

Department of Neighborhood Empowerment
334-B E. 2nd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

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

www.lacityneighborhoods.com website