Greetings My Fellow Citizens,
First and foremost, I would like to invite you to attend our next Van Nuys Neighborhood Council General Meeting this coming Wednesday night. Everyone is welcome to attend and provide comments, suggestions and feedback to the Councilmembers.
We have also set the date for our “Emergency Preparedness Summit & Symposium” which we are having on Saturday April 25th from 10am-3pm at the North Hills United Methodist Church (15435 Rayen Street) in North Hills, California 91343. We are now going to begin our campaign get all of the neighborhood councils in Los Angeles to participate and sponsor this important event.
We are also starting the process of renaming the Orange Line Station in Van Nuys after Ameila Earhart, which will create the starting point of our “Business Improvement District” (BID).
It is a special privilege to serve as the Honorary Mayor of Van Nuys & the Council President, and thank you for this great opportunity to be a part of our community.
-George Christopher Thomas, Council President & Honorary Mayor of Van Nuys
Van Nuys Neighborhood Council
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- Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America
- Roll Call (Quorum Call)
- Comments from the Chair (President) of the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council
- Public Comment (On matters within the VNNC Board’s Jurisdiction.) *Speaker Cards: 2 minutes, 1 Public Comment Time. (This includes speaker cards on any and all agenda items — a limit of 10 minutes for the entire meeting per Stakeholders and Councilmembers alike)
- Secretary’s Report — Approve February Minutes
- Treasurer’s Report — Jeanette Hopp and/or Howard Benjamin (Second Signatory) — Approve Treasurer’s Report
- Committee Chairperson’s Reports, Budget Advocate’s Report, Elected Officials’ Reports & Election Chair’s Report
- New Business
- a. Speech and presentation by Brenda Barnette, General Manager for the Department of Animal Services. GM Brenda Barnette is participating in the ongoing “Distinguished Speaker Series” hosted by the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council, and will be speaking as well as answering questions and receiving comments from the general public. (20 minutes)
- b. The VNNC to consider adopting and annexing a certain portion of the mid-valley, and make it Van Nuys Neighborhood Council territory and under the jurisdiction of the VNNC. The western border of “No Man’s Land” starts on the present VNNC eastern border which is the west side of the street of Woodman Ave. The western border of “No Man’s Land” begins on the east side of Woodman Ave starting at the streets median line and continues eastward to the Tujunga Wash. There is no physical street designation, only the concrete wash itself which is approximately 200 feet east of Allott Ave. East of the wash belongs to NoHo West NC. The northern boundary is the most northern point of the Union Pacific right of way which again has no street designation only that is several hundred feet north of Raymer Street. North of that point is Panorama City NC territory. The southern border is Sherman Way. South of that belongs to Greater Valley Glen Council. The VNNC to proceed in accordance with Article 6.2 in regards to boundary adjustments and the process to go through, including a survey of the people and reaching out to other neighborhood councils. (Howard Benjamin & Jerry Martin)
- c. Nominate and vote on possible attendees for the 2015 Civic University for Neighborhood Councils. Instructors will be under the supervision of Dr. Raphael Sonenshein, Executive Director of the Pat Brown Institute, and author of three books on Los Angeles politics and government. Teaching staff will be drawn from the PBI, Cal State L.A. Faculty, and the Mayor’s Office and trained by the PBI. Funding for the program has been provided by Empower LA, the city department that assists neighborhood councils, and AT&T and was created in association with the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners. (George Thomas & Stacey Rains)
- d. The VNNC to submit a “Letter Of Support” in regards to California State Senate Bill 163. This legislation seeks to give every registered voter in this great state a stronger voice in California elections. If Senate Bill 163 is approved, every registered voter in the state would receive a vote-by-mail ballot before all primary, special and general elections. The voter could choose to take the ballot to the polling place or to mail it in. The choice is theirs. (George Thomas)
- e. Neighborhood action. Request a “Letter Of Support” to the Transportation Committee for Restrictive parking along the 5800-5900 block of Cedros Street. A request has been made by residents of Cedros Street for the VNNC to submit a Community Impact Statement (CIS) in regards of obtaining 2-hour restrictive parking with residents on the 5800-5900 block of Cedros Street. Also, to install speed bumps on Cedros Street. The board reach out to Cornerstone on this matter would like to address the board what the San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center is doing to address on this matter and the concerns of the community. (Mariano Medjia/Cedros Street resident and Bonnie Roth/Cornerstone) Discussion & action.
- f. 7755 Sepulveda Blvd.: Request a permit of Sale for onsite consumption of Alcohol and dining. Requesting a permit of sale for onsite consumption of Alcohol with dining in conjunction with an existing restaurant with a max. load of 41 seats and patio. Case no.: ZA-2014-2728-CUB (Regina Minor) Update, discussion and action. VNNC to request conditions as part of the record. VNNC would like the property to not display an alcohol publicly, have no advertisments of alcohol or branded dsigns for the alcohol being served.
- g. 7354 Woodman Ave. 86 unit, four-story multi-residential building. The proposed project is for an 86-unit multi-family residential building consisting of a 4-floor structure (3 floors of residential above 1 floor of parking). We are requesting a 35% density bonus and on-menu incentive for a height increase from 45 feet to 56 feet, and will include 7 very low income units.. No submittal and case number. Case No.: (Rogelio Navar- California Home Builders)
- h. 14918 Martha Street. New 5-unit Small Lot Subdivision Homes. The proposed project is for a new 5-unit small lot subdivision. Case No.: no case number Case no.: VTT-73107-SL (Matthew Foss/Green City Building Company)
- i. 14305 Sherman Way & 7223 Tyrone Ave. General Plan amendment, Zone change and Height District Change. Development of a 38 unit, 3-5 story apartment complex, up to 58 feet in height with 13,555 sq. ft. of open space and one level of at grade level parking containing 77 auto parking spaces and 42 bike spaces. Case no: CPC 2015-0393 (Eric Lieberman/ QES, inc.)
- j. Request to fund printing of UCLA Planning Report of Van Nuys – 100 copies, Planning Summit Flyers (English) – 100 copies, Planning Summit Flyers (Spanish) – 75 copies. (Quirino de la Cuesta)
- k. The VNNC to look into methods of working with the Mayor’s office to obtain information on Eastcycle LA, Recycle LA and Ourcycle LA. The VNNC to distribute fylers and will seek to become part of the program. The VNNC to also educate the public on E-waste and places to recycle electronic waste within the VNNC boundaries.
- l. The VNNC to vote on and possibly fund a tool kit to show parents what drugs look like and how they can recognize them. The funding would also cover a sample box and printed materials for distribution. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) and its Affiliate Network is a voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting the Nation’s #1 health problem – alcoholism, drug addiction and the devastating consequences of alcohol and other drugs on individuals, families and communities. (NTE $1000)
- m. The VNNC to vote on and possibly fund the remodeling of the ladies locker room at the Van Nuys LAPD Station. The funding would also cover funding of the room and gym equipment for the ladies of the department to maintain overall good health. (NTE $2500)
- n. Explore all possibilities of online voting for the neighborhood council elections in 2016. The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment has requested the VNNC agendas include the online voting option, and to discuss it at the March meeting.
- o. The VNNC to begin planning and working with the businesses in Van Nuys. The VNNC to adopt the idea of spending $19.11 on the 19th of the month. This can also be the basis and foundation of establishing of starting a Business Improvement District (BID). (Maria Skelton)
- p. The VNNC to ask the City of Los Angeles to limit the parking restrictions to expire at 6pm in Van Nuys. The VNNC to possibly submit a Community Impact Statement (CIS) to the full City Council. The VNNC to address this particular issue to increase revenue for the local businesses. This can also be part of our new Business Improvement District (BID). This initiative should not include the anti-gridlock areas of Van Nuys.
- q. The VNNC to hear from the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition. The group to present about the LAPD acquiring two drones for spying, and their work in collecting information on people and covert surveillance.
- Old Business
- a. Consideration and possible vote on filling vacant seats on the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council. The VNNC will entertain any and all membership applications submitted for vacant seats. — ACTION ITEM
- Announcements
- Adjournment
Van Nuys Neighborhood Council
PO Box 3118
Van Nuys, CA 91407
Telephone (818) 533-VNNC (8662)
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.VNNC.org