Hello Everyone and Happy New Year

Commissioner Valdivia represents the 17 NCs in the North Valley (EmpowerLA Regions 1 and 2)

Jennifer Valdivia - Jennifer.valdivia@lacity.org

Resolutions Council File numbers 23-0002-S16 and 23-0002-S17

Feb 1 if we read the City Council action. City agencies need to follow city rules.

23-0002-S16 linked here: https://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=23-0002-S16To Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations CommitteeResolution (Soto-Martinez - Raman for Lee - Yaroslavsky) relative to including in the City's 2023-24 State Legislative Program, sponsorship or support for legislation to amend the Ralph M. Brown Act to permit the City of Los Angeles Neighborhood Council system to choose to operate remote meetings indefinitely.

Vaxx nazis

Council File 23-0002-S17 linked here: https://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=23-0002-S17To Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations CommitteeResolution (Blumenfield - Krekorian - McOsker) relative to including in the City's 2023-24 State legislative Program its position on legislative action that would amend the Ralph M. Brown Act to allow local legal legislative bodies, including appointed boards, commissions, advisory bodies, and Neighborhood Councils, to continue to meet virtually.

Meet 4X a year to keep certification. Meet in daytime outdoors in a city park. Get a quorum, vote yes on everything without argument, and go home. Let's not make this impossible. We can do it.

For Your Information:CANCELED Board of Neighborhood Commissioners Meeting 1.17.23http://ens.lacity.org/done/agendas/doneagendas197168151_01172023.pdf

Cindy you are sure right regarding the roadblocks.

Mask nuts

Tactic: if you meet outdoors in a city park, it is up to the city park staff to check the vaccination or test status of park users (which they do not do now for outdoor users). If BONC or DONE don't like what is going on, let THEM send their own enforcers to disempower the NCs.

Tne assembly illps will tyake TWO YEARS.

bills

There is *NO* option for hybrid meetings. State law prohibits a board member from meeting remotely more than @X per year.

2X per year

Good evening everyone

Good evening Raquel

County report of status today. Over 65 is highly threatening for hospitalization and death. I am 80, vaccinated, and recently got COVID and did NOT go to hospital. However, the government is being v=cavalier about the health of seniors when forcing in-person meetings.

A Guide To Brown Act Changes Starting January 1, 2023 https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/a-guide-to-brown-act-changes-starting-6084831/

Thank you, Chair Linda G.

As long as we have beer, there is no need to cry. :))

Lydia do you have bill number?

Anyone here advocating for vaxx passports or coofid tests to participate in neighborhood council meetings is batshit crazy

Reposting the two Resolutions for the late arrivals. 23-0002-S16 linked here: https://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=23-0002-S16To Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations CommitteeResolution (Soto-Martinez - Raman for Lee - Yaroslavsky) relative to including in the City's 2023-24 State Legislative Program, sponsorship or support for legislation to amend the Ralph M. Brown Act to permit the City of Los Angeles Neighborhood Council system to choose to operate remote meetings indefinitely.

Council File 23-0002-S17 linked here: https://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=23-0002-S17To Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations CommitteeResolution (Blumenfield - Krekorian - McOsker) relative to including in the City's 2023-24 State legislative Program its position on legislative action that would amend the Ralph M. Brown Act to allow local legal legislative bodies, including appointed boards, commissions, advisory bodies, and Neighborhood Councils, to continue to meet virtually.

When is our caravan to Sacto planned?

No way to vote to IGNORE STATE LAW. If there is an ability to meet online, I personally support the online or in-person be an OPTION for the NC or other body.

You NC should make that call. We are not rules in procedures by DONE. (re absence)

not ruled

Fair idea. The power to extend state of emergency is reasonable considering the threat to and possible discrimination against elder participants.

We understand that continuing mantra regarding "don't talk to other levels of government". As long as the city (DONE / City Atty) continue that emphasis, more and more of our work will be DIRECT UINCIVIDUAL ACTION to those other levels of government. Essentially the city position will increasingly make NCs (as a voting body) irrelevant, versus non-NC community action on issues from health (county) to Brown Act (state).

Proposed Resolution For VANC:

Can the Governor do a limited extension of the state of emergency, so it would only apply to Neighborhood Councils and other appropriate government meetings under the Brown Act? The overall state of emergency should not be extended just for Neighborhood Councils.

I think GM Beltran has a bandwidth issue.

I usually share portion of a screen and get it blocked out to just show the slides

News Flash jeffreyCalifornia is a “Free State”

We won't be able to read the numeric details on the screen anyway. Suggest we let the GM narrate the facts and that she send Linda the PowerPoint to distribute by email following the meeting (or that DONE post it somewhere on empowerla.org

My colleagues may not like my opinion, but I strongly support the GM asking for a significant increase on department budget and staff. It is unrealistic for us to continue to ask for more help when we know the work exceeds the available staff time. It is OUR (joint) dept, NCs and Empowerment.

This is just more bureaucracy- not more help

Carol, I do realize that the choices of how to USE the added staff may be controversial. So far, we have heard only social justice advocacy and youth affairs SEPARATE FROM Neighborhood Councils, which I think is somewhat competitive.

Disagree that we cannot do ongoing outreach. Personally do not think the expertise of DONE lies in that area, and anticipate a bunch of outsorced contracts to NGOs.

Good points Tony !

Thank you Tony. Working in a corporate position the bottom line is, you cannot expect more work with less staff. Burn out is legitimate. More staff are needed or we need to lower our expectations.

What about NC support as to meeting locations, meeting set up, minutes, office / staff work, etc. ? And increase in NC funding ? Was any of this included in this proposal?

Thank you Keren! I think it is important for us the THANK the GM for stepping up and asking to partially fix the habitual under-funding of our city support department.

Curious — this budget project — where did that request come from ?

The budget project is (my guess) a performative spin-off from the ultra-liberal "People's Budget" effort for the city general fund budget. At a $50,000 cost!

$10K for the Congress of Neighborhoods? To hire another self-identified Marxist/Leninist as guest speaker?

As a former Marketing Services Manager for a national insurance company, the added staff for communications is indeed needed. I had an "in-house ad agency" function as well as an outside agency, as an example.

The Departmebt's "customers" are *US* (1900 NC participants). The people who REALLLY need a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool is NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS, for OUR °customers° in the local community.

Regarding outreach and awareness of NCs - how about enhancing awareness of other city departments such as council districts and departments such as Board of Engineering/Public works/etc. that when they have major projects going to TOS or similar affecting an NCs area, they inform the NC? Relates to City Charter § 910 monitoring of city services. If Ncs don't know what can they do.

Actually, we could effectively use the case management tool that is currently used by City Council Members to track their consituents and projects.

Yes, Pat, is there anything here to connect better with the Council offices and City Departments / Commissions ?

CANNOT HEAR YOUR AUDIO!!!

I can't understand a lot of what Raquel is saying. Is it just me?

Yes, Tony, I thought the Council Districts had a tool for monitoring constituent requests ? Does that carry on to the next Council member ? Do NCs want to have a task like that ? I wonder.

Resolved That VANC together with other interested parties a petition to be presented to Governor Gavin Newsome requesting that the Governor extend his declaration of Emergency until such alternative satisfactory, appropriate, safe and workable solutions are developed to allow governmental bodies to perform their duties. The petition should be developed by VANC to explain the need for such an extension.

Wish I knew. Currently looking at 2 large environmental projects, one was a surprise, one was a failure to provide information after repeated requests.

I suspect there may be, or should be, some dialog about WHERE the key actions should take place. I sense a tension between DONE trying to do neighborhoods work itself, versus better enabling NC participants to do that work.

I get nothing from DONE despite being a Board member.

We need vigorous advocacy and support within the city as well as outside.

If we can avoid food fights, we may be better off with fewer NEA hours at meetings. I find their help is often m ore useful between meetings, on specific issues.

We could eliminate some of the unreasonable hourly asks from the NC Advise Division. For example, the blanket and time sensitive policy about responding to 99 NC recusal issues.

Advice Div

Ha!!!!

Spend our money more wisely and not return it to the general fund...

And becoming the neighborhood bank[ for other people is NOT a good argument for more money.

You sound and look great. Think this has fixed the issues.

The DONE diversity training was really good.

Where will the funds come from to increase NC budget to $50,000 or more for 99 NCs?

There is a whole body of study on this issue, notably from Harvard, regarding diversity training does not work. Fighting that battle offends too many people who think of it as reeducation camp. Not sure the battle is worth it.

I am morfe supportive of gender expression training because I think it has more chance of success than the unconscious bias courses.

teaches you how to think... hmm where have I heard that.. I ya government re-education camps... ya that worked well

Marilu works hard for WHWCNC

NEAs need to be assigned NC Board meeting that do not conflict so they can attend every month.

We appreciate Marilu's hard work for WHWCNC.

As announced earlier, the NC Budget Advocates Town Hall on the DONE Proposed Budget will be scheduled for Saturday, February 11th at 12:30 pm via Zoom. It will be the ONLY topic covered. Details will be posted on NCBA website: www.BudgetAdvocates.org soon. The session will be recorded and posted on the website afterwards.

I volunteer to have OUR NEA attend YOUR Board meetings Sharon! …. Actually Jose Galdamez does a good job for us. Not complaining.

Great opportunity for deep dive on DONE budget at the Budget Advocates. Thanks Glenn! Hope many of us set aside that date and time.

Is the gender and diversity training mandatory now?

Not yet. It will be when the ordinance is passed.

Could the Graphic Artist position be adjusted to include Video / YouTube / Social Media assistance to NCs ?

Thoughts on when it will be agendized?

The GM strongly believe it should be mandatory. Until there is an ordinance that gives er the power to make it mandatory, it may not be.

gives her the power

I think she will be a good and motivated chair of the Neighborhoods etc committee. We should all engage positively.

New City Council Committee that oversees DONE and NCs is now known as: Neighborhoods and Community Enrichment

Light Pole Banners program is too controlled by the City Councilpersons. Would be good to know the permitting process and costs.

I know where we DO NEED FEE HELP... the new $200 fee for holding city agency meetings .. NC meetings .. at CITY PARKS.

What!~!! on the $200 fee?

WHWCMC paid a lot of money for our beautiful banners. It was not an easy project but we did it.

Why should an underfunded NC have to contribute to the Parks Department just to hold its meetings

NSNC just posted 20 Banners this past week!

LA City Recs and Parks are Crooks

Tarzana has had banners for a number of years

Nice work John Hales and NSNC.

WHWC has had banners up for several years.

Sherman Oaks has great banners too! Saw those recently.

Does not compute. Every dollar in the Budget Advocates fund was specifically directed by the NC that contributed it. How can there be $50k EXTRA....

This sounds complicated.

Sherman Oaks is enjoying their banners.

- I will am sharing a link in the chat to the website where you can find all of the Dept. budgets (https://sites.google.com/lacity.org/department-budget-requests/home?pli=1)

If you can lend us info on how you acquired your banners, Please contact me: KathleenEdwards.NWNC@gmail.com. Much appreciated!

- EmpowerLA Budget:- Empowering individuals- Empowering communities- Empower LA

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AWYKtRgb5jw-SoNYzE9Xr5JYPDIUG1gO/view

Governor Newsom already vetoed a Brown Act modification because it applied only to large cities. Not sure a City of LA only ask will not encounter rhe same onjection.

objection

I think the magic words for either legislation or an executive order are [advisory bodies that control less than $100,000 in public funds annually. That covers Los Angeles NCs but is not LA specific.

Reposting the two Resolutions. 23-0002-S16 linked here: https://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=23-0002-S16To Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations CommitteeResolution (Soto-Martinez - Raman for Lee - Yaroslavsky) relative to including in the City's 2023-24 State Legislative Program, sponsorship or support for legislation to amend the Ralph M. Brown Act to permit the City of Los Angeles Neighborhood Council system to choose to operate remote meetings indefinitely.

Council File 23-0002-S17 linked here: https://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=23-0002-S17To Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations CommitteeResolution (Blumenfield - Krekorian - McOsker) relative to including in the City's 2023-24 State legislative Program its position on legislative action that would amend the Ralph M. Brown Act to allow local legal legislative bodies, including appointed boards, commissions, advisory bodies, and Neighborhood Councils, to continue to meet virtually.

You can choose a state Brown Act telephonic meeting, but non'public remote locations can only be used 2X per year by any Board member.

It may be go back to in person but if there’s no confirmed location how can an NC meet ?

I think that Lydia Grant pointed out that the NCs are not allowed to ask personal information to their stakeholders which would in my opinion include vaccination and COVID testing requirements?

We will just have to file Cancelled on all meetings. No place to meet.

Kathleen, I emailed you about the banners and will walk you through it :)

Thank you, Dina Weiss, for helping re: the banner questions!

Majority must be at the public location. Remote members must have a reason and then only be remote 2X per year.

this is most absurd motion ive ever heard

If someone (never would be me) were to hold a NC meeting in March virtually would they face discipline? what might that discipline be???

Virtually all of you operating in fear

Where were the candidate forums before June of 2022 or November 2022 ???

Is the participation for the NCs in CD6 ?

On Tuesday, Sun Valley Area NC voted to participate in the CD 6 Forum

Thanks for the Update, Mr. Bailey!

What is the information about this candidate forum?

This can be livestreamed to YouTube and/or Facebook for free.

Aaron — Can you assist with this ?

There are seven!

Who are Qualified.

Linda Gravani: VANC34.chair@gmail.com

Via City Clerk Office.

@ Cindy. I will actually be in town that weekend, so I might be able to!

And… Kathy — if you know of someone, have them contact Linda.

Seven Candidates have been 'Qualified' to be on the Ballot which mean it could go to a Runoff - June 2023.

@ Aaron— great! Contact Linda to get the details.

@Cindy, I did send her an email. :-)

@Aaron — great! Thanks!

2023 SPECIAL CD6 ELECTION CANDIDATESNOMINATING PETITION FILING STATUS(by Office)https://clkrep.lacity.org/election/CD6_Petition_Filing_Daily_Report.pdf

Why not have the forum virtually?

@Joanne, I agree

Panorama City did a conforming Candidate Forum for our assembly district 2 elections ago, before the added City Clerk barriers. It is wonderful to have VANC manage the forum this year so we an escape the excessive control efforts.

2023 Special Election - Council District 6 (April 4, 2023)https://clerk.lacity.org/clerk-services/elections/municipal-elections

You are welcome to stay home Cris. It is everyone{s choice.

Chris

Who is putting together the marketing of the candidate forum?

Hopefully there will be livestream opportunity for the CD 6 Forum

I would like to more info about the time and place.

L.A. City Ethics Commission - 2023 CD 6 SPECIAL ELECTIONhttps://ethics.lacity.org/elections/

REPOSTING:A Guide To Brown Act Changes Starting January 1, 2023 https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/a-guide-to-brown-act-changes-starting-6084831/

@Kathy - feel free to email me for Sun Valley Area CIS collaboration at emiliehill4sunvalley@gmail.com

Question — Are NCs getting OKs from LAUSD schools ? Ours in our area are not prepared yet.

I never seen a clean restroom in City of Los Angeles Park ever!!

Public Service Announcement:CicLAvia—The ValleyOn Sunday, February 26 (rain or shine!), we're opening up Sherman Way connecting Canoga Park, Winnetka, and Reseda for a 5-mile stretch of open streets. Jog, ride, bike, skate, run, walk, skateboard, spectate, and enjoy the route however you want. Our routes are welcoming to people of all ages and abilities!Be sure to join our email list so you don't miss any event news and updates.https://www.ciclavia.org/the_valley23

funny how Nury's old District is now on there as park poor when she spearheaded taking the Sepulveda Basin into the district hence putting out the district from getting measure A funds as no longer considered park poor

The City Parks in our area are not workable for us due to poor lighting, parking, access, restrooms, set up, etc etc. The homeless have taken over our park that has room for meetings. Other parks are pocket parks.

Schmerelson speaks like a career politician its always about more funding meanwhile the lausd budget is off the charts

VANC and NC Board Members and Reps:Please, feel free to share the CicLAvia - The Valley with your networks and on social media. We want this event to be huge! We want everyone in the San Fernando Valley to come out and attend CicLAvia. Let's work together to make this a Success! -- Thank you!

could we take down the Screen Share soon?

Everyone: Please be respectful of our guest attendees. We appreciate they attend our VANC meetings. Thank you.

They can be in the room behind the chamber and still be present.

I would ,love to have a Panorama City rule that everyone automatically votes YES!!!

UCLA professor calls LAUSD’s record graduation rate into questionnews.yahoo.com/ucla-professor-calls-lausds-record-023458673.html

@Lionel, CicLAvia is listed on the website event calendars for the 6 Valley NCs that I manage.

our template recommends changing bylaws having abstentions counted as yes votes. Normally, it is the burden of the makers of motions to get the votes to pass their motions. An abstention should not weigh for or against a motion.

@Aaron - Thank you! I was not aware of that. Thanks for sharing!

It is not worth it really. They have magically made up their minds before the City Council vote. Of course they never communicated with each other to do so...

"open the roll, close the roll" within seconds is how City Council votes are taken

Sid la city council is guilty of vote trading and rubber stamping anything and everything

When we double the size of the City Council we will have more c haos and more fun. Talk to Paul Krekorian!

Tony pk doesnt give a damn about anything and has never taken an unpopular position on anything whatsoever

City Council will take public comment in a sub committee once, and that counts as the public comment for that item through the process

@raquel — thank you. I don’t think all understand about abstentions. Often we have board members participate in discussion and then abstain. I think its to show their “side” that they wouldn’t vote yay or nay on something, not because they don’t understand.

BARRY WORTH GIRIVIN. She worked for the Mayor when I was on the WHNC.

Thank you everyone for such great and informative meeting. well done

Thank You! Happy New Year to all!