Board Agenda: September 3, 2024

Agenda

Meeting Date: September 3, 2024 6:30 pm

Comments from the public on agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered. Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the agenda that are within the Board’s jurisdiction will be heard during the General Public Comment period. Please note that under the Brown Act, the Board is prevented from acting on a matter that you bring to its attention during the General Public Comment period; however, the issue raised by a member of the public may become the subject of a future Board meeting. Public comment is limited to 1 minute per speaker, unless adjusted by the presiding officer of the Board.

Meeting Place 7166 Manchester Avenue, Westchester, CA 90045

Call to Order
Salute the Flag
Introductions
Consent Calendar: (The following items will be treated as one item and enacted with one vote unless a Board member or a stakeholder requests that an item be placed on the Discussion Calendar.)
1. Approval of Minutes of July 2, 2024 Board meeting
2. Receive, Approve and file the Treasurer’s Report and MER for June 2024 and July 2024.
3. Motion to approve letter to Councilwoman Traci Parks asking for her help to clear Dockweiler / Playa Del Rey Beach / Vista Mar of homeless encampments per Executive Order N-1-24.
4. Motion to approve letter to Mayor Bass, All City of Los Angeles Council Members, Los Angeles County Supervisors to Prioritize Mental Health Services, Prioritize Drug Addiction Services, Protect the Public Space, Implementation of SB 43 and Clearing of Encampments on City-Owned and County-Owned Property.
5. Motion to approve the NPG from Friends of the Jungle in the amount of $1,500 for their 45th Clean Up that will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 8am – 12pm on Trolleyway in Playa Del Rey to ensure that the annual Jungle Clean Up for the Community will continue.
6. Motion to approve appointment of Alexandra Reynolds, NCWP representative to the LMU Neighborhood Advisory Committee.
7. Motion to approve assignment of Board Member, Alexandra Reynolds to the Government Affairs Committee.
8. Motion to approve CIS to preserve R1 zoning in the housing element. Proposed Resolution Supporting Exclusion of Single-Family Zones From the CHIP Ordinance for the Housing Element.
9. Motion to approve CIS in opposition to the approved sewage rate increase.
Announcements from Governmental Representative (limit to 3 minutes please)
Announcements from Board Members
1. President’s note to bring attention to the current lawsuit and reminder that we must still utilize the tools given to us and never give up. I believe this to be especially timely given the Community Plan Update going on currently. Those of us who have appeared before the PLUM Committee (first under CM Huizar and now under CM Harris-Dawson) (and the full City Council) understand this process to most often be an exercise in futility. When we speak it is to allow the committee / council to be able to say that they held a public comment period. Rarely, if ever, are our comments considered as it is clear that decisions have been made and scripted in advance. In most instances, we participate in order to demonstrate that we have exhausted our opportunities to be heard. At that point, we have established our standing and are then able to take legal action should we choose to do so. It is often said that the City only begins to listen after a lawsuit has been filed. This means that those without the financial ability to hire a lawyer and take legal action are unable to be heard and to seek justice. And, even if a group is able to engage in litigation, the courts often defer to the City and/or fail to understand the issues sufficiently to overrule the City’s action taken. The courts have been less favorable to citizen actions of late and the opportunities to file legal challenges have diminished significantly on land use matters as more and more projects/ project types are exempted from CEQA review. More and more projects bypass any community review and are permitted “by right.” The following article addresses a current lawsuit brought by a local citizen group that is addressing the Council’s Brown Act violations. Have a read CityWatch article on City Council/PLUM corrupt practices, in case you missed it: https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/29425-secret-la-city-council-meetings-contradict-previous-votes-by-bass-krekorian-deleon-and-price-and-violate-brown-act
Presentations
1. The Circle Team Program Manager, Nicholas Waldon from the Mayor’s Office will make a special presentation on the expansion of the program. Followed by Questions and Answers with the Board.
Discussion Calendar and related Public comment
1. Discussion and possible motion to appoint an Outreach Chair and Outreach committee members.
2. Discussion and possible motion to approve or not approve a Basic Sponsorship pledge in support of the Westchester Arts and Music Block Party, an annual community event supporting local non-profits. This years event will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 12p – 8p at Emerson Avenue, between 80th St. and 80th Pl. in Westchester, CA in an amount not to exceed $800.00. Heavy consideration should be based on NCWP Board member availability to attend and run an Outreach tent at the event.
Public Comment – non-agenda items (limited to 1 minute per speaker unless otherwise declared by the President or presiding director. Public comment on agendized items will be called as each agenda item is brought forward.)
Committee Reports
Adjourn