NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS – LA’s City Council voted unanimously to authorize and direct the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment to conduct Neighborhood Council board member elections on a temporary basis during the 2012 Neighborhood Council Election cycle.  The Office of the City Clerk retains the ability to conduct elections in 2014.

As it relates to the NCWP…

About half of the seats will be on the election ballot in the fall of 2012.  Each board seat has specific qualification requirements and this may be your opportunity to get involved and help your community.

Neighborhood Councils were created in the City of Los Angeles Charter as a way to encourage more involvement in City government and to make Los Angeles City government more responsive local needs.  The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa (NCWP) was certified in 2001 and works to give a larger voice to the residents, businesses and property owners in Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista.

The NCWP is comprised of 31 board members who are volunteers and qualified to hold their seat on the board.  All board members are required to attend monthly NCWP board meetings and actively participate on at least one of the NCWP committees.

 The board seats that are open for the 2012 election are:

·      Seven (7) Residential seats – even numbered Residential seats 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14

·      One At-Large seat

·      One At-Large Affirmation seat

·      Two Business seats – zip codes 90045 and 90293

·      One Community Organizations representative seat

·      One Education representative seat

·      One LMU representative seat

·      One Service Organizations representative seat

·      One Youth Organizations representative seat

See below for specific qualification and Residential boundaries

More information regarding the election will be made available on our website as it becomes available. Or you may contact the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment at 213-978-1551.

 Make a difference…Get involved

 A stakeholder may run for any Board position for which they qualify.  Candidates for Board positions will be asked to provide their qualifications for the seat to which they wish to run.  The Board positions are as follows:

1.  One resident from each of the fifteen (15) districts. See map. Stakeholders who seek election to one of these seats must be a resident of the specified district at the time of the election to the position.  District residency shall be determined by street address with boundaries running down the center of the roadway of the boundary street.

2.  Three (3) Members At-Large – Each shall be a person who lives, works, or owns property within the NCWP boundaries.

3.  One (1) At-Large Affirmation Seat – Shall be a person who lives, works or owns property within the NCWP boundaries or declares a stake in the neighborhood and affirms the factual basis for it.

4.  A representative from each of the following groups for a total of twelve (12) Board members:

a)  Three (3) Business Area Seats – Each shall be a business owner or manager of a business licensed with the City of Los Angeles, located within the NCWP boundaries in a commercial location. Three seats total, one in each zip code: 90045, 90293 and 90094.

b)  Community Organizations – Shall be an officer or director of a non-political community organization located and regularly meeting within the NCWP boundaries.

c)  Education – Shall be an educator or administrator affiliated with a K-12 school located within the NCWP boundaries.

d)  Income Property Owner – Shall be a residential or commercial property owner or his/her representative, who rents or leases property to others within the NCWP boundaries.  The stakeholder is not required to reside or have his primary place of business located within the NCWP boundaries for this seat.

e)  Los Angeles World Airport – Shall be an employee of Los Angeles World Airports who is involved with the operation of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

f)  Loyola Marymount University – Shall be an administrator or staff member of Loyola Marymount University

g)  Religious – Shall be the spiritual leader of a religious group located within NCWP boundaries

h)  Senior Citizens – Shall live within the NCWP boundaries and be at least 60 years old.

i)  Service Clubs and Fraternal Organizations – Shall be a member in good standing of a service club or fraternal organization located within the NCWP boundaries.

j)  Youth Organizations – Shall be a representative of a governing body affiliated with a youth organization located within the NCWP.