NEWLY CERTIFIED:  Westwood Neighborhood Council

On January 19, 2010, the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners certified Westwood as the 90th Neighborhood Council in the City of Los Angeles.  Join us now as we work together to make Westwood the best it can be.  Contact Us                                

When and Where was our certification hearing before the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners? 

 

Certification Hearing for Westwood Neighborhood Council occurred on January 19, 2010 at 6PM.  The Board of Neighborhood Commissioners voted unanimously to certify the WWNC.              

What is a Neighborhood Council?

Part of the city charter since 1999, NC’s were created by a vote of all the people of Los Angeles as an appropriate method for communication from and to the city council and Department heads on matters concerning the neighborhood.  Neighborhood Councils advise City government. City Council and City Department liaisons report regularly to Neighborhood Council bodies. Today, Neighborhood Councils have banded together on a regional basis to impact City processes and decisions.

 

Why should Westwood have a Neighborhood Council?

For 10 years, Westwood has missed out on the ability to fund local projects, such as education and development of beneficial community programs. Our community interests have been divided among differing community groups, but a Neighborhood Council will be able to speak with one voice on community concerns.. Since the inception of the Neighborhood Council System in 1999, 90 neighborhoods have been formed and have operated successfully for many years.  Until January Westwood was one of only a very few areas remaining in the entire City that did not have a Neighborhood Council.

 
Who Sits on the Board of a Neighborhood Council?

Board members must be stakeholders in the Westwood area. No special interest group can control a Neighborhood Council. Rather, a Neighborhood Council board must be reflective of the diverse interests of the community. Elections of board members are held every two years and are administered by the City Clerk. UCLA is not part of the territory of the NC. However two seats have been designated for students and faculty who work at a university in the NC or live within its boundaries.

 

How is a Neighborhood Council Funded?

Neighborhood Councils receive  $45 thousand annually for administration, community benefit programs, and outreach efforts to contact and involve the whole community in neighborhood council meetings, decisions and events. Neighborhood Councils have used the funds they receive to assist community organizations and schools, to enhance public safety, to development emergency preparedness procedures and training, to beautify areas, to help create new laws and procedures pertaining to land use and transportation, and to bring the community stakeholders together to discuss issues  of common concern.

 

How do I know the funds will be used appropriately?

Neighborhood Councils’ use of funds allocated to them by the city of Los Angeles are monitored by the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment and the City Controller’s Office. Neighborhood Council Budgets and expenditures are transparent and listed for public view on the www.lacityneighborhoods.com website. 

 

Does a Neighborhood Council prevent me from petitioning or suing the city?

Individuals and groups will still be able to sue the City as they have done in the past. Neighborhood Councils are an effective voice for the neighborhood and, in many cases, may be able to bring out change the community desires so that groups do not have to resort to sometimes divisive and expensive lawsuits.

 

What Is the Relationship of Neighborhood Councils to Homeowners’ Associations? Members of HOA’s can run for Neighborhood Council seats. They are welcome partners in Neighborhood Council activities, and they are welcome to participate in Neighborhood Council Committees.

 

Why a Neighborhood Council Rather than a Community Council?

Neighborhood Councils are written into the Charter of the City of Los Angeles. They are community quasi- governmental organizations. Neighborhood Councils must be reflective of the diversity of the community and open to participation by everyone in the community. Community Councils generally meet behind closed doors and the sources of their funding do not require public disclosure. They can take money from developers, for example, and they do not have stakeholders, do not represent any but their directors and have no special standing in relation to city government. By contrast, Neighborhood Councils receive $45 thousand annually for outreach, community benefit programs and administration. As a result they are not under the influence of special interests that can provide cash for their activities. Stakeholders must be provided with the agenda of Neighborhood Council meetings 72 hours in advance of the meeting so that they may come to the meeting to speak on the item. Community Councils are under no such obligation. Neighborhood council members cannot “cut deals” behind stakeholders backs. Their operations must be open to public scrutiny. Neighborhood Council committees are open to diverse participation and the diverse voices of the community. Neighborhood Council may create a file reflecting neighborhood concerns that must be placed on the City Council’s agenda.

Neighborhood Councils may file a Community Impact Statement on Council agenda items that can express the voice of the Neighborhood Council on specific agenda items. Neighborhood Council elections, like those of City Council members, are administered by the City Clerk. Neighborhood Councils do not require dues for involvement or membership.

Why has the WWNC put into its by-laws an 8 vote ballot?

Having one vote cast for anyone of 12 homeowners/renters/business owners-managers makes it much harder for any group to dominate the board. Seats 13-19 each carry one vote and also represent diverse groups within the district: students, faculty, not for profits,  A quorum to do business requires 11 directors voting.