The Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates, representing the 95 neighborhood councils regarding budget and fiscal issues, met yesterday with Los Angeles City Council member Mitch Englander.
The advocates, after hearing Mr. Englander explain the controversial $3 billion street repair initiative, voted the motion that is posted below.
We ask each and every Neighborhood Council and member to contact your City Councilperson and ask him or her to respect the request of the budget advocates.
In addition, please ask your Neighborhood Council to adopt this motion and, if possible, file a community impact statement.
For questions or comments, contact me directly at 310.466.0645 or at sgrest@aol.com.
Resolution on Postponement of Proposed $3 Billion Street Repair Bond Measure:
Whereas the City Council believes that the Neighborhood Councils do not inform their stakeholders about Council initiatives; and
Whereas the City Council requests better participation in city issues by Neighborhood Councils; and
Whereas Councilmember Bernard Parks held hearings at his Education and Neighborhoods Committee regarding Neighborhood Council participation in city issues; and
Whereas the City Council recently approved a citywide valet parking ordinance without enough time for Neighborhood Councils to weigh in; and
Whereas yet again, the City Council, without any warning or advance notice, introduced a motion on Jan. 4 to place a three-billion-dollar bond measure on the May ballot with a vote scheduled to be taken on Jan. 10 , thereby again silencing their Neighborhood Councils’ voice in an important matter; and
Whereas the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition already has unanimously adopted and transmitted a position to the City Council on Jan. 5, asking for 60 days time so that Neighborhood Councils are able to weigh in on issues affecting all of their stakeholders;
Therefore, be it resolved that the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates instructs the Chair to immediately transmit the NCBA opposition to the City Council's predeliction for precluding the Neighborhood Councils and their stakeholders from weighing in on citywide measures.
Furthermore, the NCBA demands that a City Council decision on City Council File 13-1300-S1 be postponed for 60 days until the city can issue a financial impact report of the new debt, and the 95 certified Neighborhood Councils have an opportunity to hold a Brown Act-compliant meeting and report back to the Council members with their stakeholders' views.
