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Neighborhood Councils in the City of Los Angeles are city-certified local groups made up of people who live, work, own property or have some other connection to a neighborhood. Neighborhood Council Board Members are elected or selected to their positions by the neighborhoods themselves. There are currently 99 Neighborhood Councils within the city limits, and a corresponding Department of Neighborhood Empowerment within City Hall.[1]
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In 1999, voters approved a new City Charter that established the Neighborhood Council System and the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment “to promote more citizen participation in government and make government more responsive to local needs…”.[2] Specifically, the charter ensures each neighborhood council receives early warning of upcoming city decisions and has the opportunity to be heard.
The charter also requires that neighborhood councils be consulted in the budget process. Article IX, Section 909 of the city charter mandates that each neighborhood council “may present to the Mayor and Council an annual list of priorities for the City budget.” The mayor must “inform certified neighborhood councils of the deadline for submission so that the input may be considered in a timely fashion.”[3]
- Membership
The standard for membership is often more liberal than the location-specific approach used by most political subdivisions ("you vote where your house is" standard). Participation is based on "stakeholder status"—a broader definition—a businessperson or someone representing a local church, or hospital, or charity would qualify—on that basis—even if they do not live in the exact area. Several positions on neighborhood councils may be set off—specifically—to guarantee that those local business people, church, and charity participants are included. This resident—local businessperson alliance hopefully encourages acceptable, practical, economic development for an area.
- Meetings
To effect their interests, neighborhood councils organize a monthly "town meeting", not unlike the historic model demonstrated in New England towns. An agenda is posted on issues under discussion, relevant community reps or City of LA or LAPD officials may be invited, discussion is opened to members of the council and the public attending, and then the council votes to take its position. Basic parliamentary rules are followed, and the California standard for open public meetings, the Brown Act, guarantee designated "public comment" periods.
Administration
The neighborhood councils have been allocated $32,000[4] each per year for administration, outreach and approved neighborhood projects.
Vision
The vision of a citywide system of independent and influential neighborhood councils, and the creation of a city department to guide that process, was the centerpiece of the new City Charter that was approved by the voters in June 1999. There are currently (as of early 2019) more than 90 neighborhood councils in the City of Los Angeles, and a list of neighborhood councils can be found on the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment's website.[5]
Mission statement
To promote public participation in government and make government more responsive to local needs by creating, nurturing, and supporting a citywide system of grass-roots, independent, and participatory neighborhood councils.
The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment Pledge
- We will treat the public with courtesy and respect.
- When explaining a restriction, making a suggestion, or reporting a delay, we will always explain the reason why.
- We will ensure that people who call during working hours will always have an opportunity to speak to someone.
- We will avoid using insider or bureaucratic language.
- We will be good listeners.
- We will honor the Mayor's "no wrong door" policy, and never use the words, "It's not my job!" We will find out whose job it is.
- We will never say, "Because that's the way we've always done it," or "We tried it that way once but it didn't work."
- We will keep the promises we make.
- We believe that everyone deserves an answer.
- We will strive to be the best friend that neighborhood councils have.
- The Plan for a Citywide System of Neighborhood Councils (Plan)
Starting with a skeleton staff in 1999, the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment held 16 public workshops throughout the city to begin teaching people about grass-roots participatory democracy, and to hear the public's needs, dreams, and suggestions. By the time the Plan for a Citywide System of Neighborhood Councils (Plan) was adopted, nearly 50 more public hearings had been held.
Plan
The Plan was approved on May 25, 2001 by the City Council through an ordinance. The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) and the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners reviewed years of extensive study regarding neighborhood councils, and received months of public comment before presenting a proposed plan to the Mayor and City Council in December, 2000. For six months, City Council committees received public comment on the proposed plan, and made revisions before submitting it to the Mayor for final approval in May, 2001. The Plan establishes a flexible framework through which people in neighborhoods may be empowered to create neighborhood councils to serve their needs. The Plan also sets minimum standards to ensure that neighborhood councils represent all stakeholders in the community, conduct fair and open meetings, and are financially accountable.
Formation
Neighborhood councils are groups of people that, once certified by the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners, will elect or select their own leaders, determine their own agendas, and set their own boundaries. The goal is to make them as independent as possible from government so that they will have the influence and power to affect citywide and local decision-making far beyond what neighborhood groups have done. People would be truly empowered to guide the futures of their neighborhoods.
Functions and services
Through the Early Notification System (ENS), neighborhood councils receive notice of issues and projects that are important to them as soon as possible. In this way, they will have a reasonable amount of time to understand, discuss, and develop positions before final decisions are made.
Neighborhood councils are first formulated to fit coherent neighborhoods within the City, from a process to elect a council certified by the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners. With an approved charter of organization, neighborhood councils are set free, in principle, forever, to run their open neighborhood elections and continue. Residents inside the neighborhood council area are empowered to elect a board, which then chooses its own leaders, determines its own agendas, and take locally discussed positions on issues of zoning, policing, community development, and the design of the Los Angeles City Charter. The goal is to make neighborhood councils independent from elected officials, and street-savvy enough to define their own community's positions on public issues so that they can develop the influence and power to affect citywide and local decision-making.
City Hall and other councils
A funding level of $50,000 a year per Neighborhood Council was established—to be used for any appropriate community use—with a dedicated percentage on outreach and community building—subject to City of Los Angeles auditing and contracting standards. This has since been reduced to $32,000 per NC per year.
| Neighborhood Council | Meeting Day | Meeting Location |
|---|---|---|
| Arleta | 3rd Tuesday | Osborne Neighborhood Church 13501 Osborne Street Arleta, CA 91331-5306 |
| Arroyo Seco | 4th Monday | Ramona Hall 4580 Figueroa Los Angeles, CA 90065 |
| Atwater Village | 2nd Thursday | Christ’s Church of Griffith Park 3852 Edenhurst Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90039 |
| Bel Air-Beverly Crest | 4th Wednesday | American Jewish University 15600 Mulholland Dr. Room 223 Los Angeles, CA 90077 |
| Boyle Heights | 4th Wednesday | Boyle Heights City Hall Community Room 2130 East First Street Los Angeles, CA 90033 |
| CANNDU | 4th Thursday | Los Angeles Ascot Public Library 120 West Florence Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90003 |
| Canoga Park | 4th Wednesday | Canoga Park Community Center 7248 Owensmouth Ave. Canoga Park, CA 91303 |
| Central Alameda | 1st Saturday | Vernon Branch Library 4504 S. Central Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90011 |
| Central Hollywood | 4th Monday | Hollywood Neighborhood City Hall 6501 Fountain Ave. Hollywood, CA 90028 |
| Central San Pedro | 2nd Tuesday | Port of Los Angeles High School 250 W. 5th Street San Pedro, CA 90731 |
| Chatsworth | 1st Wednesday | Lawrence Middle School 10100 Variel Ave. Chatsworth, CA 91311 |
| Coastal San Pedro | 3rd Monday | Cabrillo Marina Community Bldg. Cabrillo Plaza Berth 28 San Pedro, CA 90731 |
| Del Rey | 2nd Thursday | Del Rey Square 11976 Culver Boulevard Del Rey, CA 90066 |
| Downtown Los Angeles | 2nd Tuesday | Los Angeles Theatre 615 S. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90012 |
| Eagle Rock | 1st Tuesday | Eagle Rock City Hall 2035 Colorado Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90041 |
| East Hollywood | 3rd Monday | Armenian Youth Center 1559 N. Kenmore Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027 |
| Echo Park | 4th Tuesday | N/A |
| Elysian Valley Riverside | 2nd Wednesday | Dorris Place Elementary School 2225 Dorris Place Los Angeles, CA 90031 |
| Empowerment Congress Central | General: 4th Monday | Western Avenue Elementary School 1724 W. 53rd Street Los Angeles, CA 90062 |
| Empowerment Congress North | 1st Thursday | N/A |
| Empowerment Congress Southeast | 4th Tuesday | New Prospect Baptist Church 10910 S. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90061 |
| Empowerment Congress Southwest | 3rd Monday | St. Andrews Recreation Center 8701 S. St. Andrews Place Los Angeles, CA 90047 |
| Empowerment Congress West | Community Town Hall Meeting 1st Saturday Board Meeting 3rd Monday | Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza Community Room (near Sears) 3650 W Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90008 |
| Encino | 4th Wednesday | Encino Community Center 4935 Balboa Blvd. Encino, CA 91316 |
| Foothills Trails District | 3rd Thursday | Lake View Terrace Recreation Center 11075 Foothill Blvd. Lake View Terrace, CA 91342 |
| Glassell Park | 3rd Tuesday | Glassell Park Community Center 3750 Verdugo Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90065 |
| Granada Hills North | 1st Tuesday | Saint Euphrasia Parish Hall 11766 Shoshone Ave. Granada Hills, CA 91344 |
| Granada Hills South | 1st Thursday | Granada Hills Charter High School Rawley Hall 10535 Zelzah Ave. Granada Hills, CA 91344 |
| Greater Cypress Park | 2nd Tuesday | Cypress Park Recreation Center 2630 Pepper Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90065 |
| Greater Toluca Lake | 3rd Tuesday | Toluca Lake Elementary School Auditorium 4840 Cahuenga Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601 |
| Greater Valley Glen | 1st Monday | Valley College Cafeteria Conference Room 5800 Fulton Ave. Valley Glen, CA 91401 |
| Greater Wilshire | 2nd Wednesday | Wilshire Ebell Theatre 743 S. Lucerne Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90005 |
| Harbor City | 3rd Wednesday | Harbor City/Harbor Gateway Library 24000 Western Ave. Harbor City, CA 90710 |
| Harbor Gateway North | 2nd Tuesday 4th Tuesday every 3rd month (January, April, July, and October) General Membership Meeting at 7 pm | 135th St. Elementary School 801 W. 135th St. Gardena, CA 90247 |
| Harbor Gateway South | 2nd Thursday | Halldale Avenue School Auditorium 21514 Halldale Ave. Torrance, CA 90501 |
| Hermon | 2nd Thursday of Every Odd Numbered Month | The Hermon Fellowship Center 5800 Monterey Road Los Angeles, CA 90042 |
| Historic Cultural | 2nd Tuesday | 222 S Hewitt St. Los Angeles, CA 90012 |
| Historic Cultural North | N/A | N/A |
| Historic Highland Park | 1st Thursday | Highland Park Senior Center 6152 N. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90042 |
| Hollywood Hills West | Varies | Women’s Club of Hollywood 1749 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046 |
| Hollywood Studio District | 2nd Monday | 5500 Hollywood Blvd (1st Floor – Gallery Space Corner of Hollywood and Western Ave.) Los Angeles, CA 90028 |
| Hollywood United | 2nd Monday | Fire Station 82 Annex Second Floor 1800 N. Bronson Ave. Los Angeles, CA, 90028 |
| LA-32 | 1st Wednesday | El Sereno Senior Center 4818 Klamath Place Los Angeles, CA 90032 |
| Lake Balboa | 1st Wednesday | Gault Street Elementary School 17000 Gault Street Lake Balboa, CA 91406 |
| Lincoln Heights | 3rd Thursday | Lincoln Heights Senior Citizens Center 2324 Workman St. Los Angeles, CA 90031 |
| Los Feliz | 3rd Tuesday | Elysian Masonic Lodge 1900 N. Vermont Avenue Los Angeles, CA, 90027 |
| MacArthur Park | 1st and 4th Monday | MacArthur Park NC Office 685 S. Carondelet St. Los Angeles, CA 90057 |
| Mar Vista Community Council | 2nd Tuesday | Mar Vista Recreation Center Auditorium 11430 Woodbine St. Mar Vista, CA 90066 |
| Mid City | 2nd Monday | LAPD Wilshire Division Community Room 4849 Venice Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90019-5664 |
| Mid-City West | 2nd Tuesday | National Council of Jewish Women 543 N. Fairfax Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 |
| Mission Hills | 1st Monday | Mission Community Police Station Falco Room 11121 Sepulveda Blvd. Mission Hills, CA 91345 |
| NoHo | 2nd Monday | North Hollywood Senior Center 5301 Tujunga Ave. North Hollywood, CA 91601 (North side of NoHo Park) |
| North Hills East | 1st Monday | Penny Lane’s Rainbow Room 15314 Rayen Street North Hills, CA 91343 |
| North Hills West | 3rd Thursday | New Horizon Center 15725 Parthenia Street North Hills, CA 91343 |
| North Hollywood Northeast | 3rd Thursday | LA Fire Station 89 7063 Laurel Canyon North Hollywood, CA 91605 |
| North Hollywood West | 4th Wednesday | Saticoy School 7850 Ethel Ave. North Hollywood, CA 91605 |
| North Westwood | 1st Wednesday | UCLA Weyburn Commons Village View Room 4th Floor 11020 Weyburn Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90024 |
| Northridge East | 3rd Wednesday | Northridge Woman’s Club 18401 Lassen Street Northridge, CA 91325 |
| Northridge South | 4th Thursday (except Nov and Dec meetings) | Northridge Middle School 17960 Chase Street Northridge, CA 91325 |
| Northridge West | 2nd Tuesday | Northridge Christian Church 18901 Chatsworth St. Northridge, CA 91326 |
| Northwest San Pedro | 2nd Monday | Peck Park Auditorium 560 N. Western Ave. San Pedro, CA 90732 |
| Olympic Park | 1st Monday | Catch One 4067 W. Pico Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90019 |
| P.I.C.O. | 2nd Wednesday | Claude Pepper Senior Citizen Center 1762 S. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90035 |
| Pacoima | 3rd Wednesday | Pacoima City Hall 13520 Van Nuys Blvd. Pacoima, CA 91331 |
| Palms | 1st Wednesday | Iman Cultural Center 3376 Motor Ave. Palms, CA 90034 |
| Panorama City | 4th Thursday (3rd in Nov & Dec) | Mission Community Hospital Medical Office, 2nd Floor 14860 Roscoe Blvd. Panorama City, CA 91402 |
| Park Mesa Heights | 2nd Saturday | YES Academy 3140 Hyde Park Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90043 |
| Pico Union | 1st Monday | Kolping House – Auditorium 1225 S. Union Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90015 |
| Porter Ranch | 2nd Wednesday | Porter Ranch Community School Multipurpose Room 12450 Mason Avenue Porter Ranch, CA 91326 |
| Rampart Village | 3rd Tuesday | St. Anne’s 155 N. Occidental Blvd. #236 Los Angeles, CA 90026 |
| Reseda | 3rd Monday | Reseda Neighborhood Council Community Space 18118 Sherman Way Reseda, CA 91335 |
| Sherman Oaks | 2nd Monday | Sherman Oaks Elementary School 14755 Greenleaf St. Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 |
| Silver Lake | 1st Wednesday | Ivanhoe Elementary School Auditorium 2828 Herkimer Street Los Angeles, CA 90039 |
| South Central | 3rd Tuesday | All People Community Center 822 E. 20th St. Los Angeles, CA 90011 |
| South Robertson | 3rd Thursday | Simon Wiesenthal Center 1399 S. Roxbury Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90035 |
| Studio City | 3rd Wednesday | BLDG. 8 MPR-3 4024 Radford Ave. Studio City, CA 91604 |
| Sun Valley Area | 2nd Tuesday | Villa Scalabrini Retirement Center 10631 Vinedale St. Sun Valley, CA 91352 |
| Sunland-Tujunga | 2nd Wednesday | North Valley City Hall 7747 Foothill Blvd. Tujunga, CA 91042 |
| Sylmar | 4th Thursday | Sylmar High School Spartan Hall 13050 Borden Ave. Sylmar, CA 91342 |
| Tarzana | 4th Tuesday | Tarzana Elementary School (Auditorium) 5726 Topeka Dr. Tarzana, CA 91356 |
| United Neighborhoods of the historic Arlington Heights, West Adams, and Jefferson Park Community [7] | 1st Thursday | Council District 10 Field Office 1819 S. Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90006 |
| Valley Village | 4th Wednesday | Faith Presbyterian Church Social Hall 5000 Colfax Avenue Valley Village, CA 91607 |
| Van Nuys | 2nd Wednesday | Marvin Braude Constituent Center 6262 Van Nuys Blvd. Van Nuys, CA 91401 |
| Venice | 3rd Tuesday | Westminster Elementary Auditorium 1010 Abbott Kinney Blvd. Venice, CA 90291 |
| Voices | 2nd Tuesday | Vermont Square Library 1201 W 48th St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 |
| Watts | N/A | Kulick Youth Opportunities Center 1501 E. 103rd St. Los Angeles, 90002 |
 West Adams Neighborhood Council | 3rd Monday | Vineyard Recreation Center 2942 Vineyard Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90016 |
| Westchester/Playa | 1st Tuesday | Westchester Municipal Building Council Community Room 7166 W. Manchester Ave. Westchester, CA 90045 |
| West Hills | 1st Thursday | de Toledo High School 22622 Vanowen Street West Hills, CA 91307 |
| West Los Angeles | 4th Wednesday | Felicia Mahood Center 11338 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025 |
| Westlake North | 2nd Thursday | Central City Neighborhood Partners (CCNP) 501 S. Bixel Street Los Angeles, CA 90017 |
| Westlake South | 4th Thursday | MacArthur Park Community Room 2230 W. 6th Street 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90057 |
| Westside | 2nd Thursday | Westside Pavilion 10800 W. Pico Blvd. Community Meeting Room B Los Angeles, CA 90064 |
| Westwood | 2nd Wednesday | Belmont Village 10475 Wilshire Blvd. 1st floor Community Room/ Town Hall Los Angeles, CA 90024 |
| Wilmington | 4th Wednesday | Phineas Banning High School 1527 Lakme Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 |
| Wilshire Center-Koreatown | 2nd Monday | Pio Pico Library 694 S. Oxford Ave Los Angeles, CA 90005 |
| Winnetka | 2nd Tuesday | Winnetka Convention Center (Next to Canoga Bowl) 20122 Vanowen Street Winnetka, CA 91306 |
| Woodland Hills-Warner Center | 2nd Wednesday | American Legion Hall 5320 Fallbrook Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91367 |
| Zapata-King | 3rd Wednesday | Avalon Carver Community Recreation Center 4920 South Avalon Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90011 |
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