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LANCC Minutes

LANC Congress
March 1, 2008
L. A. DWP Building
111 N. Hope Street, Los Angeles

MINUTES

1. Meeting was called to order at 10:20 PM by Chair, Len Schaffer.

2. The minutes were unanimously approved.

3. Public Comment: Wayne Williams of California Clean Money wants to set up educational workshops to conduct two hours in each NC. Cindy Cleghorn reported on printing costs for election brochures. She can do them for 10 1/2cents each for 22,000 mailed by the city, which is one fourth the cost of city printing. Bob Gelfand feels there is not enough NC participation in setting the LANCC agenda. Coastal San Pedro NC wants LANCC to take positions on issues. It will be on next month’s agenda.

4. The city vs. Clear Channel was challenged in court and thrown out. The city was to do an inspection six years ago. There was a settlement on the lawsuit in February, 2007 in which the illegal signs were grandfathered in. The city was to inventory and inspect the signs and has not. It could be completed in one year. Three areas have to be worked on.Clear Channel and CBS want to put up digital billboard with bright flashing lights. They use 49% more energy and no EIRs have been filed. Two, no signs should be legal unless they are located in a sign district. And, three, Freeway billboards should be fought.

5. The majority of grievances filed are with board members and election related. (See page 38 of the NCRC report.) NCs needs some process by which regional grievance committees have authority. Bong Hwan Kim things a jury of peers is great policy. What authority should such committees have? Enforcement is problematic. Once a grievance is filed, it should be copied to DONE and the mediation commission. DONE will try to do working groups for mediation and adjudication.

6. Janice Hahn spoke to the concept of NCs joining together. She felt it would bring louder voices to the city council. Our name change from Congress to Coalition is good. A group of representatives carries more weight than one NC alone, and NCs need to do more community impact statements. She would like to see LANCC debate issues, come to positions and let the city know how we feel about the various issues. NCs have public opinion on our side and we have more respect than we think.

7. The Planning Oversight Committee has held their first training session and the reports from students have been good. The PPP OSC wants to educate all NC planners.

8. The City Clerk is now doing the NC elections. As of January 1, 2009 the 2005 election procedures will be gone. There is no provision for outside input to the City Clerk’s office and NCs can be decertified if they do not follow the new rules. The ethics commission said they NCs do not have to file form 700. They want NC input and are open to suggestions.

9. The DWP OSC committee is reviewing a letter received from David Nahai, GM of DWP. He demanded that the OSC rescind the IEA resolution. However, the OSC voted to reaffirm the resolution.

10. The president’s letter regarding the LANCC Charter revisions will be going out to the NCs soon. Two thirds of the original 39 NCs must approve the changes.

11. Reports from the district representatives were given.

12. & 13. Not done.

14. The meeting was adjourned at 1:25 P.M.