Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition

(The LANCC meets on the first Saturday of each month.
See our web site for details and agendas.)

info@lanccoalition.org
www.lanccoalition.org
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Be certain you neighborhood council is part of the effort to enter into an MOU with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.  The time is now, so let's get it done.

A process has begun to facilitate a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the neighborhood councils and the Department of Transportation.  At the present time neighborhood councils have an MOU with the LADWP and the Planning Department that govern the relationship between those departments and the NCs.  The agreements set out the obligations each side has when interacting with the other. 

For example, the MOU with the DWP requires them to give us notice of proposed rate increases with enough lead time to weigh in on the issue.  A provision of the agreement with Planning requires developers to send a copy of their application and plans to the neighborhood councils when the application is filed.  For some time many neighborhood council members have believed we should have an MOU with Transportation.  Had there been an MOU in place, we would have been consulted on issues like the parking meter fee increases.  The DOT has pledged to move forward to develop an MOU in a timely manner. 

The process began shortly after the first of the year when City Watch and a small number of NC volunteers from across the city were invited by Deputy Mayor Larry Frank to a meeting with Rita Robinson, DOT General Manager, and Senior Management Analyst, Carolyn Jackson.  Since that time a recommended plan and timeline has been developed to move the process forward. 

This will be a collaborative effort involving interested neighborhood councils throughout the city.  To that end City Watch has agreed to facilitate meetings involving the neighborhood councils and the DOT.  The LANCC will be responsible for bringing the neighborhood councils to the table and for setting up lines of communication.  We are requesting that all neighborhood councils be represented at both the strategy and the negotiating sessions. 

It is anticipated that the process will take between 90 and 120 days.  Meetings between the neighborhood councils and the DOT will be scheduled for once a month.  Meetings of the neighborhood council representatives will occur between those meetings giving them time to review what has been accomplished and strategize for future negotiations.  This process will continue until the parties reach a mutually approved agreement. 

These open meetings will be held at a neutral, central location and will be open to all NC members.  Time to begin this process is of the essence. 

Here is the current schedule for the meetings:

If additional time is needed:

All meetings will be held at 10:00 a.m.  The first two meetings, March 28 and April 11, will be held at the Hollywood Constituent Center.

It is very important that we get as broad a representation as possible.  We need the support all of the neighborhood councils city wide.  The time to act is now while everyone is ready to move forward with the MOU. We are asking neighborhood councils to choose representatives for the MOU committee.  Once a representative is designated, please send an email with their name and email address to info@lanccoalition.org.  If you have any questions about this process send them to that same email address and we will get back to you.

Leonard J. Shaffer
LANCCoalition Chair
info@lanccoalition.org

www.lanccoalition.org