Westwood Neighborhood Council recap – July 8

The Westwood Neighborhood Council meets monthly to discuss issues pertaining to Westwood Village and the surrounding areas.

Comments by public officials

• Janet Turner, a representative from congressman Ted Lieu’s office, said U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officials will offer presentations and discussions throughout the Westside region of Los Angeles County to receive residents’ feedback as they work on their master plan to revitalize their West Los Angeles campus. The first of these presentations will take place at the Westwood Community Council’s next meeting on July 21 in Belmont Village at 7 p.m.
• Jeff Ebenstein, a representative from councilman Paul Koretz’s office, said there will be a ceremony on July 23 at 2:30 p.m. in Westwood Village to commemorate the Special Olympics World Summer Games torch run, which will pass through the Village. He also said the councilman’s office is currently working to systematically remove rubbish, such as couches and furniture, that some students left behind on the sidewalks in the North Village.

Discussion

• The board approved its budget for the new fiscal year, which started on July 1. The council received $37,000 from the city, as it did in 2014. It also approved the $1,200 annual expenditure for its website’s maintenance.
• Armen Hadjimanoukian, rental residential group director for the council, submitted his letter of resignation. Next month’s meeting will be his last and the vacancy will be posted on the council’s next newsletter.
• Board member Angus Beverly said the council’s traffic and transportation committee will begin documenting Uber drivers parked on Westwood Boulevard between Wilshire Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard, and present the data to city officials. Several business owners complained the drivers take spots from their customers, as there is an Uber office on 1762 Westwood Blvd., just north of Santa Monica Boulevard.
• Board member Jacob Finn proposed forming a committee that can review and submit amendments to WWNC’s bylaws to the city. He said he thinks several items in the bylaws, such as board eligibility, are vague or need updating. Member Lisa Chapman suggested that such a committee should include a mixture of people in Westwood Village, and not just WWNC board members. The council will discuss this more at next month’s meeting.

Motions

• Board members passed a motion to oppose the proposed statewide Assembly Bill 57 that would limit the local regulation of cell phone towers.
• Board members passed a motion to support a vote of “no confidence” for the L.A. Mobility Plan 2035 because they think the plan ignores issues such as emergency response time, insufficient infrastructure and negative impacts on health and safety.
• The council reaffirmed its stance against digital billboards, especially those built without permits or altered in violation of their permits. In addition, it passed motion to oppose the proposed statewide Assembly Bill 1373, which would allow a developer to build digital billboards along the 110 freeway in Downtown Los Angeles for a length of 40 street blocks.

Compiled by Roberto Luna Jr., Bruin senior staff.