Westwood Community Council recap – March 17

The Westwood Community Council meets several times a year to discuss issues relevant to the Westwood Village business and residential community.

• Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer answered questions from councilmembers about the duties of the city attorney’s office, as well as issues regarding food truck parking, illegal billboards and homeless encampments. Feuer said the city attorney’s office is starting new initiatives on topics such as illegal cannabis pharmacies and hospitals illegally releasing homeless patients on the streets, a process called “patient dumping.”
• Chris Ragsdale, the L.A. Police Department’s senior lead officer for Westwood, said there have been several burglaries in the Westwood area, especially south of Wilshire Boulevard.
• Daniel Tamm, Westside area representative for Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office, answered questions from councilmembers about the implications of the proposal to raise the minimum wage in California on Westwood businesses. Some councilmembers expressed concerns that raising the minimum wage would place strain on some Westwood businesses, especially restaurants.
• Chris Atencio, landscape architectural associate in the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks, presented a plan to add new equipment and amenities to Westwood Gardens Park. Councilmembers discussed possible changes to the plan, some raising concerns that the plan would make the park too crowded.
• Peer Ghent, a program manager in the L.A. Department of Transportation, said L.A. ExpressPark will launch in Westwood Village in May. The project will allow smartphone parking meter payment and will prevent meters from accepting payment beyond the posted time limits.

Compiled by Laurel Scott, Bruin contributor.