North Westwood Neighborhood Council recap – Sept. 1

The North Westwood Neighborhood Council is the official neighborhood council representing UCLA, Westwood Village and the North Village to the Los Angeles City Council. Council meetings are held each month and open to the public via Zoom. The next meeting will be held virtually Oct. 6.

Comments by public officials:

• Carmen Zambrano, a UCLA Government and Community Relations spokesperson, said the university’s welcoming events – True Bruin Welcome – will start this September with more than 5,000 residents expected to move into the Hill. Planned events currently include the grand opening of Olympic and Centennial Halls, Bruin Bash and the UCLA Westwood Village Block Party, Zambrano added. She also said Bruin Hub – a new 24-hour space for students at the John Wooden Center –will open Sept. 23 and will be available for studying, napping, overnight stays and waiting for transit. UCLA Volunteer Day will be held Sept. 25 and will include a Westwood Village cleanup, Zambrano also added.

• Janet Turner, a spokesperson for Congressman Ted Lieu’s office, said Lieu helped start the new California Coastal Caucus, which will study federal policy regarding California’s more than 800 miles of coastline.

• Zac Gaidzik, a spokesperson for LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl’s office, said recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines have recommended that certain immunocompromised individuals should receive a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Westwood Connect Day, a service event for individuals experiencing homelessness, will be held Sept. 28 at the Westwood Recreation Center, Gaidzik added. Food, showers, haircuts and assistance filing for health care and interim housing will be provided at the event, Gaidzik also said. The Westwood Connect Day organizers are currently looking for volunteers and community donations, which can be taken to the West LA Municipal Building, Gaidzik also added.

There were no board announcements.

Public comment:

• A member of the public with the Zoom name “Young” said criminalization of homelessness is not effective in policymaking, in response to the council discussion on the LA City Council’s homelessness policy. Young also said homeless encampment sweeps often result in individuals losing their ID cards and other important documents.

• A member of the public with the Zoom name “Andrew P” said they were concerned by criminalization of homelessness because they think that displacing individuals results in greater danger. P also said, as a transit user, they support increasing the number of trash cans and recycling bins in the city.

• A member of the public with the Zoom name “Rohini” said if the council does not oppose the recent LA ordinance on homelessness, it would be setting a precedent for tolerating criminalization of homelessness through inaction.

Agenda:

• The council approved the meeting minutes from its August board meeting.

• The board approved the June and July expenditure reports. In June and July, the council spent $0.

• The board appointed Furkan Yalcin, the president and an at-large stakeholder, to second signer for the council.

• The board appointed Nuha Khalfay, a general resident stakeholder, to alternate signer for the council.

• The board appointed Kyle Schmidt, the treasurer and an undergraduate student member, to first bank-card holder for the council.

• The board appointed Yalcin to second bank-card holder for the council.

• The board denied a proposed resolution in support of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils motion supporting an LA City Council motion to encourage work from home for business and government employees.

• The board approved a resolution in support of the WRAC motion supporting a request for improved signage at electric vehicle charging stations to discourage nonelectric vehicles from parking there. The WRAC motion also requests that the city issue warning tickets and subsequent fines to individuals repeatedly illegally parking in electric vehicle charging spaces.

• The board approved a motion to file a Community Impact Statement to the LA City Council opposing City Council File 21-0929. The city council file was an ordinance targeted at individuals experiencing homelessness that would prohibit sitting, lying, sleeping or staying in public spaces.

• The board approved a motion to file a Community Impact Statement to the LA City Council supporting City Council File 21-0773. The city council file called for the addition of public trash cans and replacement of damaged trash cans in various locations throughout the city. The CIS also added a clause to the original motion, calling for recycling bins to be added to the trash program.

• The board approved a motion to schedule a virtual board retreat to receive training on city requirements for neighborhood council members.

• The board appointed Andrew Lewis, the vice president and a general resident stakeholder, to attend the 2021 Civic University for Neighborhood Councils on Sept. 9, Sept. 23 and Sept. 30.