The North Westwood Neighborhood Council elected a new at-large board member at its monthly meeting March 4.

The council, which represents UCLA and Westwood Village, meets on the first Wednesday of every month at UCLA’s Weyburn Terrace. Meetings can be attended in person or virtually by the public using the link posted on the corresponding month’s agenda.

The council unanimously approved a motion to move meetings to the 28th Church of Christ, Scientist on the first Monday of each month, citing cost, location and equipment as factors.

Comments by Public Officials:

• Jennifer Hall, a representative from Mayor Karen Bass’ office, said Bass is dedicated to filling potholes in LA. Hall added that the ShineLA project will direct volunteers toward beautifying city streets.
• Amanda Laflen, the field deputy from LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath’s office, said three new stations along the Metro D line will be opening soon along Wilshire Boulevard. She added that Horvath, whose district includes Westwood and UCLA, supports Assembly Bill 495 – allowing parents to nominate temporary guardians in the case of temporary unavailability, such as due to immigration-related detainments.
• Janet Turner, the deputy district director of outreach for U.S. Congressman Ted Lieu, who represents Westwood, said funding for UCLA’s fleet of electric buses had been acquired.
• Samantha Gallegos, a district representative for State Senator Ben Allen’s office, said he introduced 21 bills to the state legislature, including SB 1209, a bill requiring insurance companies to comply with state Insurance Commissioner recommendations – and SB 501, a bill redefining “covered batteries” in the Responsible Recycling Act of 2022, which established a stewardship program for the collection, transportation and recycling of batteries.
• A representative from LAPD said due to recent fatalities from fires, he recommends the installation of smoke detectors. He also said emergency response times were down to six minutes.
• Julia Brown, the director of community relations at UCLA Government Relations, said electric vehicles would need to be certified and registered – in accordance with a new rule around electric scooters.
• Erica Gatica Doughty, a neighborhood empowerment advocate for EmpowerLA – which manages LA’s neighborhood councils, said there would be a Nextdoor update session for council members.

Comments made by the public:

• Diego Bollo, the Undergraduate Students Association Council president, made a statement in support of Ohio Avenue bike lanes, an expansion of SB 1334 – which mandates meal-breaks for health care workers – and AB 713 – allowing undocumented students to be employed by the UC. He also said the UC Board of Regents graduate student seat is open and added that he was pushing for an amendment to expand student representation on the board.
• Steve Sann, a member of the Board of Directors at the Friends of the Westwood Library, said the library would host Trio Fibonacci on April 18 and the 300th Army Band Independence Day Concert on June 28.

Agenda:

• The council voted unanimously to reserve a table at CicLAvia – an open street event that closes streets to cars for pedestrian and community traffic. The April 26 event will run along portions of Westwood Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard, with an activity station at Weyburn Avenue and Westwood Boulevard.
• The council voted unanimously to approve a community impact statement in support of the Liveable Communities Initiative to build affordable, dense housing along transit corridors, such as Westwood Boulevard and Gayley Avenue.
• The council unanimously approved a CIS supporting city funding for celebrations of the Persian new years holiday Nowruz.
• The council unanimously approved a CIS supporting the renewal of the Westwood Village Improvement District.
• The council unanimously approved a CIS supporting Senate Bill 627 – also known as the No Secret Police Act, which makes it illegal for immigration enforcement officers to wear masks while performing their duties – and requesting advocacy from the LA city council. The No Secret Police Act‘s mask ban is currently unenforced because of a February court order, in which a judge said the law discriminates against federal officers because the law’s provisions do not apply to state law enforcement.
• The council unanimously approved a CIS reaffirming the its commitment to protecting constituents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and requesting that UCLA bar ICE from private university spaces.
• Aidan Light, a second-year political science student, was elected to be an at-large board member of the council, and will serve in the university staff board member seat until July 2027.
• The council unanimously voted to move the April meeting because of the Jewish holiday Passover.
• The council approved the February consent calendar.