Neighborhood Council Plan Review and Reform Initiative

Regulatory History of Governance and Operation of the Neighborhood Council System

The current City Charter was approved by the electorate in 1999. Article 9 of the Charter addresses the creation of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment and neighborhood councils. The Neighborhood Council Plan is embodied in a number of ordinances, the first of which was adopted by the city council in 1999. These ordinances and amendments are included in Chapter 28 of the city’s Administrative Code. There are also policies adopted by the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners that touch upon the operations of neighborhood councils.

Review of Neighborhood Council Structure and Operations and Recent Developments

The Neighborhood Participation Project of the University of Southern California monitored the neighborhood council system during its early years. The NPP twice surveyed neighborhood council board members and provided feedback, particulary with regard to levels of participation and diversity among neighborhood councils.

In 2007, the Neighborhood Council Review Commission held hearings throughout the city and issued a report containing several recommendations, many of which (most notably factual basis stakeholder definition and requirements) were adopted by the city council.

In 2010, Councilmember Krekorian conducted two workshops gathering comment on the neighborhood council system. As a result, he offered a series of motions to make changes to the system. No action has been taken on these motions.

On taking the chair of city council’s Education and Neighborhood Committee, Councilmember Parks conducted a series of meetings throughout the city to gather input. He subsequently entered a motion about the methods by which neighborhood councils bring their concerns to city officials. Most recently, Councilmember Huizar has submitted motions regarding factual basis stakeholders and boundary adjustments to city council.

MISSION and PURPOSE

The Neighborhood Council Plan Review and Reform Initiative is intended to a be a grassroots, neighborhood council-driven review of the rules and regulations that govern the neighborhood council system. The purpose is to consider the current state of affairs and recommend to the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners and City Council amendments necessary to facilitate the work of neighborhood councils, recognizing neighborhood councils’ independent status and strengthening their ability to perform their key missions of increasing stakeholder participation and influencing the municipal decisionmaking process.

STRUCTURE

Three working groups (Valley / Central-East / Harbor-South-West); each group consisting of 16 members (one commissioner, who will act as chair / 3 at-large members chosen by commissioner / 12 members recommended by NC presidents). NC presidents in each of 12 election regions will recommend three members as follows:

All members will be appointed by the commissioner serving as temporary working group chair, with significant weight given to NC president recommendations. When appointed, each group will elect a chair, vice chair and secretary. All meetings will be noticed in accordance with Brown Act requirements. Working groups will determine when and where they meet, as well as the frequency of meetings within each two-week session time period.

Chronology / Work Plan

January 1-15: Working group members appointed; initial documents distributed

January 16-31: Opening meeting and workshop: “Looking Back: The Neighborhood Council Story in Los Angeles” (joint event with panel on NC history) Working groups choose co-chairs and secretaries/reporters

February 1-14: Session I: Stakeholders
key issues: factual basis stakeholders / live, work, own property definitions

February 15-28: Session II: Elections and Boundary Adjustment Policy
key issues: should city clerk be involved in NC elections / election outreach

March 1-15: Session III: Department of Neighborhood Empowerment / Board of Neighborhood Commissioners
key issues: duties and powers / general manager and commission selection process

March 16-31: Session IV: NC funding / grants and donations

April 1-15: Session V: The Brown Act
key issues: Brown Act vs. sunshine ordinance / posting policy

April 16-30: Session VI: Education and leadership development

May 1-15: Session VII: The work of neighborhood councils
key issues: Early Notification System / monitoring delivery of city services

May 16-23: Closing meeting (joint session): “Looking Ahead: The Future of Neighborhood Councils in Los Angeles”

May 24-31: Draft report preparation

June 1-15: Draft report comment

June 16-30: Final report for commission consideration

July 1: Report submitted to city council