EMPOWERMENT CONGRESS WEST AREA NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

Meeting Minutes

February 2, 2013
Crenshaw United Methodist * 3740 Don Felipe Drive * Los Angeles, CA 90008
Na me
Pres en t Excused Un- excus ed

Na me

Pres en t

Excused

Un- excus ed

David Winston, Chair X Wendell Conn (Area 2) X Denise Stansell, Co-Chair X Carl Morgan (Area 2) X Yvonne Ellett, Rec. X Lark Galloway-Gilliam (Area 3) X Secretary Vacant, Treasurer Jackie Ryan (Area 3) X Madeleine Renee-Walters, Ronda Brown (At Large) X X Corresponding Secretary Karen Caesar (At Large) X Mary Jones-Darks (Area 1) X Jason Lombard (At Large) X Wilson Washensky (Area 1) X Johnnie Raines (At Large) X Call to Ord er & R oll C all : The meeting was called to order at 9:40 am by David Winston, Chair). A quorum was present at 9:55. David read the rules of the meeting. Everyone introduced himself or herself. SLO Rep ort : No Lead Officer was present. Public C o mm ent : Mary [Area 1 Rep] was appointed to the MTA Board. Herb Wesson is scheduled for the March meeting. Trees were trimmed and a light was fixed on Norton Avenue. st - A stakeholder noted that light fixtures at Arlington & 41 Street are being blocked by trees. She also described speeding traffic between King and Vernon. - Johnnie is speaking to the Dept. of Public Works about lowering light standards and will discuss cycling the traffic lights on st Arlington at the 1 Monday C-PAB. David announced the Mayors Heritage Month Celebration at City Hall, Friday February 8. RSVP to attend. Yvonne reviewed what was happening at the Mall: Chipotle open, Pan African Film Festival, Farmers Market. She urged everyone to support the Farmers Market so it can continue. Stakeholders from Don Ricardo complained about the Jim Gilliam Park pine trees. - Denise reports all tree breakage to the Department of Forestry/Parks & Recreation. - LAPD had parking lot trees trimmed for the Baldwin Village security cameras. - David is working on the issue behind the scenes (he held up the stakeholder packet hed previously received). He is trying to get the Dept. of Urban Forestry to a Town Hall meeting. Johnnie will also work on the DoUF. - Kimani Black [DC10] will forward the information to the Dept. of Public Works head manager. Kimani verified the Council President will attend the ECWANDC March Town Hall Meeting. - The Homeless survey was taken for Leimert Park and the majority of the homeless are Veterans. - La Cienega between Stocker & Rodeo will be closed to one lane between 8PM-6AM for sinkhole repairs. - A stakeholder complained a street sweeper didnt finish her street because his truck was full. Kimani explained the street sweeping procedure: 1) Only 4-5 street sweepers are assigned between Harbor & South L.A. DOT sends every Council Office a street list for cleaning. 2) There is a big silver dump truck that each individual sweeper unloads into. After unloading, the truck goes back to work. 3) If an individual sweeper refuses to come back after because its full, call 3-1-1 and complain. Get a Reference Number. Pass the Ref # to Albert or Kimani so either can follow through with the complaint. - The City Council will vote on the Dept. for Economic Development. Lark advised the request to receive stakeholder comments by 1/18 was sent out on 1/9. That didnt leave enough time to engage stakeholders. - Call 3-1-1 for broken curbs after sewer repair. Ask for John Reamer, Bureau of Contract Administration (Compliance). ECWANDC Meeting Minutes | Page 1

 Item : Discu ssio n Highligh t s: Public La nd U se & Be auti fica tion Co m mit tee Car l 4 volunteers will follow Transportation, Planning, Beautification, and Emergency notices from the City. A representative from the City Clerks office will be scheduled to teach how to track City issues online He urged everyone to voice opinions at Commission meetings. Ongoing: Chipotle beer/wine license, District Square still in the draft stage, and the City Community 5 year strategic plan is being finalized. Fina nce L ark Lark received one application for Treasurer and two verbal interests. After all planned expenditures, there will be $17,000 left that needs to be spent by 5/15. A suggestion was made to use the left over money for tree trimming. Outre ach - De nise The ECWANDC meeting signs are out and about. Denise can distribute the extra signs. She requested names.

Item : Discu ssio n Highligh t s: Item : Discu ssio n Highligh t s: Item : Discu ssio n Highligh t s: Safe ty - Jo hn nie Johnnie suggested attending C-PAB meetings for break-ins and personal crime because it elevates the issues when the stakeholder is there. A stakeholder explained when an alarm company calls LAPD, its taken as a routine call. For in-process break- ins, call 9-1-1 Ad- Hoc Co m mit tee - Lar k The tree trimming list was sent to all Board members for review. The final list will be coordinated with the City Council office SLA AN C - Lar k The South Los Angeles Alliance of Neighborhood Councils meet the 3 Thursday of every month at CHC 3731 nd Stocker Street / 2 floor. It will be reviewing the Mayors Budget Survey and the need for 1000 total responses from South L.A. Review & A ppr oval of Mee ting Mi nut es The January 14, 2013 minutes were emailed to the Board for review prior to the meeting. Johnnie motioned to approve. Denise seconded. VOTE: 7 YAYS / 3 ABSTENTIONS
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Item : Discu ssio n Highligh t s: Item : Discu ssio n Highligh t s: Item : Discu ssio n Highligh t s: Acti on / Foll ow-u p: Item : Discu ssio n Highligh t s: Item : Discu ssio n Highligh t s: LA DWP PR ESEN TA TION Jef f C hilder s Jeff reviewed the hand-out materials for Smart Grid L.A., the DWPs technology solution to pinpoint outages, improve infrastructure and improve customer conservancy. After the presentation, he fielded questions. Low income assistance and senior discounts are available after filing a Life-Line application. DWP has a free fridge program on either program for a 15 or 18 cf refrigerator. ECWANDC Meeting Minutes | Page 2 Credi t C ard Ex pen dit ures Credit Card expenditures were not reviewed.

 DWP discourages the use of garage fridges. Its the worst location for a refrigerator and most are older, less energy efficient models. He suggested unplugging a garage unit for 2 months to see the major difference in the utility bill. A stakeholder conversation began regarding the astronomical sanitation fees. Jeff reminded everyone that if an electric meter is ON, sanitation fees apply. Lark noted the fees were an issue SLAANC could pursue. Stakeholders were wary of being on the new Smart Grid and preferred to opt out. - There may be a fee to opt out - Smart Grid will probably eliminate entry-level meter reading jobs - There was an observation that Smart Grid may be used to divert power from residential areas to business areas during peak periods. Jeff explained DWPs strategic plan to close coal-burning plants and invest in natural gas power plants, solar, and wind. Ronda suggested funding ecological-minded power sources rather than Smart Grid. Jeff explained the DWP MOU Committee: it is an agreement between the DWP and Neighborhood Councils to receive advance notice of projects and stakeholder-focused issues. All stakeholders are welcome. Item : Discu ssio n Highligh t s: Busi ne ss Car d s & New LO GO - De nise * Graphic artist Nick Hill submitted LOGO designs to Denise, who distributed them via email for opinions. Denise noted the words Neighborhood Council arent on the new LOGO designs. Nick explained he shortened the name to ECWA from a design perspective. At some point the ECWANDC would turn the shorter acronym into an identity. The stakeholders wanted to be able to vote on the LOGO, too. Nick said hed create a ballot. Tabled for the monthly Board Meeting.

Acti on / Foll ow-u p:

Elec ted Of ficial, Pu blic Ag ency & Addi tio nal Ann o unce men t s: Jaz Sawyer from the Harmony Project introduced his mission: to supply free music & instruments to teens after school. At 3:30- 5pm, school yards look like priosons with 40-100 kids not doing anything. He is a professional musician and works with Harmony- Project.org at several locations, including The World Stage in Leimert Park Village. He volunteered to help with N/C Outreach. Johnnie will contact Audobon for Jaz. Me eting Ad jo urned at 11:34 am. Minutes as Approved by Board at _ 3___/__2___/__13___ Meeting Signature: _________Yvonne Ellett______________ ECWANDC Recording Secretary

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