Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council Meeting

Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Board of RepresentativesAGENDAMonday, October 24, 7:00 p.mRamona Hall • 4580 N Figueroa • Los Angeles, CA 90065Supporting documentation for this meeting can be found at: http://www.asnc.us/2011-archives/10-Oct/_1011archives.htm
I. CALL TO ORDER - PRESIDENT’S REMARKS [Martha Benedict, President: 2 minutes]
II. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS from ASNC board members [5 minutes]
III. PUBLIC COMMENT - comments from stakeholders, the public and the Board on non-agenda items within the Board’s jurisdiction (limited to two minutes per speaker; please submit speaker card to the President before the meeting). [10 minutes]
IV. COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES [5 minutes]•  Council District-1, Ed Reyes • Counil District 14, Jose Huizar •. Office of the Mayor •. Other elected officials
V. SECRETARY’S REPORT - Roll call. Approval of minutes for September 26, 2011. [Ken Kallman, Secretary: 5 minutes] 
VI. REGISTRAR’S REPORT - Ad in Blvd Sentinel, storage bin, new phone service. [Ariel van Zandeweghe, Registrar: 5 minutes].VII. TREASURER’S REPORT [Judy Knapton, Treasurer: 15 minutes]
VIII. ACTION ITEMS.  Requests without funding
1. TRACKING EXPENDITURES BY COMMUNITYIn order to objectively “track expenditures by community” (from approved minutes of 7/25/11) the ASNC Board should discuss and enact a policy based on its own Standing Rules, i.e., “Guidelines for Community Project Funding Requests” (adopted 4/27/09) for determing whether Community Project funds granted and expended by Board action are specific to one community or “at-large” in nature.  These are the guidelines already used to determine whether a funding request should be heard (and preliminarily approved) by a single-community “Local Issues” committee, or by other at-large (multi-community) committees of the neighborhood council.  [Joe Riser: 11 minutes]
2. EXHAUSTED BUDGET CATEGORIESThe Board should determine how to handle funding requests for depleted budget categories. Last year the budget allocations were honored for three quarters and released in the final quarter to be used for any category of qualified request. The board has not determined when the allocations expire this year and should address the issue, considering that requests already exceed their category allocations.  [Joe Riser: 11 minutes]
3. ETHICS TRAINING The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment requires all board members to completeonline ethics training within one year of election. The training must be repeated after two years. Board memberswill be surveyed regarding this requirement. Assistance to meet the requirement will be given to any memberwho has not yet complied. [Martha Benedict: 2 minutes]
4. COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTSAccording to ASNC Standing Rules, “At the first meeting of each fiscal year, all Board representatives not assigned/elected to chair one of the existing standing committees shall be assigned to be members of at least one standing committee, other than their own community’s Local Issues group. Assignments may be voluntary or by the President’s appointment.” Standing committees are Rules & Elections, Budget & Finance, Communications & Outreach. [Joe Riser: 5 minutes]
5. CITY ATTORNEY’S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MEETING AGENDASDescriptions in agenda items are intended to “inform interested members of the public about the subject matter under consideration so that they can determine whether to monitor or participate in the meeting of the body” according to the Brown Act. [Joe Riser: 5 minutes].
6. LIABILITY FOR SIDEWALK, DRIVEWAY AND CURBS DAMAGED BY STREET TREESThe ASNC Board should oppose pending City Council actions 05-1853 and 05-1853-S1 (now with Public Works and Budget & Finance Committees), the combined effect of which would release the City of L.A. for any liability for repairing curbs, driveways, and sidewalks damaged due to the growth of roots from street trees planted by the City itself. The actions could allow the City to charge home- and property owners the full cost of such repairs (a City responsibility since 1974). .Text of an NC ‘community impact statement’ to be provided at this meeting. [Joe Riser: 5 minutes].
7. MAYOR’S BUDGET DAY REPRESENTATIVESTwo ASNC board members are invited to participate in the Mayor’s Budget Day on October 29, 8:00 am – 12:30 pm in City Hall as Neighborhood Council Budget Representatives (NCBRs). The 190 NCBRs (two from each of the 95 Neighborhood Councils) will elect two Budget Advocates (NCBAs) and two Alternates from each of the seven regions, which include the North Valley, South Valley, East, West, Central, South, and Harbor regions. Budget Advocates have direct meetings with City Officials, City Department Heads and City Labor leaders.  The Budget Advocates also provide the Mayor and City Council with detailed recommendations. [Mayor’s office: 3 minutes].
8. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATION 47’s REDUCED RESOURCESIt is moved that the ASNC urge Councilmembers Reyes and Huizar to restore equipment and staff to local fire station 47 removed July 3, 2011 to cut costs. In consultation with station personnel, it was learned that the aerial ladder equipment used for access and assessments of structures higher than one story is no longer at the station. Also, the “jaws of life” equipment used to rescue car crash victims has also been taken away. This equipment now must be brought from other stations, resulting in much slower response times. The first responders at the station have been reduced by half. These shortages will impact the safety and survival of people served by station 47. [Roy Payan, Montecito Heights Local Issues: 5 minutes].
9. JUDGES OF HALLOWEEN COSTUMESRamona Hall requests that three ASNC board members participate as judges in the Halloween Costume Contest at Ramona Hall on October 31, 6:30 p.m. (2 minutes)
IX. ACTION ITEMS.  Requests with funding
1. MT WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MULTI PURPOSE ROOM MULTI MEDIA A.V. EQUIPMENT (Education) Motion to provide $2,000 to add to the $8,000 already collected by the Friends of Mt. Washington School. This item was approved by Mt. Washington Local issues meeting.  [Elizabeth Herron, Mt. Washington Local Issues: 10 minutes]
2. FRS RADIOS FOR THE AUDUBON CENTER (Recreation)Moved that the ASNC provide estimated $125 to purchase five FRS radios for Audubon Center staff. Cell phone service is unreliable throughout much of Debs Park. Staff members leading group hikes and field trips on the trails need a reliable means to call for help or report trouble. [Roy Payan, Montecito Heights Local Issues: 5 minutes]
X. COMMITTEE REPORTS [5 minutes] 1.  Local issues(a) Hermon (Darlene Martinez) (b) Montecito Heights (Tom Marble) (c) Monterey Hills (Judy Knapton)(d) Mount Washington (Liz Herron) (e) Sycamore Grove (Ariel van Zandweghe)
XI. REPORTS FROM LIAISONS [3 minutes]  1. Mt. Washington Elementary School Multipurpose Room (Ann Walnum) 2. Friends of Southwest Museum (Ann Walnum) 3. Director of Animal Welfare (Mark Legassie) 4. Lummis Home (Ariel van Zandweghe) 5. City Council Redistricting Commission (Clifford Moseley)
XII. NEW BUSINESS (Committee referrals and/or future Board agenda items). [1 minutes] 1. Comments from Board members on subject matters within its jurisdiction, and suggestions for future agenda items. 2. Next meeting: November 28, 2011, at 7:00 p.m., Ramona Hall Community Center.
XIII. ADJOURNMENT.
Funding requests: Unless otherwise stated in the approved motion, any funds appropriated for community projects as a result of this meeting’s actions: (1) will be drawn from the 2011-12 ASNC budget; and, (2)  under ASNC standing rules, expenditure of any such funds must begin within six months or by the end of the current council fiscal year (whichever is longer), or the appropriation will automatically lapse.
The public is requested to fill out a “Speaker Card” to address the Board on any item of the agenda prior to the Board taking action on an item. Comments on Agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered. Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the Agenda that is within the Board’s subject matter jurisdiction will be heard during the Public Comment period. Public comment is limited to 2 minutes per speaker, unless waived or adjusted in the interest of fairness, by the presiding officer of the Board. The agenda is posted for public review at Mount Washington Elementary School Bulletin Board (3981 San Rafael Ave., 90065), Superior Grocers (133 W. Ave. 45, 90065), Ramona Hall Community Center (4580 N. Figueroa St., 90065) Montecito Heights Recreation Center (4545 Homer St., 90031); Monterey Adult Day Health Care Center (5926 Monterey Rd., 90042), as well as the ASNC’s official Website at www.ASNC.us, and distributed via the ASNCAlert Yahoo Group (opt-in E-mail listserv). As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least 3 business days prior to the meeting you wish to attend by contacting the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (ASNC Project Coordinator), at (213) 485-1360.
In compliance with Government Code section 54957.5, non-exempt writings that are distributed to a majority or all members the Board of Representatives in advance of a meeting may be viewed at the neighborhood council Website by clicking on/visiting the link at the top of the agenda, or at the scheduled meeting.
Process for Reconsideration: The Board may reconsider and amend its actions on items listed on the agenda in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.