Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council Roundup

update: 8:50 p.m. Interesting debate arose from councilmember Rick Marquez asking to approve writing a letter to CD 1 and CD 14 expressing board concerns about upcoming Los Angles City Council redistricting of council districts, and selection of a representative for the redistricting panel. Marquez argued that Highland Park would be better off it were represented by only one council district, as they could voice their concerns to a single person. Other council members, like Janet Dodson, disagreed. She said it was not uncommon for neighborhood councils to be represented by multiple councilmembers and that it was better to have multiple voices speaking for the neighborhood in city hall. The motion was tabled and will be discussed more in depth at the next neighborhood council meeting.

update: 8:41 p.m. It's become a bi-weekly debate for the HHPNC; should the council allocate funding for student programs. This week, it's $5,000 for a wrestling program at Franklin. It passes, but not without some debate. It will go before budget and finance committee next, where it could be whittled down to a smaller amount.

update:  8:40 p.m. Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council just approved writing a letter to the city council stating their opposition to plans by The Autry National Center and Clearwire to install a five foot high cellular technology package atop a storage bin near the Southwest Museum. More coming on this developing story on Highland Park-Mount Washington Patch tomorrow.

update: 8:10 p.m. A local community landscaping group, New Roots, just finished presenting to neighborhood council about their plans to plant trees and shrubs in a nine foot by 120 foot strip in front of Benjamin Franklin High School. New Roots is is project of the UCLA after-school program at Franklin. The neighborhood council approved allocating $800 to help purchase trees and shrubs. This request will now go before the budget and finance committee.

update: 8:05 p.m. Reminder: The Peace in the Northeast March will be held on Saturday, May 14 and will proceed from The Glassell Park Senior Center to Nightingale Middle School. The council just approved spending $500 to help promote the event.

update: 7:52 p.m. The neighborhood council just took a step toward "reintroducing" themselves to Highland Park's schools. One of the neighborhood council's primary functions is to distribute neighborhood purpose grants to local groups in need. Schools are eligible to recieve those funds, however, Chairman Chris Smith said that most of Highland Park's schools are not aware that the funding is available. In an effort to remedy that, the board just aproved sending a letter to the neighborhood's schools that invites them to attend HHPNC metings. "We're writing a letter because the comment has been made that only one school comes back for agenda items that request funding, Smith said, referring to Benjamin Franklin High School. "Right now what we're trying to do is remind them that we're here, and if there are any funding itmes they want to bridge, please don't forget us."

update: 7:37 p.m. Treasuer Mark Reback just finished giving his budget update. According to Reback, the neighborhood council has allocated or earmarked $42,315.61 through March 16, meaning it has $46,158 to spend through the remaining of the fiscal year. Among the big ticket items the neighborhood council is hoping to invest in are new security cameras at the intersection of York Blvd. and N. Figueroa St.

update: 7:26 p.m. Paul Bonsell, a HHPNC stakeholder, reminded everyone to attend Franlin High School Day, which will take place on Saturday, April 9 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event is being held to help raise funds for the school, which is facing cuts to teachers and staff as LAUSD attempts to close a $408 million shortfall. There will be music, food and games, Bonsell said.

update: The Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council is getting underway right now with public comments. There's a very light agenda this evening.