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November 5, 2010

RECENT LEGISLATION

Special Joint Committee Meeting on Our DWP Reform Efforts Going to the March Ballot... There will be a special joint meeting of the Energy & Environment Committee and Rules & Elections Committee on Monday, Nov. 8 in Council Chambers at City Hall to discuss our DWP reform measures that the City Council is working to put on the March ballot. Public comment will be heard, and a panel of City Charter experts will discuss answer questions on the City Charter, the City budget, utility rates and service, and the DWP reform measures. The City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday, Nov. 2 to let voters decide whether to create an Office of Public Accountability to serve as an independent watchdog over the Department of Water (DWP) as well as several DWP governance reform measures.

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The Office of Public Accountability would include an Inspector General and a Ratepayer Advocate. The Office would have the authority to audit and review DWP programs, investigate complaints of abuse, fraud or waste, recommend policies or actions to promote efficiency or effectiveness, and provide independent analysis of the internal DWP actions. The Office, which would be independent of the DWP, but funded by the agency, would have unrestricted access to all DWP records, reports, audits, files, correspondence and data, and access to members of the Board, officers, employees and contractors. We have been working for the last year to enact the kind of meaningful reform that will restore the trust of the public and the City Council in the DWP. These measures are meant to create more transparency, accountability and oversight of the DWP. The reforms include requiring the DWP to release its proposed budget by March 31, in advance of the City’s budget process and to define “surplus” in the context of the annual power revenue surplus transfer to the General Fund. This would prevent a repeat of last year's battle, when DWP threatened to withhold $73 million from the General Fund if it did not get the rate hike it wanted, which hurt the City's credit rating. The reforms also include requiring certain expertise for the DWP Board of Commissioners, giving the City Council and Neigborhood Councils more say over Commission appointments, and allowing the Council to remove the General Manager or any commissioner with a two-thirds vote. The top posts would be filled by a special committee representing the Mayor's Office, City Council and Neighborhood Councils. They would name an appointing board that represents the business community, environmentalists and community members. Special Joint Committee Meeting on DWP Reform Ballot Measures Monday, Nov. 8, 5:00 pm City Council Chambers (3rd Floor) City Hall, 200 N. Spring St., Downtown Los Angeles To see my package of eight DWP reform motions, visit http://tiny.cc/SmithDWP. To see my motion to create an independent Inspector General over the DWP visit http://tiny.cc/s7um4. To see my recent motion laying out the differnet roles of the Inspector General and the Rate Payer Advocate visit http://tiny.cc/3xwz9. We will continue to announce progress on our efforts to bring reform to DWP on our newsletter and website at www.CD12.org.

COMMUNITY NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS

Information

Committee Assignments

Public Safety

Chair Budget & Finance

Vice Chair Public Works

Member Ad Hoc RENEW LA

Chair Audits & Governmental

Efficiency Member

CLICK HERE to learn about RENEW LA, Councilman Greig

Smith's blueprint, now City policy, to increase recycling and lead Los

Angeles out of landfills.

Upcoming Events

Concerts at El Rancho

in Northridge

Sunday, Nov. 7 4 pm Asian Mystique Series with music from Cambodia, China, Japan and Vietnam. Saturday, Dec. 18 5:30 pm Christmas at the Rancho. All events at 18916 Nordhoff St., Northridge (Corner of Wilbur Ave.) Reservations required for



Chief of Staff Mitch Englander Recognized for LAPD Reserve Service...

I wanted to share with you a recent article in the LAPD Reserve Magazine, "The Rotator," which regularly features profiles of Reserve Officers. The most recent issue features an article about our Chief of Staff Mitch Englander, and I encourage you to read it. I am very proud of his service to the LAPD and the community, and of our many accomplishments together. Public Safety is my top priority, and I am proud to have two members of my staff, in addition to myself, actively serving as volunteer LAPD Reserve Police Officers. The motto

of the LAPD Reserve program is "Twice the Citizen" because it gives citizens who want to really make a difference in our community, a chance to serve very meaningful roles as uniformed Police Officers. Together, the LAPD Reserve Officers provide millions of dollars and thousands of hours worth of volunteer Police duty. Having members of my staff serve as Reserve Officers also helps us to keep our fingers on the pulse of public safety and criminal issues affecting our neighborhoods, and it helps us to better understand and respond to public safety concerns of our community. It is also another example of how our staff contributes to, is involved with, and volunteers in our community. To see the full article about Mitch Englander in "The Rotator" visit http://tinyurl.com/lapdreserve. To learn more about the LAPD Reserve program visit www.joinlapdreserves.com.

Remember to Adjust Your Clocks for Daylight Savings... Remember to reset your clocks and "Fall Behind" by one hour for Daylight Saving Time, starting at 2:00 am on Sunday, November 7.

all concerts. To reserve or for more info call (818) 998-0326 or email manager@ elisabethwaldomusic.com.

Sunday, Nov. 8

North Valley Jewish Community Center presents "Empowering Caregivers Making the Difficult Life and Health Decisions," a lecture, discussion and book signing by Viki Kind. Ms. Kind is author of “The Caregiver's Path to Compassionate Decision Making.” Nov. 8, 7 pm - 8:30 pm Temple Ramat Zion 17655 Devonshire St. Northridge Cost: Free for Center, TRZ, TBT, TBA members. $10 for non-members. Refreshments will be served. For reservations call (818) 360-2211 or or email [email protected].

Saturday, Nov. 20 Chatsworth Relay

For Life Holiday Boutique

Come find some great holiday shopping deals and help support the Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society. Relay for Life raises funds for cancer research, treatment and programs, honors cancer survivors and commemorates those who have lost their lives to cancer. Chatsworth Relay for Life is this



Daylight Saving Time, the practice of temporarily advancing clocks during the summertime so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less, was first proposed in 1895 by George Vernon Hudson. Many countries around the world have employed it ever since. When you set your clocks, it is also a great time to change all the batteries in your smoke detectors, which should get fresh batteries every six months. Clean-Ups in Northridge Continue...

Join your fellow Northridge residents, students and parents from Beckford Elementary School and Northridge West Neighborhood Council for another community clean-up effort this Saturday. Northridge West Neighborhood Council continues its Operation Clean Sweep, and will clear weeds, debris and trash and remove graffiti from the east side of Tampa Ave. from Chatsworth to Nashville and then to the 118 Freeway. Saturday, Nov. 6 7:00 am to 11:30 am Chatsworth St. & Tampa Ave., Northridge This Saturday, the project will be complimented joined once again by the parents and students from Beckford Elementary School who last weekend worked so hard to clean up Chatsworth St. that they

ran out of trash bags. Volunteers will meet up at 7:00 am at the corner of Chatsworth St. & Tampa Ave. to kick off the event with coffee and bagels. Afterward, at about 11:00 am, participants will be treated to a free BBQ lunch with hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, fruit salad and drinks on the corner of Chatsworth and Tampa Ave. For more information email Tom Johnson at [email protected].

spring. Boutique Sale 9am-2pm Chatsworth United Methodist Church 10824 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Chatsworth For info contact Sonia Lopez at (818) 447-7778, Sonia.Lopez@ cancer.org or Jheri Heetland at (818) 389-5928, [email protected]

Ongoing

311 Online

In addition to calling 311 to report problems or request services, you can use 311 online. Visit http://tiny.cc/311LACity and find the appropriate service.

Child Safety Seat

Inspection & Installation

Every Thursday, at Valley Traffic Station in Panorama City, LAPD Officers that are Nationally Certified as Child Seat Technicians will help you properly install your child car seat or inspect the one you already have to ensure it



New Parking Lot for North Valley Family YMCA... We were proud to help cut the ribbon on the newly expanded parking lot that will serve members and staff of the North Valley Family YMCA in Porter Ranch. (no check ony sicssors) A new trail that is part of the beautiful nature area of Aliso Canyon has also been opened on Corbin Ave. just south of the YMCA. Our Chief of Staff Mitch Englander, who is also on the YMCA's Board of Directors, talked about how important the YMCA is as a community partner. The 165-year old non-profit has programs that give youth in our community safe and healthy sports and recreation activities, including special programs and summer camps for low-income youth. Its senior programs offer older adults in the community vital opportunities for sport, health, recreation and social interaction. It also offers special discounted family memberships for low-income families. To learn more about the YMCA, visit www.ymcala.org/northvalley. Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities Available for 2011 Los Angeles City Elections...

Temporary jobs and volunteer positions are available between December 2010 and May 2011 helping with the 2011 Los Angeles Municipal Elections. The elections are on March 8, 2011 and May 17, 2011. By volunteering or working for the elections, you can play an essential role in helping making our democratic process function. The jobs can be fun,

is properly installed.

This service is free, but an appointment is required. Please call (818) 644-8143 to make an appointment or for more information. You will need to bring your car manual and your car seat manual.

Every Thursday by appointment 7:30 am to 11:30 am LAPD Valley Traffic Station 7870 Nollan Place Panorama City. Map - http://tiny.cc/anglt

Oakridge Estate Park Advisory Board

Meeting

We encourage you to attend one of the Oakridge Estate Park Advisory Board Meetings every 4th Thursday of the month at 3:00 pm at Fire Station #87, located at 10124 Balboa Blvd. in Granada Hills. In 2009 we completed the purchase of the Oakridge Estate for the City to preserve the cultural-historic landmark in Northridge as a treasure of culture, history and open space. For more info call (818) 756-8501.

DWP Reform

To see our package of DWP reform motions, visit http://tiny.cc/SmithDWP.



interesting and educational, and are excellent additions to a resume. Applications for the paid positions are being accepted through the end of November 2010. However, the positions will remain open until they are filled, and may close without advance notice. For more information on how to apply for a temporary job call (888) 873-1000. If you are interested in volunteering as a pollworker please call (866) 899-8683 on or after November 8, 2010. Granada Hills Women's Club Annual Winter Coat Drive... Help the Granada Hills Women's Club share the warmth this winter and donate your used winter coats for their Burlington Coat Factory Warm Coats and Warm Hearts Drive. Last year, the Burlington Coat Factory collected 1,700 coats donated in the L.A. area, 300 of which we were collected by the Granada Hills Women's Club. To help you can drop off used warm coats and jackets, clean and in good condition, with no holes and working zippers, at the Council District 12 office Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The donated coats will be gathered by Burlington and given to local shelters to be distributed to people in need during the winter. Granada Hills Women's Club Coat Drive Nov. 5 through Dec. 10 Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Council District 12 Office 18917 Nordhoff St., Suite 18 Northridge Starting on Friday, Oct. 29, used coats can also be donated directly to any Burlington Coat Factory store in the L.A. area, including the one in West Hills, located at 22835 Victory Blvd. in the Fallbrook Mall. Anyone donating a coat will receive a 10% discount on store merchandise. For more information, email [email protected].

To see our motion to create an independent Inspector General over the DWP visit http://tiny.cc/s7um4.

Take the Northridge Vision Business

Survey!

Help shape the future our Northridge, and take the Northridge Business Survey! The Northridge Vision project is a year-long collaboration between our office, the Northridge Neighborhood Councils, the North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce and California State University, Northridge (CSUN). The goal is to establish a vision and develop a strategic plan for the future of the historic Northridge business corridor. Visit http://tiny.cc/c9bg7 and give your input! For more info email myvision@ northridgevision.org, call (818) 627-9566 or visit NorthridgeVision.org.

Download

"The Parks of CD 12" Pamphlet

We have produced an overview of the many outstanding parks in our District, including its location, features and amenities. It is available on our website for anyone to download, print out or email on to others. Our parks offer everything from a professional level



Granada Hills Charter High School Community Festival...

Come enjoy a day of family fun at Granada Hills Charter High School's Community Festival November 6 and 7. Don't miss this special neighborhood event suitable for all ages, featuring a petting zoo, pony rides, slide, face painting, food and craft vendors, music and dance performances, an Elvis impersonator and fireworks. Help celebrate Granada Hills High's 50th

anniversary! Saturday, Nov. 6 Sunday, Nov. 7 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Granada Hills High School 10535 Zelzah Ave., Granada Hills For more information, call (818) 360-2361 or visit http://www.granadahillshighschool.com. Help Support Veterans in Observance of Veterans Day... Veterans Day is Thursday, November 11, so please help support the men and women who have become disabled while serving our country in the military at the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 13's annual fundraising drive. The DAV's Forget-Me-Not Drive is November 7 to 13 and collects donations to support its programs for disabled veterans. DAV has been assisting disabled

skateboarding park, to three full-sized municipal golf courses, to fishing, rock climbing, hiking and horseback riding. We even have an off-leash dog park. To see "The Parks of CD 12" visit www.CD12.org and click "The Parks of CD12"

New Service Offers

Neighborhood Crime and Public Safety

Updates from the LAPD The LAPD now offers a free service that allows L.A. residents to sign up to receive messages directly from the Police on crime, traffic, missing persons, emergencies and other public safety information directly to their phones or email inboxes. Residents can sign up online to receive the updates by text message to their phones, or by email, or both. They can sign up for bulletins for multiple locations. To sign up, visit www.Nixle.com.

LA Parks Foundation

Improving and Preserving Our Parks

The LA Parks Foundation has launched a new website that makes it easy for community members, groups and businesses to support parks. The Foundation provides materials, equipment and projects that the City can't supply. It raises



veterans and their families for more than 80 years. DAV Chapter 13 volunteers will have booths collecting donations and giving information in front of Vons supermarket at Nordhoff St. & Reseda Blvd.; Vons at Balboa Blvd. & San Fernando Mission Rd.; and Albertsons at Woodley Ave. & San Fernando Mission Rd. The drive raises money for shuttle van services that bring disabled veterans to and from their medical appointments at Sepulveda and West L.A. Veteran's Administration facilities, and other services for disabled Veterans. This is a crucial service for disabled Veterans who can't drive themselves to their medical appointments, some of whom live outside the L.A. area. To support this important cause, you can donate at the booths or mail a check made out to "DAV Chapter 13" directly to Disabled American Veterans, 18545 Gresham St., Suite B, Northridge, CA 91324. For more information, call (818) 718-7205 or email [email protected] or visit http://www.davmembersportal.org/chapters/ca/13.

Thanks and Congratulations to the Boy Scouts for a Fantastic Clean Up Project!

Our thanks and congratulation go out everyone volunteered to join Boy Scouts Pack 921 for their 6th Annual Stoney Point Clean-Up on Saturday, Oct. 30 in Chatsworth. Our office was proud to once again co-sponsor this great event, which had more than 50 volunteers, including Boy Scouts, their families, members of the Neighborhood Councils, environmentalists, students and community members working to keep Stoney Point clean and beautiful for all to enjoy! Special thanks go out to Boy Scout Pack 921 for organizing and hosting the event for six years now; Chatsworth Neighborhood Council for donating food, coffee and hot dogs that were enjoyed by all the hard-working volunteers; and REI Sporting Goods for donate drinking water, T-shirts, and raffle prizes.

funds to improve Los Angeles park facilities, enhance park environments, preserve and restore historic elements in our public parks, support sustainability projects and purchase property for future parkland. The Foundation also streamlines the process of adopting a park or placing a commemorative bench, and creates a way for residents, businesses and community groups to donate funds to support parks. Visitors to the Foundation's website can pick any park in the City of Los Angeles and donate on line to support specific equipment, improvements at that park.

Council District 12 Neighborhood

Councils

Canoga Park

Chatsworth

Encino

Granada Hills North

Granada Hills South

Lake Balboa

Northridge East

Northridge West

Northridge South

Porter Ranch

North Hills West



We are especially proud of the project by the Scouts clean and maintain the Chatsworth Metrolink Train Disaster Memorial Plaque at Stoney Point Park, clear away weeds and install solar lamps at the site. This is a lasting gift to all of the people in our community who were touched by this disaster. Metro Orange Line Clean-Up Day... Join local businesses, community-based organizations and community members and help keep our community with the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce's 27th Annual Clean Up Day on Saturday, Nov. 6. This year, the Chamber will hold their clean-up on Metro's Orange Line dedicated busway between Hazeltine Ave. and Sepulveda Blvd. starting at 8:00 am. Saturday, Nov. 6 8:00 am Meet up at 6060 Van Nuys Blvd. (cross street Aetna) in Van Nuys. Participants will enjoy a free continental breakfast at the kickoff and lunch at the end. The first 100 volunteers will receive a free recyclable bag. Students will receive community services credits for participating. For more information, call Fuyumi Hashimoto at (818) 989-0300.

Reseda

West Hills

Winnetka

Council District 12

Chambers of Commerce Links

Canoga Park/West Hills

Chatsworth

Encino

Granada Hills

North Valley Region



Granada Hills Charter Bidding For New High School - Your Input Is Needed...

GHCHS, the larger Charter School in the United States, with outstanding academic achievement scores, announced that they have submitted a proposal to operate the new High School (Valley Region High School #4) on the site of the former Granada Hills Hospital at Balboa Blvd. and Devonshire St., which closed in 2003. GHCHS encourages students, parents and community members to provide input on what the GHCHS new school plan should include. To give your input, visit

www.ghchs.com/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=149622&id=0 and fill out the survey. The website also has information on how to be involved and stay up-to-date on the new school. This new branch of GHCHS will consist of three small learning communities, with classrooms, science labs, performing arts classrooms, library, multi-purpose room, gymnasium, lunch area, central administration, playing fields and a multi-story parking garage. We have supported Granada Hills Charter High for years as an outstanding school and community partner, and look forward to having this top-notch educational facility in our neighborhood.

Resources for Local Small Businesses...

Our office works with companies and small businesses based in our District on an ongoing basis to connect them to resources and assistance that can be helpful during these tough times.

"All About Business Loans" is a free business workshop being offered by the Valley Economic Development Corp. (VEDC) for businesses in the San Fernando Valley.

November 23 & December 21 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce



9401 Reseda Blvd., Suite 100 Northridge

At the All About Business Loans workshop, Valley-based business owners and managers can learn about the different financing options available to their business and how the loan process works. The workshop will explore the use of funds, interest rates and other pertinent information for Small Business Administration, microenterprise, minority, veteran and other special loan programs.

The VEDC continuously offers workshops, activities and many kinds of information, assistance and resources to support businesses in the San Fernando Valley.

To register for this workshop or for more information on any of the other resources offered by VEDC, call (818) 907-9922 or email [email protected] or visit www.VEDC.org.

Help YMCA Offer Thanksgiving Dinners to Struggling San Fernando Valley Families... Our works closely with and supports many non-profits and community based organizations in our District, including the North Valley Family YMCA, which every year offers Thanksgiving dinners to low income families. He reports this week on a terrific effort by YMCA to provide Thanksgiving dinners to struggling families that may lack the resources to celebrate the holidays. Every year, the North Valley YMCA gives out baskets, filled with all the elements needed for a complete Thanksgiving dinner, to dozens of struggling families in the community. This year 500 baskets will be distributed to families on Saturday, Nov. 20. You can help make this worthy cause possible! Every $35 donated before November 15 will pay for one entire family Thanksgiving dinner. To donate online visit http://www.ymcala.org/northvalley/give or call (818) 368-3231 ext. 2319.



You can volunteer to help assemble and distribute baskets on Saturday, November 20 any time from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the North Valley Family YMCA, located at 11336 Corbin Ave., Porter Ranch. Purchase items on the YMCA's grocery wish list and drop them off at the North Valley Family YMCA before November 15. To request the grocery list, call (818) 368-3231 ext. 2319.

REPORTS FROM OUR STAFF

YMCA Booster Dinner a Big Success...

Our Chief of Staff Mitch Englander, who also serves on the Board of Directors of the North Valley YMCA, reports that the Annual YMCA Booster Dinner fundraiser was a huge success. Every year this event brings together the San Fernando Valley's civic and business leaders, elected officials, community members and YMCA supporters to help raise funds for the YMCA programs. This year, the Booster Dinner raised more than $200,000! Did you know that 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm is the time of day that children and teenagers are most likely to be victims of crime or violence, or participate in alcohol, drug, or

tobacco use, or vandalism, crime or gang activity? That is why the YMCA's supportive, fun, healthy after-school programs are so important. The Booster Dinner raises funds to support those programs. It also helps ensure that the YMCA can continue to offer its sports, cultural, music and other activities for seniors and low-income families. Our sincere thanks go out to every person who contributed to this wonderful event, and we congratulate all of the Board members, staff and volunteers who worked so hard to make it happen. If you would like to learn more about supporting the North Valley Family YMCA, please visit www.YMCALA.org/NorthValley.



Help Bring Holiday Gifts to At-Risk Kids... Our Field Deputy Semee Park reminds everyone this week to start thinking about toy and gift donations for the annual LAPD Devonshire PALS (Police Activity League Supporters) Holiday Toy Drive. All of the donated gifts and toys will be distributed to the hundreds of kids who participate in the programs at the Greig Smith LAPD Devonshire Youth Center on Saturday, December 18, and your help is needed to make it a success. December 16 is the last day for donations. The event will also feature music, entertainment, holiday snacks and a visit from Santa. Please donate a new, unwrapped toy, gift, book, gift certificate or other age-appropriate gift for kids up to 17 years old. Gifts can be dropped off at the Council District 12 office, located at 18917 Nordhoff St., Suite 18, Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. You can also drop off gifts at the Youth Center, located at 8721 Wilbur Ave., at the corner of Parthenia St. in Northridge, Monday to Thursday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Fridays 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Also, please consider organizing a collective toy drive for your work place, sports team, church, school or family. The Youth Center will provide you with donation boxes, donation forms and everything you need to plan your toy drive. For more information call Sue Bruno at (818) 885-6432.

This message was sent to by: Councilmember Greig Smith 18917 Nordhoff Street, Suite 18 Northridge, CA 91324 (818) 756-8501



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