Neighborhood Council News


February was a two-board-meeting month. In addition, a growing number of committees met (see box to right).

Among the decisions of the Grass Roots Venice Neighborhood Council Board were:


• Elections: Half the Board seats are coming up for election in June. The Board appointed Tom O’Meara, Communications Officer, who is not up for re-election, to chair the Elections Committee.

• Envision Lincoln Blvd.: The Board appropriated $500 to help pay for printing the report of the Envision Venice group which is studying the future of Lincoln Blvd.

• No to Lincoln Center: The Board went on record opposing the massive Lincoln Center project proposed for the area between Lake Street and the 7-11 store on Lincoln.

• Yes to St. Joseph’s Center: The nonprofit, which assists low-income and homeless Venice residents, is building a new headquarters on Hampton Ave. The Board voted to support the project.

Town Hall: The Board appropriated up to $4,350 for the Town Hall meeting and a mailing.

• Venice Surplus Property Fund: The Board supported L.A. City Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski’s proposals that funds from the Venice Surplus Property Fund, which is accumulated by selling city-owned lots in Venice, could be spent by city council resolution instead of ordinance. However, the Board differed with Miscikowski on her effort to spend the money for non-capital improvements in Venice. She went ahead and got city council approval anyway.

• DWP rate increase: The Board voted to join neighborhood councils throughout the city in opposing an across-the-board DWP rate increase of 12 percent on water usage.

• West Bluff/Burial Sites: The Board endorsed the preservation and public acquisition of the Ballona Bluffs ecosystem and to protect native American village and burial sites at both the West Bluff and the Ballona Wetlands.

–Jim Smith

Posted: Mon - March 1, 2004 at 05:45 PM          


©