OWTS (septic tank) ordinance listening sessions

Hello,

As you know, the Bureau of Sanitation is conducting public outreach regarding the proposed ordinance to govern Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS), commonly known as septic tanks. We will be holding three "listening" sessions in the next couple weeks, and we wanted to make sure you are aware of them:

Two sessions will take place at the Bureau of Sanitation’s Media Center offices, located at 2714 Media Center Drive, Los Angeles, 90065 on
Tuesday, August 3 from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. and on
Thursday, August 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

There will also be an evening session on
Tuesday, August 10 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
at Council District 2’s Sunland-Tujunga Field Office
7747 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga, 91042.

We want to make sure people know about these opportunities to learn more and share their feedback, so if you have a regular e-newsletter that goes out to your members, it would be great if you can include this info. And if you have other suggestions about how/where we should publicize these sessions, I welcome your input.

Of course we hope to see you there, and please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Thank you,

Lauren M. Skinner
Public Information Officer
Department of Public Works
200 N. Spring St. M-165
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 978-0327
(213) 798-6204 cell
(213) 978-0332 fax
lauren.skinner@lacity.org

Parent Trigger Update

In a huge victory for parents in Los Angeles and throughout California, the California State Board of Education yesterday approved emergency regulations for the Parent Trigger. These regulations, which lay out clear and common sense rules and guidelines for how parents can go about using the Parent Trigger to transform their schools, were critical for empowering parents to actually use this new law. (Click here to read the Daily News article about this).
A large group of parents and community leaders from Los Angeles spoke passionately before the Board, urging them to pass the regulations immediately. Parents from all over Los Angeles - the Valley, Westchester, Southeast Cities, and South LA - spoke about their ongoing efforts to organize parents at their schools for change, and how badly they needed the regulations in order to establish clear rules of the game. As Reverend K.W. Tulloss of the Weller Street Missionary Baptist Church put it, "How can you ask me to play baseball without giving me a bat?"
The regulations establish several very important rules for parent organizing, including provisions that ensure single parents and foster parents an equal voice in the process, give parents the power to choose exactly which charter or in-district partner would help turn around their school, and establish guidelines to ensure the actual petitions would be legally formatted and not thrown out on a technicality.
Some defenders of the status quo, of course, wanted nothing more than to slow down this process. Again and again, lobbyists representing bureaucrats and other special interests claimed there was no "emergency," that all of this could wait another year or two. But their voices, for once, were drowned out by real parents - parents whose children are stuck in these failing schools, and who are desperate for change. For parents, there is no greater emergency than even a single year of their child stuck in a failing school.
By passing these regulations, along with Open Enrollment rules allowing parents to transfer out of the lowest performing schools in California, the State Board took a giant step forward in parent empowerment yesterday. We at Parent Revolution are dedicated to working with each of you to figure out how to best use these powers to help your own children get the great public education they need for the future they deserve.


*Sent by the Parent Revolution. For more information contact Lydia Grant, STNC Parent Representative at fivegrants@msn.com

Hillside Ordinance goes to PLUM 7-20-10

Greetings All:

This is an email to let you know that the Baseline Hillside Ordinance (CPC-2010-581-CA; Council File No. 10-1001) will go before the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee on Tuesday, July 20, 2010. The meeting starts at 2:30 p.m. and will be located in:

Board of Public Works Edward R. Roybal Hearing Room
200 N. Spring St., Room 350
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(Google Maps)

The agenda was released today (we are item 4) and can be downloaded at the following link: http://ens.lacity.org/clk/committeeagend/clkcommitteeagend2667399_07202010.pdf The first 3 items are expected to be relatively quick, so please take this into consideration when determining what your arrival time.

You can track the progress of ANY case before the City Council and download available public documents at the City Clerk Office - LACityClerk Connect website (http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm). The Council File Number for the Baseline Hillside Ordinance is 10-1001. You can view the online electronic case file for this project by going to the following link: http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=10-1001 You can also subscribe to receive direct email from the City Clerk whenever the "file" is updated (look for the envelope at the top of the webpage).

You can download the Planning Department documents listed below by following the links:
April 22, 2010 City Planning Commission Staff Report: http://planning.lacity.org/StaffRpt/InitialRpts/CPC-2010-581.pdf
May 27, 2010 City Planning Commission Staff Report: http://planning.lacity.org/Code_Studies/BaselineHillsideOrd/CPC-2010-581-CA052710SRpt.pdf
City Planning Commission Determination Letter: http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2010/10-1001_rpt_plan_6-8-10.pdf

Feel free to forward this information to anyone you feel might be interested.

If you received this email via forwarded message from someone other than myself, and you want to obtain updates directly from the Department, please email erick.lopez@lacity.org and ask to be added to the interest list. Please type "Add Me To Hillside Notification List" in the subject line and provide your group/organization/company affiliations and contact information (please include at least your ZIP Code).

Facebook™ Users: Look for the Baseline Hillside Ordinance page; add the page and receive updates in your news feed. You can also view our events calendar and participate in discussion boards.

As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact myself or Jennifer Driver at jennifer.driver@lacity.org or at (818) 374-5034.

Thank you for your time and attention.
_________________________________________
Erick Lopez
City Planner
Department of City Planning
Community Planning Bureau - West Coastal Division
200 N. Spring St., Room 621
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 978-1243
(213) 978-1226 - fax
erick.lopez@lacity.org

Notice of STNC Board vacancies

Dear Neighbors,

Notice of STNC Board vacancies. If you are interested in serving on the STNC board, please submit up to a 75-word statement to secretary@stnc.org describing your interest by Monday, July 12. The next STNC Board meeting will be held at North Valley Neighborhood City Hall, 7747 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 7 p.m. and the board may vote to fill these vacant seats at that time.

Positions open are as follows:

Region 2 -- This is the geographic area of the west side of Commerce
Avenue to Mt. Gleason, above Foothill Blvd.

Region 3 - This is the geographic area of the east side of Commerce Avenue
to Lowell, above Foothill Blvd.

Group Representative

Refer to the STNC Bylaws v. 2.95 for more information:
http://www.stnc.org/documents/stnc/STNC_Bylaws_2.95.pdf

If you have any questions, please contact any STNC Executive Board member:

Dan McManus, president -- president@stnc.org
Tomi Lyn Bowling, vice president - community improvement -businessrep@stnc.org
Cain, vice president - outreach - davidcainstnc@gmail.com
Mark Seigel, treasurer - treasurer@stnc.org


--Cindy Cleghorn, Secretary
Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council
www.stnc.org

San Fernando Valley Community Updates from the Mayor

Below you will find some pertinent updates from the San Fernando Valley
office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. You will find information on the
following:

- Call for Art in our Airports
- Free Health Screenings in Encino
- Reseda Theater Request for Proposals
- Valley Cultural Center Free Summer Series
- Tutoring Jobs
- Violent Crime Down 11 Percent
- Mayor Joins Top Obama Administration Officials for America's Great
Outdoors Initiative Listening Session
- Mayor Nominates Christina Noonan to Board of Water and Power
Commissioners
- Anime Expo

Please contact us with any questions. Thank you and have a great
weekend!


CALL FOR ART IN THE AIRPORTS
Los Angeles World Airports and the Department of Cultural Affairs
recently issued a call for exhibition proposals for LAX and LA/Ontario
Airports. Attached please find the Request for Proposals for solo and/or
group exhibitions/installations. Please feel free to forward this call
to artists and independent curators.


FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS IN ENCINO
Encino Chamber of Commerce and West-Val Pharmacy invite you to receive
free health screenings, diabetes education, and gift bags West-Val
Pharmacy. Diabetes afflicts more than 23.6 million Americans and
another 57 million people are likely to get the
disease if they don't alter their living habits.


RESEDA THEATER REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA)
plans to issue Request for Proposals (RFP) No. NP-12939 seeking
qualified developers, firms, individuals, and/or joint ventures for
development of the Reseda Theater Opportunity Site. The RFP is now
available for download from the CRA/LA website www.crala.org, in the
Development Opportunities page. Interested parties must attend one of
the two mandatory pre-proposal meetings on July 14th or August 11th. For
more information please visit:
http://ens.lacity.org/council/cd3/cd03cinfo/cd3cd03cinfo279767141_08112010.pdf.



VALLEY CULTURAL CENTER FREE SUMMER SERIES
The Valley Cultural Center (VCC) has presented free concerts every
summer since 1975. Featuring rock, classical, jazz, R&B, Latino pop,
country, cowboy, Dixieland, folk, and more, the concerts entertain more
than 140,000 valley residents and visitors each year and are the
cornerstone of Sunday afternoons in the valley. This year, the VCC will
celebrate its 35th Anniversary season of concerts by sustaining the arts
and being a good steward to the park we all enjoy. The VCC has further
expanded their outdoor programming at Warner Park to include Movies on
the Green. Outdoor family movies are presented on Saturday evenings,
July 17th through August 28th, 7 p.m. -10 p.m., projected on a 30’
screen with digital projection and 7.1 surround sound. Visit
www.valleycultural.org for more information.


OVER 200+ JOBS FOR LA & VALLEY - TUTORS
Tutors needed for the following areas in the Valley:
Canoga Park, Northridge, Pacoima, Reseda, San Fernando, Sylmar, North
Hills, Sun Valley, Panorama City, Van Nuys, Winnetka, Granada Hills, and
Mission Hills.

Pre-screening recruitments will be held on:
July 12, 13, 15 & 16
9:00 a.m., 11:00 am & 2:00 p.m.
Canoga Park WorkSource Center (EDD Building)
21010 Vanowen St.
Canoga Park, CA 91303

CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT: 818 596-4448
Please arrive promptly and be prepared to stay three hours. Bring
current CA driver’s license, SS Card and right to work documents and
men must be pre-registered with selective services. Flyer attached.


MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA, CHIEF BECK REPORT VIOLENT CRIME DOWN 11 PERCENT AT
MID-YEAR MARK

Crime continues to drop in Los Angeles for the 8th consecutive year

LOS ANGELES - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today joined Chief Charlie
Beck to report an 11 percent drop in violent crime, as well as
reductions in property crime and gang crime in the city’s 2010
mid-year crime statistics.

“We are experiencing remarkable improvements in crime reduction and
need to look no further than our mid-year crime statistics to see
that,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “For the 8th consecutive year,
crime overall in the City of Los Angeles has dropped. Despite the
economic downturn, our unwavering commitment to public safety has
yielded tangible, positive results.”

At the mid-year mark for 2010, crime is down six percent with total
violent crime down 11 percent and property crime down five percent. The
Mayor and Chief noted a rise in homicides, up four percent from last
year however since 2005, homicides are down nearly 40 percent.

Pledging continued success in crime reduction, the Mayor and Chief
reiterated their commitment to public safety and to maintaining the size
of the police force. They also highlighted the success of more targeted
police strategies, community policing and improved enforcement tactics.

In addition, in the first six months of the year, the City has
experienced a nine percent decrease in gang-related crimes. Gang
related robberies declined by 10 percent, aggravated assault decreased
by eight percent and gang related attacks on police officers are down by
21 percent.

Complementing the City’s police force, the Mayor’s office of Gang
Reduction and Youth Development has targeted gang intervention and
prevention efforts where they are needed most - in the areas of highest
gang crime. This summer, the City will once again keep the lights on at
parks in the most violent plagued neighborhoods and has expanded its
Summer Night Lights program to 24 parks this year.


MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA JOINS TOP OBAMA ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS FOR
AMERICA'S GREAT OUTDOORS INITIATIVE LISTENING SESSION

Listening session is part of President Obama’s America’s Great
Outdoors initiative to promote and support innovative, community-based
conservation efforts and to reconnect Americans with the great outdoors

LOS ANGELES - Mayor Villaraigosa today joined top White House officials
for a listening session in Los Angeles under President Obama's America's
Great Outdoors Initiative to hear the public's ideas for building a 21st
century conservation and recreation agenda and reconnecting Americans
with the outdoors.

"The White House visit speaks to this administration's recognition for
potential urban revitalization here in Los Angeles," Mayor Villaraigosa
said. "We need to continue protecting and creating open space, because
it represents the inclusive spirit of our City. With universal access to
enrichment through the outdoors, all of us are awarded the same
opportunities to thrive and grow."

The listening session was one of a series the Administration is
conducting as part of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors
initiative to promote and support innovative, community-based
conservation efforts and to reconnect Americans with the great
outdoors.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar,
White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley,
Agriculture Under Secretary Harris Sherman, and Army Corps of Engineers
Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy participated in the session, which
was held at Occidental College. Earlier in the day, the Administration
officials also held an America’s Great Outdoors youth listening
session at Rio de Los Angeles State Park.

"Green space in our urban areas must be part of the 21st century
conservation strategy for America's Great Outdoors. Far too many of our
cities have limited access to parks for children, low-income residents
and communities of color," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "We
are here today to learn from the people who know these parks and outdoor
spaces best, so that we can recreate their success in communities all
across the country."

“We share a passion and a responsibility to take care of the places
we love and the communities we call home,” Secretary Salazar said.
“The America’s Great Outdoors Initiative embodies this commitment
and that is why we are here today. Southern California’s beauty and
outdoor lifestyle is something we must take advantage of and protect. We
want to hear your ideas and support your efforts to conserve our land,
water, and wildlife. Most importantly, we want to keep the connection to
the great outdoors alive for generations to come.”

“Just like many states and communities throughout America, the people
of Los Angeles are intensely proud of their parks and outdoor spaces,”
said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental
Quality. “This event and others like it are highlighting how
communities like Los Angeles are coming together to clean up, protect
and enjoy their cherished outdoor spaces, and how the Administration can
support these ground-up efforts.”

“Public and private conservation and natural resource stewardship are
integral to the history, culture, and prosperity of California,” said
Harris Sherman, USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and
Environment. “We look forward to hearing in greater detail about the
hard work happening in the area, because support for successful regional
and local conservation efforts will be key as we chart a 21st century
conservation agenda.”

"The Los Angeles community's efforts on water quality improvement,
flood risk management and ecosystem restoration are models for how we
can integrate these efforts while providing outdoor recreation
opportunities,” said Assistant Secretary Darcy. “Collective learning
and sharing best practices will help us better steward our lands and
waters, and serve their visitors. I look forward to learning from these
events."

President Obama inaugurated the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative
at a White House Conference in April. The conference brought together
leaders from communities across the country that are working to protect
their outdoor spaces and focused on developing and supporting innovative
ideas for improving conservation and recreation at the local level.

Under the initiative, the Administration is reaching out to communities
across the country to hear good ideas about conservation and to learn
about the efforts that ordinary Americans are making to conserve our
land, water, and wildlife.

For more information on the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative,
please visit:
http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors.


MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA ANNOUNCES NOMINATION OF CHRISTINA NOONAN TO THE
BOARD OF WATER AND POWER COMMISSIONERS

Christina Noonan, a respected commercial real estate executive and
businesswoman, will help the Commission create a more transparent and
business-friendly Department of Water and Power

LOS ANGELES - Mayor Villaraigosa announced today that he will nominate
Christina Noonan, a respected commercial real estate executive and
businesswoman, to the Board of Water and Power Commissioners.

“With her extensive business and strategic experience, Christina
Noonan will bring a unique perspective to the Board of Water and Power
Commissioners,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “Drawing from her corporate
experiences, she will help transform the DWP into a more efficient,
transparent, and business-friendly organization that makes smart
decisions on behalf of the City and ratepayers.”

Ms. Noonan brings over 14 years of business experience to the Board of
Water and Power Commissioners. As Senior Vice President of Jones Lang
LaSalle’s Los Angeles office, she develops strategic real estate
solutions for clients and advises clients on the best strategies for
their purposes. Over the course of her career, she has successfully
negotiated more than $200 million of building leases.

"I am honored to have been chosen to join the Board of Water and Power
Commissioners at this critical junction in the DWP's history," said Ms.
Noonan. "I look forward to furthering the Mayor's efforts to modernize
and reform the nation's largest municipally-owned utility."

Reforming the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to make it more
effective, accountable, and transparent to its ratepayers is one of
Mayor Villaraigosa’s top priorities.

A full biography of Ms. Noonan is attached.


MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA WELCOMES ANIME EXPO TO LA, ANNOUNCES ITS RETURN IN
2011, 2012 and 2013

Anime Expo Three-Year Commitment Expected to Fill 30,000 Hotel Rooms
and Generate $108 Million for Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa visited the Los Angeles
Convention Center to welcome the return of Anime Expo to the City of Los
Angeles for the third time. The four day gathering is the nation’s
largest anime and manga convention and organizers have announced their
intention to hold the convention in Los Angeles through 2013.
Collectively, this event is expected to generate more than $100 million
citywide in the next three years.

“Los Angeles is the perfect host city for this event thanks to our
many local companies specializing in cutting-edge technology, our
irrefutable standing as the epicenter of the entertainment industry, and
Downtown LA’s immaculately planned infrastructure,” Mayor
Villaraigosa said. “In addition to hotel rooms in every price range,
we have a state of the art venue to support a convention of this
magnitude. We are thrilled that the Anime Expo has already pledged to
return for the next three years. It is a true testament to LA’s status
as a world-class destination for conventions.”

This is the third time in the event’s 19-year history that it has
chosen Los Angeles as its host city. This year’s Anime Expo -
organized by the Society of Promotion for Japanese Animation and touted
as AX 2010 - is expected to generate a $24 million economic impact on
the City with a total of 7,200 hotel room bookings.

Some 50,000 attendees, a mix of industry professionals and enthusiastic
fans, were housed at hotels throughout Downtown Los Angeles, including
JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE, Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles,
Hilton Checkers Los Angeles, Kawada Hotel, Los Angeles Athletic Club,
Hotel Figueroa, Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown, The Westin Bonaventure
Hotel & Suites, Los Angeles Marriott Downtown, Wilshire Grand Los
Angeles, Millennium Biltmore, and Omni Los Angeles Hotel.

“What makes this event unique is that it isn’t limited to
industry-only professionals,” said Mark Liberman, president and CEO of
LA INC., the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The public
is also invited, which has the potential to generate additional revenue
in extended stays, especially at the start of the Fourth of July holiday
weekend. It’s an opportunity for LA to showcase its many restaurants,
attractions, unique neighborhoods and cultural venues as one of the
nation’s most desirable tourist destinations.”

AX 2010 served to foster trade, commerce and the interests of the
general public and animation industry. Under the direction of Michael
Lattanzio, CEO of the non-profit Society of Promotion for Japanese
Animation, the expo has significantly grown this year, both in terms of
attendance and company participation. The convention brings together
devoted fans, business professionals, enterprising students, and
trendsetters who convene to discuss ongoing trends and speculate on the
impact Japanese animation will have on the U.S. and international
markets at large. AX 2010 promises to showcase new developments with
product branding playing an instrumental role on the convention floor.

“Anime is grounded in a sense of flair, showmanship, romance and
adventure wrapped in a blanket of creativity. So is our expo and so is
Los Angeles,” Lattanzio said. “It’s the perfect pairing. We’re
excited about our commitment to the city.

"The Los Angeles Convention Center wholeheartedly looks forward to the
continuation of its successful partnership with Anime Expo as thousands
of anime and manga enthusiasts will come home to celebrate the largest
convention of its kind in North America,” said Pouria Abbassi, P.E.,
CEO and General Manager of the Los Angeles Convention Center. “We are
fortunate to experience the energy of this great event."

City of Los Angeles' proposed Low Impact Development Ordinance.

Dear Clean Water Supporter:

The proposed Low Impact Development Ordinance has been scheduled to be reviewed and discussed at the July 20th, 2010 meeting of the City of Los Angeles, Energy and Environment Council Committee.

Here are the details regarding the Energy and Environment Council Committee meeting:

Date: Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: City of Los Angeles, City Hall, 200 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Room 1010

Please plan on attending this meeting and providing your input regarding the
City of Los Angeles' proposed Low Impact Development Ordinance.

http://www.lastormwater.info/



Shahram Kharaghani
L.A. Stormwater Program Manager

Council District 2 Newsletter

Visit the following link for newsletters and updates from Council District 2, Paul Krekorian

http://cd2.lacity.org/index.htm

Message from Buck McKeon

On Friday, July 9th I will be hitting the road and traveling to the Sunland and Tujunga area to set up a mobile office in order to hear from and assist members of the local community. In order to provide you with a full spectrum services, I will have multiple staff members and a caseworker on hand to answer questions and help resolve any issues you may have.

Our mobile office will be located at the North Valley City Hall Auditorium from 2- 3:30 P.M on Friday afternoon.

Everyone is invited, so if you know of others in the community who may be interested in attending, please feel free to let them know as well.

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to seeing you on July 9th.

Sunland/Tujunga Mobile Office

Location: North Valley City Hall Auditorium

7747 Foothill Blvd.

Tujunga, CA, 91042

Date: Friday, July 9, 2010

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 P.M

For more information regarding this event, please feel free to contact my office at 202-225-1956. You can also visit my website at http://www.McKeon.house.gov.

Sincerely,

Buck McKeon
Member of Congress

Sunland-Tujunga Parade & Fireworks-Happy 4th of July

Parade starts at 10am - Mt. Gleason & Foothill to Sunland Park
4th of July fireworks at Verdugo Hills High School - gates open at 4pm
Bring your blankets and beach chairs!! Live music, water wars, Honorary Sheriff and watermelon court
Admission $5.00 - kids under 36" free.