Englander E-News: City Budget, Memorial Day, Local Events and More ...

COUNCILMEMBER ENGLANDER'S E-NEWS

May 25, 2012

Common Sense Budget Solutions...

The City Budget was approved on Monday, May 20. As Vice Chair of the City Council's Budget & Finance Committee, working together with Committee Chair Councilmember Paul Krekorian, we were able to restore common sense and critical services to the 2012/2013 City Budget and protect our communities. 

We adopted a balanced Budget, we restored City services that were cut in the Mayor's original proposed Budget and were able to protect critical services that our community needs. This shows that, even during these extremely difficult financial times, with dwindling resources, we can do more with less by using common sense and focusing on the most important priorities: police officers, firefighters, street repair and infrastructure, maintaining our neighborhoods, and planning.

Please read a few of the highlights of what I was able to accomplish in the 2012/2013 Budget on your behalf:

• Implemented the City’s first Performance-Based Budgeting System, which I introduced this year. It applies strategic planning and performance metrics to measure the effectiveness of City programs and services and holds Department General Managers accountable for providing the excellent service our community needs and deserves. It also initiates a process to measure customer service.
• Added 6 new ambulances citywide and a Fire engine company in CD12.
• Made a Budget provision so that any unexpected increases in Fire Department revenue are required to go only toward restoring the Fire Department to full strength.
• Implemented a third-party review of Fire deployment, dispatch and protocols in order to improve our ability to ensure public safety improvements.
• Provided funding to improve Fire Department dispatch technology and methodology.
• Kept 159 civilian LAPD employees from being laid off so that uniformed Police Officers would be able to be out on patrol protecting our community instead of sitting at a desk doing simple administrative and clerical work.
• Restored local CD12 services that were cut in the Mayor’s proposed budget.
• Expanded pension reform to go even further than what the Mayor had proposed, cutting costs and saving taxpayer money.
• Prioritized Worker's Compensation investigators in the City Attorney's office to prevent waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars.
• Restored maintenance levels in our public parks to include weekends and two extra days during the week, so that trash is removed and bathrooms are cleaned more often.
• Provided funding for the first phase of a Customer Relationship Management System to help streamline service requests, make City service delivery more efficient and give people updates on the status of their service requests.
• Added an additional 65 miles of street paving.
• Added 50,000 additional pothole repairs.
• Restored Library service hours to include evenings on Mondays and Wednesdays (10:00 am to 8:00 pm) and Fridays (10:00 am to 5:30 pm) at Branch Libraries.
• Expanded the City Reserve Fund to its highest level ever, crucial to maintaining our bond rating, which saves taxpayer dollars by guaranteeing lower interest rates.
• Required the LAPD to pay cash for 117 black and white patrol cars rather than financing. The cash payment will save the LAPD enough money to purchase an additional patrol car.
• Required a long-term infrastructure and capital plan for the City for the first time.
• Restored funding for community cultural and special events, including the Granada Hills and Chatsworth Holiday Parades, 4^thof July Fireworks Spectacular, and the Valley Greek Festival.
• Utilized leftover bond proceeds to make vital repairs to Fire and Police facilities.
• Restored funding to create thousands of summer youth jobs that provide vital work experience to help keep young people on track.
• Added tree trimming for 5,000 trees, which was totally eliminated in the Mayor's proposed budget.
• Expanded funding for critical Planning Department functions by adding Zoning Administration and City Planner positions so that we can protect our neighborhoods.
• Set the groundwork for future public-private partnerships to preserve recreation, senior and cultural services and activities.
• Called for City Departments to compare their functions to the best practices of other large and local cities.
• Proposed moving responsibilities for Plan Check and Expansion from the Building and Safety Department to the Planning Department to recognize redundancies and streamline projects.
• Worked toward efficiencies in City purchases of technology, equipment, fuel and other commodities to save taxpayer dollars.
• Required the City to take a comprehensive look at its technology infrastructure - rather than one Department at a time.
• Proposed to reduce the cost and enhance the implementation of LAPD in-car-video programs by creating a data management policy that examines data storage.
• Restored some funding for the Low-Income Senior and Disabled Solid Waste Fee Lifeline program.
• Moved further and forward on additional business tax reform.
• Provided seed money for a new Economic Development Department to help create local jobs and boost our economy.
• Initiated plans to install free Wi-Fi networks at all Recreation and Parks Facilities.

Follow us on Twitter at
www.Twitter.com/Mitch_Englander.

Have a Happy and Safe Memorial Day Weekend...

In observance of this Memorial Day, May 28, Councilmember Mitchell Englander and the District 12 staff offer our gratitude and support to all of the family and friends of members of the U.S. military who have died.  

We also offer our gratitude and support of all U.S. Veterans as well as the men and women currently serving our country in the U.S. military.

This Memorial Day weekend, please enjoy the many picnics, BBQs and festivals and please celebrate responsbility so that we can keep the roads safe for all.

Support Your Local Emergency Services Professionals During National Emergency Medical Services Week...

May 20-26, 2012, is National Emergency Medical Services Week. We would like to recognize the efforts of the Los Angeles Fire Department, Police Department, 9-1-1 dispatchers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, nurses, physicians, hospital technicians and support staffs.

This week, please take the time to reach out and acknowledge the individuals in our community who work tirelessly, often risking their lives, to ensure the safety, health, recovery and survival of our families.

If you are able to, please stop by your local LAFD Fire Station and let the men and women there know that you appreciate their work and sacrifices. Click here to find your local Fire and Police Stations.

In support of National Emergency Services Week, Prohibition Burgers & Beer in Encino is offering $1 off every Fireman's Brew beer sold until June 1 to the LAFD Foundation. (Fireman's Brew is a beer label started by L.A. Firefighters who donate a portion of all sales to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.) Prohibition Burgers & Beer is located at 17620 Ventura Blvd. (at White Oak).

SOLID Pancake Breakfast...

As an LAPD Reserve Officer, I was proud to join the Police Officers of Devonshire Division and help serve up delicious hot pancakes, sausage and coffee at the annual SOLID Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, May 19. This great annual community event at Devonshire Community Police Station in Northridge raises funds to benefit SOLID (Supporters of Law Enforcement in Devonshire), which provides non-City supplied materials and equipment needed by the Police Officers at Devonshire Division.

Thank you to Regency Theatres in Granada Hills for donating 25 pairs of movie tickets to be given away to guests in a prize drawing.

I was also proud to present a certificate of recognition to Gregory Chavez, a Northridge resident who is a Special Agent in Fugitive Recovery and Child Abduction Recovery. Greg assists law enforcement agencies including the LAPD, Sheriff's Department and the FBI by traveling into Mexico to retrieve  abducted children and bring wanted criminals back to the U.S. to face trial.

For more information, visit http://soliddevonshire.org.

Join Northridge West Neighborhood Council's "Clean Sweep" Weekly Clean-Up and Help Make Northridge Shine!

Join Northridge West Neighborhood Council's Clean Sweep community beautification project every Thursday!

May 31 - Lassen St. between Vanalden Ave. and Wilbur Ave., Northridge

At 8:00 am the crew will review the game plan with free refreshments provided by Northridge West Neighborhood Council. Bring gloves if you have them, sunscreen,a sunhat and appropriate shoes for outdoor work. Northridge West Neighborhood provides the refreshments and tools.

For more information contact Jo Ann Phillips at (818) 304-4989 or japhillips1@yahoo.com or visit www.NorthridgeWest.org.

St. John Eudes Church Summer Carnival...

St. John Eudes is holding its annual Summer Carnival, with lots of great family friendly activities, May 25 - 27 in Chatsworth. This community festival features bingo games, silent auction, free live entertainment, delicious food, a beer garden for the grown ups, a drawing for great prizes, and lots of carnival games and rides!

Friday, May 25
4:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Saturday, May 26
12:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Sunday, May 27
12:00 pm to 10:00 pm
St. John Eudes Church
9901 Mason Ave., Chatsworth

Free admission, free entertainment, and free parking!
Description Family fun for all at St. John Eudes' annual 3 day
Carnival. Rides, games, food & more. For more information, call (818) 433-5359 or click here.

Volunteer or Donate to Operation Gratitude...

Volunteer or donate to help Operation Gratitude assemble and ship care packages to our troops serving overseas. Operation Gratitude is a San Fernando Valley-based non-profit organization that has sent over 775,000 care packages to bring letters of support and the comforts of home to U.S. military personnel serving in war zones abroad.

They hold major assembly and shipping drives every spring and winter, and volunteers and donations are needed year-round.

Weekdays
Mondays & Fridays, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Weekends
Saturday, May 26, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
MEMORIAL DAY program at 12:00 pm - A moment to remember, honor and pay special tribute to those who have died in service to our nation.
(Operation Gratitude is closed in observance of
Memorial Day, Monday, May 28)

Sunday, June 3, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Saturday, June 16, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sunday, June 24, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Saturday, June 30, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Gourmet lunch trucks sell a variety of delicious food for lunch in the parking lot from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm, and the truck operators each donate 10% of all proceeds to Operation Gratitude. This activity qualifies for Community Service Hours.

Anyone over 12 years old can volunteer, but anyone under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult. If you would like to volunteer please send an email to OpGratVolunteer1@yahoo.com with the subject “Operation Gratitude Volunteer.” To make a donation, visit https://www.operationgratitude.com/donate/.

Child Care Seat Safety Event in Northridge...

Northridge Hospital Medical Center is holding a child car seat safety event on Saturday, May 26.

Car Seat Check Up
Saturday, May 26
9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Northridge Hospital Medical Center
Education Auditorium
18300 Roscoe Blvd., Northridge

By appointment only. Call (818) 885-8500 ext. 3437 to schedule or for more information. The car seat check-ups teach parents, hands-on and in your own car, how to correctly use a child’s car seat or seat belt. The checkups are run by trained and certified child passenger safety technicians.

St. Nicholas Valley Greek Festival...

Don't miss the 39th Annual St. Nicholas Valley Greek Festival, the biggest Greek festival in all of Los Angeles, coming up May 26 to 28 at St. Nicholas Greek Church in Northridge.

May 26, 27, 28
1:00 pm to 9:00 pm
St. Nicholas Greek Church
9501 Balboa Blvd., Northridge

This San Fernando Valley tradition features Greek music, dance, food, culture, games, booths and more.

For more information, call (818) 886-4040 or visit www.valleygreekfestival.com.

Memorial Day in Canoga Park...

As part of Canoga Park's Centennial Celebration there is an entire day
of events planned for Memorial Day Monday, May 28.

The Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber of Commerce's Memorial Day 5K Run/Walk starts at 9:00 am at Quimby Park and goes along the route of the Annual Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade, and then back to Quimby Park for the awards ceremony.

Then at 11:00 am, the Annual Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade begins, featuring bands, cars, equestrians and floats. Follow the last fire truck of the parade back to Quimby Park for food, entertainment and vendors.

Monday, May 28
Quimby Park
7008 De Soto Ave., Canoga Park

To register for the 5k Walk/Run online, click here.
For more information about the event, call the Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber of Commerce at (818) 884-4222 or click here.

Save the Date for the Valley Family Festival...

Get ready for a day of family-friendly fun in the park at the Valley Family Festival and Movies Under the Stars, coming up on Saturday, June 2 at Northridge Park.

The AMAZING lineup includes live music and dance acts, gourmet food trucks including Gourmet Genie, PerKup Coffee and Tea, Cambalaches Gourmet, Slap Yo Mama, and Breezy Freeze!

There will also be bouncers, arts & crafts activities for kids, a climbing wall and a FREE outdoor screening of the animated movie "Puss in Boots" and more! What better way to kick off the summer than this awesome outdoor celebration of the San Fernando Valley? Please "like" the Facebook event page,  share it on your Facebook page and invite your friends to attend!

Saturday, June 2
3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Northridge Park
18300 Lemarsh St., Northridge

We are proud to host this event in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Northridge and the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks.

For more information go to http://db.tt/tsonqVto or call (818) 882-1212. 

9th Annual Still Saving Lives Car Show...

The 9th Annual Still Saving Lives Car Show & Family Traffic Safety Fair is coming up on Saturday, June 2 at Warner Center Park in Woodland Hills.

Saturday, June 2
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Warner Center Park
5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills

This annual free event is sponsored by the LAPD Valley Traffic Division and the Valley Traffic Advisory Council. There will be over 300 classics, hot rods, race cars, motorcycles and other beautiful and rare vehicles, as well as food trucks, games and vendors. The LAPD's SWAT, K-9 Unit, Motorcycle Drill Team and Bomb Squad will have demonstrations and vehicles on display.

For more information, visit www.VTAC-VTD.org.

Imagine Job & Resource Fair...

We are proud to co-sponsor the “Prepare Fair” and the “Imagine Job & Resource Fair” at Shepherd of the Hills, a great free event offering many valuable resources to help job seekers get ahead.

Speakers and workshops at the “Prepare Fair” will coach attendees free of charge to improve their interview skills, perfect their resumes and optimize online searches and applications to help find a great job!

Prepare Fair
Monday June 4
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Shepherd of the Hills
19700 Rinaldi St., Porter Ranch

At the “Imagine Job & Resource Fair” job seekers will have the opportunity to meet with as many as 100 hiring employees from a wide variety of industries. In addition, the resource area will offer valuable tools and services for the soon-to-be-employed.

Imagine Job & Resource Fair
Tuesday, June 5
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Shepherd of the Hills
19700 Rinaldi St., Porter Ranch

Any qualifying person who finds a job through the job fairs will receive clothing and gasoline vouchers to help until their first paycheck arrives, courtesy of WorkSource! Co-sponsors include WorkSource California, the Valley Economic Alliance, the Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce, the Valley Economic Development Corp., the North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce and Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council.

For more information please visit www.imaginejobfair.com..

Public Meeting on DWP's Proposed Rate Increases...

The Department of Water and Power (DWP) will be holding a
meeting on Wednesday, June 6 at LAPD Devonshire PALS Youth Center to
present information on proposed power and water rate increases. Senior
Managers from the DWP will be on hand to answer questions and take
comments regarding the proposed rate increases.

Wednesday June 6
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
LAPD Devonshire PALS Youth Center
8721 Wilbur Ave., Northridge

For more information click here.

Northridge Village Beautification Project Fundraiser at El Rancho...

The efforts of the Northridge Sparkle Campaign to beautify the business corridor on Reseda Blvd. between Nordhoff St. and Parthenia St. in Northridge have evolved into "Northridge Village Beautification." The group is holding "A Night on Broadway," a fundraiser concert at El Ranch Cordillera Del Norte on Saturday, June 9 to raise funds for the revitalization of the Historic Reseda Boulevard
Business District.

Saturday, June 9
4:00 pm - silent auction
5:00 pm - show begins
6:30 pm - wine & appetizers
El Rancho Cordillera del Norte
9015 Wilbur Ave., Northridge
$25 donation. Free Parking.

The event features nine great singers (Annie Grimes, Meggan Taylor, Gina Mitchell, Sue Fountain, Joe Green, Dave Berges, Carl Nakamura, Terry Lieberstein, and Northrdige Sparkle's own Andrea Alvarado) led by Charlie Harrison, Music Director of El Rancho. Sponsored by Northridge South Neighborhood Council.

Seating is limited so RSVPs are required. To reserve, please email northridgebeautification@gmail.com or call (818) 885-0825.

YMCA's 23rd Annual Kids To Camp Golf Tournament...

Come out for a great day of golf and help raise funds so that North Valley Family YMCA can send kids to summer camp at the North Valley YMCA's 23rd Annual Golf Tournament. 

Monday, June 11
Porter Valley Country Club
19216 Singing Hills Dr., Northridge
9:00 am - Registration, Continental Breakfast, Driving Range Open, Putting Contest
11:00 am - Shotgun start, 4-Person Texas Scramble
5:00 pm - Awards Dinner, Raffle & Auction

Proceeds from the golf tournament provide scholarships to young and at-risk YMCA campers and supports the year-round camping program for more than 1,200 young people. YMCA summer camp creates unique experiences for young people that they will remember for the rest of their lives, and is a positive turning point for many of YMCA kids.

For more information, call (818) 368-3231 or visit www.ymcala.org/nv.

New Horizons 5K Walk...

Join New Horizons for their Fifth Annual Walk on the Horizon 5k Walk to benefit developmentally disabled people in our community on Saturday, June 23 at Woodley Ave. Park.

Saturday, June 23
Registration - 7:00 am
Run - 8:30 am
Walk 9:00 am
Woodley Park
6350 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys
Map - http://g.co/maps/uuhvv

Take a little walk, or run, and make a big difference for New Horizons’ programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The event will feature a 5k run and a non-competitive walk around Woodley Park in Van Nuys, followed by an awards celebration with food, and live music by the band Arrest My Sister.

For 57 years, New Horizons has empowered individuals with developmental disabilities such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy and autism to fulfill their dreams.

For more information on Walk on the Horizon, or to register, visit www.newhorizons-sfv.org/walk or call John Thornton at New Horizons (818) 221-0644 or email jthornton@newhorizons-sfv.org.

Traffic Disruptions Possible During Final Period of Construction On Canoga Ave. Orange Line Extension...

With construction nearly complete on the Canoga Ave. Orange Line Extension, MTA is now working seven days a week including some evenings. Paving, utility, traffic signal and other work is being done on each street along Canoga Ave. from Vanowen St. to Devonshire St. Some traffic disruptions and congestion can be expected between now and the end of May.

When the Canoga Orange Line Extension is complete, it will provide a fast, safe connection between Chatsworth Depot Metrolink Station and the endpoint of the Orange Line Busway at Warner Station in Woodland Hills. It will provide Northwest Valley commuters vastly greater public transit options and alleviate traffic congestion on our streets.

For further questions, please call (818) 701-2827 or email molextension@metro.net.

A Year of Emergency Preparedness...

On January 17, the 18th anniversary of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, we kicked off our Year of Emergency Preparedness in Los Angeles.

Throughout 2012, we will be working on legislation, programs and public awareness efforts to help the residents of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley be prepared for natural or man-made disasters.

Every week, our newsletter will feature a new item in an Emergency Preparedness Checklist. These are simple steps that everyone in Los Angeles should take in order to be prepared for any disaster. If you follow each item on this checklist, you will be highly prepared at the end of the year.

Week 19: Dust Mask, Gloves, Sneakers and Goggles in Your Mobile Emergency Kit
Every car and home should have a mobile emergency earthquake/disaster survival kit. (In your home, this is in addition to your regular emergency supplies.) It should be stored in backpack, so that you can grab it and go.

If you are in your car when a major earthquake hits, you may be unable to drive on roads that are damaged or blocked. You may have to walk long distances to get to shelter. If you are at home, you may need to climb through obstacles and debris to get out. Your surroundings could also be dusty, and filled with broken concrete, broken glass and other debris. That is why it's a good idea to keep a pair of walking shoes, as well as a dust mask, safety goggles, and work gloves in your emergency earthquake/disaster survival kit.

To see our printable Emergency Preparedness Checklist, with every week's entry, click here or visit our website at www.CD12.org.

Call for Submissions - Artwork Made By Local Artists for a District 12 Art Exhibition...

Our Field Deputy Semee Park works on a wide variety of projects and initiatives in our community, including the Northridge Public Art Project. She reports this week that the Council District 12 office is putting out a call for submissions of artwork by Northwest Valley artists to be part of a community art exhibition in our Community Service Center in Chatsworth.

We will display the artworks for up to six months. There is no cost involved, and the artists will receive 100% of any sales of their artwork. The works will be by artists living or working in Council District 12 in the San Fernando Valley, and they will be related to the unique culture, landscape, people, places and life of our community or the City of Los Angeles as a whole.

If any artist wishes to donate proceeds from the sale of their work to support the arts in our community, our office will match the donation. For more information, call Semee Park at (818) 882-1212.

If you are an artist in the Northwest San Fernando Valley, please submit your work for review! Click here to see the guidelines and the entry form.