Englander E-News: Re-coding L.A., New LAPD Commanding Officer, More

Over the next five years, the city will create a:

• Dynamic Web-Based Zoning Code — Clear and predictable Code that better meets the City’s current and future needs, and that also provides an interactive on-line experience
• Guide to Zoning — Quick reference, easy-to-read guide to the new Code’s land use and development regulations
• Unified Downtown Development Code — New zoning tools customized for the heart of Los Angeles, Downtown

The new Zoning Code will more effectively implement the goals and objectives of the General Plan and the City’s 35 Community Plans. Additionally it will offer a wider variety of zoning options that protect and enhance our communities, and reflect the diversity of Los Angeles and allow each neighborhood to maintain a distinct sense of place.

I encourage you to get involved in this process by attending future public meetings, workshops and hearings and making your voice heard.

(In the photo above: A planner joins with a team to create a detailed model of Downtown. Completed between 1938 and 1940 under the Works Project Administration, this model may still be viewed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History.)

Captain Justice was appointed to the Department in 1985. He was assigned to Topanga Area after serving at Communications Division. Communications Division is the largest division in the Los Angeles Police Department with approximately 590 sworn and civilian employees. He was assigned to Communications after serving as the Commanding Officer for Real Time Analysis and Critical Response (RACR) Division.

Captain Justice has worked patrol in Southwest, Rampart and Foothill Divisions. He has also worked Office of Operations, Use of Force Review Section and Internal Affairs. He was promoted to Lieutenant in May 2000. As a Lieutenant he was assigned to Devonshire Patrol Division, Metropolitan Division and Professional Standards Bureau. On October 31, 2004, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and was assigned as the Commanding Officer of West Valley Patrol Division.

Captain Justice is a second-generation Los Angeles Police Officer, his father Hal Justice retired as a Captain in 1982. Justice was born in Los Angeles and raised in the San Fernando Valley. He attended Monroe High School and received his Bachelor’s degree in Management from the University of Phoenix. Captain Justice earned his Master’s degree in Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate School in March 2013. Captain Justice has been married for over 20 years and has a 14-year-old son. He is active in his church and the community as a coach of youth basketball.

I am pleased to announce that construction work is now underway to provide legal street parking on Mason Avenue and Sesnon Boulevard near the Porter Ranch Community School.

The school year began with students and parents delighted with their new home school, but frustrated with the lack of parking. I introduced a motion, which was approved unanimously, to provide some immediate relief by removing the bicycle lane on the east side of Mason Avenue and replacing it with street parking. This temporary measure worked in the interim, but we now have a permanent solution underway that represents a safe and collaborative resolution.

Parking will be allowed on east side of Mason Avenue and on the south side Sesnon Boulevard during busy school hours, but not during evenings or weekends. The landscaped medians on Mason Avenue will be modified to provide additional pavement width, allowing for parking and the bike lanes to be re-installed and open to the public this summer.

This effort was spearheaded by my office, but required the partnering of LADOT, BOE, LAUSD and Porter Ranch Development Company. Thank you to LAUSD and Porter Ranch Development Company for the monumental endeavor and the financial commitment to continuing to improve the Porter Ranch community.

Earlier this month, my office was proud to launch our inaugural “Excellence in Public Service” Leadership Development Program!

Eight local high school students were selected to participate in this interdisciplinary program teaching students how to solve real-world community problems by integrating field study and academic research while leveraging technology to develop public policy solutions. Students will also learn how to navigate the network of public agencies, facilitate collaborative coalition building, and master interpersonal skills to succeed in the workplace. 

This week, the students visited the Wilkinson Multipurpose Senior Citizen Center in Northridge and learned about the wide variety of programs and services provided at the senior center. Executive Director Marianne Ybarra shared the various academic subjects such as sociology and social work, the students can study in college if they're interested in serving the growing aging population in our community. The students also analyzed census demographic data to illustrate the changing population in each of the zip codes within CD12 to help them better understand the challenges facing the senior community and identify solutions.

Throughout the summer, the students will be exposed to various career opportunities within the City of Los Angeles and partner organizations and be provided with real-world experience intersecting the public sector, business and the nonprofit community.

For more information about the program, contact Semee Park atSemee.park@lacity.org

As part of our “Year of Healthy Living,” Councilmember Englander is hosting a District 12 Photo Contest. We are seeking submissions of photographs depicting examples of healthy living. District 12 boasts the most public parks in Los Angeles, providing photographers a wide variety of opportunities to capture examples of a healthy lifestyle. However, healthy living means more than just eating vegetables and exercising. It also means taking care of our community, our environment, our mental health and more. There is a lot of room for creativity in the “Year of Healthy Living” Photo Contest.

After an initial screening process, photos will be posted on our contest Facebook page. Finalists will be determined by how many “likes” your photo gets on the Facebook page and five winners will be chosen by Councilmember Englander. The finalists and winners will have their work proudly displayed at Councilmember Englander’s Community Service Center in Chatsworth.

Click here to visit our CD12 Photo Contest Facebook page.

For more information please contact Semee Park at (818) 882-1212 or email at semee.park@lacity.org.

The Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce is launching a Business Academy. The Business Academy is a practical, educational program designed to strengthen the business acumen and skill set of small business owners.

Course Work Dates:
Saturday, June 22
9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Friday, June 28
9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Tuition Fees:
$350.00 for Chamber Members
$550.00 for Non Chamber Members

The course work module covers the following topics: Marketing and Sales, Social Media, Customer Engagement, Strategic Partnerships, Business Modeling and Communications Styles. The second module consists of break out groups in which each member is given an opportunity to be the sole focus of the group for one meeting. The designated business owner will present their business model and challenges for group discussion and feedback.

For more information call (818) 341-2428 or visitwww.chatsworthchamber.com.

Saturday, June 22
Sunday, June 23
9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Joseph Jensen Water Filtration Facility
13100 Balboa Blvd
Granada Hills

Registration is open to all kids who will be between the ages of 4 to 18 years old as of July 31, 2013.

AYSO is a volunteer organization dedicated to providing a healthy soccer experience for young people from the ages of 4 to 19. AYSO is based upon six guiding principles: Open Registration, Good Sportsmanship, Balanced Teams, Everyone Plays, Positive Coaching, and Player Development. AYSO stresses a positive attitude at all times. Soccer should be fun!

As a part of Councilmember Englander's "Year of Healthy Living" we are proud to promote Youth Soccer as a great way for kids to get out and get active!

For more information please visit www.ayso174.org.

Northridge Fashion Center is spotlighting local musicians every Thursdayin June at our outdoor Theater Plaza, located near Yard House, from 5pm-7pm, weather permitting.

Join the Northridge Fashion Center as they introduce this music series to the community and show off great talent! Bring a blanket and cozy up with the family for an entertaining evening.

Thursday, June 27 - Angela Mukul (Acoustic Duo)
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Northridge Fashion Center Outdoor Theater Plaza
9301 Tampa Avenue
Northridge

Shops at West End Chatsworth in collaboration with the Chatsworth Fine Arts Council present the 2nd Annual West End Art Walk. The art walk will feature a showcase of galleries, artists, restaurants, shops and small businesses located in the Historic West End of Chatsworth.

Friday, June 28,
Friday, July 26
Friday, August 30
5:30 pm - 9:00 pm

21800 Devonshire Street
Chatsworth

The West End Art Walk is dedicated to enhancing the economic development and revitalization of the community for businesses, visitors, and residents. Come and you could win tickets to the Hollywood Bowl!

For more information please contact (818) 341-8888 or info@we-shops.com.

Our Legislative Deputy, Brenton Tesler, reports that the Granada Hills Rotary Foundation is offering 100 laser-engraved memorial bricks to be added to the Memorial Walkway in the Granada Hills Veterans' Park.

The Foundation maintains the Granada Hills Veterans’ Park, which they refurbished in 2009 and 2010. The memorial bricks have helped raise funds for the renovations and continue to help pay for maintenance.

There are now 825 bricks which were sponsored and have names and messages from individuals, families of fallen and current soldiers, local businesses and community-based organizations.

This is the last opportunity to sponsor a memorial brick. The deadline to sign up is June 27, 2013, and the final 100 bricks will be installed in mid-July.

The Veterans' Park's pergola was made possible by the Granada Hills Improvement Association. New landscaping, brick and cement work, flagpoles, monument and statue were supported by Jake Parunyan, Kenn Cleaners; Councilmember Mitchell Englander; former Councilman Greig Smith; the Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council; the Granada Hills North Neighborhood Council; the Department of Cultural Affairs; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2323; and the Granada Hills Rotary Foundation.

For more information or to request a brick, please contact John Weitkamp at jweitkamp@aol.com or (818) 363-3144 or Dr. Carl Melnik atdrmelnik@ghoc.com or (818) 366-2020.