Reserved seating for Board Representatives with a CIS or Board Resolution
Passed by
- Bel Air-Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council
- Brentwood Community Council
- Pacific Palisades Community Council
- Palms Neighborhood Council (modified version)
- South Robertson Neighborhoods Council
- Venice Neighborhood Council
- Westside Neighborhood Council
- Westwood Community Council
- Westwood Neighborhood Council
Motion
Refers to City Council file 15-0524
In the interest of ensuring that local constituencies represented by Los Angeles Neighborhood Councils are heard, the ____________NC/CC requests that seating be reserved at City departmental hearings, commission meetings, and Council meetings for members of Neighborhood and Community Councils [who have submitted Community Impact Statements on item(s) before the body.*]
The _____________NC/CC further requests that the City Council introduces a motion to amend the Administrative Code (Section 22.819) to reflect this policy.
* Some Councils may choose to omit this qualifying statement, to be in line with a similar LANCC motion.
Background
On June 13, 2017, a Bel Air-Beverly Crest (BABCNC) representative was turned away from entering Council Chambers for a committee meeting on the Home Sharing Ordinance (Short-Term Rentals). Despite having a Community Impact Statement (CIS) from BABCNC in hand, the representative was told she was not allowed in because the room was full.
The City Council acknowledges that that NCs should be given special consideration at meetings once they’ve taken an official position. The Los Angeles Administrative Code now includes provision for NCs who have submitted CISs: “In the chair’s discretion at the City Board or Commission meeting, the Neighborhood Council representative may be asked to have a seat at the table typically reserved for City staff and may provide the Neighborhood Council representative more comment time than allotted to members of the general public.” (Section 22.819)
Turning away an NC member with a Community Impact Statement because the room is full—as often happens for precisely the kind of controversial issues the NC system can help parse— is contrary to the spirit of that provision and the role of NCs in general.
Download additional background
Notes
Palms NC passed the following: “In the interest of ensuring that local constituencies represented by Los Angeles Neighborhood Councils are heard, the Palms NC requests that Neighborhood Councils have the option to reserve seats at public meetings, which could include City departmental hearings, commission meetings, and Council meetings for members of Neighborhood and Community Councils who have submitted Community Impact Statements on item(s) before the body.”