Distinguishing between a “community council” and a “neighborhood council” might seem like an exercise in futility, but within the City of Los Angeles such a distinction is the difference between having representation at City Hall and being a local advisory board that, on occasion, could be kept out of the loop. The Brentwood Community Council (BCC) edged closer March 19 in minimizing its distinction from its neighborhood council brethren.
Thanks to a motion introduced in December 2013 by Councilman Mike Bonin, who represents Brentwood on the Los Angeles City Council, the BCC will now have the same level of notifications offered to certified neighborhood council when it comes to public hearings.
Bonin brought the motion to address the inequitable level of communication between Downtown and the BCC.
Also included in the motion is the Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC).
Council members unanimously approved the motion by a 13-0 vote; Councilmen Felipe Fuentes and Paul Krekorian were not present for the vote.
With the vote, the City Planning Dept. would now be instructed to regularly bring BCC and PPCC into the loop and notified of land use and planning issues, including legally mandated public hearing notices, just the same as any certified neighborhood council across Los Angeles.
“These two organizations provide a vital service to the City and they should be provided the same level of notification offered to certified neighborhood councils on issues impacting the City, particularly with respect to planning and land use matters,” the motion stated.
Both community councils are not labeled as “neighborhood councils,” meaning each entity is independent from and not formally affiliated with or certified by the City.
The City’s Neighborhood Councils System was established in 1999, one year after the BCC was founded. A form of direct citizen government representing specific enclaves throughout Los Angeles, there are 95 neighborhood councils in operation. Each neighborhood council elects a board consisting of business owners, property owners, and residents.
All official councils are overseen by the Dept. of Neighborhood Empowerment, or DONE; the BCC is not part of DONE, which is why it is not officially connected to City Hall.
BCC represents about 50,000 stakeholders, according to Bonin’s motion; the PPCC represents more than 27,000 stakeholders.
“While these two independent community councils are not officially affiliated with the City of Los Angeles, their role as advisory bodies to local government on issues specific to their communities is identical to that of a certified neighborhood council,” the motion stated. “They provide the same crucial function in vetting community issues and providing a respected and open forum for evaluating development proposals and land use matters.”
Councilman Mitch O’Farrell is also attached to the motion.
The Education and Neighborhoods Committee was to consider the motion in February before tabling its discussion to March 6. At the March 6 meeting, committee members waived consideration of the item, according to City records.
Neighborhood councils (NC) close to Brentwood include Bel-Air/Beverly Crest NC, Mar Vista NC, Palms NC, Venice NC, West Los Angeles NC, Westside NC, and Westwood NC.
The Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC) is also affiliated with DONE. BCC is one of 10 neighborhood and community councils as well as three non-certified boards who make up WRAC. Members of the BCC Board often vote on whether it should support WRAC motions at its monthly meetings.
