Neighborhood Council Valley Village Accomplishments for 2011

The following is a letter sent by Steven Stokes, Communication Chairman of Neighborhood Council Valley Village (NCVV) to all Valley Village stakeholders:

Happy New Year to you all!

As we celebrate the start of 2012, we have an opportunity to look back on one of the busiest years ever for Neighborhood Council Valley Village.  Your Board and hundreds of volunteers from our community worked hard to keep Valley Village one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods.

Attached is a list of our NCVV accomplishments for 2011.  Your Executive Committee, Board Committee Chairs, Board members and Committee members truly helped to make last year one of our finest.  I want to recognize our Executive Committee, Ginny Hatfield, Paul Hatfield and Dorothy Apple for their continued support and herculean efforts in 2011.   I also want to offer special thanks to our Committee Chairs – Dave Bate (Planning and Land Use), Suzanne Lewis (Projects), Steven Stokes (Communications), Jeff Walker (City Services), and Sandy Hubbard (Valley Village Vision) along with Ginny and Paul (Elections and Finance committees respectively).  All of the success we realized this year is due to their strong leadership. 

The foundation that supports what I truly believe is the city’s best Neighborhood Council is our Board of Directors.  In addition to those already named, we have a broad and very talented group who work for you every day, including Dr. Joshua Levy, Dale Liebowitz-Neglia, Charles Sulahian, Cathy Flynn, Marc Woersching and Suzanne Lauer.  Collectively these great women and men are the backbone of our effort.  Their commitment means the world to me and certainly makes Valley Village the best it can be.  

Valley Village is also fortunate to have two outstanding Council members who represent us on city business – and we extend heartfelt thanks to the staff of both CD2 and CD5.

As you read through the list of 2011 accomplishments, note that many issues listed will become new challenges in 2012.  Among these is our ongoing fight for fiscal responsibility in city government, anticipated increases in fees and rates, the selection of the Rate Payer Advocate, City Council redistricting, 2012 NC elections and much more.  We invite you to get involved today and help us with these and many other important matters that will challenge our stakeholders. 

2011 was an outstanding year, made possible by hundreds of people like you.  On behalf of our Board I commit that we will work even harder in 2012 to keep Valley Village great.  Thank you for your involvement with NCVV, and to you and yours a safe, happy and healthy new year. 

This is the list compiled by Tony Braswell, President of Neighborhood Council Valley Village:

Neighborhood Council Valley Village 2011 Accomplishments:

• Successfully fought Proposed NC Budget Cuts

• Worked with CD2 and CD5 on the Master Bike Plan to keep the tunnels closed under 170 Freeway

• Completed a major $400,000 renovation of Valley Village Park

• Hosted 2 Neighborhood Watch Open Houses

• Hosted 2 CERT Trainings; NCVV still leads Los Angeles in per capita CERT Trained stakeholders

• Hosted a reception at Marie et Cie to recognize Councilmember Paul Krekorian and the North Hollywood Police Department for their work finding the killer of Chere Osmanhodzic

• Hosted our first Pet Adoption Fair in partnership with Faith Presbyterian Church of Valley Village

• Hosted a town hall discussion to introduce 2011 School Board candidates to Valley Village stakeholders

• Established the Valley Village Vision Committee to look at long term planning in the community

• Opposed the proposed Sidewalk Ordinance seeking to make homeowners responsible for sidewalk repairs on sidewalks that cross their property

• Successfully advocated for improved street furniture at public transportation stops. The new benches and shelters will be installed in early 2012

• A financial sponsor of the Valley Village Homeowners Association July 4th Parade

• Co-Sponsored the 4th of July Pancake Breakfast with First Presbyterian’s Reverend Poole

• Organized and hosted several meetings regarding soundwalls for Valley Village freeways, including meetings with State Representative Mike Feuer and representatives of DOT and MTA

• Opposed the reduction of Metro buslines in and around Valley Village, including significant proposed changes to lines 183 and 96

• Played a leadership role in the NC Election Task Force, a 6 month effort sponsored by The City Clerk’s office to establish new NC election guidelines

• NCVV was the first NC to update and receive approval for city mandated Bylaw revision

• Sponsored the 2nd Annual NCVV Garden Tour

• Achieved 100% compliance on all required trainings and certification for Board members, including annual Ethics Training

• Purchased $1000 in books for the North Hollywood Library

• Worked with Valley Village based Marie et Cie to sponsored two successful food drives for the East Valley Food Bank

• Sponsored the 2011 National Night Out

• Moved our NCVV newsletter “The Bridge” from paper to electronic distribution, saving approximately $12,000 per year

• Upgraded the Valley Village website, and migrated to a new host for the site

• Advocated for additional public transportation shelters at key bus stops in Valley Village

• Worked hard to support Measure L which reinstated 6 day service at the North Hollywood/Valley Village library

• Worked to clarify the city’s graffiti ordinance, and successfully worked to ensure uniform enforcement in Valley Village

• Collected and submitted extensive materials to represent Valley Village in the Survey LA project

• Participated in the Colfax World Fair

• Created an ad hoc subcommittee to seek approval of a Residential Floor Area Ratio for Valley Village

• Actively participated in the State Congressional Redistricting effort, including numerous letters and phone calls to express concern about split representation for Valley Village

• Actively participated in advocating for improved sign ordinance governing outdoor advertising in Los Angeles

• Actively supported the position of a Rate Payer Advocate for the City of Los Angeles

• Participated in a leadership capacity with the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils

• Continued to monitor the proliferation of marijuana dispensaries in and around Valley Village

• Hosted a meeting for Valley Village stakeholders on the 10 year planned upgrade to the Los Angeles City wastewater system.

• Supported the Police Activity League Luncheon at the North Hollywood Police Station

• Co-sponsored the Valley Village Homeowners Association Light Up Laurel Holiday campaign

• Participated with the Mayor in the grand opening of the new Sherman Oaks fire station

• Participated in the Great American Shakeout on October 20th

• Participated in the grand opening of the new Sherman Oaks/ East Valley Adult Center

• Sponsored the 2011 Neighborhood Council Congress

• Worked with Council offices to improve pedestrian crossing on Riverside Drive near Temple Beth Hillel