WELCOME

Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council is certified by the City of Los Angeles to work with stakeholders to make Porter Ranch a Better Place to Live, Work and Grow.


Snow dusts Oat Mountain in Porter Ranch during storm on December 17, 2008. Photo by Risa Jackson.

January 6, 2009 Board Meeting Agenda
In January we are delighted to have speakers on two topics: Mr. Joe Avila, Executive Assistant to the DWP General Manager will be presenting information on the Solar Initiative, which will be on the March ballot. Mr. Avila is responsible for covering a number of subject matter areas within the LADWP including legislative policy, business and operational analysis and support to both the Water and Power Services Divisions. He will be joined by Simone Taylor, Governmental & Neighborhood Relations Liaison for the DWP. The Solar Initiative Presentation will begin at 7:15pm.

You may review the DWP Presentation in advance. You may be also interested in Solar Initiative Packet that was prepared for the City Council by the City of Los Angeles Chief Legislative Analyst and contains his analysis cover letter, a one page list of findings from the PA Consulting Firm which reviewed the solar initiative before it was sent to the City Council, Draft Copy of PA Consulting's PowerPoint Presentation and a second report prepared by Barua, Block and Company for Solar Green USA.

The LA Times reported the existence of this packet and it was recently made available. The two reports take different views of the Solar Initiative as well as the cover letter prepared by the Chief Legislative Analyst.

This information is an important supplement to the DWP presentation and this information was prepared after the date of the DWP presentation.

We will also have John Dierking, in Tax Compliance from the LA City Office of Finance. He will be speaking on Business Tax Renewal at 6:15pm. Bring your questions.

John Dierking is the current Taxpayer Advocate for the City of Los Angeles, Office of Finance. The Taxpayer Advocate serves as a liaison and advisor to taxpayers and provides assistance with complex business tax problems. The Taxpayer Advocate program is designed to provide personal assistance to taxpayers who have business tax problems that have not been resolved in the usual manner. The Taxpayer Advocate is dedicated to researching and resolving issues and complaints from taxpayers after an exhaustive effort has been made to resolve them.

The Office of Finance was created in 2000 as a result of Charter reform efforts. On an annual basis, the Office of Finance collects over $2 billion in revenue from various sources including business taxes, licenses, fees, and permits which pay for numerous essential municipal services to City residents and businesses. Our primary responsibility is to collect revenues, outstanding delinquencies and claims on behalf of other City departments.

The Office of Finance also assists other revenue producing departments in the City by recommending standardized billing and collection procedures based on best practices in an effort to improve the City.s collection of outstanding debt. We carry out the mission statement through the efforts of 342 employees and a budget of $23.4 million. The Office of Finance also provides information to businesses and individuals regarding the City's tax and fee collection program.

Recycle Your Christmas Tree
As part of its environmental commitment, the City of Los Angeles offers residents the chance to recycle Christmas trees at Recreation & Parks sites and Fire Stations throughout the City on Saturday, Jan. 3 and Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Recreation & Parks sites also accept bulky gift packaging for recycling.

To see all drop-off locations and instructions on how to recycle your tree in your green bin at home, visit www.ci.la.ca.us/san/tree-recycle.htm.

Recreation & Parks sites will give a free green gift to every person who drops off a tree!

Last year we collected more than 80,000 Christmas trees that were turned into mulch and re-used, instead of going to the landfill where they release greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

Wendy Gruel February Speaker

Wendy Gruel, LA City Councilwoman and candidate for City Controller in the March 2009 elections will be the speaker at the February 3, 2009 Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council meeting at Shepherd of the Hills Church. She will be sharing with us some of the opportunities she sees in the City through the Controller’s office.

As Councilwoman, she was Chair of the Transportation Committee, Vice-Chair of the Budget Committee and a member of the Audits and Government Efficiency Committee, the Energy and the Environment Committee, and the Jobs and Business Growth Committee. Her experience includes work in the Clinton administration, in the office of Mayor Bradley, and the Corporate Affairs Department of DreamWorks SKG.

Flood and Mudslide Warning

December and January are our rainy season. They bring the possibility of flooding and mudslides in the areas that recently experienced wildfires.

Winter rains could cause floods, landslides, mudslides and erosion in neighborhoods where the fires have burned away vegetation that normally holds runoff water and stabilizes hillsides.

They have deployed sand and bags today to critical locations so that City crews can place sandbags where needed to address flooding as quickly as possible.

They have also placed sand and bags at many locations where residents can get their own sandbags for free if they wish to use sandbags around their driveways, and yards and in front of doorways to further protect their own homes from water.

All Fire Stations in the City of Los Angeles also have burlap bags and several have sand, that residents can pick up for free, and the firefighters can offer advice on how to properly use them

Burlap bags used to make sandbags are available at all Fire Stations. The LAFD website has information on where to find all locations where free sand is available, as well as instructions on properly using sandbags at http://lafd.blogspot.com/2008/11/lafd-provides-sandbags-for-homeowners.html.

SAND IS AVAILABLE AT THESE FIRE STATIONS

Fire Station 18
12050 Balboa Blvd., Granada Hills

Fire Station 28
11641 Corbin Ave., Porter Ranch

Fire Station 87
10124 Balboa Blvd., Granada Hills

Fire Station 96
21800 Marilla St., (1 block south of Lassen, 1 block east of Topanga Cyn.) Chatsworth

Free YMCA Memberships to Military Families
The North Valley Family YMCA is providing free one year, YMCA memberships to families with a spouse or parent called to active duty in the U.S. National Guard or in the military Reserves.

The program is sponsored by the YMCA of the USA and the U.S. Department of Defense to address the needs deployed military personnel family members who live far from a military installation. The North Valley YMCA, at 11336 Corbin Avenue, began offering the free memberships October 1, 2008, for military families residing within the branch’s service area.

The Y also offers monthly morning hikes - free and open to the public. This year, family hikes are scheduled so that younger children can participate. North Valley YMCA opens the hikes to non-YMCA members as a way to reach out to the larger community.

Dana Hamlin, a North Valley YMCA member for five years, joined the group this spring and recalled a recent, six-mile night hike in the San Fernando Valley. The walk began at the end of Reseda Boulevard and followed a trail up into the hills overlooking the Los Angeles basin to a concrete platform with a huge telescope mounted on it.

“You could see all the way to Dodger Stadium,” Hamlin said. “It was a panoramic, beautiful view. You forget there’s a lot of beauty right around here.”

The next hike will be at 9 a.m., Saturday, December 6, a three-mile hike to Vasquez Rocks in Santa Clarita. A 1.5-mile family hike is set for 10 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 4 at Corriganville Park in Simi Valley, followed by a six-mile hike Saturday, January 17 at the Mishe Mokwa Trail-Sandstone Peak in Malibu.

Interested hikers should contact hike leader Jody Guerrero at jodyguerrero@ymcla.org.


Greatest Fire Risks
"Ember Intrusion" is cited as the most likely cause of homes burning during a wildfire reported the LA Times, November 18, 2008. Vulnerable points include: attic vents with greater than 1/8 inch mesh, cracked roof tiles, barrel roof tiles open at the bottom row, debris collected in rain gutters, open doors, windows, garage doors, gaps under doors and dog doors, open eaves, unscreened chimney, single paned untempered window glass, wooden decking, fencing and patio furniture, awning and items piled up near the house.

Landscaping that is particularly flammable include: palm trees, cypress, junipers and lavender. All harbor significant woody, dry material ready to ignite and spread fire. You can verify this yourself by investigating what burned along the north end of Tampa and on Sesnon near Tampa. This area is filled with scorched palms and junipers. Many homeowners are taking action to remove theirs now. This is is an excellent time to investigate what you can do to make your house more fire-proof.

November 2008 Board Meeting

BongHwan (BH) Kim, General Manger for the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) was the guest speaker at our November Board meeting. He spoke about the role of neighborhood councils, support provided by DONE, and some proposed changes to the Neighborhood Council system.

"A council's role is advisory to the City Council. An NC's power is not so much in its formal role, but rather in its role as caretakers and stewards of the local quality of life while holding government more accountable," Kim said in describing his vision for councils. The opportunity is to take an issue, get the community to weigh in on it and bring the recommendation to the Councilman's office. NCs become more effective with sufficient notice about pending City Council decisions and a sophisticated understanding about how decisions are made at City Hall.

Asked about the ongoing challenge of effect NC outreach, he said that "the most effective outreach tool is relevance," tackling issues that the community cares about. He noted that the PRNC has done a great job with outreach.

He commented that he would like to see the role of DONE changing from payment processor and enforcer to capacity builder to enable NCs to expand their influence and reach. His challenge is to use 15 field staff to effectively serve 90 councils and 1,700 NC board members. Some ideas include changing the financial system to be one with more NC control and DONE verifying NC financial audits. Online ethics and best practices training would provide a common level of understanding among board members and online reporting of training completed by individual NC board members provides transparency and accountability.

He was careful to point out that his resources could shrink in light of the budget crisis and that there would probably be another look at reducing the $50,000 currently allocated per NC.

Mayor's Budget Survey

Planning for the next City budget is underway, and the Mayor¢s Office and City Departments would like your input on what you think should be our priorities in budget planning considerations. The survey is available online at the DONE web site - www.lacityneighborhoods.com

PRNC Receives Award from BONC

During the Congress for Neighborhood Empowerment on October 11, 2008 the PRNC received an award from the Board of Neighborhood Empowerment for coming alongside the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council during the Chatsworth Train Accident on September 12, 2008.

Coyote Alert: Harden the Target
By Becky Leveque
Under cover of twilight two coyotes jumped over our backyard fence violently attacking and killing our dog, Smokey on January 15, 2008. My husband, Dave, stood less than 50 yards away from Smokey and heard the violent attack as it was occurring. He ran to the hill and saw the two coyotes running on the cement drain below our home. Smokey climbed up the hill and made her way back into the house. Dave wrapped her in a towel and rushed her to the vet, where she immediately underwent three hours of surgery. Smokey died of her injuries two hours later. It was heartbreaking.

As we investigated the coyote problem we found many neighbors with small, unprotected dogs in their back yards. We need to harden our target for coyotes just like Neighborhood Watch hardened the target for crime. One house at a time. Prevention is the key.

Coyotes are not protected animals. However, Animal Services has a policy of not killing coyotes, because that encourages their growth, with fewer coyotes contending for the same food supply. Officer Pro from the West Valley Animal Shelter told me, “Coyotes have a 76 mile radius, they are very territorial, smart, cunning, quick and hungry.” They can easily jump over a six foot fence. The type of coyotes we have are called “Urban Coyotes”. They adapt very easily.

Coyote Recommendations:
The Southern California Veterinary Medical Association recommends bringing pets inside at night, as most attacks occur at night. Bring pet food inside at night too, remove fallen fruit from trees, and store trash in containers with tight lids. If you see a coyote stalking your pet, they recommend you yell and throw rocks at the coyote and take your pet inside.

The LA County Department of Animal Care and Control notes that backyard brush provides habitat for coyote prey and should be cleared; coyotes would rather dig under a fence than jump over it, so fences should have an “apron” buried at least four to six inches, extending out 20 inches and securely attached to the fence.

Report coyote sightings to the West Valley Animal Care & Control Center at 888-452-7381. For a map of coyote activity, visit www.coyotebytes.org. You may also report coyote sightings to Becky Leveque, PRNC Police, Fire & Safety Chair. Please include the specific date, time, location and number of coyotes.


Our Mission
To provide an inclusive open forum for public discussion of issues and to advise the City of Los Angeles on issues concerning City governance, the needs of this neighborhood council, the delivery of City services, and on matters of citywide nature.

To initiate, execute and support projects for the physical, social and cultural improvement of the Porter Ranch Neighborhood.

To facilitate communication between the City of Los Angeles and Community Stakeholders on issues of concern to the community and / or the Stakeholders.

Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council Boundaries-Map

• The Southern boundary is the 118 Freeway
• The Eastern boundary is Aliso Canyon
• The Northern boundary is the City line
• The Western boundary is on the East side of Brown's Canyon road. Starting at the City Line on the North end, down to the gate at the South end of Brown's Canyon and then proceeding in a straight line South to the 118 Freeway