Welcome to the July 2023 edition of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council's (SONC) newsletter, the Ziff Flyer.

Please be advised this newsletter has been updated to reflect our July 10 meeting location as the Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center at Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park (5056 Van Nuys Blvd)! We will not be meeting at the Middle School on Monday.

Message from the President

email: lindsay.imber.sonc@gmail.com

June 30 concluded the term of office for several SONC Board members, and for my first term as President as well.

I wish to thank the departing SONC members from Areas 4 and 6—Joe Cappelletti, Lisa Cappelletti, Lisa Petrus, and Harold Shapiro—for their hard work and service to the Sherman Oaks community.

We also welcome Brett Collier, Arezou Diarian, Brian Patton, Kylee Peña, and Row Zadeh to the board after their election victories on June 22. Congratulations and welcome to public service on the neighborhood council! Additionally, incumbent members Jeffrey Hartsough, Lindsay Imber, and Tom Materna return for new terms after winning their races. I look forward to working with each and every one of you.

We invite the community to meet its new (and returning) Neighborhood Council members and wish retiring members well at our July meeting, taking place at Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center (5056 Van Nuys Blvd) on July 10, 2023, at 6:30pm. The reason for this change is the middle school site is no longer available to us on July 10.

After the new board is seated, we'll hope to see all of you later in July at our screening of Mamma Mia! as part of the SONC Summer Movie Series. This free event at Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park will take place the evening of Saturday, July 22, with the movie beginning at dusk. Bring your picnic blanket or chairs and feel free to sing along with the show.

Retiring 2nd Vice President Harold Shapiro served as editor of this Ziff Flyer newsletter until June and as I step into the newsletter editor's role and gain first-hand experience of putting this document together for my first solo effort, I grow to appreciate his efforts even more.

As Harold is additionally retiring from the role of Outreach Committee Chair, we continue our search for someone who wishes to take on this extremely important and meaningful work. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact us!

During its June 2023 meeting, the SONC board adopted a motion from Airport Committee calling for a moratorium of development at Van Nuys Airport until a Vision Study is completed and a subsequent Specific Plan is adopted.

We also adopted an update to our own Standing Rules, Policies & Procedures document and I thank the Ad Hoc Rules Committee (Harold Shapiro [Chair], Christy Adair, Lindsay Imber, Howard Katchen, Neal Roden, Stacey Segarra-Bohlinger) for its efforts. A proposed update to the Bylaws will be heard at July's board meeting.

The Board will elect new Executive Officers at this meeting, including the offices of President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.

We will also consider motions from Government Affairs pertaining to public comment at City Council and the city's proposed Wildlife Ordinance. From Planning & Land use (PLUM), we will consider a motion regarding proposed changes to the city's Al Fresco / Outdoor Dining Ordinance.

I thank my fellow Executive Officers for their camaraderie and service during this past term, including 1st Vice President Howard Katchen, 2nd Vice President Harold Shapiro, Treasurer Jeffrey Hartsough, and Secretary Stacey Segarra-Bohlinger.

Thank you for your continued interest in the Sherman Oaks community. Stay safe and be kind to one another.

With Pride and Determination—

To view details, please visit the SONC calendar.

Vision Sub-Committee Meeting

Government Affairs Meeting

July 25th, 2023, 6:30 PM

July 26th, 2023, 6:30 PM

page links for meeting agendas and to confirm dates, times and locations.

Although all SONC meetings now take place in-person, we also offer a limited hybrid meeting option—on a committee-by-committee basis and subject to the chair's discretion—using the Zoom platform.

Most committee meetings take place at Sherman Oaks Martin Pollard Branch Library, 14245 Moorpark Street, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. Meeting locations, dates, and times are listed on the applicable agenda so be sure to double check before the meeting you wish to attend.

For information on specific times and locations for each meeting please consult the SONC website calendar page:

Eight members* were elected or re-elected to the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council during the 2023 Neighborhood Council election cycle, featuring the Business (B), Community Interest (CI), and Residential (R) seats in Areas 2, 4, and 6.

The 8 new and returning SONC board members are:

*There were no candidates for election for the Area 2 Business seat. This seat is now vacant and may be filled in accordance with the SONC Bylaws.

Election results released unofficially on June 28.

Official certification date: July 6.

For additional information about the 2023 Neighborhood Council Elections visit: empowerla.org/elections

Still not sure what area you live in or who your

current Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council representative is? Email SONC.Newsletter@gmail.com with your address or cross-streets with the navigational direction -- and we will help you out!

Jeff Kalban, Chair

Email: Jeff.Kalban.sonc@gmail.com

The Vision Committee is reviewing Metro’s proposed program to erect digital billboards across the city, continuing our study to have comprehensive transit-oriented/affordable housing development planning, and on a happier note, we will be discussing transforming a portion of Vesper Ave. into a “People Street”. Come and add your thoughts to the resolution of these important community issues.

At our PLUM meeting we will update our efforts to save our community’s multi-family and our single-family areas from the City’s proposed upzoning. Currently, the Planning Department is proposing upzoning many of our older apartment buildings which will entice developers to demolish them and make way for much larger, more expensive units, that sadly will result in displacing many current Sherman Oaks residents. The City is proposing rezoning properties In single-family residential areas throughout Sherman Oaks, to allow for 4 to 6 story apartment buildings in these neighborhoods. Often with little or no parking.

These Planning Department proposals will alter the quality of life in Sherman Oaks without any benefit to the real issue of affordability. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council Vision Committee is working with a coalition of communities throughout Los Angeles demonstrating to the Planning Department and Councilmembers that the correct way to achieve affordability is through the economy of scale that building housing on our commercial corridors offers. This type of development:

This has been a multi-year effort and I am optimistic that with the support of Councilmember Raman we may prevail.

Please join us in these efforts. We meet at the Sherman Oaks Library for Vision 6:30 the first Thursday of the month and the Planning, Land Use and Land Management Committee (PLUM) 6:30 the third Thursday of the month.

Pamela Harris and Sarah Manuel, Co-Chairs

Email: Pamela.Harris.SONC@gmail.com

Email: Sarah.Manuel.SONC@gmail.com

From Pamela Harris—

On June 24th, the Human Services Committee partnered with CD4 and VIC to do a Senior Hygiene Drive at the Sherman Oaks/Van Nuys Senior Center. Stephanie Gallaway from VIC reached out to the Human Services Committee to collect everyday items needed for our seniors. The community came out to donate laundry detergent, lotion, body wash, deodorant, toothpaste, tooth brushes and other items that were requested by our seniors in need. Thank you to everyone who donated and made it such a successful event. If you would still like to donate - please reach out to Stephanie at sgalloway@vic-la.org.

Saturday, August 5th from 11am - 2pm, join us for our Back to School Drive to benefit students and teachers in the Sherman Oaks Community, Location TBD. Please reach out to Sarah or Pamela for more information.

Please join our committee the 1st Monday of very month, at the Sherman Oaks Library from 6:30pm - 8pm for education and participation in helping our underserved community.

July’s meeting has been rescheduled due to the 4th of July holiday. Please join us on Friday, July 14th at 4p -5:30p at the Sherman Oaks Library.

Bob Bramen, Chair

Email: b.bramen.sonc@gmail.com

As part of the Vision Study underway by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), owners of Van Nuys Airport (VNY), LAWA presented three alternative concept plans for redevelopment of the Airport. All three of these redevelopment concepts envision the continued conversion of VNY to a major private jetport for the very wealthy.

To counter LAWAs proposals, at their June 8th meeting the SONC Airport Committee drafted an alternative to LAWAs proposals for consideration as a CIS by the SONC Board. In contrast to LAWAs Vision, the SONC Airport Committee’s Vision for VNY aims to minimize further conversion of redevelopment parcels for jet usage while encouraging, to the maximum extent possible, maintaining its its historic role as a general aviation airport for occasional use aircraft. The Committee further believes that this more balanced approach would be significantly more compatible with the surrounding densely populated neighborhoods.The Committee’s Draft Vision is available here.

The next Airport Committee meeting date has yet to be established.

Regards,

Bob

For more information visit the SONC Airport Committee web page.

Susan Collins, Chair

Email: susan.collins.sonc@gmail.com

The Public Safety Committee meeting for July 2023 will be held on Wednesday, July 12th, starting at 7:00pm, at the Sherman Oaks Public Library, Meeting Room (14245 Moorpark St).

In August, we will resume meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, at 7:00pm, in the Sherman Oaks Library.

As we celebrate the 4th of July holiday, it's important to take a few extra steps to keep everyone safe. Here are some helpful tips to keep you and your family safe: https://www.lovetoknow.com/life/lifestyle/4th-july-safety-tips

Please join us on August 1st, as we celebrate National Night Out! This event is a wonderful opportunity for community members and peace officers to connect and get to know each other. The event is hosted by the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce, Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council, LAPD, and Ralph's. Ralph's is providing light refreshments for the event. Please stop by and meet your LAPD Senior Lead Officers and learn important information about the community: August 1, 2023, from 6:00pm - 7:30pm at Ralph's located: 14049 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks (corner of Hazeltine & Ventura Blvd.) - see flyer at the below LAPD section. This is just one of several events being held on August 1st. Please check the LAPD website for your closest location.

Last (but definitely not least), we want to congratulate the graduates of the Community Emergency Response Team training. CERT members are trained in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. Participants learn how to prepare for emergencies, what supplies should be in your house NOW, how much food, how much water, but most importantly, how to protect their families in an emergency. The C.E.R.T. program is taught by our committee member Christy Adair. We're thankful for her dedication and for the community members who completed this important program.

Howard Katchen, SONC Budget Representative

Email: hkatchen@shermanoaksnc.org

The Budget Advocates hosted its annual Budget Day on Saturday, June 17th. This was the last virtual Budget Day which will be held. In person Budget Day will resume at City Hall in 2024. Attendance was large with registrants from over 80 of the 99 neighborhood councils joining in the event. There was a distinguished group of speakers and panelists. Budget Representatives and stakeholders from neighborhood councils participated in one of the twelve regional breakout sessions to discuss and opine on the city budget, city services and issues particular to communities in each region.

In addition, Budget Representatives in each region elected Budget Advocates to serve in the regions. To learn more about the Budget Advocates and their work, visit www.budgetadvocates.org.

All Budget Advocates meetings are open to neighborhood council members and stakeholders.

The Office of District 4 Councilmember Nithya Raman provides Sherman Oaks with a dedicated field deputy to handle resident and business owner issues at the city level. Ryan Ahari is the Sherman Oaks Field Deputy, and also services Van Nuys. If you need assistance with City services, agencies, and departments (graffiti, trash, abandoned properties, and more), you can always reach Ryan through his CD4 web page here or call (213) 424-2412 and Ryan's email address is:

In addition to contacting Ryan, for any issues related to homelessness anywhere within Council District 4, you can contact Senior Homelessness Deputy Sarah Tanberg (sarah.tanberg@lacity.org) or Homelessness Deputy Josh Scarcella (josh.scarcella@lacity.org)

Email Contact:

To sign up, please visit: https://nhifp.org/

If you are interested in volunteering with the LA Regional Food Bank, please visit this link.

amartinez@lafoodbank.org

Facebook - @laworks 

Twitter - @LAWorksNow 

Instagram - @laworksnow

Please visit LAWorks.com

National Night Out 2023 will take place August 1, 2023, at 14049 Ventura Blvd (Ralphs at Hazeltine / Ventura).

This event provides an opportunity to meet your Senior Lead Officers (SLOs) and other public safety officials.

Light refreshments will be served.

Get Involved In Your Community

If you are interested in becoming a Block Captain and starting a Neighborhood Watch Program in your neighborhood, please contact your Senior Lead Officer at the email addresses or phone numbers listed below to obtain further details. There are 4 senior lead officers assigned for all of Sherman Oaks:

email: 30853@lapd.online

(818) 731-2565

9SL89

email: 40229@lapd.online

(818) 731-2563

9SL63

email: 36816@lapd.online

(818) 731-2560

9SL41

email: 32914@lapd.online

(818) 731-2562

9SL37

You can contact Alan Scher for more information about the Neighborhood Watch Program.

Make a difference as an LAPD volunteer and be the change you want to see in your community. Volunteers represent a broad range of ages, from teenagers to senior citizens. As a volunteer, here are some of the available opportunities:

For information on volunteer opportunities with the LAPD, email Officer Jason Jimenez in the Community Relations Office at 38903@lapd.online, or call (818) 374-5420. You can also get more information about the LAPD Volunteer Program by visiting this link.