Neighborhood Councils Will Conduct Elections in 2012

Just before coming to the Studio City Neighborhood Council meeting on Wednesday night, President John Walker said he found out that all of the councils will be holding elections in 2012—and they have to pay for it, too.

"Today I can verify that the Neighborhood Councils will be holding elections and we will be responsible for paying for those elections out of our budgets," Walker said. The election could cost about $7,000.

Previously, the Los Angeles City Clerk's office helped the 96 local neighborhood groups conduct their own elections, but budget cuts have decimated that office, and they can no longer staff the smaller elections.

"There are a lot of elections coming down the pike, and they can't do it for us, but they will help as much as they can," Walker said.

The neighborhood councils are given about $40,000 a year to spend on community projects, and now a big chunk of that must be spend on holding elections. The councils are advisory bodies of community residents, business people and stakeholders that give city agencies and the city council members recommendations.

Originally, the elections were canceled as a cost-saving measure, and the existing teams could hold their office until 2013.

Walker said, "I think it's better for the community that we have elections and not have people on the board for seven or eight years."

The elections would most likely be held in Spring of 2012. Anyone who has a stakeholder interest—works or lives in Studio City—is eligible to vote for the at-large seats or the area of your stakeholder, which includes renter, homeowner, employee, business owner, etc.

Late Wednesday night, Ron Taylor of the By-Laws committee made two motions that refined definitions of a Business Representative and other responsibilities in order to avoid issues and