WHNC meetings on 11/13/13

To digress just for a moment I grew up in the San Fernando Valley. Growing up amongst Walnut and Orange orchards was truly a modern day Tom Sawyer’s life.  I don’t see as much of that innocence of precocious youth in existence today and they’re missing so much. Yes, it does go beyond the “ah for the good ole days. “

Growing up in Chatsworth to Woodland Hills I’ve seen many changes; some good, some not so good, even some that have deteriorated into an apathy of indifference becoming the norm. “You” can be a real component to that dynamic force to change that course. Yes you can!

As our community continues to evolve, grow, re-think, those that are elected or retained to represent our best interests appear to have become comfortable with complacency. Frankly I have become somewhat incensed at the indifference of our government representatives. We shouldn’t accept this as an acceptable norm. It isn’t! It won’t be with your involvement.

It doesn’t matter if you have limitations on communications, don’t have the physical time to participate, you do have a voice. Your voice won’t be heard unless you speak up and convey what you need and what you can do. You all have value to the process.

What finally drove me to say enough, something has to be said, something different has to be done is the most recent WHNC meeting; prior meetings attended showed the same apathy of “Oh well” has taken up residence.

My observations have seen prior Council commitments to a large degree stalled; changes as promised, corrections/implementations non-existent. And these failed promises will continue unless you and I insist on a re-invigorated, proactive representation. 

With that said, here is a summary recap of the recent WHNC general meeting (11/13/13).

·         The website update for the community has been dysfunctional and inoperable since at least 2010 or earlier, candidly earlier to 2007 is where the most current updates reside.

a.       . This January (2013) they assured us by February it would be fully functional. It’s still inoperable, thus not making available information to our community.

b.      WHNC was to provide regular, current and accurate information from agendas to the results, community events and to keep us fully informed of the activities and issues.

c.       The access by the community to that information and sources of contact is inoperable and inaccessible.

·         There is still no operative Email system. It doesn’t work. It hasn’t worked. They now say it’s a funding issue. Since 2010? Yet they allocate funds for “retreats” and “other things” It appears to not be a priority unless you and I insist on it.

·         There is still no operative phone system for contacting your representative.

·         There are No updates to meetings, meeting minutes, planning’s, community issues and their resolve posted online.

·         The system that is to provide “You” the citizen with current and accurate information has failed.

            My conclusion: “Out of sight, out of mind” is in control.

Specific to some of the issues at that most recent council meeting of 11/13/13,

·         Three members left early for they tired of it. That has occurred on previous occasions

·         Many members had their own conversations amongst themselves while other agenda items addressed and community members spoke; attention has become a “ho hum”

·         Multiple members didn’t show up and were excused on record at roll call. This is a once a month meeting. Members need to allocate the time and make the commitment; certain exceptions are noted. Otherwise, resign if you can’t meet the commitment requirements.

·         An individual from another community was a supposed WHNC’s adhoc representative. This Adhoc made a recommendation related to the disposition of the Santa Suzanna NASA public proposed park lands, our land. Speaking on behalf of the council, this person was promoting a giveaway of this public lands to a group outside our community, a sovereign nation for this conversation. They don’t even reside in our community

a.        A draft letter was written recommending an entity, from out of our area, without any facts. In fact when queried, this adhoc individual said she had attended “secret closed door meetings” and saw purported documents, but couldn’t tell us anything as they were “secret, closed door” meetings

                                                  i.      One word comes to mind, “HUH!? And then the thought, “just how much of this is going on unchecked?”

b.      This by all appearances was an attempt at a giveaway to an entity in another area of the state; sovereignty after acquisition is a real issue.

                                                  i.      You the citizen of our community could lose access in totality without recourse. Those are your parklands, or were if that was to occur!

c.       In addition, under the auspices of sovereignty who says they can’t change their mind?; sovereignty in large part sets their own rules for their country of sorts

d.      A local conservancy, the Santa Monica Mountain Conversancy (SMMC) manages the adjacent land donated by Bob Hope.

                                                  i.      They expressed a sincere interest to take this property over. The property is directly adjacent to this land.

                                                ii.      The SMMC group was noted in this draft letter but discarded for reasons unknown by this Adhoc individual; discarded even though it appears to be a natural fit

                                              iii.      The out of hand rejection of SMMC raises real and serious concerns about who is directing this stewardship (?) of public lands.

e.       When the issue of sovereignty was raised, along with the fact that an entity within our community expressed a desire to take this land over, this adhoc member became argumentative.

f.        So much un-information was exposed the item was finally tabled. Why it was even considered is what baffles me.

·         Street Maintenance has left multiple roadways in the west-end of the valley in a state of unfinished work for weeks at a time. They start-leave, come back when they, uh... have the time apparently, disrupting the community in many ways.; look to Marilyn Street, Fallbrook, Burbank, Desoto as very recent examples that come to mind.

a.       Then the quality of their operations comes into issue, but another subject, another time.

b.      They’ll look into it was the response.

·         Intern funds for CPR training: There was an agenda item under consideration to give an Intern a district funds for a training course. This funding would benefit no one, other than that individual. It was finally tabled when questions on expertise and how no one in the community would benefit were raised. What is surprising, it was even considered.

·         Elections for our representatives in March are scheduled on a “Sunday.” “What are you doing”, was asked of them; “an election on Sunday?” Then the question, “what can we do now” predominated, along with parliamentary procedures and protocol, and confusion on what to do set in. You and I, the community’s best interest was lost in the process.

a.        When the question of the importance and value of our vote was raised, and how these decisions would compromise our votes, there wasn’t an answer to the meaningful question on the value of “your vote” being lost. “Say no” was apparently unacceptable.

b.      How did this occur? As I wasn’t there I can’t say for sure, but poor decision making, acquiescing with indifference, or lack of decision making at the outset was a likely component that got us to that 11th hour of compromising your voting rights.

c.       Stakeholders by definition are not just registered voters, but businesses as well in the community. Those not in the area on weekends also lose their voting rights.

·         Timely Community updates: When queried about obtaining community updates from meetings in a timely fashion, the only response was, “council meetings and agenda by law require posting of agendas 72 hours before the meeting.” What ever happened to being early so that “You and I” are adequately informed, and given the opportunity to participate? Where’s the agenda results posted after meetings?

·         In the voting on various issues, I observed that most were unanimous yes votes as the norm; many displayed a haphazard half armed uplift in that unison vote. Enthusiasm is gone and candidly all these issues can’t be that good for such unanimity.

·         A wine tasting room was under review. It appeared two of the council representatives were talking on behalf of the company seeking this approval.

·         There’s an appearance of complacency and lack of urgency by the Council Board to be proactive on your behalf.

Though our neighborhood council is only an advisory group, our input does give them the forum, in lieu of them choosing their own as they deem fit. In that regard, the issues I see of immediacy is that we need representatives, agencies, and public sector employees and management to be dynamic, efficient in the services and support they provide US/us. Yes our funds pay for them to work in our best interests and on our behalf.

As the mouth piece to our elected representatives in City Hall, we need to work with WHNC’s community agenda in representing you and I.

The WHNC call us stakeholders. We are more than just stakeholders.

To me "stakeholder" is impersonal. My name is Don and I live in this community.