Councilmember Krekorian flanked by Councilmember Englander (l) and Councilmember Rosendahl (r),  delving into the budget details.

Greater than expected pension fund investment returns and new contributions by most city employees also helped the city temporarily move from red to black, but officials issued tempered optimism in the wake of the report's release, saying Los Angeles is still likely to face a significant deficit next fiscal year, possibly as much as $200 million. 

Structural budget issues will also continue to put pressure on the city's budget, including rising personnel and pension costs and increases in retiree health care.

'It is likely the pattern of reporting shortfalls and subsequently identifying offsets will continue as long as the city is confronted by restricted revenue growth and increasing costs,'' City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana said in the Financial Status Report.

To cover the anticipated deficit next year, Santana said the city must continue to manage its growth in expenditures, build a sufficient reserve and make ongoing cuts.

The report was dissected last week, at the Budget and Finance Committee's weekly meeting, where Councilmember Paul Krekorian, the Chairman of the committee, said that it is premature to celebrate. 

"The report reflects our ability to save and a very modest improvement in the economy, but our challenge will be to maintain momentum to permanently erase our ongoing deficit," Councilmember Krekorian said.

To see the Financial Status Report, click here.

LOS ANGELES - The City Council last week approved a modest increase to water rates, ensuring the LADWP will be able to meet federal and state water quality regulations while also making certain important reservoir projects are not impacted.

The adjustment, which officials said are in line with other utilities, includes a 35-cent increase to the Water Quality Improvement Adjustment Factor, which helps the LADWP pay for major, legally mandated drinking water quality projects.

"Any increase in rates, especially during these difficult times, is hard to support," Councilmember Krekorian said. "But this step is absolutely vital to our city's continued ability to provide safe water, avoid long-term financial penalties and will fund important water quality projects."

The adjustment will be used to pay for six projects of system-wide importance through 2013, including Griffith Park's Headworks Reservoir, an aqueduct filtration plant in Sylmar and tunnels beneath the Silver Lake Reservoir. It will also help the city comply with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and maintain programs that reduce contaminants like lead, copper, arsenic and hexavalent chromium.

"Water rates in Los Angeles, even with this increase, remain competitive with other utilities in the region while allowing us to proceed with construction of urgently needed drinking water quality projects," LADWP General Manager Ron Nichols said.   

The modifications to the Water Rate Ordinance approved by City Council are subject to review by the Mayor, and are expected to take effect in late March.

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A thing of the past in Studio City

STUDIO CITY - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa this week signed into law an ordinance codifying the Residential Floor Area, known as the RFA. The ordinance was unanimously approved by the City Council Feb. 7 and follows more than two year's worth of meetings with community groups across a divergent landscape of concerns as Councilmember Krekorian's office worked to adopt a better way of addressing mansionization while preserving the character of neighborhoods.

The RFA will control mansionization for 3,945 Studio City homes and represents the widest ranging set of guidelines a community has ever enacted to maintain the integrity of their neighborhood.

 "I am very happy to report that Studio City's long journey toward greater community protection is complete," Councilmember Paul Krekorian said. "This action comes after a sustained effort by my office and so many in the community to limit the mansionization of Studio City. 

"With this ordinance, nearly 4,000 Studio City homeowners will now enjoy a level of comfort knowing that the character of our neighborhoods will be protected against the impacts of mansionization without unduly imposing on property rights. I'm proud that we have been able to develop a community consensus around a pragmatic and effective solution."

The ordinance will take effect March 25.

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Sunland's Senior Lead Heads to Van Nuys

A grateful community bids farewell

SUNLAND - Larry Martinez, who served Sunland as its Senior Lead Officer for nearly a decade, is moving on from his North Valley post to serve as a Sergeant in the Los Angeles Police Department's Van Nuys Division.  

A permanent replacement has not been named.

Martinez worked in Sunland for nine years, engendering the good will of neighbors and a council office with whom he worked very closely on a range of issues.

"You have consistently shown the importance and value of partnerships and creative problem solving through community policing," read a certificate Martinez received from Councilmember Krekorian upon his exit. "Foothill Division has benefited through your strong, dedicated and engaged leadership, and Van Nuys Division is fortunate to have you in your new capacity as Sergeant."

Martinez, many said, worked across the board to help the community solve a broad range of issues, including disputes that arose between businesses and neighbors. Martinez has also been instrumental in dealing with the challenges of homelessness in the region, where he effectively increased public safety while helping connect the needy with social services.

That strategy was on display in May 2011, when Martinez, the office of Councilmember Krekorian and the community partnered with social services to clean up the Tujunga Wash.  

The group scooped up bags of debris in an area that had become a magnet for trash and a potential safety hazard for hikers and horse riders. Martinez worked with community groups and social service organizations to find more permanent housing for six former residents of the wash that day.

He also helped a number of formerly homeless in the community by finding them permanent housing during Councilmember Krekorian's "Homeless Connect" Days.

The LAPD has appointed a temporary Senior Lead Officer to cover Sunland and has also tasked Tujunga's SLO, Officer Rich Wall, to help the community until a permanent officer is appointed.

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Commerce Avenue to Receive Upgrades

The project is a joint effort of the Bureau of Street Services and the office of Councilmember Paul Krekorian, and will be funded in part through the "Great Streets" program. The repaving and restriping of Commerce Avenue will upgrade the current cracked and pothole-riddled strip, easing travel for cars and bicyclists and enhancing the appearance of this important part of "Old Town" Tujunga.

The "Great Streets" program is part of a citywide effort to improve the quality of daily use for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. The program works to ensure the continued vitality of historically significant street lights, such as along Commerce Avenue, while also improving the conditions of sidewalks and curbs.  

Councilmember Krekorian is also tapping his own office's funds, without impacting the General Fund, to repair clocks, planters and more.

Officials will post "Temporary No Parking Signs" in the area at least 24 hours before construction starts. Those restrictions will be removed once the project is complete.

Families and caregivers of persons with disabilities looking to travel along this stretch of Commerce Avenue during constriction can request assistance at least 72 hours in advance. For questions or concerns, call our office at (818) 755-7676 or the construction hotline at (818) 756-8651.

The project is expected to be complete this spring.

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LAKE VIEW TERRACE - Cyclists rejoiced last week when new bike lanes in Lake View Terrace were painted, capping off a month's long project to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety while also improving traffic flow.

The new Foothill Boulevard bike lanes run from W

The celebration kicks off at 10 a.m. in the parking lot of All Nations Church, 10000 Foothill Blvd., Lake View Terrace, 91342. Helmets are a must, though water and snacks will be provided. To RSVP or get more information visit us on Facebook or call or email District Director Damian Carroll at (818) 755-7676.

[See a map of the route here]

"I'm very happy to see the council district taking direct action to protect people's lives on this important route, where only a year ago a cyclist was killed," said Ayla Stern, Council District 2's Bicycle Advisory Committee representative.  "I encourage residents throughout the district to support the implementation of bike lanes on other streets as well - not only in response to tragedy but as a protective measure."

The additions on Foothill are part of a larger city bike plan that helped lay about a half-dozen miles of new bike lanes across Council District 2 last year and more across Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Department of City Planning's 2010 Bike Plan designed an extended path network across the city divided into three different types of networks: Backbone, Neighborhood and Green.

The new bike path along Foothill Boulevard is part of the 'Backbone' path that provides an interconnected system of streets to facilitate bicyclist mobility on key arterial stretches.

"It is a connector route network that links retail, metro points, major employment areas and recreational rides and is generally the preferred route for experienced bicyclists," city planners said.

Other bicycle networks link neighbors along stretches that do not experience as much traffic and 'green' bike paths that offer access to open spaces, such as the ones that follow the Los Angeles River.

For more information, see www.bicyclela.org.  

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Volume 3, Issue 3

February 16, 2012 

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