Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council January 2021: Issue #1
Closer look:
Save the Date: SONC Board Meeting January 11th with Councilmember Raman

Miss SONC Speaker Series on Sunday, Dec 6th 2020 at 2:30pm? Watch the REPLAY

SONC Committee Updates

SONC Election Registration opens January 9th!

And more!

SONC Monthly Meetings
for January 2021

January 5th, 2021, 6pm

January 6th, 2021, 7:30pm

January 7th, 2021, 6:30pm

January 11th, 2021, 6:30pm

January 12th, 2021, 6:30pm

January 13th, 2021, 7:30pm
To view webinar details,
please visit the calendar.

January 18th, 2021, 7pm

January 19th, 2021, 7pm

January 21st, 2021, 6:30pm

January 26th, 2021, 7pm

January 27th, 2021, 6:30pm



Please visit the committee
pages for agendas.

*=Visit Committee page to confirm time.
Message from the President
Jeffrey Hartsough
Welcome to the Ziff Flyer, the newsletter for the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC).

Thank you for being an interested and involved member of the Sherman Oaks community.
Happy New Year 2021

The New Year is finally here, and it brings hope with it. The coronavirus fundamentally changed how we lived our daily lives last year. The rollout of vaccines this year brings hope that the virus will be brought under control and we will be able to return to “normal.” But it will take most of 2021 to get back to “normal.” Please continue to follow public health guidelines – wear masks, practice social distancing, wash hands often, avoid gatherings, and be respectful of others and their health.
Jeffrey Hartsough
President of SONC
Community Interest 2
Happy New Year to everyone. Last year was difficult, let’s resolve to be thoughtful and kind to each other this year. And yes, maybe even keep a few of those other resolutions.  

Save the Date: Monday, January 11, 2021
– Nithya Raman 

Please plan to attend the SONC Board Meeting on Monday, January 11, 2021, at 6:30 pm. Nithya Raman, our newly elected CD4 Councilmember, will be there to introduce herself and let us know what she will be focusing on in her first few months. We look forward to hearing about her city-wide priorities and how those priorities will impact Sherman Oaks, and, more locally, what she thinks the pressing issues for the Sherman Oaks community are.

To attend the virtual SONC Board Meeting on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 6:30 pm, please click on this link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85140543942 or by telephone by dialing 1-833-548-0282 and enter 851 4054 3942 #
 
You can find out when various committee meetings are being held by clicking on Come to a SONC meeting  


Elections for the Sherman Oaks
Neighborhood Council (SONC)

Neighborhood Council elections will be held this coming Spring. SONC Elections will be Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Now is a great time for you to learn not only about SONC and Los Angeles City Neighborhood Councils in general, but also to think about how you could become a more active participant in your community.

One of those ways is for you to become a candidate and run for a seat on the SONC Board. Fourteen (14) SONC Board seats will be up for election on May 11, 2021. If you’re thinking about running for one of the open seats, please take note of these fast-approaching deadline dates:

Candidate Filing Period Begins: January 9, 2021
Candidate Filing Period Ends: February 23, 2021  
Election Day: May 11, 2021

If you are interested in running for one of the open seats or just want to get periodic updates about the election, please email your name and email address to [email protected] . 

Because of COVID-19 and public health guidelines, voting for all Neighborhood Elections this Spring will be done exclusively by Vote-By-Mail ballots. Everyone who wants to vote will need to “apply” for their Vote-By-Mail ballot. The application period for requesting your Vote-By-Mail ballot begins on Friday, March 12, 2021.

The election process for this year’s Neighborhood Council elections is going to be more complex than “normal.” Don’t wait to get started. SONC is your Neighborhood Council. We’d like you to get involved.

Information about the Neighborhood Council elections will be addressed in detail during the coming months. Please explore the possibilities by visiting the City Clerk’s website at: https://clerk.lacity.org/elections/neighborhood-council-election


Wishing you, your families, and your friends
a happy and healthy New Year.

Thank you for being part of our
Sherman Oaks community.

Please stay safe.  

Jeffrey Hartsough 

Miss SONC Speaker Series
Disparities in Public Education on
Sunday, December 6th, 2020, 2:30pm? Catch the replay here:
Join us as we explore the relationship between systemic and structural inequality and race, how the effects of these inequities manifest in our public education system, the lasting impact they have on postsecondary success, and recommendations for future change.
Guest Speaker:
Martinique Starnes, Ed.D. is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Westside Neighborhood School (WNS). In this role, she works to ensure that WNS remains a diverse and inclusive community - one that welcomes and values diverse identities, traditions, perspectives, and contributions. She is a champion for equity and inclusion and works tirelessly to ensure that diverse voices are included at all levels of the education space. Prior to her role at WNS, she served as Manager of Diversity, Outreach and Community Development for the Southern California and Bay Area regions of the California Charter Schools Association and, prior to that, as Dean of Counseling and Student Affairs at Verbum Dei High School. She also serves as an adjunct professor of Communication Studies at Long Beach City College.

Thank you,
Lisa and Joe Cappelletti
Education Committee


Join Madeleine, a 12-year old student from Buckley School, in remembering those who have died of Covid-19.

MAIL 8 inch x 8 inch MEMORIAL SQUARES to:

COVID QUILT
3940 Laurel Canyon Blvd #443
Studio City, CA 91604

Visit CovidQuilt2020.com for more info.

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


Questions, concerns, please email: 
Did you miss SONC's Speaker Series
Housings Patterns in LA:
Current & Historic with Dr. Lipsitz?

Not to worry, catch the replay here.

Please note we experienced technical difficulties. Webinar begins right away with introductory presentation slides. Stay tuned for an additional introduction.
Virtual SONC Meetings – Join Us

On March 12th the City, in response to the pandemic, suspended all meetings, activities, and events of SONC. We missed the annual Spring Tree Giveaway. We missed you at our meetings. Recently SONC began to hold “virtual” meetings. These “virtual” meetings are held by way of teleconferences and video conferences. Not as personal as in-person gatherings but virtual meetings are a beginning and likely to be the way we will be meeting for at least the next several months. 

Information about the meetings and how to “join in” is available on the SONC website: www.shermanoaksnc.org. We will be adding additional information on the website about virtual meetings as we become more familiar with the best way to hold virtual meetings. Please give us your feedback and comments. And please be patient as we all learn what works and what doesn’t work. 

The next SONC Board meeting
is on January 11th, 2021.
We hope you join us.

Webinar ID: 85140543942
Telephone: 1-669-900-6833, enter 85140543942 #
SONC - Board Meeting August 10th, 2020
Zoom Credentials -- SONC Board Meeting

The agenda will be available on January 8th, 2021 on the SONC website, www.shermanoaksnc.org. 

The Access information for SONC meetings is unique for each meeting.

To join SONC's virtual board meeting on
January 11th, 2021 at 6:30 pm.


By Telephone:
1-669-900-6833, enter 85140543942 #

By the Internet:
(1) Follow link:
(2) Press “Enter”

Or from a Zoom “Enter the Meeting” Screen:
(1) Enter the Webinar ID: 85140543942
(2) Press “Enter”
(3) Enter your Email Address and Your Name, and
(4) Press “Enter”

Should you have technical questions or issues, please email [email protected].
Volunteer with NHIFP

The season for giving is here! Take advantage of helping out your community.

North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry is looking
for volunteers.

For more information, please visit: https://nhifp.org/volunteering/
How can I help my community?

If you live, work, own property, own a business or belong to a non-profit organization, school or religious institution in Sherman Oaks, you are a stakeholder in Sherman Oaks. We hold monthly Board of Directors and various committee meetings which you are invited to attend to learn about and participate in your community.

Start with the ShermanOaksNC.org website and learn more!

To access our schedule of meetings, times, and locations, visit our " Calendar " page.

To access detailed committee information, including agendas, minutes, and documents, visit our Committees page.

To view the rules of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council, visit the Bylaws page.

To subscribe & sign up to receive e-mailed agendas, visit the City of Los Angeles' Early Notification System.

For a list of motions and voting history for SONC, view the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council Motions page.

Please continue to scroll down to see SONC Committee Updates and FAQ about your Neighborhood Council.

Elections for the Sherman Oaks
Neighborhood Council (SONC)

Fourteen (14) SONC Board seats will be up for election on May 11, 2021. Voting for this election will be done with Vote-By-Mail ballots.

Now, over the next few months, is a great time for you to learn not only about SONC and Los Angeles City Neighborhood Councils in general but also to think about how you might want to become an active participant in your Neighborhood Council. One of those ways is for you to become a candidate for one of the 14 open seats. Please note these fast approaching deadline dates:

Candidate Filing Period Begins: January 9, 2021
Candidate Filing Period Ends: February 23, 2021  
Election Day: May 11, 2021

Information about the Neighborhood Council elections will be addressed in detail during the coming months. Please explore the possibilities by visiting the City Clerk’s website at: https://clerk.lacity.org/elections/neighborhood-council-election

Subscribe to SONC's 
Electronic Notification System via Department of Neighborhood Empowerment to receive all agendas for both board meetings and committee meetings.
Volunteer with The Valley of Change

The Valley of Change presents "Feed our friends in need" on the Second Saturday of the month from 8:30 - 11:30 AM.

Drop-off food, drinks, citrus & other donations at the Galleria by Friday at 6pm.

For more information please visit,

Stay connected:
IG: @TheValleyofChange
Twitter: @ValleyChange
Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council
Frequently Asked Questions


Who can join the
Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council?

Whether you are a stakeholder in Sherman Oaks, or simply an interested party, you can receive our newsletter and special bulletins by signing up for our mailing list. You are encouraged to join a committee and join the effort.


What is SONC's mission?

-To bridge the gap between our stakeholders and local government.

-To engage the broad spectrum of SONC stakeholders for collaboration and deliberation on matters affecting the community including events, issues and projects.

-To work to achieve the objectives or projects that the SONC desires to support.

-To monitor and promote the delivery of City services within Sherman Oaks.

-To promote SONC stakeholder participation and advocacy in City government decision-making processes and to promote greater awareness of and achieve maximum utilization of available resources.

-To be an advocate for the Sherman Oaks community to government and private agencies.

- To present to the Mayor and the City Council a list of SONC priorities for the City budget as per LAAC ordinance #172728 section 1, div. 22.

- To take any other action that is, or may be, authorized for neighborhood councils of the City of Los Angeles.


What are the boundaries
of SONC's jurisdiction?

Mulholland Drive on the South, Burbank Blvd. on the North, 405 FWY on the West, Coldwater Canyon Blvd. on the East to the 101, then the zip code boundary between Studio City and Sherman Oaks on the East.


What is SONC's mailing address?

Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council PO Box 5721 Sherman Oaks, California 91413


Who voted for the independent
Neighborhood Councils to start?

The voters of Los Angeles passed a new City Charter in 1999 which calls for a citywide system of independent neighborhood councils, chosen by the people of the neighborhoods themselves.


What is the purpose of the
Neighborhood Council?

The purpose of neighborhood councils is to promote public participation in City governance and decision-making process so that government is more responsive to local needs and requests. Neighborhood Councils will advise the Mayor, City Council and City Departments on the City budget and will give local residents greater say over the decisions that affect our lives.


What is SONC's purpose?

To promote public participation in City governance and decision-making processes so that government is more responsive to local needs.
SONC COMMITTEE UPDATES -- December Updates
VISION & PLUM Committee -- Jeff Kalban, Chair
The PLUM and Vision Committees are very concerned that the Planning Department pulled the Specific Plan out of the Community Plan Update. Also, we reviewed the recently issued Concept Plans sent out by Planning and their proposed up zoning of single family neighborhoods in Sherman Oaks.
Please learn about the issues and join the discussion at the January 7 Vision meeting and the January 21 PLUM Committee meeting.

To access the next Virtual Meeting on the Zoom Platform,
please see Vision and PLUM Committee page for updates and agendas.
EDUCATION Committee-- Joe Cappelletti, Chair
The SONC Education Committee is dedicated to establishing and supporting programs and volunteer resources related to education. We are committed to supporting our educators, our families and our community leaders. Monthly meetings provide an open, welcoming forum for stakeholders to get involved in helping us to make a positive impact and to build stronger connections between us.  
Speaker Series Update:

We welcomed our first distinguished guest, Dr. George Lipsitz, to the inaugural Education Committee Speaker Series. It was a wonderful and informative presentation followed by Q & A with questions from our community. We look forward to many such future events in which we feature esteemed experts to share their research and critical perspectives on the issue of race in our country. We hope to stimulate lively discussion by creating a forum for our community to come together with empathy and understanding with respect to racial inequalities. We plan to continue these events and welcome and encourage your participation and support.

We have started our book series associated with the speaker series on anti-racism. We’ll highlight a book or other form of media every 2 months in order to gain a deeper perspective and to stimulate conversation among the community. Our first suggested title is Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Tutoring Program Update:

As we are now in the 11th week of school, many Ulysses S. Grant High School students are starting to feel that they could use a little extra help with their classwork and a guiding hand to navigate their academic and extracurricular endeavors. That's where SONC's Education Committee, and in particular Fran Kerzner, Chris Wiggins, and Marcus Zimmerman, has stepped up to address this need: by creating a program that offers free one-on-one tutoring and mentoring to kids who are struggling. SONC's All Aboard Mentorship Peer Tutoring has "rolled out" at Grant High and is being extended to Notre Dame High School and HighTech LA Middle School. The program aims to pair struggling students with high-achieving and academically accomplished upper-division students. So far, the demand has been significant, and we expect to reach even more students in the coming weeks and months. If you have a student who would like to participate in this program, please contact Marcus Zimmerman or Chris Wiggins.

We are always interested in welcoming interested community members to attend our events and monthly meetings. Get involved! We’d love to hear your ideas and to work together to address the needs of Sherman Oaks and our LA neighbors.

We have several exciting new projects in the works. Come see us at our next meeting and find out how you can join our efforts.

Committee: Joe Cappelletti, Lisa Cappelletti, Fran Kerzner, Alexandria Naseef, Sarah Mirman, Marcus Zimmerman, Chris Wiggins, Owen Cappelletti

To access the next Virtual Meeting on the Zoom Platform,
please see Education Committee page for updates and agendas.

For parents who are teaching their kids at home. Please check out this Education Resource Guide put together by the Education Committee.
Please click on the button below.
Government Affairs Committee-- Gil Imber, Chair
The Government Affairs Committee generally meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month and reviews matters of citywide concern, such as city council activity, legislation, and other items involving governing bodies and departments. 
At its October meeting, the Government Affairs Committee adopted a motion in support of LA's Green New Deal relative to healthy soil strategies, carbon sequestration, water capture, and composting.

At its November meeting, the Government Affairs Committee began a long-term discussion of the upcoming LA City Council Redistricting process, which is based on 2020 decennial United States Census data. At issue relative to Sherman Oaks is our community's status relative to representation at the City Council level in Council District 4, as well as representation at the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education in Board District 3.

To further our discussion and prepare for potential recommendations relative to redistricting, we will discuss Los Angeles City Council's redistricting history, including the most recent redrawing of the City Council boundaries, which occurred in 2011, at which time Sherman Oaks was removed from Council District 5 (south of Ventura Blvd) and Council District 2 (north of Ventura Blvd), and placed into Council District 4 (entirety of Sherman Oaks). At the time of this 2011 redistricting, the Councilmember for District 11 deemed the redrawing of the map an "outrageous case of gerrymandering."

The incoming Councilmember for District 4 has similarly expressed concern about the District's boundaries, and made a campaign promise to prioritize redistricting as "a change I'll fight for if I'm elected."

Thus, the Government Affairs Committee will analyze Sherman Oaks' place in the upcoming redistricting discussion and welcomes the community to take part in this important process.

To access the next Virtual Meeting on the Zoom platform: please see Government Affairs Committee Page for agendas and webinar info.
OUTREACH Committee-- Sarah Manuel, Chair
Please join the Outreach Committee for our next meeting on Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 at 7pm. We will be continuing the discussion of our 2021 Community Programming as well as preparing for our upcoming SONC Elections in May 2021.
Over the holiday, SONC co-sponsored a Holiday Drive with the Hope of the Valley in efforts to supply towels, socks and undergarments to the Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission Shelter in Van Nuys. Special Thanks to Outreach committee members who made this happen including Kira Durbin, Pamela Harris and Alexandria Naseef. Special thanks to Notre Dame High School who supplied the space and shared in the efforts! And BIG thank you to all those who participated!

Stay tuned for more opportunities to get involved with YOUR community. We may be apart but we are still working together. 

Want real-time information and updates? Take advantage of being informed and participate in your community. We will continue to post information about volunteering, resources and more, so please "Like" us on FB and follow us on IG.

To access the next Virtual Meeting on the Zoom platform: please see Outreach Committee Page for agendas and webinar info.

PUBLIC SAFETY Committee--
Christy Adair, co-Chair &
Jenna Lewis, co-Chair
The Public Safety Committee was pleased to support the Valley Disaster Preparedness Fair which was held Virtually on October 10th. Please visit www.valleydisasterfair.com to see what resources were shared. There will be a library of lectures and video vignettes covering a wide range of preparedness topics.

To access this Virtual Meeting on the Zoom Platform: please see Public Safety Committee page for agendas and webinar info.
A few reminders:

  • In order to be more aware of local police and fire events near you - download the PulsePoint app to see real-time Agency responses and activity in your area.
  • Also, the www.LAFD.org website has a tab labeled. "Alerts" that specifically lists LAFD Responses and activity throughout the City.
TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION Committee
-- AVO BABIAN, Chair
Traffic and Transportation Committee meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month. In the past, the committee has worked on improving traffic in the hillside streets of Sherman Oaks, helped alleviate cut through traffic, studied and has taken a strong stand on the future Sepulveda Metro Project. 
We have worked to promote the LA DASH and taken a stand on ideas for bike lanes to help alleviate traffic. We have also discussed the merits of Specified Drop Off spots for Ride Share.

If you are interested in learning more about alternative methods of transportation including DASH, riding a bike or learning about the future of the Sepulveda Metro Project, consider attending a Traffic & Transportation meeting. 

To access this Virtual Meeting on the Zoom Platform: please see Traffic & Transportation Committee page for agendas and webinar info.


BUDGET ADVOCATES-- Howard Katchen
Howard wants to hear from you! If you are reading this, you are indeed a Sherman Oaks stakeholder -- your input on the city budget and city services is important. Please contact Howard with questions, for further information or to provide input.
He is here to help you understand the Budget Advocates and what they do to help our community. If you want a copy of Budget Advocates Reports & Updates, please email Howard at [email protected] or please visit www.NCBALA.com for more information.
Subscribe to SONC's 
Electronic Notification System via Department of Neighborhood Empowerment to receive all agendas for both board meetings and committee meetings.






Interested in joining the LAPD Volunteer program?

Please contact Alan Scher for more information.
Do you have questions?
The chairs have answers.
Click direct on each hyperlink to send an email.
Animal Welfare Committee

Board & Executive Committee

Education Committee

Finance Committee

Government Affairs Committee

Green & Sustainability Committee

Homeless Outreach Committee

Outreach Committee

Planning and Land Use (PLUM) and
Vision Sub-Committee

Public Safety Committee

Traffic & Transportation

General questions regarding committees?
Please email Howard Katchen at [email protected]
Get Involved!
What interests you?

If you live, work, own property, own a business or belong to a non-profit organization, school or religious institution in Sherman Oaks, you are a stakeholder in Sherman Oaks. We hold monthly Board of Directors and various committee meetings which you are invited to attend to learn about and participate in your community. Join SONC's Mailing List today.