The Westwood Business Improvement District’s Board of Directors plans to nominate its next round of board members on Thursday.
The organization, commonly called the BID, consists of a board made up of property owners, merchants and one UCLA representative. It provides multiple services for the Westwood community, such as graffiti removal and tree trimming, said Andrew Thomas, executive director of the BID.
The terms for the current board members expire at the end of this calendar year and the newly elected board will become effective January 2014, according to the BID bylaws.
Since the BID began in 2011, this is the first time the entire slate of board members are set to be renominated or replaced, said Andrew Thomas.
There are six current board members nominated to keep their seats on the upcoming board as well as six new nominees.
UCLA AdministrativeVice Chancellor Jack Powazek is nominated to once again fill his position on the board representing UCLA. Powazek has been a member of the board since it began.
Some of the services they have provided are reporting maintenance issues and median landscaping. Powazek said he thinks the BID allows Westwood residents and business owners to work together and help facilitate the revitalization of Westwood.
Powazek said that the BID has to continue building on what they have already done in order to further improve business in Westwood.
Sheila Kouhkan, deputy director of the BID, said that she wants to build a relationship with the business owners and to cater to the needs of each person in an effort to create community and improve business.
After working for the city, Kouhkan said she feels the BID is especially important because the city does not have the money to take care of the basic things such as tree trimming which the BID can provide.
Kouhkan said she thinks UCLA representation is important in the BID because the school’s students spend a lot of time and money in Westwood.
“I think it’s important to have Westwood hustling and bustling … Westwood is a very safe place, it is important to see students spending time there,” Kouhkan said.
The BID will vote on the nominees for the new board on Thursday at 8:30 a.m.