Westwood Neighborhood Council recap – July 13

The Westwood Neighborhood Council meets monthly to discuss issues pertaining to Westwood Village and the surrounding areas.

This was the first meeting led by the new council that was elected in June. LA City Council member Paul Koretz swore in the new council at the beginning of the meeting.

The new council then unanimously elected Lisa Chapman as president. Chapman, who was previously vice president, replaced Jerry Brown, who decided not to run for re-election. Sandy Brown was elected as vice president, while Stephen Resnick and Laura Winikow will continue to serve as secretary and treasurer, respectively.

Comments by public officials

• Koretz said he has chosen two people to replace two members of the Westwood Design Review Board that have reached their term limits. He said he will find replacements for the two other members that have overstayed their terms within the next 6 months to a year.
• Marco Perez, assistant director of UCLA Government and Community Relations, said Volunteer Day will take place on Sept. 19 and will include Westwood.
• Daniel Tamm, representative from Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office, said a new initiative will launch on July 1 that will allow groups to apply to grants for up to $25,000 to help clean streets.
• Chris Ragsdale, the Los Angeles Police Department’s senior lead officer for Westwood, said Westwood saw about a 1 percent increase in crime this month, most of which were property crimes and vehicle burglaries. He recommended people not to leave any valuable belongings in cars and to make sure they are locked.
• Megan Furey, marketing and communications manager for the Westwood Village Improvement Association, said the association will be hosting a movie screening on Broxton Avenue on Monday with several vendors present. She also said Andrew Thomas, executive director of the association, and Jim Brooks, president of Topa Management and vice chair of the association’s board of directors, met with Koretz’s office to discuss plans for a plaza on Broxton Avenue.
• Steve Sann, chair of the Westwood Community Council, said UCLA Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Housing & Hospitality Services Peter Angelis will attend the council’s meeting on Tuesday to answer questions from the council.

Discussion

• Winikow said the council will receive about $37,000 from the city this year, about the same as last year. She added the council will dedicate at least $25,000 for neighborhood purpose grants.
• Sandy Brown said the Los Angeles City Planning Commission voted last month to move the Westwood Boulevard bike lane in the Mobility Plan 2035 to Gayley and Midvale avenues.

Motions

• The council voted to support SpireWorks’ application to sell beer and wine. SpireWorks, a Turkish fast casual restaurant that will specialize in doner kebab, will open in the old Five Guys location on Broxton Avenue in the fall.
• The council voted to request LAPD and city officials to investigate the illegal cutting of trees on Westwood Boulevard south of Wilshire Boulevard.