Community Impact Statements
A Community Impact Statement is an official statement or position adopted by a Neighborhood Council on issues pending before the City’s decision makers. The Community Impact Statement process was created specifically for Neighborhood Councils so they can publicly express their support, opposition, or suggestions about any matter pending before the Los Angeles City Council, its committees, or City commissions. A Community Impact Statement (CIS) is an official statement used to express the position of a Neighborhood Council (NC) as a whole, and is not to be used to express personal opinions.
Submitting a CIS expresses a serious and committed position on an issue by a Neighborhood Council, and demonstrates community interest and support of the issue. This process allows stakeholders to communicate collectively as a Neighborhood Council and as a community, but it does not preclude stakeholders and board members from also expressing their opinions as individuals. Letters submitted to the City Clerk identifying an opinion on a specific Council File will also be included in the file, and can help strengthen a position.
What follows below is a comprehensive list of all Community Impact Statements (CIS) that have been proposed and approved by SONC and forwarded to the Council File System for the corresponding City of Los Angeles government agencies.
November 2025
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 25-1136 to reestablish the Neighborhood Prosecutor Program. Prior to 2023, SONC and many other neighborhood councils enjoyed a positive working relationship with local neighborhood prosecutors, through which SONC and other city agencies were able to resolve issues of public concern. Dismantling this program negatively impacted public services because many neighborhoods lost a local link to the City Attorney’s office. Reestablishing the program will restore this vital resource to our communities, thus improving public services.
summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports Council File 25-1223 and vehemently opposes any future City Council motion seeking to allocate funding to hire Best Best & Krieger, or any 3rd party law firm, to defend the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in upcoming litigation stemming from lawsuits filed by the Los Angeles Press Club, and investigative reporting outlet Status Coup for police misconduct and use of excessive force against journalists.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) opposes Council File 25-1181, which proposes to expand existing helicopter pad inventory for private use. SONC opposes this proposal to convert or offer public property for private use, and SONC also opposes this motion in accordance with prior SONC positions regarding air traffic, namely at the Van Nuys Airport (VNY). SONC remains committed to its constituency regarding concerns over increased noise, pollution, and other disruption posed by increased air traffic, including helicopter and electric vertical takeoff/landing (EVTOL) traffic, in the skies over Sherman Oaks.
Summary: SONC supports CF25-1221 in order for Animal Services to place animals in adoptive homes, and thus mitigate the euthanasia rate by providing animals with loving homes
September 2025
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 25-331 to explore an optimal pathway to create a single city-wide program for unarmed crisis response, such as the Crisis and Incident Response Through Community Led Engagement (CIRCLE) Program.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 25-0749 and the innovative approach of utilizing goats for brush clearance in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. In 2022, SONC adopted a motion to support CF 22-0600-S61, a since expired budget motion proposing the use of goats to perform park brush clearance on Department of Recreation and Parks land. SONC reiterates its support for the adoption of such a program in the City of Los Angeles, the benefits of which include fiscal savings, wildfire prevention, and nature sustainability
Council File Number: 20-0263-S3
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council requests the City Council, in coordination with Mayor Karen Bass, and the City Attorney, Hydee Feldstein-Soto, to immediately cease all additional funding for the legal action to dispute the findings and proposed remedy resulting from the assessment performed by Alavarez & Marsal (A&M) at the direction of U.S. District Judge David O. Carter.
August 2025
Council File Number: 25-0002-S19
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports CF 25-0002-S19 opposing SB79 unless amended and reiterates its Community Impact Statement filed 4-15-2025 to exclude single family residential, historic districts and light industrial zoned areas.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports, if amended CF 25-0660 the efforts of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) and the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services (Streets LA) in mitigating layoffs by transferring employees in positions at-risk for layoffs internally to other needed positions. We request that City Council take additional steps as necessary to reduce layoffs in these, and other departments, in order to maintain services necessary for the safety and habitability of Los Angeles; including eliminating currently vacant positions as opposed to ones that are actively filled; and transferring funds from non-essential departments and eliminating non-essential expenditures.
Council File Number: 25-0002-S66
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 25-0002-S66 and California Senate Bill 48 to amend the Education Code to disallow access to nonpublic areas of a school site to federal immigration enforcement agents and to ensure associated data protection relative to school students. School is stressful enough as is. Adding ICE, border patrol, or other federal enforcement agents to campus while students are engaged in learning and other growth activities would contribute to negative mental health outcomes for students and, therefore, SONC supports restricting this source of stress from school
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 25-0314 to create a Budget Advisory Group and insist that the Advisory Group includes a member from the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates, as under the city charter section 909, the neighborhood councils can provide advice on the city budget priorities. Given the tenuous state of the city budget, there must be process change, more accountability and better stewardship of tax payer's funds and delivery of city services. Budget Advocates represent the 12 service regions of the city, possess extensive knowledge of the city budget and budget process and provide informed recommendations on the city budget, city services and city department efficiencies annually to the City Council and the Mayor in their White Paper. The inclusion of a Budget Advocate will ensure that the neighborhood councils have an important voice in shaping solutions to the city's financial challenges and will strengthen community involvement in the city's budget process and decisions.
July 2025
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council’s motion that seeks to support LGBTQ+ Angelinos* in light of ongoing federal rollbacks that target this community.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council’s motions that considers creation of policy to require LAPD officers to verify the identity of any individual claiming to be a law enforcement officer, including Federal/State/Local, and to increase the penalties for the impersonation of such officer and/or harassment or intimidation of an individual or property under false pretenses, such as impersonation.
Council File Number: 25-0647-S1
Summary: SONC strongly opposes CF 25-0647-S1. While we support the expediting of holding meetings to address emergencies arising from federal agencies acting unlawfully in Los Angeles, and threatening the safety and wellbeing of immigrant communities, we oppose the use of emergency provisions as an excuse to disregard the Brown Act.
Council File Number: 25-0600-S7
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) in a 12-0 vote at its June 9, 2025 meeting adopted a position to support Council File 25-0600-S7 which proposes the restoration of Neighborhood Council funding after the original City budget proposal sought to slash NC funding.
Council File Number: 25-0006-S77
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports Council File 25-006-S77 which seeks to increase transparency regarding price gouging on home rentals in the wake of the devastating fires that took place in and around Los Angeles in January 2025. Based on reporting made by The Rent Brigade, a coalition of researchers and community advocates, there seems to be evidence that some entities an/or individuals engaging in price gouging may have made campaign contributions to City Attorney Feldstein Soto, and members of the Los Angeles City Council. This might create a conflict of interest relating to potential enforcement of price gouging laws. We ask that the motion be amended to request collaboration from the Chief Legislative Analyst, and the Los Angeles Housing Department relating to this matter, that appropriate recusals take place, and third-party independent investigations of price gouging offenders are reccommended where necessary.
June 2025
Council File Number: 25-0600-S7
Adopted motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 25-0600-S7, which seeks to restore Neighborhood Council (NC) budgets to FY 24-25 levels and in doing so amends a proposed cut in funding. NCs provide valuable representation, community engagement, support to charitable organizations, and other benefits to stakeholders as volunteer boards. NCs are a valuable service as the City’s most local form of government and an important connection for constituents to the City. Due to relatively low cost and high return, restoring NC funding is fiscally wise; SONC accordingly applauds CMs Park and Padilla for bringing forth this motion.
May 2025
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) in a 10-0 vote at its May 12, 2025 meeting adopted a position to oppose proposed budget Council File 25-0600 unless amended to preserve funding for the Neighborhood Council system and other low-cost services, including LAFD CERT. SONC acknowledges economic hardship in the city budget, but slashing funding for low-cost services that benefit the community while keeping more expensive, wasteful items funded at higher levels ultimately fails the citizens of Los Angeles by depriving them of the services most local and accessible to them.
April 2025
Council File Number: 25-0002-S19
Adopted Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports CF 25-0002-S19, thus opposing SB 79, unless amended to exclude single-family, light industrial, and historic districts. This bill allows 65-foot-high apartment buildings within a half mile of rail stops or bus stops with 15-minute headways—without affordability requirements—threatening single-family neighborhoods, historic districts, and light-industrial zones while lacking critical environmental safeguards. Los Angeles’s Housing Element already meets the State’s housing mandates through responsible urban planning. SB 79 undermines this by: ● Allowing unchecked development that strains infrastructure and budgets. ● Requiring no affordable housing while enabling market-rate construction anywhere within the half mile radius of transit stops as defined above. ● Disrupting cities' efforts to meet affordability goals and serve transit-dependent residents. ● Reducing homeownership opportunities for working- and middle-class families. ● Encouraging gentrification by disregarding Historic District protections. ● Eliminating light-industrial zones vital for future jobs and work-life balance.
Council File Number: 16-1104-S3
The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) in a 12-1 vote at its April 14, 2025 meeting adopted a position to oppose Council File 16-1104-S3 proposing an amendment to City Council rules to prohibit the use of certain words and slurs. Although we share Council’s revulsion at such offensive language, SONC in debate noted rules already exist to address fighting words, threats, and other disruptions pursuant to California law and, furthermore, this proposed rule violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution, California’s Brown Act, among others, and opens the City to significant legal liability pertaining to the infringements of the rights of City Council’s constituency, while promoting authoritarianism and censorship in an era when our very democracy is at risk thanks to rules and actions similar to this. For these aforementioned reasons, SONC requests our representative CM Nithya Raman withdraw her second, especially given that CM Raman’s reasons for opposing SONC’s position on past efforts including but not limited to the Ethel development project and Bonseph-Helinet lease was her concern that voting with her constituency would expose the City to legal liability. As this proposed rule will undoubtedly result in significant legal liability exposure, we request CM Raman use this consistent logic to oppose this motion. Adopted motion: While we do not condone the use of any slurs or epithets during council meetings or at any time, we consider this attempt by City Council to ban members of the public from using specific words during public comment period a blatant attack on free speech as guaranteed by the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Council File Number: 15-0989-S47
Summary: SONC strongly opposes Council File 15-0989-S47. The 2028 Olympics was initially pitched as a "no build" Olympics, meaning it would be facilitated in existing venues. Considering that Los Angeles was formally awarded the 2028 Games by the IOC on September 13, 2017, the City of Losa Angeles has had ample opportunity in recent years to begin construction planning with adequate permitting, zoning, and public input process in place. Removing the requirement to follow existing regulatory standards for permitting and environmental safety is likely to result in projects being expedited that are only tangentially related to the games: and puts residents at risk of hazards and disenfranchisement. We urge the Los Angeles City Council to oppose this item; and require any new building relating to the 2028 Olympics undergo standard permitting and regulatory processes
SONC in a unanimous 13-0 vote moved to support this motion to seek direct contact opportunities with services providers as an alternative to the mismanaged Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority (LAHSA).
January 2025
Council File Number: 25-0000-S1
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) in a 14-0 vote at its February 10, 2025 meeting adopted a position to call upon our Councilmember Raman and the other Councilmembers to restore telephone public comment at City Council sessions. SONC also requests VANC President Gravini share this motion at an upcoming Alliance meeting to secure support from other Neighborhood Councils to restore this public comment offering at City Hall.
Council File Number: 25-0000-S2
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) respectfully requests that District 4 Councilmember Nithya Raman take immediate action to reinstate the option for members of the public to comment remotely via telephone during regular City Council Meetings. We also request that a District 4 representative report back to SONC on the status of this proposal at the next regularly scheduled board meeting, or within 30 days.
November 2024
This update clarifies SONC seeks a rejection of the Bonseph-Helinet lease at Van Nuys Airport (VNY), and thus takes a position for City Council’s motion to reject such lease. Whereas, in June 2023 the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) recommended in its CIS relative to CF 22-1127 that the City Council reject the Bonseph-Helinet lease at Van Nuys Airport (VNY). And, On March 1, 2024, the City Council voted to adopt the Trade,Travel and Tourism Committee’s recommendation to disapprove the lease based in part on the Councilmembers’ assessment of the bidding process being improper due to noncompetitive concerns and violation of the City Charter Section 10.15(d) that granted Bonseph-Helinet LLC unfair advantages. However, because of a FAA Part 13 Complaint initiated by Curt Castagna, a partner of the proposed lessee and President of the VNAA and on behalf of the VNAA, the proposed lease has been brought back to City Council for reconsideration. In light of the proposed lease being considered again, on November 6, 2024 the VNY Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) recommended, for a second time, that the proposed Bonseph-Helinet Lease at VNY be rejected by the City Council. SONCis in support of the VNY CACs November 6th motion to reject the Bonseph-Helinet lease for reasons stated in the CAC motion that include the bidding process leading up to the proposed lease being non-competitive, and as confirmed by a City Attorney letter dated October 29, 2024. Wefurther recommend that, moving forward, the Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) respect the City Councils’ discretion and work to ensure that bidding processes are fair, open, transparent and with preferential treatment for none
October 2024
Council FIle Number: 21-1230-S5
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) in a 14-0 vote at its October 14, 2024, meeting adopted a position to support CF 21-1230-S5 pertaining to the Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP) with a FOR CHIP Draft #3 / Against Exhibit D position. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council requests support for Draft #3 of the Housing Element/CHIP Ordinance that rezones LA without regard to the Exhibit D “options” that would open up single-family neighborhoods. The Planning Department in its report clearly states that they have found enough zoning to meet the State’s mandate for housing without the need to rezone our single-family areas. For CHIP 3 / Against Exhibit D.
September 2024
The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) in a 12-2 vote at its September 9, 2024, meeting adopted a position to support CF 19-1020. SONC requests Housing and Homelessness Committee Chair Nithya Raman bring this item to the City Council. The motion is as follows: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports Council File 19-1020 which seeks to establish a Commission on Lived Experience with Homelessness, composed entirely of people who are currently, or have been in the recent past, homeless in Los Angeles. Considering the recent passage and multiple extensions of an Emergency Ordinance regarding the unhoused resident population, and the quickly approaching Council File deadline, this matter should be considered extremely urgent. We request that the Housing and Homelessness Committee Chair, Councilmember Raman of District 4 bring the item to City Council forthwith; and report back to SONC within 30 days
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) in a 14-0 vote at its September 9, 2024, meeting adopted a position to oppose CF 24-0867 pertaining to proposed city-wide neighborhood council system bylaw amendments. The motion is as follows: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) opposes Council File 24-0867 which requests two separate actions from the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners: 1) bylaw amendment guaranteeing a youth seat on each NC, and 2) bylaw amendment instituting term limits for all NCs While SONC supports the goals of request #1 pertaining to youth membership, we oppose this motion due to #2’s desire to institute term limits for a vulnerable NC system which already has difficulty achieving membership goals and often relies on seasoned council members for expertise and institutional knowledge.
June 2024
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) in a 15-0 vote adopted a position to support CF 24-0490. SONC supports a citywide interim control ordinance restoring the existing HPOZ discretionary review process. Adoption motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports the Interim Control Ordinance, CF 24-0490, presented by CM Yaroslavsky that will temporarily protect Historic designated areas from development under Executive Directive 1 (ED-1) until this directive becomes an Ordinance with guidelines that will protect HPOZs in their entirety and districts, buildings, and sites as a historical resource under a local, state, or federal designation
Council File Number: 24-0002-S9
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) in a 14-1 vote adopted a position to support CF CF 24-0002-S9 Freedom to Marry Ballot Initiative. SONC supports City Council’s resolution, which, amongst other things, states, “marriage equality is about equal treatment under the law and the ability for LGBTQ couples to enjoy recognition and dignity in the eyes of the State.” The adopted motion is as follows: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 24-0002-S9, a City Council file to support the Freedom to Marry Ballot Initiative. This follows SONC’s prior position to support CF 23-0002-S38, a council file in favor of Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5, in which SONC unanimously voted to support ACA 5 to overturn Proposition 8 and protect same-sex marriage in California
May 2024
Summary: Noting that Neighborhood Councils were excluded from the DONE GM appointment process, SONC again calls on this City Council to slow down and allow time for public comment and Neighborhood Council input on items of interest. CF 24-065 / DONE General Manager Appointment was referred to City Council by the Mayor on April 25, 2024, and adopted by City Council on May 8, 2024. As we stated in August (23-0623), two weeks is hardly enough time for most NCs to convene and adopt positions on council items, much less members of the public. SONC again reminds City Council of its duty to seek input from affected parties and affected electeds. Slow down and give NCs time to provide input. See attached letter
Summary: SONC opposes CF 23-0172, specifically the removal of the date of ownership criterion from the Faith Based Incentive Program in LA's Housing Element. We support FBOs being allowed to build on land they acquired prior to Jan 1, 2024, but oppose multi-family housing in R1 and similar zones on land acquired after Jan 1, 2024. SONC asks that the date of ownership restriction be added to the FBO incentive program. See attached motion as adopted by unanimous vote.
March 2024
Summary: SONC opposes the Bonseph Helinet Lease at Van Nuys Airport, thus supporting Council's recommendation to disapprove the lease - For the Motion/Against the Lease. This update clarifies SONC seeks a rejection of the Bonseph-Helinet lease at Van Nuys Airport (VNY) and thus takes a position for City Council's motion to reject such a lease.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports the ED 1 Ordinance only if amendments are added to the draft ordinance file CF23-0623. We support the guidelines sent by United Neighbors to the PLUMcommittee, with a particular focus on the importance of the following amendments: 1. Limit the number of waivers and off menu incentives to a total of 6; 2. Requiring rear 15’ setbacks to allow for trees to grow and storm water to be captured; 3. Preventing post-development conversion of nonresidential spaces to market rate units; 4. Protecting R 1, HPOZs and Historic Districts in their entirety; 5.Ensuring that substandard streets/ high-fire zones do not qualify for ED-1 fast track approval; 6. Requiring ED 1 projects to meet minimum Tier 2 TOC qualifications. Projects that don’t qualify under ED 1 would need to go through discretionary approval
February 2024
Directed to City Planning Dept. RE: Construction Noise Increase
Summary: The Planning Department is proposing an increase in the allowable construction noise and construction vibration than what is allowed now by CEQA. The rationale is that these levels are intended to be better suited to the City’s urban nature. SONC Position: Opposed After our evaluation and review, the PLUM Committee of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council opposes the proposed Update to the CEQA Thresholds and Methodology to allow an increase in construction noise level and construction vibrations because the new thresholds are intended to be better suited to the City’s urban nature. The impacts of these reductions of CEQA protections are unknown and the reasons behind the proposed changes are unclear.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 24-0036 pertaining to the installation of solar powered lights or conversion to solar when the Bureau of Street Lighting is responding to lighting outages attributed to copper wire and power theft incidents, or other maintenance issues. SONC also supports the Bureau’s solar lights pilot program as part of a potential move in the city toward solar street lighting, where available
January 2024
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports, in part, the Controller's LAPD Air Support Division audit findings, relative to helicopter and negative quality of life impact, and urges modification of standard procedures for LAPD air support to mitigate negative QOL impacts caused by low altitude flying over residential areas when it is not necessary (when simply traversing the community as opposed to flying that is related to an incident). See attached letter.
December 2023
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 23-1338 to require the Van Nuys airport to report on its communication and engagement with the community pertaining to its Vision Study. See attached letter
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports 23-1339 and calls for greater transparency and community engagement in the Van Nuys Airport Plan and Vision Study process. See attached letter
November 2023
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council, via 2/3 vote to adopt as required by SB 411, approves virtual meetings for SONC board and/or committee meetings subject to President and Chair discretion. This CIS shall serve as required notice from SONC to City Council
Summary: SONC supports the creation of an Office of Compliance, provided that this office has disciplinary authority to establish, maintain, and enforce an adequate review system, in conjunction with the city's existing Ethics Commission, and to refer violations of conflict or interest, ethics, corruption, or other like violations to Los Angeles City Attorney's Office or other relevant agency for investigation and disciplinary action. SONC does NOT support an Office of Compliance that only advises City Council members without binding authority to address violations. It does no good whatsoever for the people of Los Angeles to establish an Office of Compliance without teeth and ability to effectively combat foul play.
October 2023
Summary: Whereas the Housing Element and Community Plan Updates have sufficient zoning opportunities in commercial corridors, on public lands and through Adaptive Reuse to meet State housing needs mandates, there is no need to divide and destroy existing residential neighborhoods by rezoning through overlays or other zoning devises of R1 zones or sensitive, rent stabilized multi-family housing. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council opposes the Housing Element's proposed rezoning and densification of R1 and multi-family neighborhoods beyond what SB9 and ADU law allows
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports the City’s Resolution to authorize Neighborhood Councils to offer teleconferencing or virtual meetings. SONC requests the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) or another appropriate city agency support the Neighborhood Councils with equipment to facilitate technologically integrated in-person, hybrid, and/or virtual meetings, including ensuring the NCs are provided internet access/Wi-Fi at their respective meeting locations if in person, audio/visual equipment if requested by the NC, and multiple licenses for virtual meeting software. The cost for this equipment should not be charged against the individual Neighborhood Councils, all of which operate on a modest budget, but borne by DONE or another city agency
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports the City’s Resolution to authorize Neighborhood Councils to offer teleconferencing or virtual meetings. SONC requests the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) or another appropriate city agency support the Neighborhood Councils with equipment to facilitate technologically integrated in-person, hybrid, and/or virtual meetings, including ensuring the NCs are provided internet access/Wi-Fi at their respective meeting locations if in person, audio/visual equipment if requested by the NC, and multiple licenses for virtual meeting software. The cost for this equipment should not be charged against the individual Neighborhood Councils, all of which operate on a modest budget, but borne by DONE or another city agency Ref:MSG9186301 SONC CIS 23-1113 For Remote NC Meetings SB 411.docx.pd
Summary: As stated in our CIS to CF 21-1230, The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) opposes the Housing Element’s proposed rezoning and densification of R1 and multi-family neighborhoods beyond what SB9 and ADU laws allow. As stated by the Mayor’s office on July 6, 2023, “The proposed project located at 5501-5511 N. Ethel Avenue is in the R1-1 zone and is not eligible for ED1 processing.” As such, SONC stands opposed to this irresponsible densification in an R1 zone.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council at its October 17, 2023, meeting adopted a position to oppose the Advanced Air Mobility implementation plan. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC), whose residents are already heavily impacted by Burbank and Van Nuys Airports, recommends that a moratorium be placed on the implementation of AAM/Flying Taxis in Los Angeles until comprehensive in-depth studies and public input are completed so that the FAA jointly with the City of Los Angeles, and other local agencies can make well-informed decisions; assess risks and benefits; draft (but not yet enact) regulations, engage stakeholders; and establish a responsible framework to determine whether AAM should be integrated into the Los Angeles Metroplex airspace
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council at its October 17, 2023, meeting adopted a position to support the 6 Steps to Success proposal at Van Nuys Airport (VNY). As contained in its June 12, 2023 CIS, SONC is therefore in support of the “6 Steps to Success” process diagram contained in the VNY Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) October 3, 2023 adopted motion, and recommends that the Mayor of Los Angeles, the City Council, the Board of Airport Commissioners, and Los Angeles World Airports be advised to seriously consider adopting this 6 Steps to Success process going forward for the benefit of communities impacted by VNY
Council File Number: 12-1824-S2
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports efforts to make enforcement of the Loud and Unruly Gatherings Ordinance and the Home-Sharing Ordinance more effective in order to address the scourge of unruly party house disruptions within our community’s neighborhoods, including but not limited to noise disturbances until early hours of the morning, dangerous and illegal behaviors such as littering of still-smoldering cigarettes in public areas located within a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ), and other harmful activities. SONC agrees with City Council’s finding that current enforcement tools are not strong enough to make an impact and supports City Council’s initiatives to explore strengthening its approach, such as increases in fines and other penalties, as well as implementing a cost recovery system that is specific to the enforcement against party houses. When habitually violative property owners who earn a living renting their properties violative of the provisions of the Loud and Unruly Gatherings and/or Home Sharing Ordinances consider fines and warnings simply a “cost of doing business,” it is a sign that more needs to be done to prevent further harm from befalling our community. SONC requests the City Council, City Attorney, Department of Building & Safety, Department of Housing, and Department of Planning to take these necessary steps to crack down on habitually problematic home-sharing properties and to restore order to our community
August 2023
Summary: Concern with City Council Not Allowing Enough Time for NC, Public Review The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council is concerned with City Council's expedited review of this and other Council Files without allowing ample time for Neighborhood Council and public review. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council at its August 15, 2023 meeting adopted a position relative to City Council procedure regarding City Council File 23-0623. Whereas effective Neighborhood Council operations require 60 to 90 days to consider potential motions and council files; And whereas CF 23-0623 was acted on by Los Angeles City Council in a period of fourteen days which is not sufficient for neighborhood councils to fully consider the item; And whereas a Community Impact Statement is required to make use of Neighborhood Councils’ maximum speaking period allocated during committee and general meetings; Therefore, The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) requests that the Los Angeles City Council refrain from voting on pending motions and/or council files until Neighborhood Councils have been granted at least 60 but up to 90 days to bring items for consideration to committee/board meetings, hear public remarks, and potentially file a Community Impact Statement
July 2023
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council at its July 10, 2023 meeting adopted a position of Against regarding City Council File 22-0392. SONC strongly opposes the LA City Planning Department’s ordinance to amend the Los Angeles Municipal Code to allow Metro to implement a Transportation Communication Network (TCN). Please see the attached letter
Council File Number:20-1074-S4
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council at its July 10, 2023 meeting adopted a position of For if amended regarding City Council File 20-1074-S4. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports the Al Fresco Ordinance if amended to address: > The inequitable disparity between the restaurants that must still pay in lieu of parking fees and the restaurants that have turned their parking lots into outdoor dining areas without having to pay in lieu of fees for their resulting deficient parking capacity. > The use of both public and private property for outdoor dining use (currently, the ordinance only addresses private property)
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council at its July 10, 2023 meeting adopted a position of Against Unless Amended regarding City Council File 14-0518. Whereas the ordinance affects 23,000 acres, approximately 28,000 parcels, an Environmental Impact Report is Needed before this ordinance is passed. SONC supports the EIR prior to passage of the ordinance
May 2023
The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 23-0447 regarding the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program.
The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports CF 23-0270 to evaluate diversion and recidivism programs implemented by LAPD or in collaboration with other agencies to mitigate and prevent crime. Supporting alternative and proven approaches to public safety and crime reduction, such as community engagement, diversion, and recidivism programs, is of utmost importance in an atmosphere where existing legislation & policy, such as Prop 47, discourages incarceration.
The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports CF 23-0359 to study a potential democracy vouchers program to benefit local voters regarding local elections, and to give local community members a greater voice when it comes to representative issues in the City of Los Angeles, with the hope that such a program creates a more equitable atmosphere for campaign financing, and increases local participation and engagement in elections and productive political activity.
Insofar as communication and transparency in government is vital to our community, the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 23-0264, if amended, to clarify notification requirements of emergency homeless shelter property owners when a homeless shelter provider has not been identified at the time the project application is filed. SONC believes notification requirements should be expanded beyond the currently-required written notification to only owners of properties abutting the subject property to include, at minimum, a 500 radius surrounding the subject property. Furthermore, we would request notification to the appropriate Neighborhood Council, so that the NC can best assist with outreach efforts to both community stakeholders and parties that may avail themselves of the shelter’s services.
April 2023
Summary: A motion to support the Sherman Oaks Van Nuys Blvd Landscaped Median project, as presented, because it will enhance the beauty of our community, have safety benefits, traffic calming benefits, carbon capture benefits, and stormwater retention benefits.....(for reference this refers to a proposal from the Sherman Oaks Business Improvement District to add two landscaped medians to the portion of Van Nuys Boulevard between Hortense Street and Moorpark Street.)
Directed To: City Planning Commission - reject the Bonseph Helinet lease proposal
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) formally asks the City Council to reject the Bonseph Helinet lease proposal in the best interests of the thousands of residents, schools and businesses impacted by Van Nuys Airport (VNY), and the City’s long-term environmental and environmental justice goals, and to send the following letter to CF 22-1125 (as a CIS update), CD4, LAWA and other relevant parties:
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) opposes Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) unless amended to exclude properties that are not contiguous to the main campus of religious institutions or independent institutions of higher learning. Please refer to the attached letter explaining our position:
Council File Number: 23-0002-S30
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) opposes Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) unless amended to exclude properties that are not contiguous to the main campus of religious institutions or independent institutions of higher learning. Please refer to the attached letter:
Council File Number: 23-0002-S38
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 23-0002-S38 and Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5 to overturn Proposition 8 and protect same-sex marriage in California.
March 2023
Summary: The SONC board is in support of the LA City Council Motion 23-0142. We know that climate change increases the risk of wildfire, heatwaves, drought, and food insecurity, not only in Sherman Oaks, but throughout Los Angeles, California, and beyond. We must reduce the temperature of the planet through elimination of fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy. The SONC board is in support of the LA City Council Motion 23-0142, in support of the ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT and NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT COMMITTEES’ REPORT relative to the transition of Griffith Park’s operations to zero-emission, identification of a path to electrify, phase out, or otherwise decarbonize City-owned equipment powered by gasoline engines, and related matters. The report should identify a path to electrify, phase out, or otherwise decarbonize the following: ......a. City-owned equipment powered by gasoline engines, including lawn, garden and maintenance equipment...... b. Non-emergency City-owned vehicles that operate within Griffith Park, including on and off road vehicles...... c. Diesel or gasoline powered generators used for auxiliary power. d. Any other equipment powered by a diesel or gasoline engine.
February 2023
Council File Number: 23-0002-S16 & 23-0002-S17
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports the Los Angeles City Council Resolutions contained in Council CF 23-0002-S16 and CF 23-0002-S17 addressing the 2023-2024 State of California Legislative Program, Sponsorship or Support for legislation to amend the Ralph M. Brown Act to permit the City of Los Angeles Neighborhood Council system to choose to operate remote meetings indefinitely. And for 2023-2024 State Legislative Program SUPPORT for legislative action that would amend the Ralph M. Brown Act to allow local legal legislative bodies, including appointed boards, commissions, advisory bodies, and Neighborhood Councils, to continue to conduct most meetings virtually in the absence of any special circumstances, subject to appropriate safeguards to ensure full and robust opportunities for public participation, including by persons who lack means of digital access.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment’s proposed street banner campaign to promote participation and increase awareness of neighborhood councils city-wide and supports any such installation on vacant & unreserved light poles in Sherman Oaks.
January 2023
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) is in support of CF-22-1469 LA City Biodiversity Index / California Native Landscaping / Pollinator-Friendly / Monarch Butterfly / Plant and Tree Recovery. There has been a tremendous loss of native habitat, open space and desert/drought tolerant vegetation in the San Fernando Valley as a result of overdevelopment and urban sprawl. When plantings and new landscapes are implemented in developed areas, they typically consist of non-native plants that require greater amounts of a scarce resource in this region - water. Several years of continued drought have created a severe high fire danger and risk to property and lives. Native plants do not require as much water, and will grow naturally, resulting in a natural landscape that will also protect the environment and the inhabitants
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 22-1486 to call upon FIFA, the IOC and other international sports and major event organizers to codify human rights within their bylaws, require and promote the fair treatment of workers, women, LGBTQ+ community members and all marginalized people as a condition for participating nations and cities wherever international sporting events are held.
Council File Number: 18-0720-S1
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 18-0720-S1 seeking a report from LAPD relative to hate crime prevalence in Los Angeles, and from the Civil and Human Rights and Equity Department regarding its “LA for All" campaign, including a report on the scope, impact, best practices, and opportunities for the expansion of hate crime prevention and awareness in the City.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 22-1070 to assess if individual Neighborhood Councils may be granted the flexibility to select a preferred meeting option going forward (virtual meetings, in-person meetings, or a hybrid meeting option). SONC recommends City Council and the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment authorize Neighborhood Councils to continue virtual meetings, whether through exclusively virtual meetings or a hybrid in-person & virtual meeting option.
December 2022
Summary: The Community supports the motions with the following modifications and requirements (see attached document):
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports the right to shelter, but we oppose unless amended, Council File 22-0158 proposed by Council Members Bonin, Raman, and Harris-Dawson which allows “shelters for the homeless” to be established and operated on properties located outside of R3, RAS3, R4, RAS4, RS, C2, C4, CS, CM, M1, M2, and M3 zones. [See Attached Document]
Summary: Antisemitic hate crimes recorded by the Anti-Defamation League are at the highest level since tracking began in 1979. Hate crimes in the state of California are at their highest level since 2001, with the highest percentage of religious bias events targeted at the Jewish community. Currently, much anti-semitic rhetoric and hate crimes targeting the Jewish community are disguised as social justice. With this in mind, it is imperative that all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs include the Jewish community as part of their curricula. Furthermore, SONC supports the expansion of all DEI programs to include the Jewish community and foster a greater understanding of the relationship of certain discourse regarding the State of Israel to antisemitism. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council vehemently opposes anti-semitism in any form whatsoever.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council is in support of Los Angeles City Council File CF 22-1489 - Motion Submitted by Council District 4 member Nithya Raman, Council District 3 member Bob Blumenfeld, Council District 2 member Paul Krekorian and seconded by Council member Mike Bonin on 11-30-2022 to have the Los Angeles World Airport (LAWA) report back within 90 days on the following topics: List of all projects and awards, community engagement, Compliance with the 2005 Van Nuys Airport Master Plan, Environmental impacts, Proposal for Future Community Engagement and to ensure that all future VNY Citizens Advisory Council meetings are recorded and available for the public on LAWA’s website within 60 days.
Summary: The Community supports the motions with the following modifications and requirements (see attached document):
November 2022
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports (if amended) CF 22-1232 to pursue a ballot measure and changes to the LA City Charter to address concerns regarding Ethics Commission composition, function, and operation. SONC recommends the following amendments to CF 22-1232 to fully address these ethical concerns while ensuring the Commission is empowered to remain independent and recommends LA City Council take its time to progress this legislation through committee before reaching the full council: Recommended amendments are attached in the following document.
October 2022
Removal of Councilmember Gil Cedillo / Chair / Housing Committee
Elected Officials / Offensive Misconducts / Immediate Resignation Demand / Censure
Removal of Councilmember de Leon / Chair / Homelessness and Poverty Committee
The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 22-1189 and CF 22-1195 to censure and demand the immediate resignation of Los Angeles City Councilmembers Nury Martinez, Kevin de Leon, and Gil Cedillo for their racist, antisemitic, and homophobic comments and slurs which have no place in modern society, much less City of Los Angeles public office. Apologies alone are insufficient to remedy this situation, but in order to truly hold these individuals accountable for reprehensible conduct, they must be censured and removed from office for they are unfit to represent the residents of Los Angeles... ...Accordingly, and without regard to any voluntary resignations that may have already occurred, SONC issues an on-the-record Community Impact statement in support of CF 22-1198 to remove Martinez, CF 22-1199 to remove de Leon, and CF 22-1201 to remove Cedillo from committee leadership assignments, for their unacceptable conduct... ...Furthermore, although the existence of a voluntary resignation from public office is a positive step, it is not sufficient to fully address the matter; we therefore in no uncertain terms condemn any such hate speech, find such conduct unbecoming and unacceptable for any public official, and support efforts to modify the City Charter to include a ground for removal for patently racist, antisemitic, homophobic, or other hate speech motivated by a protected characteristic, as defined by existing California law.
Removal of Councilmember Nury Martinez / Chair / Ad Hoc Committee Covid-19 Recovery and Neighborhood Investment / Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations
September 2022
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 22-0560, Municipal Lobbying Ordinance / Updates, to require mandatory lobbying disclosure for public meetings. Additionally, we recommend these requirements be extended to include City Council and Committee meetings, in addition to Neighborhood Council meetings, and that the non-profit exemption be lowered from $2,000,000 to $200,000 in revenue or $500,000 in assets, as is the current requirement for the San Francisco Ethics Commission Ordinance.
August 2022
Council File Number: 22-0764-S1
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 22-0764-S1 to create a City of Los Angeles ordinance restricting the concealed carry of firearms in or near sensitive places or sensitive uses, such as those identified in the June 2022 Bruen Supreme Court decision.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 22-0815 pertaining to the city’s employee relations ordinance to provide updated and gender-neutral language and remove obsolete language. SONC affirms its support for inclusion and equality, including but not limited to updating this ordinance and other laws, codes, and policy to feature gender-inclusive language. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, and in the spirit of further inclusion for identities not along the gender binary, we recommend the use of the gender-neutral “their” in place of the gendered “his/her” and similar such language.
CIS to LA City Planning Re: Draft Wildlife Ordinance
Summary: SONC requests City Planning delay CPC’s Hearing until City Planning holds direct information sessions with SONC and the Sherman Oaks community, to allow residents more time to learn about the ordinance and its ramifications, as well as allow city planning to address the fire risks, human/animal encounter risks, child and pet safety, porous fences, crime risks, spread of disease concerns, height restriction concerns, and undue burden on homeowners concerns.
Council File Number: 22-0600-S20
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 22-0600-S20 to instruct the Fire Department to report to the Public Safety Committee on potential partnerships with the Conservation Corps for brush clearance efforts and other outside entities that use goats to eliminate invasive and overgrown brush.
Council File Number: 22-0600-S61
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 22-0600-S61 to instruct the Department of Recreation and Parks to report to the Arts, Parks, Health, Education, and Neighborhoods Committee on the feasibility of using wildlife, specifically goats, to support brush clearance activities in parks.
July 2022
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) opposes CF 22-0392 that would allow for digital advertising signage located on Transportation Communication Network Program (TCNP) Structures, unless the plan is amended to prohibit non-freeway facing structures from being used as outdoor advertising, and furthermore, includes a provision to require the operator sufficiently dim the brightness level on any TCNP digital advertising signage during overnight hours to reduce light pollution, hazards, and harm for drivers, pedestrians, residents, workers, and visitors.
Council File Number: 11-1020-S3
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) opposes CF 11-1020-S3. Neighborhood Councils form alliances when they want to join together to work on something of common interest. We want to be able to contribute specifically to alliances we support. The name of the overall fund is not important. What is important is that every recognized alliance has the ability to raise its own funds and those funds are reserved for its use and its use alone. Our Neighborhood Council wants the ability to direct our funds to a specific alliance and not to a fund that is allocated without our input.
Council File Number: 22-0002-S102
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 22-0002-S102, Resolution to address: Reproductive and Abortion Rights. This Resolution encourages our Federal Govt. to take actions within their authority to ensure care remains available to people who can become pregnant in need of reproductive care including abortion. These actions include but are not limited to: · Urging President Biden to issue an executive order directing the federal government to develop a national plan defending American's reproductive rights, including the right to an abortion; and direct the leaders of every federal agency to explore options to protect abortion rights, including: · the use of federal property and resources to increase abortion access such that reproductive care and abortions can occur on those properties and be exempt from the state's abortion laws; On May 9, 2022, the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) approved a motion supporting the City Council’s advocacy for reproductive rights. SONC continues to support these efforts to ensure pregnant people’s rights to privacy and autonomy in making health care decisions regarding reproductive care, including pregnancy termination / abortion. SONC recognizes these rights are currently protected under California state law and that it is imperative for them to be provided greater protection by our federal government. SONC supports this resolution.
Summary: Given that the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) has previously supported the City Council's advocacy for reproductive rights, (please reference May 9, 2022 SONC Board Meeting), SONC supports CF 22-0771, which requests the City Attorney to prepare and present a draft ordinance to prohibit any City resources, including, but not limited to, time spent by employees, officers, or the use of City property, from being utilized to: · Detain persons for procuring, providing, or aiding in abortion care in the City of Los Angeles; or · Cooperate with or provide information to any individual or out-of-state agency or department investigating persons who procure, provide, or aid in abortion care in the City of Los Angeles. · Instruct the City Administrative Officer (CAO) to report back on the feasibility of allocating funding to help subsidize costs for persons from other states seeking abortion care in the City of Los Angeles. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council continues to support pregnant people’s rights to autonomy and privacy when making personal healthcare decisions and therefore support this motion.
May 2022
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports Council File 22-0390 seeking to criminalize the unlawful possession of catalytic converters, and additionally supports related State bills SB 919, SB 986, and SB 1087 designed to address the issue of catalytic converter theft.
Council File Number: 22-0002-S73
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) shares in City Council's advocacy for reproductive rights as the Supreme Court of the United States appears poised to overturn Roe v Wade, and supports City Council File 22-0002-S73 seeking to codify the right of pregnant persons to access safe abortion healthcare into law and hereby affirms its support for the rights of all marginalized groups and members of protected classes as specified in existing California law governing unlawful discrimination, including race, color, religion, sex/gender (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and/ or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition (genetic characteristics, cancer or a record or history of cancer), military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental and physical including HIV/AIDS, cancer, and genetic characteristics), genetic information, and age (over 40). SONC hereby supports these efforts to enshrine such human rights into the California State Constitution, or other appropriate legislative document.
April 2022
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports the Council File 21-1463 Motion and supports the converting of existing buildings to be Carbon Neutral.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports the Council File 22-0151 Motion and anxiously anticipates the results of the Climate Equity LA Series workshops and community engagements. Los Angeles City needs to focus on and invest in carbon neutrality and sustainability both in repurposing existing buildings and in new developments. Los Angeles City needs to be Carbon Neutral.
Council File Number: 22-0002-S26
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File 22-0002-S26 and AB 1322’s efforts to mitigate aviation related air pollution and lead poisoning through deployment of approved sustainable aviation/jet fuel, and we encourage LAWA, the Board of Airport Commissioners, and LA City to offer SWIFT unleaded aviation fuel at all airports, including Van Nuys (VNY), as soon as possible.
Council File Number: 22-0002-S24
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File 22-0002-S24 in support of AB 1594 which would allow individuals and the California Attorney General to sue firearm manufacturers and retailers for injury/death caused by non-compliance with regulations or unfair business practices, AB 1621 which would restrict unserialized “ghost guns” in California, and AB 2571 which would restrict marketing and advertising of certain weapons such as semi-automatic and higher caliber firearms, to children.
March 2022
Council File Number: 17-0090-S16
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) agrees with the LA Controller’s findings indicated in City Council File 17- 0090-S16 and supports the Controller’s recommendations therein for modifying the City’s HHH funding/loans program to achieve the program’s goals, streamline and economize development, and combat the exorbitantly high average per-unit cost of $596,846 that was observed in 2021. As stated in the Controller’s report, “The City must find a way to bring down the overall per-unit cost of developing homeless housing now and in the future.” SONC agrees with the Controller’s findings and supports implementation of the report’s recommendations for doing so.
February 2022
California Initiative 21-0016, known as “Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative,”
The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports California Initiative 21-0016, known as “Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative,” which would amend the California Constitution allowing cities and counties to override state law on land use and zoning. California Initiate 21-0016 (Local Land Use)
December 2021
Summary: Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) requests that the Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan Implementation Guidance Memorandum issued by Vincent Bertoni, dated March 20, 2021, be rescinded or amended. The memorandum, issued unilaterally by Director Bertoni with no prior notice or opportunity for public comment, purports to limit the oversight of the Specific Plan’s Design Review Board (DRB) by declaring that projects that are not visible from the Mulholland Drive right of way are exempt from review by the DRB. The Director’s action is in direct conflict with the express language of the Specific Plan, exceeds his authority under the City Charter, and usurps the legislative function of the City Council which signed the Specific Plan into law in1992. The Director’s decision removes the code-mandated expert and professional advice of the Mulholland DRB from decision-making for most of the Specific Plan area. This decision also reduces public oversight of many projects with potentially significant adverse environmental impacts to parkland, scenic overlooks, scenic corridors, wildlife corridors, riparian areas, and the urban forest, dramatically altering a legislative action of the City Council.
Summary: In October this Board passed a motion encouraging the City of Los Angeles to codify allowable limitations to help lessen the negative impact Senate Bill 9 would have on our community. Our requested action along with other ideas have now been put forward as a motion proposed by Councilmembers Koretz and Blumenfield, seconded by Councilmember Raman. The guidelines for implementation include: maintaining our objective zoning (Mansionization Ordinances), limiting development to 4 units in total, setbacks, parking, residency concerns and exemptions to SB 9 in our hillsides areas with substandard streets, historic districts, wildlife corridors, etc. This is very time sensitive and has to be approved by City Council before January 1, 2022. Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) is in full support of Councilmembers Koretz/Blumenfields’s Motion CF 21-1414 that allows the City to put in place by December 31, 2021, objective guidelines for processing SB9 filings. SONC supports all efforts to protect our neighborhoods from land speculation while supporting well planned growth in our city. SONC urges the City Council to support CF 21-1414 and pass it by December 31, 2021.
Summary: Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 21-1132 relative to instructing the City Administrative Office with the City’s EV Task Force, to convene a Zero Emissions Transportation Infrastructure working group made up of representatives from Various City Departments with the participation of representatives from County, LA Metro, and Metro link, to meet the stated objectives and related matters of this motion.
Summary: Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) urges the City to preserve and maintain its established December 18 deadline for certain city employees, including sworn personnel, to achieve COVID-19 vaccination, with the exception for staff with permissible exemptions to receiving vaccines. Given SONC’s prior support for CF 21-0878, SONC hereby supports a requirement that city employees encountering vulnerable members of the public particularly susceptible to complications from COVID-19, such as LAFD personnel rendering medical aid, be vaccinated, when appropriate and unless exempted. Insofar as public health is concerned, public safety personnel should put the safety and wellbeing of the community first by getting vaccinated, where practicable.
Summary: Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) urges the City to preserve and maintain its established December 18 deadline for certain city employees, including sworn personnel, to achieve COVID-19 vaccination, with the exception for staff with permissible exemptions to receiving vaccines. Given SONC’s prior support for CF 21-0878, SONC hereby supports a requirement that city employees encountering vulnerable members of the public particularly susceptible to complications from COVID-19, such as LAFD personnel rendering medical aid, be vaccinated, when appropriate and unless exempted. Insofar as public health is concerned, public safety personnel should put the safety and wellbeing of the community first by getting vaccinated, where practicable.
Summary: Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 21-1208 which seeks to identify the steps necessary to comply with the CalRecycle regulations to reduce organic waste disposal by 75% by 2025, and to determine the potential impact of the CalRecycle regulations on the ratepayers.
November 2021
Summary: Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 21-1039 which seeks to establish a coordinated interdepartmental process to create a sustainable year to year municipal solar and storage program, including staffing and maintenance needs.
Council File Number: 20-0668-S7
Summary: Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) is opposed to the Ad Hoc Committee’s proposed map approved on November 5, 2021, unless it is amended to abide by the following critical points for Sherman Oaks: (1) the whole of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council should be in a single City Council District that is in the San Fernando Valley; (2) five City Council Districts should be wholly within the San Fernando Valley; (3) the 6th City Council District, which would be partially in the San Fernando Valley, should represent a San Fernando Valley population that is approximately two-thirds of the City Council District's total population; and (4) all Neighborhood Councils should be kept whole within the City Council District in which they are placed, to the extent possible.
October 2021
Summary: CF 21-0407. Neighborhood Council / Standardize Election Rules / Stakeholder Participation. Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) stands in opposition to CF 21-0407, and, moreover, future attempts to deprive the NC of an opportunity to self-govern. The existing Plan for a Citywide System of Neighborhood Councils documentation seeks to encourage an independent approach and SONC hereby finds the proposed attempt elucidated in CF 21-0407 to unilaterally change the various NC’s election rules runs contrary to the City’s Plan.
Summary: CF 20-0668 Redistricting Process / 2020 Decennial United States Census Data Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports the Redistricting Commission’s study and approval of its Draft Map K-series, such as Draft Map K2 or similar future iterations.
Directed To: City Planning Commission
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) is against the anticipated implementation of SB 9 and SB 10 unless certain limitations as allowed by SB 9 and SB 10 are codified by the City of Los Angeles. Please see the following SONC motion, passed at the SONC October 11, 2021 Board meeting, detailing the items SONC wishes to be included as the City of Los Angeles implements SB 9 and SB 10. SB 9 and SB 10 – Local Jurisdiction Control of Land Use Motion: Three sections of recently enacted SB 9 and one section in recently enacted SB 10 grant local jurisdictions some discretion in limiting how these bills control land use. SONC encourages the City of Los Angeles to codify these allowable limitations to help lessen the negative impact these bills may have in single family neighborhoods. 1. SB 9 does not mandate affordable units in single family neighborhoods but leaves it up to local jurisdictions. The City of Los Angeles should mandate at least one of the four units allowed be made an affordable unit. 2. SB 9 allows lot splitting but: “a local agency shall not be required to permit more than two units on a parcel created through the exercise of the authority contained within this section.” Therefore, the City of Los Angeles should exercise that right to limit only two housing units per newly formed parcel. 3. SB 9 allows a local agency to impose objective zoning standards that do not preclude the ability to build two 800 square foot units. Therefore, the City of Los Angeles should enforce existing Los Angeles City zoning conditions including height, floor area ratio (FAR), setbacks, etc. unless the site cannot accommodate two 800 square foot units. 4. SB 10 allows 10 units on a parcel in a single-family neighborhood. We suggest the City of Los Angeles City Council take a formal position that SB 10 is not an acceptable zoning option for Los Angeles and that the City of Los Angeles will not “opt-in” to that provision of SB 10.
Board of Airport Commissioners
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) urges a timely update of the VNY Masterplan -- see the following motion passed by the SONC at its October 11, 2021 Board Meeting. Van Nuys Airport Master Plan. Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) urges Van Nuys Airport (VNY), Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), and The Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council (VNY CAC) to complete a timely update of the VNY Masterplan and address the incompatible growth in large commercial jets, services, and air taxi operations at VNY contrary to the spirit of the 2006 Master Plan calling for the airport to be a good neighbor relative to pollution and noise disturbance to all of the valley.
September 2021
Summary: CF 21-0683 City-Owned Buildings / Net-Zero Energy / Retrofit / Carbon Emissions Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 21-0683 to develop a full cost-estimate, timeline, and plan to retrofit prioritized municipally-owned buildings to achieve net-zero energy
Summary: CF 21-0680 Zero-Emission First Procurement Policy / L.A. Green New Deal Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 21-0680 to (1) develop proposed rules to meet the intent of the Zero-Emission First procurement policy and its compliance; (2) ensure that EV Charging infrastructure is installed in anticipation of future 100% zero-emission municipal fleet; and (3) the transition of LAPD and LAFD fleets to zero-emission vehicles.
Summary: Non-Serialized Unfinished Frames, Receivers, and Firearms / Ghost Guns / Prohibited Possession, Purchase, Sale, Receipt, and Transportation / Ordinance Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports Los Angeles City Council File 21-0899 seeking an ordinance to prohibit the possession, purchase, sale, receipt, and transportation of non-serialized, unfinished frames, and unfinished receivers and non-serialized firearms within the City of Los Angeles.
Summary: CF 21-0878 COVID-19 Vax Up LA Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC), conscious of the COVID-19 pandemic and public health needs, supports Los Angeles City Council File 21-0878 and the Council’s efforts to require vaccination of eligible individuals participating in or attending specific indoor events deemed as high risk for COVID-19 viral transmission.
August 2021
Council File Number: 20-1506-S1
Summary: Motion: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports the City of Los Angeles’ proposed amendment to increase expenditures toward the existing Call Direction to Ensure Suicide Safety Pilot Program (CRESS Pilot Program) and 8-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week service operated by Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services in order to expand this offering to a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week operation, in order to continue allowing Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services to handle identified mental health calls to ensure that individuals in severe emotional distress or suicidal crisis receive the appropriate support in a timely manner and to reduce the need for the Los Angeles Police Department to respond to these types of calls. By expanding hours of operation from 8/7 to 24/7, this will enable this group to provide service at all hours of the day and night. This motion for a CIS in support of CF 20-1506-S1 is in accordance with SONC’s previous stance in Council File 20-0769-S1, adopted by SONC at its meeting on October 19, 2020, in which SONC voted to support the Fire Department (LAFD)’s expansion of the Advance Provider Response Units (APRU) program to respond to non-violent non-criminal calls that would previously be responded to by the police department (LAPD).
July 2021
Summary: SONC supports LAWA and FAA’s collaborative relationship in their working group’s efforts to bring relief to the Sherman Oaks community and other affected communities and encourages LAWA to continue engaging with FAA in advocating for solutions that provide equitable and fair benefits for the entirety of Sherman Oaks.
June 2021
Summary: According to the California Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR), as of April 2018, there are 5,130 oil and gas wells within the City of Los Angeles, of which 780 are active and 287 are idle and uncapped. This poses health risks to all residents of Los Angeles, no matter what neighborhood. However, we recognize that historically disadvantaged and communities of color are significantly disproportionately affected due to the proximity of oil extraction facilities to those neighborhoods. Additionally, the city does not have adequate insurance or bond requirements to control liability or recover costs for clean up or other damages. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council recognizes that this motion must be passed for the good of the entire city and its residents and stands in solidarity with frontline communities that are disproportionately impacted and have special circumstances that must be addressed.
Summary: The SONC board is in support of the council motion directing the Department of Recreation and Parks to report on a strategy and timeline for a pilot program to evaluate the use of zero-emission maintenance equipment at parks and golf courses. SONC recommends that American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA), be the organization that helps the City of Los Angeles with their zero emissions maintenance equipment pilot project, in order to avoid common problems that may arise in transitioning untrained staff. AGZA is the certification organization that helped the City of South Pasadena achieve their groundbreaking zero emission operations for all city properties, and is the most qualified and experienced consultancy to ensure the City’s program success. The SONC supports the City’s pilot program and urges to implement AGZA’s Green Zone certification throughout its parks and golf courses.
Council File Number: 21-0002-S100
Summary: “More than 99% of plastic is created from fossil fuels . . .spurring a boom in new plastic production, contributing significantly to the climate crisis, and causing environmental justice issues at every step of its life cycle . . . the U.S. produces the most plastic waste per capita of any country, and an astounding 91% is never recycled. Of the more than 350 million tons of plastic produced each year globally, 8 million tons wind up as plastic waste in the world’s oceans.” Source: breakfreefromplastic.org The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council is in favor of the resolution stated in CF 21-0002- S100 (A joint LA city and State Assembly Motion) which supports Federal Legislation known as the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act (S984 and HR2238). The goals of the Break Free From Plastic Act are comprehensive and in alignment with the needs of the City of Los Angeles and its residents.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) asks Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) to request, the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council (VNY CAC) to support, the Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) to fund, perhaps in the vein of CF 19-1493 relative to funding sources for FAA-related outside counsel expenses, and LA City Council to ensure the hiring of a consultant with experience and a track record of success with the FAA in moving and dispersing NextGen flight paths to assist LAWA staff in achieving the stated action from LAWA in IFP gateway request from the fall of 2020 relative to the PPRRY waypoint.
Council File Number: 21-0002-S106
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 21- 0002-S106 in opposing AB 1401 (Friedman), which would prohibit a city or county from imposing minimum parking requirements on all developments located within one-half mile walking distance of a major transit stop or a high-quality transit corridor.
Summary: Climate change increases the risk of wildfire, heatwaves, drought, and food insecurity, not only in Sherman Oaks, but throughout Los Angeles, California, and beyond. We must reduce the temperature of the planet through elimination of fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy. The LADWP/NREL study has found that transition to 100% clean energy by 2035/2045 is doable, practical, and beneficial. By implementing the “no-regrets” options in the LADWP/NREL study, we can rapidly get on track to achieve 100% clean energy by 2035. A shovel-ready plan with plans for rapid deployment of renewable energy will also allow Los Angeles to be ready for federal funding.
Summary: In the interest of public safety, public health, and in an effort to curtail, mitigate, prevent, or impede the quantitative effect of gun violence and mass shootings in Sherman Oaks and the City of Los Angeles, as specifically pertains to semi-automatic rifles and similar high-capacity magazines and/or elevated-throughput capable firearms colloquially referred to in Bonta as "assault weapons," the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports LA City Council File 21-0618 regarding the City Attorney's amicus brief or other document to be filed in support of the California Attorney General's appeal of Miller, et al v. Bonta with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which will seek to reverse the U.S. District Court's decision to strike down California's assault weapons ban.
Council File Number: 16-0243-S1
Summary: The SONC board is in support of the council motion #16-0423-S1 directing the LADWP to reach 100% renewable energy for the grid by 2030, as recommended in the study LADWP 100% Renewable Study release in Feb of 2021.
May 2021
Council File Number: 21-0002-S22
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 21-0002-S22 in opposing the District Attorney’s administrative action to cease seeking sentencing enhancements in criminal cases unless amendment to exempt sentencing enhancements for hate crimes from this policy.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) urges LA City Council, in conjunction with the Department of Sanitation, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, and other service providers, including potential private-public partnerships, to establish a regular cleanup schedule of encampment sites and to supply trash receptacles such as but not limited to automated litter bins (ALBs) to encampment and other unhoused areas with regular collection in order to gauge the effectiveness of simply providing unhoused persons with the ability to properly dispose of waste.
Council File Number: 21-0264, 21-0002-S61
Summary: Given the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC)’s prior support for and Community Impact Statement (CIS) submitted to CF 20-0002-S81, Asian and Pacific Islander, Jewish, Immigrant and Other Communities / COVID-19 Pandemic / Denounce Anti-Asian Bigotry, AntiSemitism, Hateful Speech, Violent Action, introduced by Councilmember David Ryu and seconded by Councilmember Bob Blumenfield in May 2020, SONC reaffirms its support for CF 21-0002-S61 and CF 21-0264 regarding the condemnation of discrimination, harassment, and hate crimes, and urges LA City Council not to allow CF 21-0002-S61 and CF 21-0264 to sit idle in Committee without a vote for months on end, as it has done with CF 20-0002-S81. Special Attention to the request that the "LA City Council not to allow CF 21-0002-S61 and CF 21-0264 to sit idle in Committee without a vote for months on end, as it has done with CF 20-0002-S81."
March 2021
Council File Number: 21-0002-S8
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File 21-0002-S8 regarding LADOT proposals for fiscal year 2021-22, including the setting and enforcement of speed limits; parking management and enforcement; and emerging mobility options.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File 20-0990 and the City’s effort to provide diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-bias training to Neighborhood Council members.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File 21-0051 calling for an investigation into city employee involvement in the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the United States Capitol, potential disciplinary action, and the drafting of guidelines surrounding hate speech.
February 2021
Council File Number: 21-0002-S21, S18
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) passed the following motion on February 8, 2021. Given the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council’s (SONC) prior Community Impact Statements in City Council Files 20-0002-S101 and 20-002-S107, submitted on August 12, 2020, SONC hereby supports similar council files CF-21-0002-S18 and CF 21-0002-S21, in opposition to SB 9 (Atkins) and SB 10 (Weiner), for reasons including but not limited to the elimination of community review or public hearing, overriding of local land use control regulations and protocols, and changes to housing procedures without any provisions for affordable housing also known as affordability requirements.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 20-0492 to address climate change trends. Whereas the residents of Sherman Oaks are concerned with the damage to health and effect on climate change caused by burning fossil fuels, and whereas the common practice of investing in fossil fuels contributes greatly to the marketplace dominance of fossil fuels, the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports Council File 20-0492 and notes the City should not be supporting investments in fossil fuel companies, and residents shouldn’t have to worry about the City’s insurance vendors failing due to investments in a declining industry. Therefore, be it resolved, that the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council SUPPORTS the Blumenfield motion in Council File 20-0492, to create a rating system for insurance providers identifying their risk due to fossil fuel investments
Council File Number: 21-0002-S3
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File 21-0002-S3 and any legislation that defines "domestic terrorism" as a federal crime, accompanied by appropriate penalties and sentences.
January 2021
Council File Number: 20-0004-S1
Summary: Motion in Support of CF 20-0004-S1 Whereas Los Angeles has recognized the Republic of Artsakh since 2013 in Council File 13-0004-S2, the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports the Republic of Artsakh’s right of self-determination and supports the Council File 20-004-S1, Republic of Artsakh / Azerbaijan Military Forces / Ceasefire / Commendatory Resolution.
November 2020
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File CF 20-1267 to consider methods, including enforcements such as citations pursuant to AB 1824, and look forward to the report on possible ways to more effectively limit the use of modified mufflers, especially in noise-sensitive areas.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File CF 20-1225 to develop a healthy soil strategy and take appropriate steps as specified in 20-1225 to support healthy soil and compost projects and programs.
October 2020
Council File Number: 20-0769-S1
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 20-0769-S1.The motion supporting CF 20-0769-S1 reads as follows:The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File CF 20-0769-S1 to consider a plan from the Fire Department (LAFD) to expand the Advanced Provider Response Units (APRU) in order to cover more areas of the City and respond to non-violent non-criminal calls that would previously be responded to by the Police Department (LAPD).
September 2020
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File CF 20-1116 which would extend the comment period from 45 days to 120 days for the FAA Hollywood Burbank Airport Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File CF 20-1114, COVID-19 / West Valley Animal shelter (WVAS) / Long Term Plan, and supports the draft proposal that would maintain the West Velley Animal Shelter as a fully functioning municipal shelter.
August 2020
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council considered a motion at its regularly scheduled Board Meeting on August 10, 2020, regarding CF 20-0866. The Board passed the motion in opposition to CF 20-0945 and the handling of the motion which prevented review by Neighborhood Councils. The motion is a follows: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) opposes City Council CF 20-0866, thus opposing acceptance of the proposed $350,000 donation from the Los Angeles Police Foundation to the LAPD. SONC further notes that City Council scheduled and approved CF 20-0866 in such short order as to prevent adequate time for Neighborhood Councils to review this item, and expresses its disapproval of such tactics to bypass local review
Council File Number: 20-0002-S81
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council considered a motion at its regularly scheduled Board Meeting on August 10, 2020, regarding CF 20-0002-S81. The Board passed a motion in support of CF 20-0002-S81. The motion reads as follows: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File CF 20-0002-S81 and denounces anti-Asian bigotry, Anti-Semitism, hateful speech, and violent actions, and affirms our commitment to the safety and well-being of all community members, including the Asian and Jewish communities, including but not limited to enhanced prosecutions to curb hate acts
Council File Number: 20-0002-S94
Summary: The following motion was considered by the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council at it's regularly scheduled Board Meeting on August 10, 2020. The SONC Board passed the motion supporting CF 20-0002-S94. The motion was as follows: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File CF 20-0002-S94 in support of a statewide millionaire tax to ensure safety net programs are not cut due to an unprecedented deficit, and presently proposed as an increase of 2% on taxable personal income for Californians whose take-home salary is over one million dollars per year, and only applicable pursuant to the marginal tax model, on that income which exceeds one million dollars.
Council File Number: 20-0002-S101
Summary: The following motion was considered by the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council at it's regularly scheduled Board Meeting on August 10, 2020. The SONC Board passed a motion supporting CF 20-0002-S101. The motion was as follows: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File CF 20-0002-S101, which is in opposition to SB 1120, and opposes City Council File CF 20-0002-S107 which is in support of SB 1120.
Council File Number: 20-0002-S107
Summary: The following motion was considered by the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council at it's regularly scheduled Board Meeting on August 10, 2020. The SONC Board passed a motion opposing CF 20-0002-S107. The motion was as follows: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File CF 20-0002-S101, which is in opposition to SB 1120, and opposes City Council File CF 20-0002-S107 which is in support of SB 1120.
Council File Number: 20-0930, 0944, 0945
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council considered a motion at its regularly scheduled Board Meeting on August 10, 2020, regarding CF 20-0930. The Board passed the motion in support of CF 20-0930. The motion is a follows: Given the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC)’s previous support of related mask/face covering ordinance CF 20-0429, be it resolved that SONC similarly stands in favor of face covering/mask wearing requirement City Council Files CF 20-0930, CF 20-0944, and CF 20-0945.
July 2020
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) passed the following motion in support for CF 20-0078 with the hope that noise generated by airport operations at the Burbank Airport, departures and arrivals, would be "shared" by all neighborhoods in the Valley. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council File CF 20-0078 requesting FAA to add an RNAV departure procedure for eastbound departures from Burbank Airport, with the aim of alleviating noise in the Southern San Fernando Valley west of Burbank Airport, and dispersing flight paths, and SONC shall in turn issue a CIS in support of CF 20-0078, with letters addressed to Council District Two, Council District Four, Council District Five, and the Van Nuys Citizen's Advisory Council (VNY CAC), indicating SONC's position, with carbon copy to interested parties Burbank Airport (BUR) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) passed the following motion in support of CD 20-0608. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports the development, implementation, and operation of an independent auditor/investor’s office (Office of Anti-Corruption and Transparency) to provide focused, independent and comprehensive oversight and monitoring of land use, development, and construction processes and approvals in the City of Los Angeles, and applicable amendment of Codes and/or City Charter to accomplish this initiative.
Directed To: City Planning Commission
Summary: Community concerns: 1) inadequate automobile parking (18) for number of residential units (33) 2) excess automobile parking required by commercial space and residential unit users will fill local streets 3) bicycle parking spaces (40) are excessive and should be reduced. Space freed up by fewer bicycle parking spaces should be use for automobile parking 4) height of building is excessive for the area
Summary: The following motion was passed by the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supporting CF 20-0429. In light of continued increases in the spread of coronavirus and a disproportionately vocal minority of objections to the Mayor’s order concerning mandatory face coverings and/or masks, the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council, out of an abundance of caution and consideration for public health and safety during the COVID-19 state of emergency, strongly requests the Los Angeles City Council adopt an ordinance that would require, legislatively, the wearing of face coverings and/or masks in specified public situations subject to limited exemption, and specify the method and manner of enforcement of such an ordinance, such as but not limited to fines or citations, sunsetting after the emergency concludes.
June 2020
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) passed the following motion in support of CF 20-0868. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports the City Council’s motion that the Chief of Police report with an after-action report of the events leading up to and the Police Department’s actions during the period of civil unrest that began on May 29, 2020 in response to the killing of George Floyd. Be it resolved that SONC shall communicate its position through the issuance of a Community Impact Statement (CIS) on CF 20-0686 and through a letter to the Councilmember for District Four, David Ryu.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports City Council file 18-1190 and encourages the Council to (1) ban single-use plastics and (2) revise blue bin rules to only include plastics that can be recycled locally or regionally. A copy of the motion as passed is attached.
Summary: Black Lives Matter. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) supports CF 20-0690.SONC urges the City Council to adopt its Resolution and specifically the language pertaining to “murder,” “anguish, anger and introspection on issues of race and policing,” and an unconditional condemnation of “the murder in the strongest possible terms.” SONC implores the City Council to adopt the language, “Black Lives Matter.” A copy of the motion as passed by SONC is attached.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) passed the following motion in support of Councilmember Ryu's motion (CF-0838). Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports Councilman Ryu's motion (CF 20-0838) the "Permanent Slow Streets Program" be adopted by the City Council. We authorize a CIS to be written, and to send it to Councilman Ryu's office.
July 2019
Council File (CF) 15-0499-S1 & 18-0988
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports the Urban Forestry Division, its goals, and the increase in staffing and resources necessary for the Urban Forestry Division to successfully perform its duties.
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports the Los Angeles City Council's Resolution in opposition to SB 330.
April 2019
Summary: SONC authorizes filing a Community Impact Statement City Council File #18-1226 to oppose SB-50 and urge our elected officials to work with our community to find an adequate solution to the housing crisis without destroying Single Family Zoning.
August 2018
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council voted unanimously to support 6 provisions of this file and to oppose 5 provisions of this file. The letter attached gives our position in full.
April 2018
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports the work of the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates and their 2018 White Paper and approve the filing of a Community Impact Statement for Council file 18-0600
August 2017
Summary: The Council supports regulation of Marijuana Sales subject to conditions that are enumerated in our attached letter.
June 2017
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council supports this motion. “The Council APPROVE and ADOPT a policy that would dedicate at least two-thirds of the City’s share of future Local Return funding toward the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the City’s streets that are in “D” and “F” condition; and that the CLA and CAO, in coordination with appropriate departments, be instructed to report back with an expenditure and work plan that includes a minimum allocation of two-thirds of the City’s share of potential Local Return funding for a capital improvement program for street reconstruction and rehabilitation; and that the CAO, in coordination with the Department of Transportation, report on the amount of the City’s share of the Local Return revenue generated by the half-cent sales tax from Prop M.”
May 2017
Summary: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council requests that the following Community Impact Statement be attached to Council File 17-0383 regarding the Conditional Use at 3900-3910 Stansbury, Sherman Oaks to be heard in committee May 16. COMMUNITY IMPACT STATEMENT The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council opposes this appeal because it is a frivolous appeal. The appeal alleges that the Buckley School is not in compliance with its Conditional Use Permit. The Buckley School is in compliance. The appeal also seeks the removal of Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council from the Committee that oversees the compliance with the Conditional Use Permit. The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council is comprised of members elected by the public in elections managed by the City Clerk and duly represents this community of 65,000 residents. The removal of the Council from this committee would be detrimental to the community. The appeal also states that two members of the Council have a conflict of interest. However, those two members have recused themselves and not been present at any vote on the school or its Conditional Use Permit including the vote on this Community Impact Statement. Ronald Ziff has been the Council’s representative on this committee for the past 6 years. He has no ties whatsoever with the school and only serves the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council in overseeing relations between the community and the school.
November 2015
Summary: We request that Sherman Oaks be exempted from the Mobility Plan 2035 as it is written and have a complete re-examination of transit through Sherman Oaks after the Sepulveda Pass Project has been finalized. Sherman Oaks area shall be defined by the Neighborhood Council boundaries.
CSUN Study
SONC has been helping CSUN’s Master of Urban Planning Program develop metrics to help understand community history, and the satisfaction levels of its residents.
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Neighborhood Council Calendar
Upcoming Meetings & Events
Area Boundaries and Map
SONC Education Committee Kester Elementary School Murals Project
Video Replay - SONC Speaker Series
Video Replay - SONC Speaker Series
Video Replay - SONC Speaker Series
