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Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council June 2022: Issue #6
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Welcome to the June 2022 edition of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council's (SONC) newsletter, the Ziff Flyer.
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Message from the President
Lindsay Imber
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SONC's Movies in the Park Series
As we continue to navigate our COVID coexistence, we are pleased to announce the return of SONC's summer Movies in the Park Series, a family-friendly event held on the east side of Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park, near the Hazeltine softball fields, on three summer Saturdays—June 25, July 23, and August 20. The event, organized by the Outreach Committee, will begin no earlier than 6pm and we will do our best to coordinate the movie's start time with sunset.
No RSVP is required to attend this free event and Movies in the Park is held outdoors, so please dress accordingly. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to sit on, and picnics if you wish to have a meal. There will be ample room for social distancing. VNSO will sell additional refreshments.
Movie Schedule
June 25 - Encanto
July 23 - Ghostbusters Afterlife
August 20 - A film to be named later
SONC Committees - Get Involved
Did you know SONC is comprised of community members seeking to get involved in local government and that committee membership is open to any Sherman Oaks stakeholder? Although board members are generally elected by the community, committee members are generally selected by each specific committee's chairperson.
If you are interested in getting involved in making a difference in Sherman Oaks, we have set up a Stakeholder Interest Form for committees and encourage you to fill out the form. SONC's committees include Education, Finance, Government Affairs, Green & Sustainability, Outreach, Planning and Land Use (PLUM) / Vision, Public Safety, and Transportation.
In addition, we are presently developing a new Human Services committee focusing on various community issues and are actively seeking new members for that committee.
June 7, 2022 Statewide Direct Primary Election
Lastly, if you have not yet done so, I encourage you to vote in the June 7, 2022 Statewide Direct Primary Election. Even if you have not yet registered or requested a ballot, voting centers will offer provisional ballots through election day. Mail-in ballots may be returned via USPS mail, or at Vote Drop Boxes, such as the collection box in the parking lot of the Sherman Oaks Martin Pollard Branch Library (14245 Moorpark St).
In-person voting takes place at the Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center (5056 Van Nuys Blvd) beginning May 28 and will continue through election day. Hours are 10am through 7pm daily, with extended hours of 7am-8pm on election day, June 7. Additionally, Sherman Oaks Elementary Charter (14755 Greenleaf St) will offer in-person voting from June 4-7 with the same hours. Visit LAVote.gov for more information.
I thank you for your interest in Sherman Oaks and welcome the opportunity to serve as President of SONC. If you have any feedback or concerns regarding issues here in Sherman Oaks, I encourage you to contact one of the aforementioned SONC Committees or e-mail me at lindsay.imber.sonc@gmail.com.
Stay safe and be kind,
Lindsay
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To view webinar details,
June 7th, 2022, 6:00pm
July 7th, 2022, 6:30pm
June 13th, 2022, 6:30pm
June 14th, 2022, 6:30pm
June 20th, 2022, 6:30pm
June 21st, 2022, 7pm
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July 6th, 2022 8:00pm
June 8th, 2022 8:00pm
June 16th, 2022, 6:30pm
June 28th, 2022, 7pm
June 22nd, 2022, 6:30pm
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Virtual SONC Meetings – Join Us
On March 12, 2020, the City of Los Angeles, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, suspended all meetings, activities, and events of SONC. In May 2020, SONC began to hold “virtual” meetings. These “virtual” meetings are held by way of video teleconferences using the Zoom platform.
Information about the meetings and how to “join in” is available on the SONC website: www.shermanoaksnc.org. Please give us your feedback and comments.
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June 13th, 2022 -- SONC Board Meeting
The agenda will be available on June 9th, 2022 on the SONC website, www.shermanoaksnc.org. A physical copy can always be found on the bulletin board at the Sherman Oaks Public Library.
To join SONC's monthly virtual board meetings:
By Telephone:
By the Internet:
(1) Follow link:
(2) Press “Enter”
Or from a Zoom “Enter the Meeting” Screen:
(2) Press “Enter”
(3) Enter your Email Address and Your Name, and
(4) Press “Enter”
Did you miss a previous SONC Meeting that you wanted to attend?
SONC meetings that are conducted using the Zoom Video-teleconferencing platform are now being recorded for playback. All recorded meetings are playable by clicking the associated meeting date links found on the committee page on the SONC website.
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SONC Outreach Committee
Harold Shapiro, Chair
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The big news for June from our Outreach Committee is the return of the Summer Movie Series that will be conducted at the Van Nuys Sherman Oaks War Memorial Park. As mentioned in Lindsay Imber's President's message there will be 3 screenings taking place, open to all residents, with free admission. Since it normally does not get dark until around 7:45 PM, we are also arranging for some pre-screening entertainment and surprises. The first film to be shown is Walt Disney's 2021 animated feature "Encanto", with songs and lyrics created by composer and rapper Lin-Manuel Miranda. See the flier included above for more details.
Other projects in the Outreach Committee pipeline include pre-planning for the 2023 Neighborhood Council elections that will formally kick off this November. SONC will be seeking a slate of candidates to contend for 10 seats across areas 2, 4, and 6 as well as 1 currently vacant seat in Area 1. If you are interested in running for a seat, please watch this space, or visit our web site to keep informed of the application filing deadlines. In 2022-23, the City Clerk will be using a hybrid election model for NC elections that provides for both polling place voting as well as the option to Vote-By-Mail. Voting deadline for SONC elections will be Thursday, June 22, 2023.
SONC is partnering with the Sherman Oaks Chamber Foundation, and the LADOT to find a local artist interested in creating an original design to paint onto a utility box in Sherman Oaks located at the corner of Van Nuys and Ventura Blvd. In partnership with Council District 4, the foundation has already painted over 90 utility boxes. If you are interested, please contact Pamela Harris via email at: pamela.harris.sonc@gmail.com
The SONC Outreach Committee meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month. Please join us for our next Virtual meeting on June 21st to hear about the other projects in our pipeline. For the details on how to access the Virtual Meeting on the Zoom Platform, please visit the SONC Outreach Committee web page.
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In May, the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council Planning & Land Use Committee (PLUM) reviewed the proposed request for a drive-thru fast-food restaurant at 5043 Van Nuys Blvd., the old Corky’s site. Though we recommended not approving the drive-through aspect of the Chick-fil A proposal, we do support a dine-in restaurant. Our committee has proposed to work with the applicant, the Council Office, and the community to find a solution for this site that restores the historic building and is appropriately sensitive to the adjoining residential area.
At the upcoming June 16 PLUM meeting we will be reviewing the Woodman Restaurant and the remodel and addition to the Rive Gauche restaurant site.
Please join us and attend our virtual meetings. Vision meets at 6:30 on the first Thursday of the month and PLUM at 6:30 on the third Thursday. We will be discussing topics such as the Community Plan Updates, Metro, the State housing bills and real solutions to the affordable housing crisis.
To access the next Virtual Meeting on the Zoom Platform,
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SONC Green & Sustainability Committee
Kathy Shaffer
Committee Member
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Sustainable Living
YES, as individuals we CAN make a difference. This is a great time to think about what YOU can do to protect the environment. If you are new to sustainability, choose goals that are achievable and important to you. If you are a sustainability expert, share your knowledge and encourage your friends and neighbors to become more earth friendly. Living a sustainable lifestyle can help our environment AND save money.
Eliminate food waste. Thirty to forty percent of food is wasted and ends up in landfills where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas which is 28 times stronger than carbon dioxide.
- Plan your meals and buy only what you need. https://www.thekitchn.com/
- Donate backyard fruit to food recovery organizations, such as Food Forward. https://foodforward.org
- Understand how much water was used to grow the food, and how much fuel was used to transport the food you throw away.
Reduce energy consumption to help limit carbon emissions in the environment.
- Turn off lights, unplug idle electronics, and shut down computers.
- Use programmable thermostats and energy efficient appliances. https://marketplace.ladwp.com/
- Drive less. Combine trips, walk, bike, or take public transportation.
Conserve natural resources to maintain ecological balance, save for future generations and promote biodiversity.
- Plant drought resistant, native plants and shade trees. Theodorepayne.org
- Plant bee and butterfly friendly gardens.
- Turn faucets and hoses off when not actively using the water.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce!
- Be aware of mindless consumption! Don’t buy it unless you need it
- Don’t buy something new if you can avoid it. Share, repair or obtain gently used items on websites such as buynothingproject.org or Freecycle.org
- Avoid use or purchase of articles make of single use plastic.
Reuse!
- Use real dishes and utensils instead of paper plates and plastic utensils
- Take reusable shopping bags and produce bags to the market.
- Store leftovers in reusable containers instead of plastic wrap
- Don’t forget your reusable water bottle.
Recycle!
Make earth-friendly investments.
- When your current appliances are at the end of their life cycle, investigate electric appliances to replace them. https://www.switchison.org/
- Purchase an electric vehicle.
- Install solar panels and upgrade your electrical panel to accommodate electric appliances.
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Our Green & Sustainability Committee meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month. Please join us for our next Virtual meeting on July 6th to help with local and city wide issues.
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SONC Public Safety Committee
Christy Adair, Chair
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The May SONC Public Safety meeting featured a discussion with Patrick Botz-Forbes from the Neighborhood Team Program ("NTP") who has dedicated his efforts on setting up neighborhood Disaster Response Drills around the City and the importance of establishing these local Staging Areas before a disaster strikes.
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SONC recently supported a grant to purchase a Staging Area Kit for Sherman Oaks residents and when it is operational – CERT, SONC and the NTP will host its first Sherman Oaks drill.
Our Helpful Safety Tip of the month came from Senior Lead Officer Romo who suggests:
- Drivers entering their parking structure/garage should wait for the gate to fully close before entering/exiting.
- Drivers take their garage remote clickers when exiting the vehicle.
- Everyone to research ways to lock a mailbox.
LAFD CERT Class – Sherman Oaks Galleria
Sessions will be held starting Tuesday, Jun 21, 2022, 6:30 PM to Monday Aug 2, 2022, 9:00 PM PDT at the SHERMAN OAKS GALLERIA Community Room, 1st Floor (The Community Room is to the West of the Cheesecake Factory and next to the Parking Kiosks), 15301 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.
PARKING: Free parking on Sepulveda or parking at the mall is $1 with validation or $3 without validation. If parking costs are prohibitive, please email: Christy.Adair.Sonc@gmail.com.
INSTRUCTOR: Firefighter Andrew Huang (213) 202-3136
- Class 1 - JUN 21 (Introduction, Disaster Awareness)
- Class 2 - JUN 28 (Incident Command Structure and Disaster Psychology)
- Class 3 - JUL 05 (Disaster Medical Operations 1)
- Class 4 - JUL 12 (Disaster Medical Operations 2)
- Class 5 - JUL 19 (Fire Suppression and Hazardous Materials)
- Class 6 - JUL 26 (Light Search and Rescue)
- Class 7 - AUG 02 (Terrorism & CERT)
While students must attend all classes to receive a “Certificate of Completion”; the Fire Department allows for students to take a missed session with another CERT class.
Seating is limited to the first 50 registrants.
The Public Safety Committee meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month. Our next meeting will be next Tuesday, June 14th, 2021 at 6:30pm.
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Budget Advocates
Howard Katchen
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Budget Day: You Are Invited!
All people residing in or doing business in the City of Los Angeles are invited to the Budget Advocates’ premier event – Budget Day 2022 on Saturday, June 18th. The time is 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for the Plenary Session, and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for the Regional Breakout Sessions. The theme is, “Which Way L.A.?”
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This is a Zoom event and you can request language interpretation when you register (at least 72 hours prior to the event). Register now at tiny.cc/buda2022.
Listen to City leaders explain the Los Angeles City Budget for the coming fiscal year and the way it will impact the services we expect the City to provide in return for our tax dollars.
Learn how the City will use these revenues to pay for public safety (police, fire, and emergency services), public works (sanitation, street services), recreation and parks, library, animal services and those taking care of our money (City Administrative Officer, Finance, City Controller).
The City plans to increase funds for Personnel and Information Technology to ease bottlenecks and improve access both to and between departments. And how the City intends to turn the tide on homelessness.
Participate in Regional Breakout Sessions to share the concerns and issues of your neighborhood so the Budget Advocates can address these in their work during the coming year and underline their importance when they meet with City Departments, the City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee, and with City officials.
The Budget Advocates are an elected, all volunteer, independent advisory body tasked with making constructive recommendations to the Mayor and the City Council regarding the Budget, and to City Departments on ways to improve their operations. Their mission also includes obtaining input, updating and educating all Angelenos on the City’s fiscal management. For more information on the Budget Advocates please visit the website here: https://www.budgetadvocates.org/
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Guide to Free Resources
