North Westwood Neighborhood Council recap – May 6

The North Westwood Neighborhood Council passed a community impact statement calling for improvements to the Westwood Boulevard Safety and Mobility project at its May meeting.

The council, which represents UCLA and Westwood Village, meets on the first Wednesday of every month at UCLA’s Weyburn Terrace. People can attend the council’s meetings in person or virtually using the link posted on the corresponding agenda. The next meeting is set to be held June 3.

Comments made by public officials:

• NWWNC President Josh Trifunovic read an announcement from Mayor Karen Bass’s office that said Shine LA – an initiative that aims to beautify the city’s neighborhoods before the 2028 Olympics – plans to host a litter cleanup and planter painting event at the Westwood Recreation Center on May 16.

• Trifunovic also read a statement from the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath that said increased stormwater has refilled the city’s aquifers, adding that they can now support 3 million residents for one year. He added that the new LA Homeless Services Authority, which connects unhoused people with housing programs and emergency services, is restructuring after the county redirected taxpayer funds to it to increase accountability.

• Janet Turner – deputy district director of outreach for United States Representative Ted Lieu, whose district includes Westwood – said Lieu secured $4 million for the northern part of the district’s ongoing projects. Turner added that the projects include UCLA’s BruinBus electrification initiative, which aims to transition the university’s bus system to 100% electric, and fund California’s first in-road electric charging system. Turner said Lieu also introduced H.R. 8516, which bundles 20 bipartisan bills that seek to regulate artificial intelligence.

• A representative for California State Sen. Ben Allen’s office said Allen’s term will end in November. The representative added that Allen introduced Senate Bill 1233, which seeks to increase transparency by requiring companies to provide proposals for changes in public utility rates.

• Carmen Zambrano, an assistant director for UCLA Local Government and Community Relations, said the university encouraged the campus community to review the university’s electric mobility device policy, as well as its initial study on the Research Park project, which would convert a shopping center into a multidisciplinary research facility. She added that UCLA Newsroom published stories and information about events on its website to celebrate Jewish Heritage Month. Zambrano also said UCLA is hosting its annual Clarkia Flower Festival on May 16, its JazzReggae Festival on May 25 and Sustainable Bruin Move Out event June 11.

• Erica Gatica Doughty, an advocate for EmpowerLA, said the City Clerk’s Office altered its training guidelines for board members. She added that the city’s proposed budget will follow a specific approval timeline leading up to Budget Day on June 27. Doughty said the NWWNC elections will have a hybrid set up of mail-in ballots and in-person voting locations.

Comments made by the public:

• Brian Goldsmith, a staff member for former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, said he is running for state senate in California District 24, which represents Westwood and UCLA.

• Henry Mantel, a tenants’ rights attorney, said he is running to represent the LA City Council’s fifth district, which includes Westwood and UCLA.

• Tomás Sidenfaden, a software engineer, said he is running for the LA County Board of Supervisors third district, which includes Westwood and UCLA.

• Steven Sann, the chair of the Westwood Community Council, said the Westwood Library is holding its annual pre-Independence Day concert June 28.

Announcements:

• Connor Webb, the chair of the transportation, environment and public space committee, said the committee met last month to discuss the Westwood Boulevard Safety and Mobility Project and Westside Bus Connection Program. He added that the committee is waiting for two community impact statements and several re-filed items on the consent calendar to be approved by the council.

• Patrick Babajanian, the chair of the ad hoc Olympics and Paralympics committee, said the committee aims to upgrade infrastructure, prioritize local businesses for procurement opportunities and donate surplus revenue from the Olympics to a legacy fund. Babajanian added that Michael Menjivar, the director of community relations for LA28, wants to meet with members from multiple neighborhood councils in June.

• Andrew Lewis, chair of the community health, homelessness and safety committee, said the committee discussed filling vacant storefronts on Westwood Boulevard at their monthly meeting.

• Sailasya Munamarty and Elizabeth Brady, who are both members of the community health, homelessness and safety committee, said the committee is working alongside student organizations and nonprofit organizations to create an insurance initiative providing medical and legal aid to the unhoused population in Westwood.

• Melissa Nessman, the co-chair of the outreach and communications committee, said the committee plans to secure a new meeting location and find diverse residents to fill available board seats. She added that local businesses said in a survey sent by the committee that they support expanding the pedestrian area in Broxton Plaza.

• Jacob Lawson, the chair of the planning, housing and business committee, said the committee plans to discuss multiple community impact statements and agenda items, including a statement supporting the implementation of Senate Bill 79, which permits more multi-family housing developments around major transit stops.

[Related: Professors react to new law, potential impact on LA housing, transport]

• Brady, the chair of the budget and finance committee, said she is creating the council’s 2026-27 fiscal year budget which will be released soon. Brady added that the budget will likely include $250 for elections and $500 for outreach.

Agenda:

• Mark Ragan, the founder of community beautification nonprofit Beautify L.A., presented a completion report for the Art & Garden Festival in Westwood Park. He said about 30 people participated in the community painting and gardening activities. Ragan added that Beautify L.A. is working on attracting more members and received a grant to organize a clean-up event.

• The council voted to pass a community impact statement in support of improvements to the Westwood Boulevard Safety and Mobility Project, including wider bike lanes, protected intersections and sustainability measures.

• The council voted to pass a community impact statement in support of unifying the two corridors involved in the Westside City Coalition project, which connects UCLA facilities in Westwood and Santa Monica. Webb added that the project would mimic the old LA International Airport FlyAway service, which connected Westwood to LAX terminals, making traveling easier for students.

• The council voted unanimously on a letter in support of delivery service Duffl obtaining a Type 20 Beer and Wine License, which authorizes the sale of beer and wine for off-premises consumption.

• The council voted to pass a community impact statement against a proposed City Council motion, which would require that businesses seeking a Type 10 cannabis license present letters of support from their neighborhood council, Council Office, LAPD and a community organization. The council voted in favor of the statement, and Webb made an amendment to add language about the negative impacts of unregulated cannabis.

• The council unanimously approved the monthly expenditure report.

• The council unanimously appointed Melissa Nessman Roberts, a board member, to the ad hoc Olympics and Paralympics committee.

• The council approved its April consent calendar.