Special Committee Meeting - Monday, May 24 at 6:30pm

We are hosting a special meeting (which will replace our regular meeting) to formalize our 2010-2011 budget request. In addition, there are a few new projects and upcoming opportunities which we would like to discuss as a group.

We also invite all DLANC candidates to attend our meeting and introduce themselves - you will get a couple of minutes to share your vision for Downtown Los Angeles. Check out our complete agenda. See you there!

Sustainability Committee Special Meeting
Monday, May 24 from 6:30pm-7:45pm
Central Public Library, Meeting Room A

Meeting Agenda:

1. Welcome and introductions.
2. Review and approval of meeting minutes from the May 2010 regular meeting.
3. Announcements: Neighborhood Council Elections are June 25. Candidates are welcome to introduce themselves to the Sustainability Committee. Any other public announcements?
   
4. Committee Budget for 2010-2011: We have to develop our proposal for the next annual budget. We are hoping the Neighborhood Council will still have the $45,000 as we did last year. Last year's budget allocation was $6,000.
5. Sustainable Community Projects Internship: We are proposing a second internship for this summer to continue to develop our outreach capacity and internal organization. Tamara to present the job description for approval and posting.
6. Green Space & The Harlem Place Project: Update on the May 3 presentation to the community and next steps.
7. Green Space & The Urban Garden Guide: We have a launch! We need a volunteer to help us coordinate the translation.
8. Green Space & Tree Planting Guide: We have a launch! Gunnar to present guide.
9. Green Space & Green Pockets: Discuss potential partnership with the Downtown Los Angeles Youth & Cultural Center to help them build a more sustainable parking lot. We would like to help them identify resources and partners to do something better than an asphalt surface lot as their primary revenue generator and would like to include this project as an extension of the Green Pockets initiative.
10. Mobility: Pedestrian Cross-Walks: Community members are invited to bring a few ideas of where we should target a corridor of mid-block crosswalks. Current suggestions include: Broadway, Spring Street & Main Street.
11. Sustainability Committee office hours are designated opportunities to work on projects for the community. Next office hours are Monday, June 14 from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Come visit!
12. Adjournment.
    

Green Pockets - Greening a Parking Lot

The DLANC Sustainability Committee is considering a partnership with the Downtown Los Angeles Youth & Cultural Center to help them "green" their parking lot. It will be a BIG POCKET of green space that we hope will set the example for the rest of Downtown. Get involved as we kick-off this exciting initiative!


View Larger Map

Harlem Place Project - Starting a Conversation about Green Alleys Downtown

At a community presentation of the Harlem Place Project, the graduate student team from the UCSB Bren School of Environmental Science and Management discussed the impacts of transforming small-scale open space on both a local and regional level. With more than 900 miles of alleys and many park-poor neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles, the DLANC Sustainability Committee is interested in understanding more about what can be done to enhance our urban environment, improve stormwater quality and quantity, air quality, reduce heat island effect, and create a more livable neighborhood.

Click here for a full update on the project and copies of the reports from the Bren Team.

Sustainability Committee meeting Tuesday, May 4 at the Central Public Library

Join us for our next regular meeting of the Sustainability Committee on Tuesday, May 4 at the Central Public Library (Meeting Room A) from 6:30PM-7:45PM.

Meeting Agenda:

1. Welcome and Introductions.
2. Review and approval of meeting minutes from April 2010 meetings.
3. Announcements: Neighborhood Council Elections: June 25. Candidates welcome to introduce themselves to the Sustainability Committee; Park 101 District Community Meeting and Open House on Thursday, May 13 from 4:00-6:00pm at Caltrans, 100 South Main St. (Ginny-Marie Brideau); Any other public announcements?
4. 2009-2010 Budget Update: Check request has been submitted to the City of Los Angeles for the remainder of the SDAT community match ($1,500). The $600 for Green Pockets will still be allocated/spent for this year – we have a great craft project!
5. Sustainable Community Projects Internship: We are proposing a second internship for this summer to continue to develop our outreach capacity and internal organization. Motion to support the creation of a second Sustainable Community Projects Internship for Summer 2010. (Tamara)
6. Green Space: Harlem Place Project: Update on the May 3 presentation to the community and next steps. The CRA/LA has requested a letter of support for the Fashion District Green Streets & Alley Network Plan grant application for Proposition 84 Funding. The deadline for the grant was last week (April 28) so we were asked to submit a draft in advance of committee approval (see attached letter). Motion to support the Fashion District Green Streets & Alley Network Plan grant application.
7. Green Space: The CRA/LA has requested a letter of support for the Downtown Los Angeles Open Space Master Plan grant application for Proposition 84 Funding. The deadline for the grant was also last week (April 28) so we were asked to submit a draft in advance of committee approval (see attached letter). Motion to support the Downtown Los Angeles Open Space Master Plan grant application.
8. Green Space: Urban Garden Guide. Hopefully this is the launch!
9. Green Space: Tree Planting Guide. Gunnar to present guide to tree planting.
10. Green Space: Green Pockets We had to cancel our Big Sunday event due to the protests on May 1. However, we are developing a project report and creating a more “viral” and grassroots approach to the mapping – including an online map and do-it-yourself kits.
11. Mobility: Pedestrian Cross-Walks Community members are invited to bring a few ideas of where we should target a corridor of mid-block crosswalks. Current suggestions include: Broadway, Spring Street, Main Street.
12. Sustainability Committee Website: Michael Ferguson to help us develop a REAL website! Update.
13. Sustainability Committee Chair office hours are designated opportunities to work on projects for the community. Next office hours are Monday, May 10 from 6:30pm-8:30pm for the Green Pockets Project. Come visit!
14. Adjournment.

Harlem Place Project - Integrating Small-Scale Urban Greenspace into Downtown

On Monday, May 3 the UC-Santa Barbara Bren School of Environmental Science & Management graduate student team will present the results of their investigation of the impacts of “greening” small-scale open space to the community.

What are green alleys? What do they look like?

The Bren team has developed a few scenarios, with Harlem Place as a model, to help the community visualize how transformative a green alley can be. Other great cities such as Chicago have green alley programs that have truly redefined what these in-between spaces can be - what would a green alley look like in Downtown Los Angeles?

What are the benefits of green alleys? How does it improve our environment?
The Bren team has designed a calculator tool to give us more information about making even the smallest changes to these spaces - giving us real data to analyze the benefit of green alleys. How does a green alley improve stormwater and air quality? Can it really help us reduce our heat island effect? How cost-effective is it really to make these changes?

Community Presentation & Conversation
Monday, May 3, 2010 starting at 7:00pm
Lost Souls’ Café (124 W. 4th Street, off of Harlem Place)

For more information on this project, check out the student project website by clicking here. A very special thank you to Lost Soul's Cafe and Michael Ferguson of The Loft Exchange for their help and support of this event.

Green Pockets: Neighborhood-Wide Survey Day Saturday, May 1

In partnership with Big Sunday, the DLANC Sustainability Committee is looking to survey the ENTIRE Downtown community for left-over spaces that could be potentially transformed into small gardens. Our Green Pockets project is looking to identify these small opportunities for more greenery around Downtown Los Angeles, map these areas, and help property owners create a more livable urban environment through the transformation of these spaces.

REGISTER WITH BIG SUNDAY TO VOLUNTEER! Click here.

More details on the volunteer day to be provided later this week so make sure you're on our mailing list!

CAR-FREE FRIDAYS: What will you do?

At the April 2010 meeting, the DLANC Board supported the Sustainability Committee motion to support CAR-FREE FRIDAYS, the last Friday of every month. The Sustainability Committee is now reaching out to City Councilmembers Jan Perry, Jose Huizar, and Ed Reyes to partner with us as participants, supporters, and advocates in the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition’s campaign. As a part of our work towards the development of a more sustainable Downtown Los Angeles for our neighborhood stakeholders, we encourage your participation in our efforts to build community consensus in support of this initiative.

The DLANC Sustainability Committee supports this campaign because it meets our goals of creating a culture of sustainability by providing incentives and raising public awareness about the much needed change in driving behavior and automobile dependence.

CAR-FREE FRIDAY, which began in January 2009, has been highly successful campaign whose goal is to highlight the benefits of riding a bike and to encourage new riders to start commuting by bike at least one day a month (every fourth Friday of the month). While this campaign was spearheaded by the LA Bicycle Coalition and focuses on the promotion of cycling, the DLANC Sustainability encourages the use of all alternative modes of transportation (walking, biking, public transit, telecommuting, as well as car and van pooling) during CAR-FREE FRIDAY.

The LA County Bicycle Coalition has developed a business partnership program to offer cyclists who ride on CAR-FREE FRIDAY discounts at local shops (http://la-bike.org/discounts/cff_shop_discounts.html) around LA County and can hear PSA announcements on local radio stations. Council President Eric Garcetti has been a huge supporter of this campaign, and together we encourage the entire City to pass a resolution for CAR-FREE FRIDAY the last Friday of every month.

Sustainability Committee meeting Tuesday, April 6 at the Central Public Library

Join us for our next regular meeting of the Sustainability Committee on Tuesday, April 6 at the Central Public Library (Meeting Room A) from 6:30PM-7:45PM.

Meeting Agenda:

1. Welcome and Introductions.
2. Review and approval of meeting minutes from February and March 2010 meetings.
3. Announcements:
4. Neighborhood Council elections registration for candidates has started! You are encouraged to sign-up as a candidate and run for a seat on the Board of Directors.
5. 2009-2010 Budget: all expenditures must be submitted by April 15, 2010 to the City of Los Angeles. To discuss and review budget allocations.
6. Green Space: Harlem Place Project will be presented in May 2010 – probably around the time of ArtWalk. Volunteers needed.
7. Green Space: Urban Garden Guide. Review cost proposals for printing and make a decision about next steps.
8. Green Space: Tree Planting Guide. Gunnar to present guide to tree planting.
9. Green Space: Green Pockets is underway and we need your help organizing Big Sunday (May 1-2). Motion to request support of DLANC Board of Directors.
10. Mobility: Car-Free Fridays. Propose that the Fourth Friday of every month is designated Car-Free Fridays. For more information, check out www.la-bike.org and http://la-bike.org/events/cff_supporting_orgs.html for more information about this initiative.
11. Mobility: Pedestrian Cross-Walks presentation of research into Downtown Urban Design Guidelines and proposal to request changing the timing of pedestrian crosswalks along corridors in the neighborhood.
12. Energy & Water: DWP and the proposed rate increase. The Sustainability Committee discussed this issue last Fall 2009 – do we want to take this on again? Next steps to be determined.
13. Resource Toolkit & the DLANC Website: could this become our “online resource toolkit” and should the Sustainability Committee take a more active role in helping with the online content?
14. Sustainability Committee Chair office hours are designated opportunities to work on projects for the community. Come visit!
15. Adjournment.

Rotary Club of Los Angeles provides $1,000 in support of a Community Greening Strategy for Downtown

A very special thank you to the Rotary Club of Los Angeles

On Friday, March 19, 2010, the Rotary Club of Los Angeles - the fifth oldest Rotary Club - presented the DLANC Sustainability Committee Chair Ashley Zarella Hand, LEED AP BD+C, Assoc. AIA with a $1,000 check towards the community match required for the SDAT (Sustainable Design Assessment Team) Grant. This money will go the national American Institute of Architects Center for Communities by Design to help cover the costs of the SDAT visit hosted by DLANC last December 2009 as part of the process to develop a community greening strategy. In addition to financial support, the Rotary Club participated throughout the team visit, sharing its perspective on the changes seen Downtown Los Angeles and its vision for the future.

DLANC has committeed $1,500 towards the $5,000 match required for this $15,000 grant and we continue to invite community partners to help support this grassroots initiative to create a comprehensive sustainability plan for Downtown Los Angeles. For more information on the SDAT process and our preliminary report from the team of professionals on the SDAT, please click here.

Green Pockets - Survey Day #1 Saturday, March 20

Join us as we kick-off our first survey of the neighborhood for the Green Pockets Project. Our goal is to map all of the leftover spots around Downtown Los Angeles that could potentially be transformed in small gardens with native (and maybe even edible) plants.

Meet us at the DLANC Office (453 S. Spring Street, Suite 1020) on Saturday, March 20 at 10AM where we will divide into survey teams and begin this exciting new project! Please let us know if you can make it - RSVP here or go to our website www.downtownsustainability.com

Here's our schedule for the day:

• 10:00AM: Meet and sign-in
• 10:15AM: Brief introduction to program and survey (with donuts)
• 10:30AM: Teams depart to survey a few areas of the neighborhood
• 11:30AM (or whenever you are finished): Return to the DLANC Office with your survey data

If it's rainy, we'll try and meet on Sunday at the same time - check out our website for updates!

DLANC Board and Sustainability Committee endorse the Cyclists' Bill of Rights

At the March 2010 Board of Directors meeting, DLANC voted to support the Cyclists' Bill of Rights which outline key principles that we feel are important to ensuring cyclist safety for a more bike-friendly Los Angeles. Read more on the Cyclists' Bill of Rights, including other organizations who have supported these 12 values at the Bike Writers Collective website.

Whereas, cyclists have the right to ride the streets of our communities and this right is formally articulated in the California Vehicle Code; and

Whereas, cyclists are considered to be the "indicator species" of a healthy community; and

Whereas, cyclists are, first and foremost, people - with all of the rights and privileges that come from being members of this great society; and

Now, therefore, we the cycling community do hereby claim the following rights:

1. Cyclists have the right to travel safely and free of fear.
2. Cyclists have the right to equal access to our public streets and to sufficient and significant road space.
3. Cyclists have the right to the full support of educated law enforcement.
4. Cyclists have the right to the full support of our judicial system and the right to expect that those who endanger, injure or kill cyclists be dealt with to the full extent of the law.
5. Cyclists have the right to routine accommodations in all roadway projects and improvements.
6. Cyclists have the right to urban and roadway planning, development and design that enable and support safe cycling.
7. Cyclists have the right to traffic signals, signage and maintenance standards that enable and support safe cycling.
8. Cyclists have the right to be actively engaged as a constituent group in the organization and administration of our communities.
9. Cyclists have the right to full access for themselves and their bicycles on all mass transit with no limitations.
10. Cyclists have the right to end-of-trip amenities that include safe and secure opportunities to park their bicycles.
11. Cyclists have the right to be secure in their persons and property, and be free from unreasonable search and seizure, as guaranteed by the 4th Amendment.
12. Cyclists have the right to peacably assemble in the public space, as guaranteed by the 1st Amendment.

And further, we claim and assert these rights by taking to the streets and riding our bicycles, all in an expression of our inalienable right to ride!

The Sustainability Committee is looking to identify where there should be more bicycle racks for safe bike storage around Downtown. Please help us with our effort - attend a meeting or email us at sustainability@dlanc.com to get involved!

03/02/09 - March Regular Monthly Sustainability Meeting

MEETING MINUTES SC-21-030210

1. Welcome and Introductions: Lauren Takeda, Sandy Meola, Shira Blatt, Michael Ferguson, Stan Michaels, Gunnar Hand, Natalia Aguilar, Alex Brideau III, Scott Bytof, Dawna Nolan, Ashley Hand.
2. Defer approval of February meeting minutes until April meeting.
3. Announcements:
4. Neighborhood Council elections registration for candidates begins later this month. You are encouraged to sign-up as a candidate and run for a seat on the Board of Directors.
5. Brandi announced the upcoming opening of a new produce store at 210 W. 5th Street (in the Alexandria Hotel) in the Historic Core that will sell locally-grown, organic and other fresh foods.
6. Mobility and the Cyclists' Bill of Rights (see www.bikewriterscollective.com). Motion: The Sustainability Committee moves to support the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights and will encourage the ongoing consideration of mobility in future plans for Downtown.
7. Other endorsements to date: East Hollywood NC; Silver Lake NC; Atwater Village NC; Palms NC; Los Angeles Bicycle Advisory Committee; Mar Vista NC; Northridge East NC; Coastal San Pedro NC; MacArthur Park NC; Caltrans District 7; Caltrans Local Assistance Coordinator; LA City Controller; CD 11; CD 3; Paul Krekorian – CA State Assembly.
8. We postponed the conversation on the Electric Community Car Share Program but will investigate the Pasadena collective and the program started by Amir Sadati.
9. Mobility: Wireless Internet Accessibility project to help create free wireless hotspots throughout Downtown. Sites that the Sustainability Committee had brainstormed have been submitted to contact at Aerioconnect – awaiting feedback. Will look at similar programs by the City of Long Beach, the AT&T Foundation, and Google as possible models for Downtwon.
10. Green Space: Green Pockets Project to build small urban pocket gardens throughout the neighborhood has launched with two community information meetings and we are moving forward with planning for Big Sunday (May 1-2). First survey day scheduled for March 20, 2010 at 10:00am starting at the DLANC Office (453 S. Spring Street). The pilot area defined is between Olive/Maple/1st/8th Streets. Stanley and Michael volunteered to help identify property owners for permission to plant.
11. Green Space: Lauren Takeda presented the Urban Garden Guide - a pamphlet with information about building your own urban garden guide. Looking to translate this document into Spanish, Korean, Chinese and Japanese. Will request proposals for printing by next meeting and develop format for online distribution. Sandy to help collect bids for this project.
12. Green Space: Tree Planting Project is ongoing with the Wells Fargo Foundation application submitted for maintenance funding for the Skid Row Pilot. Awaiting feedback.
13. Green Living Education opportunity has been presented by Green Beacon, to potentially create a partnership with the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council. The goal is to develop green living education programming for Downtown Los Angeles. Will need volunteers to help coordinate.
14. Sustainability Committee Chair office hours are designated opportunities to work on projects for the community. Come visit!
15. Adjournment.

Regular Committee Meeting - This Tuesday, March 2

Join us for our next DLANC Sustainability Committee meeting this Tuesday, March 2. We have a lot of great things to discuss - check out our agenda and we hope to see you soon.

Sustainability Committee Meeting
Tuesday, March 2, 2010 6:30pm-7:45pm at the Central Public Library (Meeting Room A)
630 W. 5th Street

1. Public Comment.
2. Approve meeting minutes from February meeting.
3. Neighborhood Council elections registration for candidates begins later this month. You are encouraged to sign-up as a candidate and run for a seat on the Board of Directors.
   
4. Mobility and the Cyclists' Bill of Rights (see bikewriterscollective.com). Should DLANC adopt these guiding principles? Action to be considered to help create a more cyclist-friend Downtown.
5. Mobility: Electric Community Car Share Program is a proposed plan to install electric car charging stations along Hollywood Blvd and advocate to create parking variance option for developers. Action to be determined.
6. Mobility: Wireless Internet Accessibility project to help create free wireless hotspots throughout Downtown. Update on status.
   
7. Green Space: Green Pockets Project to build small urban pocket gardens throughout the neighborhood has launched with two community information meetings and we are moving forward with planning for Big Sunday. To discuss a date for a survey day in March 2010 and introduce project team members. We need volunteers to help coordinate the first survey day.
   
8. Green Space: Urban Garden Guide to be presented - it is a pamphlet with information about building your own urban garden guide. Action: Committee to consider reallocating funds to print brochure. Translation of text to come.
   
9. Green Space: Tree Planting Project is ongoing with the Wells Fargo Foundation application submitted for maintenance funding for the Skid Row Pilot. Awaiting feedback.
10. Green Living Education opportunity has been presented by Green Beacon, to potentially create a partnership with the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council. The goal is to develop green living education programming for Downtown Los Angeles. Will need volunteers to help coordinate.
11. Sustainability Committee Chair office hours are designated opportunities to work on projects for the community. Come visit!
    

The public is requested to fill out a “Speaker Card” to address the DLANC SUSTAINABILITY Committee on any item of the agenda prior to the Committee taking action on an item. Comments from the public on agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered. Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the agenda that is within the Committee’s subject matter jurisdiction will be heard during the public comment period. Public comment is limited to 2 minutes per speaker, unless waived by the presiding officer of the Committee. As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least 3 business days (72 hours) prior to the meeting you wish to attend by contacting Committee Board Chair Ashley Zarella at ashley.zarella@DLANC.com. SI REQUIERE SERVICIOS DE TRADUCCION, FAVOR DE NOTIFICAR A LA OFICINA 3 dias de trabajo (72 horas) ANTES DEL EVENTO. SI NECESITA ASISTENCIA CON ESTA NOTIFICACION, POR FAVOR LLAME A NUESTRA OFICINA AL 323-224-2316.

Green Pockets: Small Garden Project for Downtown

Community Information Meeting
Central Public Library
Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010 - 12:15pm

Community Information Meeting
DLANC Office (453 S. Spring St, #1020)
Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 – 6:45pm

Community Projects Workshop
Central Public Library, Meeting Room B
Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010 – 10:00am

There are many ways to get involved as we map possible spots for little gardens (native plants, flowers and maybe even edibles!) around the neighborhood. We hope you will get involved!

Looking to our members and friends for information

We've been tracking some of the news articles our committee members, community partners and others have recommended. Check them out and let us know if you run into anything interesting.

Introducing the 2010 Community Projects

Through a process of outreach and community meetings, the Sustainability Committee has chosen the following projects for 2010. We welcome your involvement in any of these initiatives. Or, if you have other ideas, please email us at sustainability@dlanc.com

We've categorized these initiatives based on the general subject matter: Energy/Water; Green Business; Green Space; Mobility; Waste/Recycling.

02/02/09 - February Regular Monthly Sustainability Meeting

MEETING MINUTES SC-20-020210

1. Welcome and Introductions: Todd, Marc, Niva, Paul, Gunnar, Stanley, Christopher, Tamara and Ashley.
2. Continuing education and outreach report. Committee represented at CITYLabs event (1/27/10). We need committee volunteers for upcoming outreach events (Green Block Party, 2010 Community Projects Workshop Scribe). We are also inviting committee members to bring a news item to the next committee meeting and suggest potential speakers.
3. Stanley Michaels presented a news item on technology being developed by Hewlett-Packard.
4. Recommendation to look into getting announcements into residential building email lists/building managers.
5. Accessibility to wireless internet and potential “hot spots” Downtown. Committee to consider motion to support the creation of a pilot project to introduce free wireless Internet in Downtown. Proposed several sites for consideration: Pershing Square (already has one); Civic Center; Skid Row/San Julian and East 5th Street; Gladys Park; Grand Central Market; LAPD Headquarters; Bringing Back Broadway; Spring Street Park; Trade Tech. Look at Experience LA which has information about available hotspots.
6. Presentation of draft Urban Garden Guide by Sustainable Community Projects Intern. Guide will be translated into Spanish, Korean, and committee also recommended Chinese and Japanese. Additional suggestions of resources included: The Green Door (hydroponics); FarmLab, fruit trees; Bank of America Starbucks coffee grounds for compost. Pitfire Pizza has a garden – potential image for brochure.
7. Gunnar Hand presented the status of the Skid Row Tree Planting Project. Committee passes motion to support Wells Fargo grant application for tree maintenance.
8. 2010 Project Workshop: Overview of new meeting format and introduction of proposed 2010 Projects.
9. Energy/Water: Education and outreach for cleaner stormwater. Pet waste (dog walks) and business waste best practices.
10. Green business: Data gathering on what businesses need to be more “green”
11. Green space: Mapping and building small gardens around Downtown. Harlem Place Project. Tree Planting.
12. Mobility: Bike racks, pedestrian crosswalks, and CicLAvia
13. Waste/Recycling: Restaurant composting and multifamily recycling; would like to develop list of Downtown resources for waste disposal.
14. Next 2010 Community Projects Workshop (Saturday, February 27 10AM – Noon)
15. Motion passed to approve meeting minutes SC-17-091201 and SC-19-100105.
16. Agenda item for next meeting: to review and discuss supporting the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights.
17. Adjournment

Multi-Family Recycling Downtown

As part of our effort to understand participation in the City of Los Angeles' free multi-family recycling program, we have found this map identifying locations currently using the program.

Does your residential building have recycling? Is it included on this map? Let us know! Email us with your address and recycling status at sustainability@dlanc.com.


View Multifamily Residential Recycling Program in a larger map

Next regular meeting: Tuesday, February 2

Join us for our next regular committee meeting - it is open to all!

When: Tuesday, February 2, 2009, 6:30-7:50pm
Where: Central Public Library, Meeting Room A (630 W. 5th Street)

Sustainability Committee & DLANC support planning CicLAvia event for Downtown

At our regular January Board meeting, DLANC voted to support the planning of a Downtown CicLAvia event to connect East Hollywood to Boyle Heights by recapturing the streets for people. Check out this presentation on CicLAvia and email us at sustainability@dlanc.com if you'd like to be involved.

Ciclavia 2010

View more documents from Ashley Zarella Hand.

Proposed 2010 Projects: Developing Community-Based Initiatives for the Neighborhood

As discussed in December 2009 and January 2010, here are the community ideas to date for projects to be considered at Thursday's workshop (see post below).

Thursday's workshop will focus on identifying a few key projects for 2010 from this list, developing project goals and other information, and start working towards the successful implementation of some community-based initiatives organized by the general topics of Water/Energy; Waste/Recycling; Mobility; Green Space; and Green Business.

You are welcome to attend - please RSVP to sustainability@dlanc.com if you are able to attend.

Project Ideas (Community Volunteer)

Accessibility, Partnerships & Community Vision
Universal Wi-Fi Access (Oscar)
Online Toolkit (?)
Nonprofit partnerships (Stan)
Community Greening Strategy & Microloan program study (Veronica)
Sustainability Vision Meeting (Gunnar)
SDAT Outreach & Partnerships (AZ)

Green Business
Engage Schools – UCLA, USC, LACCD (AZ)
Green Business Information (India)
Sustainability How-To Workshops

Green Space
Tree Planting, Schools & Gardens (Gunnar, Azya, Sean)
Community Gardens & Urban Gardening Workshops(Dawna, Marc, John, Skid Row Housing Trust?)
Green Alleys: Small Open Space Calculator Tool & the Harlem Place Project (Bren Students/Matt)
Model Green Block & Events: Margo Green Block – Block Parties and Urban Lab (Zane)

Mobility
Caltrans Grant – Community Assistance Program, Transportation (Veronica)
Congestion, parking buy out and other urban strategies (Stephen)
Pedestrian/Bike-Friendly Urban Advocacy (CicLAvia, Park[ing] Day LA, and other events)

Waste/Recycling
Trash & Storm Drain Research (Matt)
Styrofoam Research (Stan)
Survey Recycling Downtown (Maral)

2010 Community Projects - Get Involved this Thursday

Join us this Thursday, January 21 at the Los Angeles Theater Company (LATC) for our first 2010 Project Break-Out Meeting. We are hosting round-table discussions in an interactive setting to focus on our proposed community projects that address issues of Water/Energy; Waste/Recycling; Mobility; Green Space; and Green Business.

Even if you have never attended a Sustainability Committee meeting before - you are welcome and encouraged to participate! There will be a full list of proposed projects posted on our website tonight: www.downtownsustainability.com.

This Thursday promises to be a fun evening of discussion and planning for 2010 and pizza will be served. Join us as we kick-start this new format for the Sustainability Committee community-based projects. Please RSVP to sustainability@dlanc.com if you can attend.

2010 Project Break-Out #1
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Los Angeles Theater Company (LATC)
514 S. Spring Street
6:30pm - 8:30pm (Pizza will be served)

New Park for Downtown? Community workshops resume tonight, Monday January 18

CRA/LA is applying for state funding to create a linear park on Grand Avenue near Olympic Blvd. They will be hosting the next community workshop on Monday, January 18 at 6:00pm at the Bureau of Engineering Bldg, 1149 S. Broadway, Conference Room SB-6, Los Angeles, CA 90015.

The meeting will cover: choosing the preferred park design. Please join us! The CRA needs your feedback.

The CRA is looking for community volunteers to help with these meeting. Interested? Email sustainability@dlanc.com as soon as possible. Volunteers are asked to be there by 5:40pm on Wednesday.

There are several workshops and tours to follow. Check out our calendar for the complete schedule.

Downtown and walkability - A Walkers' Paradise

Out of cities across the country, Los Angeles ranks 9th overall for walkability according to Walk Score. Surprised? We were too. We were pleased to see our neighborhood, Downtown Los Angeles, ranked No. 2 within the entire city for walkability.

So what does this mean?

In 2010, the Sustainability Committee would like to focus on issues of walkability and help foster a more bike-friendly environment. What can we do to further enhance walkability Downtown?

01/05/09 - January Regular Monthly Sustainability Meeting

Tuesday, January 5, 2009, 6:30-7:50pm
Central Public Library, Meeting Room A (630 W. 5th Street)

Meeting Minutes SC-19-120109

1. Welcome.
2. Stanley Michaels commented that he enjoyed the December Special Meeting and would like to see a second Sustainability Committee meeting each month. Discussion deferred to later in the agenda.
3. Stuart Patterson invited our participation in upcoming LATC ArtWalk events now that the group is getting involved. Volunteered his services as a graphic designer.

4. Jonathan Parfrey presented CicLAvia – an event that will be coming to Los Angeles in 2010. They would like our involvement to help identify potential routes, plan the event itself and get involved to increase awareness about the need for a more walkable, bike-friendly cityscape. Motion to support the planning of CicLAvia passed. DLANC PROS committee also considering involvement.

5. Approval of December meeting minutes deferred to next month.

6. Motion to nominate Pamela Tuttle and Tamara Gishri as Public Vice-Chairs of the Sustainability Committee approved.

7. AIA SDAT presentation to be made to DLANC Board on January 12.

8. Harlem Place Project Update: Bren team has developed “scenarios” for Harlem Place and are working with AECOM to develop visuals for presentation to community.

9. Sustainable Community Projects Internship: Marc is now focused on developing a “Urban Garden Guide” and looking at developing a project for an actual community garden Downtown. Considering partnership with Skid Row Housing Trust.

10. 2010 Community Projects: Reviewed the original list of brainstormed ideas for projects from the December 2009 Special Meeting. A workshop format will be set-up organized around the major topics identified by the Committee: Mobility, Energy/Water, Waste/Recycling, Green Business and Green Space.

11. Adjournment

SDAT Presentation to LANCC (Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition)

Check out the presentation made to LANCC on Saturday, January 2 by Chair Ashley Zarella Hand. If you have any questions, please email us at sustainability@dlanc.com

Please note: There is an additional case study on the Skid Row Tree Planting Pilot - this was not presented to LANCC today.

SDAT Process And Opportunities 010210

View more presentations from Ashley Zarella Hand.

Thank you to Jim Diers and the entire SDAT for their contributions to this presentation. For more information on the SDAT members, please click here.

To watch the presentation, check this out:

Downtown L.A. NC from Michael Cohen on Vimeo.

Sustainability Committee meeting Tuesday, January 5

When: Tuesday, January 5, 2009, 6:30-7:50pm
Where: Central Public Library, Meeting Room A (630 W. 5th Street)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

MEETING AGENDA SC-19-120109

1. Welcome.
2. Public Comment on Non-agenda items including community announcements (3 minutes).

3. Jonathan Parfrey, the director of Green LA Institute, will be presenting Ciclavia ("seek-low-VEE-uh") to the Sustainability Committee at our next meeting January 5. They are seeking the support of DLANC for an event downtown this year. PROS Committee is also interested in getting involved. Motion: Sustainability Committee to support Ciclavia in Downtown Los Angeles and encourage the participation of DLANC.

For more information, check out our website: http://www.downtownsustainability.com/2009/12/new-dlanc-event-for-2010-ciclovia-to-be.html


4. Review meeting minutes from the December meeting. Action Item: Approve minutes SC-17-091201 (all meeting attendees - 3 minutes). Available on our website www.downtownsustainability.com

5. The Sustainability Committee has two chair positions: the Board Chair and Public Vice-Chair. Currently, we are looking for interested community members to consider applying for the Public Vice-Chair position. Candidates to volunteer 10-12 hours/month (includes regular committee meetings and flexible office hours). Motion: Sustainability Committee to nominate new Public Vice-Chair for 2010.

6. Announcements:

a. AIA SDAT (Sustainable Design Assessment Team) Grant Update: There will be a presentation of the preliminary report to the DLANC Board on Tuesday, January 12. Sustainability Committee members are encouraged to attend!

b. Harlem Place Project: Bren Students are developing two “scenarios” to describe the potential impact of small-scale changes to a model Harlem Place. AECOM to provide pro bono design services for presentation to community. Next public meeting: February 2010.

c. Sustainable Community Projects Internship update. Marc Ross is working on a “how-to” pamphlet for ubran gardens and is researching possible sites for a community garden. Possible community partner: Skid Row Housing Trust.

7. 2010 Projects to be discussed. In light of our learnings from the 2009 Projects, we are empowering as many community projects within our mission. The list of ideas will be reviewed, discussed, and voted on. If you have a project idea, please attend! (45 minutes)

a. Committee mission: The Sustainability Committee is dedicated to empowering the downtown community to create a culture of sustainability. We will work with the community to increase accessibility to existing programs and services through outreach and public education. We will identify and create opportunities for new programming and partnerships to meet our goals for a more livable, affordable, and efficient urban center.

8. Upcoming events: (January 2010)
a. Jan. 4 (6:30-8:30pm) Sustainability Committee Office Hours – DLANC Office
b. Jan. 5 (6:30-7:45pm) Sustainability Committee Regular Meeting
c. Jan. 7 (6:00-8:30pm) Olympic-Grand Linear Park Workshop #1 – 1149 S. Broadway
d. Jan. 8: LA Bike Plan – Public Comments DUE TODAY
e. Jan. 9 (2:00-4:30pm) Olympic-Grand Linear Park Tour – Meet on Grand
f. Jan. 11 (6:30-8:30pm) Sustainability Committee Office Hours – DLANC Office
g. Jan. 12 (6:30-9:00pm) DLANC Board Meeting & SDAT Presentation – Los Angeles Theater
h. Jan. 13 (6:00-8:30pm) Olympic-Grand Linear Park Workshop #3 – 1149 S. Broadway
i. Jan. 18 (6:00-8:30pm) Olympic-Grand Linear Park Workshop #4 – 1149 S. Broadway
j. Jan. 22 (All Weekend) Go Green Expo (LA Convention Center)
k. Jan. 25 (6:30-8:30pm) Sustainability Committee Office Hours – DLANC Office
l. Jan. 30 (10am-6pm) Green Block Party #2 – Margo Street

9. Agenda items for next meeting?
10. Adjournment

The public is requested to fill out a “Speaker Card” to address the DLANC SUSTAINABILITY Committee on any item of the agenda prior to the Committee taking action on an item. Comments from the public on agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered. Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the agenda that is within the Committee’s subject matter jurisdiction will be heard during the public comment period. Public comment is limited to 2 minutes per speaker, unless waived by the presiding officer of the Committee. As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least 3 business days (72 hours) prior to the meeting you wish to attend by contacting Committee Board Chair Ashley Zarella at ashley.zarella@DLANC.com.

SI REQUIERE SERVICIOS DE TRADUCCION, FAVOR DE NOTIFICAR A LA OFICINA 3 dias de trabajo (72 horas) ANTES DEL EVENTO. SI NECESITA ASISTENCIA CON ESTA NOTIFICACION, POR FAVOR LLAME A NUESTRA OFICINA AL 323-224-2316.

Neighborhood Council election year - an opportunity for community engagement

This year is election year for Neighborhood Councils and all eyes are on the system as the City faces an economic crisis. This is a great year to get involved with your neighborhood - whether you live, work, own a business, volunteer for a nonprofit, or are otherwise considered a "stakeholder" in Downtown Los Angeles.

Representing nearly 420,000 people, the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC) has 28 board members representing districts and community interests to City Council. Through partnerships and volunteer hours, DLANC has mobilized many different community initiatives and has helped define this unique Los Angeles neighborhood.

Would you be interested to know more? Have you considered running for the Neighborhood Council? It is a great way to get involved with your community.

The candidate filing period for the DLANC election begins on March 30, 2010.

Forms to register as a candidate are available on the DLANC website: www.dlanc.com/election. There are a lot of different types of seats available - so get involved today! You can also swing by the DLANC office (453 S. Spring Street, Suite 1020) from 10:00am-2:00pm daily to get a candidate packet.

We also need volunteers for our polling station on election day, Friday, June 25.

Check back here for more updates or go to the DLANC and City Clerk's website for more information.