EMPOWERMENT CONGRESS WEST AREA NEIGHBORHOOD

DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes

TOWN HALL MEETING

May 3, 2014
Crenshaw United Methodist Church * 3740 Don Felipe Dr * Los Angeles, CA 90008
Name

Present

David Winston, Chair

Denise Stansell, Co-Chair
Yvonne Ellett, Rec Secretary

Danielle Lafayette,
Corresponding Secretary &
Interim Treasurer
Mary Jones-Darks (Area 1)
Wilson Washensky (Area 1)

Excused

X
X

X
X

Unexcused

Name

Present

Wendell Conn (Area 2)

Carl Morgan (Area 2)
Lark Galloway-Gilliam (Area 3)

Jackie Ryan (Area 3)

Misty Wilks (At Large)
Nick Hill (At Large)
Jason Lombard (At Large)
Johnnie Raines (At Large)

X
X
X

Excused

Unexcused

X
X

X
X

Call to Order & Roll Call: The meeting was called to order at 9:45 am by David Winston, Chair. A quorum
was present. David read the rules of the meeting. The Board introduced himself or herself.
Senior Lead Officer Reports:
No SLO was present. Johnnie reported Beard, Saldana, and Sasajima have a new Sergeant and will be
returning to the ECWA Town Hall Meetings in June. The LAPD wants the NC webmaster contact
information to supply reports to add to our content.
Public Comments:
Douglas from Avalon/Carver provided an update of the non-profit organizations work with Community
Coalition CoCo against nuisance-related businesses like liquor stores in South LA. The teams met with
City Attorney Mike Freuer regarding his campaign promise to re-fund the Neighborhood Prosecutor
program. Freuer is currently working with several communities on nuisance abatement. There will be
another Town Hall Meeting with the City Attorney in June (date TBD).
- The Neighborhood Prosecutor Program is not to facilitate arrests, but to expedite concerns. NPs supply
stakeholders with sample letters they can sent to Zoning, sample scripts on how to speak to and document
community issues, and assistance for residents to improve quality of life issues.
- So far there are plans to add one NP, to be stationed at the LAPD Southwest Station. Once the funding is
restored, there will be more advocacy.
- David questioned the reasoning behind installing the NP at a police station instead of the community
they are to serve. Freuer is trying to make police stations more stakeholder-friendly. Mary reinforced the
point, stating the original program was very community-friendly and did make the stations friendlier.
Michelle Montano announced Northeast Trees receipt of a planning grant for the La Brea Greenbelt that
will link Jim Gilliam Park to the 5 Points at La Brea/Stocker/Overhill. The plan is to include pedestrian and
bike routes into Kenneth Hahn State Park. To Jackies concerns regarding the 5 Points parking issues with
how they relate to the Baldwin Hills Estates community, it was explained a larger parking lot is being
constructed below Windsor Hills Elementary at Stocker/Overhill.
Bik Baye with Avalon/Carver requested stakeholder assistance for healthier snacks for the Tom Bradley
Global Magnet Schools afterschool program. The program is Monday thru Thursday for two hours after
classes. There are 27 children enrolled in the program. Preference is for organic fruits and bars. He can
be reached for donations at bikbaye@gmail.com He also invited everyone to the Black History Month
Cultural exhibit and thanked Jackie for her gifts to the exhibit.
Anthony Ford spoke about the Child Trafficking March held last weekend. He also asked everyone to be
vigilant about making sure that Smoke Shops do not just pop up, as they are screens for marijuana shops.
He also applauded the efforts of all stakeholders and the Metro Ad Hoc Committee in regards to the
Crenshaw Trees. Johnnie added the Public Works Agreement has been added to Metros Phase 1
documents. Permission to begin Phase 2 is contingent upon completion of the agreement.
ECWANDC Meeting Minutes | Page 1

 Danielle announced the Equal Voice Campaign, also in partnership with CoCo and sixteen other
community organizations. She suggested that ECWA sign onto the letter with other organizations
requesting more funding in the form of a Sunny Day Fund for services as opposed to funding for prisons.
There is more info at www.equalvoicesocal.org or info@equalvoicesocal.org
A stakeholder questioned the increased homelessness throughout Leimert Park and the Village. Johnnie
spoke about the LAPD South Bureaus recent symposium on homelessness held at USC on April 24, 2014.
Anthony Ford spoke to being the new face of homelessness he is a Vietnam vet in a system that focuses
on post-9-1-1 veterans, he is not a substance-abuser, nor does he have a mental illness. Instead, he is a
victim of economics, which no homeless agency treats. Johnnie asked him to become part of the
conversation because programs like the recent symposium need to hear his story and others like it.
Mary announced the Multi-Cultural Affair at Jim Gilliam Park will take place on Saturday August 9, 2014
from 10 am 3pm. It is being put on by the Park Advisory Board to celebrate the diversity of the new
Baldwin Village. A flyer will be coming. In the meantime, contact (323) 291-5928 for more information.
Yvonne announced the Summer Night Lights program for 2014 needs volunteers. Contact Alicia Avalos
(213) 880-3591.
Elected Officials:
Joy Atkinson, South LAs Board of Neighborhood Commissioners (BONC) representative introduced
herself. She has been making the rounds of all 14 South LA NCs. She s the Chair of BONCs Outreach Task
Force and is looking for best practices. We can email our concerns to her: joyatkinson.bonc@gmail.com
Item:

Finance Committee Report - Lark

Discussion
Highlights:

The Board has until May 15 to get in all funding paperwork to DONE for the 2013/14 fiscal
year.
There was a tree study to help mitigate the tree removal by Metro. Park Mesa Heights
Community Council (PMHCC) will pay for half of the study. Lark said ECWA promised to
match, although the current budget does not allow a co-match. The Board requires a motion
for a $550 co-pay.
The Board voted to pay for a full years lease but DONE will not allow a full years payment.
The new Board will have less than one month to execute the new lease. Lark suggested we
include Council President Wesson on the conversation since we must sign a one year lease.
But we can pay in six month increments.
Danielle said DONE said we must take a vote to verify all funding because of the former
Treasurers resignation left a gap. Yvonne questioned the timeline of funding, given the
elections next Saturday the 10th and the 15th deadline. The new Board wont have time to
vote.
Mary motioned to add the ECWANDC 2013/14 approved funding line items to the Agenda.
Misty seconded.
VOTE: YAYS-11 (unanimous) NAYS-0 ABSTENTION-0
The funding line items were moved to the end of the meeting.

Action /
Follow-Up:

Item:

Outreach Committee / Election Outreach Yvonne / Nick

Discussion
Highlights
:

The man focus of Outreach continues to be at our Farmers Market, host of the May 10
electons.
Nick asked for volunteers for the voting booth. He was happy to announce each voter
would receive a meal from Earlez Grilles truck as thank you for voting. (310) 625-3562

Item:

Safety Committee - Johnnie

Discussion
Highlights
:

No report.

Item:

South Los Angeles Alliance of Neighborhood Councils (SLAANC) - Lark

Discussion
Highlights

SLAANC is holding a special meeting on Monday, May 5. All stakeholders are welcome.
6:30 pm at 3731 Stocker Street, 2nd floor.
ECWANDC Meeting Minutes | Page 2

The 14 South LA NCs were asked to set aside money for SLAANC to provide funding for a
website and media outreach.
SLAANC is also organizing a candidates forum for the vacant LAUSD school board position.

Item:

Budget Advocates - Danielle

Discussion
Highlights
:

She asked everyone to review the Budget Advocates White Paper that David emailed and
to add our recommendations.

Item:

Candidate Forum - Nick

Discussion
Highlights
:

The candidates were asked to sit in front of the dais and to face the stakeholders. Each was
given 2 minutes for a personal speech. Afterwards, Nick asked each candidate the identical
three questions:
- What do you see as the main issue facing ECWA?
- What special skill do you hope to bring to ECWA?
- What is your vision for your neighborhood?
Chair:
Danielle Lafayette
Misty Wilks
Co-Chair:
Yvonne Ellett
Recording Secretary:
Dianne Robertson
Area 1 Representatives:
Mary Jones-Darks
Washensky Wilson
Area 2 Representative:
Jackie Ryan
Area 3 Representative:
None present

Item:

Motion to extend the meeting 20 minutes

Action /
Follow-Up:

Misty motioned for David Winston to become the 2nd Signatory. Yvonne seconded.
VOTE: YAYS-9 NAYS-0 ABSTENTION-0 (Wilson and Wendell and not present for the vote)

Item:

Approval of All Funding Line Items

Discussion
Highlights:

The funding line items were reviewed one by one.

The office lease funding was reduced to six months @ $4,050. Ackee Bamboo is still
missing its BTRC but should be funded prior to the end of the fiscal year.
Because DONE has an issue with funding carryovers from year-to-year the LAFD copier
$500 funding was replaced with the donation of the office table copier, LAPD Audobon Boot
Camp T-shirts $800 funding was removed.
1and1 $195.89 website hosting was removed for lack of a BTRC
Added line items included KAOS (LPV 2020) for $555.99, reimbursement to David Winston
for office copier moving for up to $350, balance for elections $1,972.37 to Earlez Grille
There was a question between whether the Crenshaw tree study $1,400 co-funding should
come from ECWA or the Science Center fund of $100,000 (-$3,000 already used).
Larked motioned for the approval of all funding line items. Mary seconded.
VOTE: YAYS-8 NAYS-0 ABSTENTION-0 (Wendell, Wilson, and David not present for the vote)

Action /
Follow-Up:
Discussion
Highlights:

A Thursday, May 8 @ 6:30 follow-up meeting will be held for the following three items:
1) Review and approval of the minutes citing approval of all funding
2) Resolve the Budget Balance and what amount goes to SLAANC, if any can (DONE will
be consulted)
3) Identify a web host for the website (Misty)
ECWANDC Meeting Minutes | Page 3

Meeting adjourned at 12:20 pm.

Minutes as Approved by Board at _5__/__12___/__14___ Meeting
Signature:

Yvonne Ellett
ECWANDC Recording Secretary

ECWANDC Meeting Minutes | Page 4