Page 1 of 7 www.cd12.org Proudly Serving the Communities of: Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Encino, Granada Hills, Lake Balboa, North Hills,, Porter Ranch, Reseda, West Hills, West Van Nuys, Winnetka District 12 Map June 20, 2008 Email Councilmember.Smith@lacity.org to request official City services or information, and please include your address. RECENT LEGISLATION Upcoming Events Saturday, July 12 Mid-Valley Regional Branch Library Used Book Sale The Friends of Mid-Valley Library are holding a gigantic used book sale to raise money for new books. 10 am - 2 pm Mid Valley Regional Library 16344 Nordhoff St. North Hills (818) 895-3650 Thousands of great book at very low prices. Enabling Outdoor Dining Without Secondhand Smoke... We introduced a motion on Wednesday, June 11, that would prohibit smoking in outdoor patios where food is served in the City of Los Angeles. (Bars would be excluded.) One of the greatest assets we have here in L.A. is our beautiful, warm weather. It is unfair and unhealthy for non-smokers, including children, to have to breathe in cancer-causing secondhand smoke if they want to enjoy outdooor dining. Since California enacted a statewide ban on workplace smoking to protect customers and workers from secondhand smoke, smokers have come to dominate restaurant patios even though they form only a small segment of the population. Los Angeles has already prohibited smoking in City parks and beaches (except on golf courses, for filming purposes, and within certain designated areas in larger parks). Many other cities have also banned smoking in certain public areas, including Calabasas, Malibu, Glendale, and Burbank.
Page 2 of 7 Ongoing Brush Clearance for Fire Season As of May 1, properties in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) will be inspected by the Fire Department to check for mandatory brush clearance to help protect neighborhoods from wildfires. Homeowners living in this zone, which includes the northern and western edge of the San Fernando Valley, will receive reminders by mail from the Fire Department. Reducing the Blight of Abandoned, Foreclosed Homes... We introduced a motion Wednesday, June 11, that would develop a substantive framework requiring owners and banks to maintain foreclosed properties to avoid deterioration of neighborhoods. The current home foreclosure crisis has made the sight of abandoned homes, with overgrown weeds, broken windows, dead lawns and half-empty pools a common sight. More than an eyesore, this phenomenon has the potential to destabilize our neighborhoods by reducing home values, luring squatters and vandals, and degrading the beauty of well-tended neighborhoods. For more information on brush clearance, please visit the L.A. Fire Department's website at http://lafd.org/brush/ or call the Brush Clearance Unit at (818) 374-1111. Used Batteries Can Now Be Recycled at Target Stores Eleven Target stores in Los Angeles have partnered with the City to collect used household batteries for recycling, including several locations in the San Fernando Valley. Improperly disposed batteries end up in landfills where they can leak toxic chemicals that pollute the land, air and COMMUNITY NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS A Patriotic Service from the Kiwanis... Have you ever noticed the hundreds of American flags flying from street light posts along the streets in our neighborhoods? They are the work of the Kiwanis Club of, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to charitable and community projects that benefit the San Fernando Valley.
Page 3 of 7 water. It is also illegal to dispose of batteries in the regular trash. The Target stores have drop-off points at the customer service counters and the City picks up the batteries and safely recycles them. West Valley Target Stores Where You Can Recycle Batteries: 8840 Corbin Ave. 8999 Balboa Blvd. Canoga Park 6700 Topanga Canyon Blvd. West Hills 6635 Fallbrook Ave. Woodland Hills 20801 Ventura Blvd. Van Nuys 5711 Sepulveda Blvd. Van Nuys 14920 Rayner St. North Hollywood 11051 Victory Blvd. Every year, the Kiwanis Club of does this great patriotic service, donating 450 American flags that fly over Valley streets between Memorial Day and July 4th. As Independence Day approaches, we thank the Kiwanis for this service! Help Support SOLID... SOLID (Supporters of Law Enforcement in Devonshire) is holding a benefit dinner Tuesday, June 24, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Stuart Anderson's Black Angus Restaurant in. The restaurant will donate 15% of your check to SOLID for equipment and supplies not provided by the City of Los Angeles. You must print out the coupon and present it to your server. Tuesday, June 24 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Stuart Anderson's Black Angus Restaurant 9145 Corbin Ave. (818) 701-1600 For more information on SOLID, please call (818) 756-9011 ext. 1200. Starting July 1 New Laws on Use of Cell Phones While Driving Mark your calendar - starting July 1, two new traffic safety laws go into effect in California regulating the use of cell phones while driving. The first law prohibits the use of handheld cell phones while driving. Drivers under 18 years old may not use ANY cell Movies Under the Stars Continues With "Back to the Future" Saturday, July 12! Don't miss "Back to the Future," our next free outdoor movie, Saturday, July 12 at 8:00 pm at Park.
Page 4 of 7 phone behind the wheel. Emergency calls are exempt. The laws do not apply to passengers, only those driving the car. For more information, visit our website at www.cd12.org or click here. Construction at Metrolink Station About half of the parking lot of the Metrolink Station will be closed due to construction to improve the stations. LADOT will be reconstructing the southern half of the Metrolink Station parking lot and building a new sidewalk from the station to Parthenia St. The work is expected to take about one year. About 120 parking spaces will remain available. LADOT recommends the following alternatives to Metrolink riders: Use DASH instead of driving. It's free with a Metrolink pass or ticket. To see the schedule and map, click here. Park at Chatsworth or Van Nuys Metrolink Stations instead. Chatsworth Depot Station: 10046 Old Depot Plaza Road Movies Under the Stars features family-friendly films screened at parks in the Valley once a month through September. There will be free facepainting for kids, and as always, we will provide free popcorn. Bring water, picnics, blankets and chairs. Alcohol, BBQs and pets are not allowed. "Back to the Future" Saturday, July 12 8:00 pm Park 10058 Reseda Blvd. "March of the Penguins" Saturday, August 9 8:00 pm Balboa Sports Center Encino "Grease" Saturday, Sept. 6 7:15 pm Park For more information, please call (818) 756-8501 or email Megan.Cottier@lacity.org. Join the Devonshire PALS 29th Golf Invitational and Help Support a Great Cause... LAPD Devonshire Police Activity League Supporters (PALS) invites all golfers to sign up for a fun day of golf, Monday, July 14, to help support Devonshire PALS' great programs for at-risk youth. Monday, July 14 Porter Valley Country Club 19216 Singing Hills Dr.
Page 5 of 7 Van Nuys Station: 7720 Van Nuys Blvd. For more information, please call LADOT at (213) 928-9784. DVDs of Councilman Smith's Southern California Emerging Waste Technologies Forum at UCLA available for free. To order a free copy, contact Councilman Smith's office at (213) 473-7012 or email matt.myerhoff @lacity.org $200 per person fee includes continental breakfast, lunch and dinner. Proceeds benefit the programs of LAPD Devonshire PALS, which offers at-risk youth alternatives to gangs and crime by providing mentoring, education, sports and other constructive activities. Their anti-gang programs help young people develop a positive attitude toward the law and their community. Registration: 7:30 am $10,000 Putting Contest: 9:00 am Shotgun Start: 10:00 am Cocktails & Dinner: 5:00 pm For more information, call (818) 349-1706 or visit www.devonshire-pals.org. Learn about Councilman Greig Smith's plan to increase recycling and lead Los Angeles out of landfills Beat the Heat! Prepare for Summer Heat Waves... Record-high temperatures on this first day of summer are a reminder to prepare for summer heatwaves. Seniors, young children, people with health conditions or illness are especially vulnerable during heatwaves. Many seniors do not have Internet access at home, so please pass this information along to your elderly friends, family members or neighbors. Sign up today for Councilman Greig Smith's Weekly Briefing at councilmember. smith@lacity.org to receive weekly updates on recent legislation, community news & upcoming events which affect Council District12 communities Councilman Take a cool shower or bath. Visit friends or relatives who have air conditioning. Here are some tips to beat the heat: Go to a public swimming pool, see a movie, or go to a shopping mall, public library or other air-conditioned indoor public place. Drink lots of water! It is extremely important to stay hydrated to avoid heat stroke and other negative effects of heat. Close drapes and blinds, stay indoors and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest time of the day. If you go outdoors, wear a sun hat, and cool, well-ventilated clothing that will protect you from the sun. Remember - leaving children or pets in a car during the summer, even for a
Page 6 of 7 Greig Smith Links Press Release Archive Monthly Column Councilman Greig Smith's Weekly Briefing short period, can be life-threatening. NEVER leave a child unattended in a car. The Department of Recreation and Parks opens recreation centers and senior centers during extreme heat, when the L.A. Fire Department issues heat advisories. For information on heat advisories, please visit www.lacity.org/updatela/ or call 311 and ask for the nearest cooling center. Council District 12 Community Guide Request Information Contact Information Council District 12 Neighborhood Council Links Canoga Park Chatsworth Encino Granada Hills North Granada Hills South North Hills West East West Porter Ranch Reseda West Hills Winnetka Lake Balboa Council District 12 Chambers of Commerce Links Canoga Park/West Hills Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Encino
Page 7 of 7 Granada Hills North Valley Regional This message was sent to by: Councilmember Greig Smith 18917 Nordhoff Street, Suite 18, CA 91324 (818) 756-8501