The Public Square: August 27–29, 2012

A brief look at items of interest to Hollywood residents that are on upcoming agendas at City Council, City Council Committees, Neighborhood Councils, various City Boards and Commissions, and County Board of Supervisors. LA City Agendas can be found here and LA County Board agendas can be found here.

As always, the meeting times, locations, and agendas are subject to change, so be sure to check and confirm.

Monday, August 27:

• Budget and Finance Council Committee (2:00 PM)
  • Item 6 (Council File 10-0225
    • Office of Finance report (.pdf) relative to an update to the Accounts Receivable Citywide Improvement Initiatives, including the status of implementing Commission on Revenue Efficiency’s Blueprint for Reform of City Collections recommendations.
    • From the report summary, “[A]ll of the major revenue options of the Macias Study and immediate financial recommendations of CORE have been implemented. Fire ambulance billings have been outsourced. Parking citations are being  bid with secondary collections options. Centralized Accounts Receivable Reporting  is implemented. The Inspector General position is filled.”

Tuesday, August 28:

• County Board of Supervisors (9:30 AM)
  • No items of note.
• City Council (10:00 AM)
  • Item 3 (Council File 11-0776)
    • Planning and Land Use Management Council Committee report relative to the reappointment of Mr. Kevin Norton to the Central Area Planning Commission for the term ending June 30, 2017.
    • See this Communication from the Mayor (.pdf) for more information on Mr. Norton
  • Item 6 (Council File 12-0600-S158)
    • Budget and Finance Council Committee report relative to a City Attorney report and Ordinance (.pdf) amending the Los Angeles Administrative Code to eliminate (1) authorization for the use of monies in the Special Parking Revenue Fund for the Central Library Validation Program and (2) to eliminate all Special Parking Revenue Fund loan repayment requirements on surplus funds transferred to the General Fund
    • Note: The Special Parking Revenue Fund is funded with money collected from the City’s parking meters and revenue from public off-street parking facilities. The funds are supposed to be used to pay for meters, the acquisition and operation of off-street parking lots and garages, and for painting street curbs.
    • Viewpoints: I think this is a bad idea, primarily because it essentially serves to formalize the Council recent efforts to turn the Special Parking Revenue Fund into simply another source of funding to supplement the City’s General Fund. Given all the parking related needs in this City - and all the deferred maintenance and necessary upgrades at City-owned parking garages and lots - I find it hard to believe that the Special Parking Revenue Fund ever would (or should) have a surplus.

Wednesday, August 29:

• City Council (10:00 AM)
  • No items of note.