Plan for Advisory Panel Protested

Organizers of a neighborhood council in Northridge protested Monday that city officials are blocking their proposal to have votes on issues cast in town hall meetings by “stakeholders” rather than an elected panel.

The Los Angeles Neighborhood Empowerment Commission will meet tonight in Northridge with an agenda that includes approval of the Northridge Community Council. But organizers expect approval to be delayed because city officials say ordinances do not allow town hall votes instead of votes of an elected governing board. The city is creating a citywide network of neighborhood councils.

“It’s obviously a blatant attempt to keep people from voting,” said Walter Prince, president of the Northridge group. He said the city wants a few select individuals to make decisions for the community.

Greg Nelson, general manager of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, said he sympathizes with the residents but his hands are tied.

“They want to have a town hall concept, which runs afoul of the city ordinance,” Nelson said. Neighborhood councils are being set up to take advisory votes on local planning, development and budget issues.

City ordinances require that stakeholders--residents, business owners and nonprofit groups--elect a neighborhood council that casts advisory votes on local issues.

Nelson said he is open to changing the ordinance to allow for town hall votes, but he said there are potential problems, such as how to assemble people on short notice for a vote.

One model Nelson suggested would have votes taken at town hall meetings subject to overturn by a two-thirds vote of the governing board.

The meeting will be held at 6:30 tonight at Northridge Middle School, 17960 Chase St.