TARZANA NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
Public Safety Committee/Transportation Committee & Special Meeting
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 6PM
Tarzana Child Care Center
5700 Beckford Ave.
Tarzana, CA 91356
Click Here for the Agenda
Los Angeles Animal Services - October Adopt-a-Pet Weekends
October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, and we have so many wonderful pets at all six of our LA Animal Services Centers ready to meet and go home with you! To encourage pet adoptions, we're offering the following adoption events every weekend throughout the month of October. To Learn more click HERE
o World Animal Day Adoption Weekend - October 5-6
o CATober Adoption Event - October 12-13
o National Make a Dog's Day Adoption Event - October 19-20
o Treat a Shelter Pet Day Adoption Event - October 26-27
Furry friends adopted from LA Animal Services join their new families already spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. Adopters also receive a Petco flyer with discounts to help make their pet adoption a success and a VCA Healthy Start Certificate, which provides up to $250 of follow up veterinary care within the first 14 days of adoption, and for a limited time a free dog or cat bed thanks to a donation from Chewy and Greater Good Charities. In addition, dogs are also eligible for free dog training classes with Paws for Life K9 Rescue at their People & Pet Innovation Center in Mission Hills, CA. Contact [email protected] for more details.
If you can't adopt, consider fostering a pet. When you foster a canine buddy or feline friend, you not just save the life of that animal, but also free up a space for another dog or cat in need. Click on the links to view canine buddies and feline friends available for adoption or fostering.
Facebook: @LAAnimalServices
Instagram: @laanimalservices
X: @lacitypets
If you or someone you know doesn’t have access to air conditioning, the City has regional resources available throughout the weekend. Many City facilities including pools, libraries, and recreation centers are open and available to all. For more heat relief resources, visit Cool Spots LA at www.emergency.lacity.gov/extreme-heat
LOS ANGELES ANIMAL SERVICES - WILDLIFE WEBINAR
You are invited to a virtual informative session on the wildlife you may encounter in and around your neighborhood. LA Animal Services Wildlife Specialists will share information on how to safely coexist with wildlife and ways to keep your pets safe. Register in advance for this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. To learn more click HERE.
TARZANA NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL ANNOUNCES BOARD MEMBER OPENINGS
"Why doesn't someone do something about that?" How often have you heard (or asked) that question, particularly about an issue in your local community? If you would like to get more involved and represent your community consider applying for one of the open seats on the Tarzana Neighborhood Council.
If you are at least 18 years old, and you live, work or own real property in Tarzana you are eligible to be appointed to one of the following open positions on the Tarzana Neighborhood Council Governing Board.
Residential Renter (apartment, condo or house), Business Representative (Work or own a business) and At Large Representative (Any of the stakeholders listed above).
If you are interested in applying for one of the open positions, please contact the Board President, Leonard Shaffer at [email protected] or the Executive Secretary, Iris Polonsky at [email protected].
TARZANA NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
BOARD MEETING
Tuesday September 24, 2024 7:00 PM
Tarzana Child Care Center
5700 Beckford Ave.
Tarzana, CA 91356
Click Here for the Agenda
BOB BLUMENFIELD
COUNCILMEMBER, THIRD DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER BLUMENFIELD AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CELEBRATE
GROUNDBREAKING OF FIRST SELF-SUSTAINING PARK IN LA
WEST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, CA – Tomorrow, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield will be joined by city, local leaders and residents for the ceremonial groundbreaking of Caballero Creek Park. This site will convert a 1.5-acre underutilized lot into a multiple-benefit park, located at the convergence of the Los Angeles River and Caballero Creek in Tarzana. It will be the first self-sustaining park in Los Angeles- meaning water will be captured on and off-site and using solar, the water will be cleaned to irrigate the park.
The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), Department of Recreation and Parks, Bureau of Sanitation, General Services Department, and Los Angeles County have joined forces for Caballero Creek Park. Blumenfield helped bring in seven different funding sources and cut through significant red tape over the past few years to get shovels in the ground. He also partnered with Reseda High School so this new space will serve as an outdoor classroom. The design utilizes innovative methods that lead to watershed protection, including a bioswale and a wetland component for storm water treatment. The new wetlands will create habitat, clean water and help connect Angelenos to California’s struggling riverine ecology. The site plan also includes a variety of offerings for the community including an outdoor fitness center, play and recreation, access to the LA River bike paths, and more.
This park will mark the latest new City park that Blumenfield has helped create following the Costanso Fire Station Park and the LA River and Aliso Creek Confluence Park. He also led the effort to create the new facilities at the Woodland Hills Rec Center, as well as major renovations at various parks throughout his community.
WHAT: Blumenfield will be joined by city leaders and residents for a ground breaking of a new park in the West Valley.
WHO: Councilmember Bob Blumenfield
Joe Edmiston, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
Members of the Board of Public Works
Officials from Tarzana Neighborhood Council and community members
WHEN: Thursday, August 1 at 9am
Councilmember Blumenfield Introduces New Environmental Efforts to Ensure Clean Drinking Water and Reduce Health Risks from Artificial Turf |
Recently the Council approved Councilmember Blumenfield’s motion that instructs the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to test for the presence of Polyfluoroalkyl / Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and other similar contaminants and provide information on how to ensure safe potable drinking water for the City. This was prompted by recent revelations that DWP, for the first time ever, detected these contaminants in two water sources in the San Fernando Valley (the Pollock Well Field and at the Tujunga Well Field). While the levels were not deemed dangerous, it raised enough concern for Blumenfield to put together the motion.
Separately, Blumenfield introduced a motion to help Los Angeles transition away from artificial turf/synthetic grass and encourage the transition to California drought-friendly landscaping. Made from petroleum products, artificial turf/synthetic grass has been found to cause serious environmental issues as it degrades, can magnify the ‘heat island effect,’ and can burn in a wildfire. In the past it had been heralded as a good water-saving landscape alternative, but the conventional wisdom has been rapidly changing as the product has been studied, peer-reviewed and tested. Ultimately, a ban on future non-functional / decorative turf may be necessary. Artificial turf is now known to contain harmful substances such PFAS, and other “forever chemicals”. In April 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration, through the Environmental Protection Agency, categorized PFAS and other “forever chemicals” as hazardous substances dangerous to human health. The EPA has concluded that exposure to PFAS may lead to reproductive effects, developmental delays, and risks of some cancers. Exposure can occur through inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, and mucous membrane exposure, including microplastic dust kicked up on artificial turf fields.
On the effort regarding artificial turf, Charming Evelyn, Chair of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter’s Water Committee, said, “Sierra Club stands in strong support of this motion from City Councilmember Blumenfield. This is a crucial step for preventing widespread contamination and protecting public health.”
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Unveiling Restored Art Panels on Snoopy Bridge
Councilmember Blumenfield was joined by community members and students from Tarzana Elementary School to formally unveil the restored art panels on the one-of-a-kind Snoopy Bridge. Since the 1970s, the Snoopy (also called “Peanuts”) Bridge over Wilbur Avenue near Tarzana Elementary School has been a beloved community landmark. After the Snoopy art panels were defaced with graffiti, Blumenfield and his team worked with community members, Charles M Schulz Creative Associates, and Hattas Studios to refurbish this Valley treasure. It was a complicated task, but all parties worked together to make it happen.
Blumenfield secured $20K in funding and contracted with Hattas Studios to bring the murals back to their original condition. The work also included an application of an anti-graffiti coating both to deter future vandalism and, if it occurs, make it easier to remove. Blumenfield is thrilled that the art panels have been restored for future generations to enjoy and is grateful to the community members who brought this to his attention and have been a driving force behind this project, especially Stephanie Brody, Kirk Donovan, and Patty Jo Wolfson.
Tarzana Neighborhood Council Board members Iris Polansky and Susan Rogan were also in attenance to help celebrate.