Grass roots democracy through community planning boards

Both Mayor Richard Riordan and the City Council are working on charter reform proposals. The subject of charter reform is important, and an issue that has been a major concern of homeowner associations for many years. It is likely that both factions will come up with some type of community planning boards (CPBs)

However, unless local communities are given decision making authority on land use, planning, zoning and delivery of services, charter reform will be meaningless Charter reform must include the fundamental goal of empowering neighborhoods. As it is now, Mayor Riordan is bent on grabbing power from the City Council and the Council is determined to keep an iron grip on the fifteen dynasties that now exist. Decision making authority must shift from the Council to communities, not simply transition to the Mayor

Mayor Riordan and the Council will keep planning in the hands of politicians, where it has been for years - and one has only to look around at this city to see the kind of job they have done. Planning during the past decade has been a disaster for Los Angeles residents. The city" s growth has long been orchestrated by developers. They have eroded responsible planning case by case in hearing after hearing. While the planning department has some talented and resourceful staff members in its lower echelons, their work is almost always corrupted as it moves up through the planning process

Do Warner Center, Ventura Boulevard in Encino, Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood, or the Beverly Center reflect sound planning? Was adequate transportation made available before developers were given a green light? Was sufficient off street parking provided and were neighborhoods protected against high rises towering over residents? These hallmarks of bad planning don't reflect residents' needs, but rather developers' greed

Each zoning case has become an urban planning battlefield, with residents badly outflanked. Developers seeking to build in already over congested areas fire very heavy artillery. They enlist lobbyists, who have already softened the opposition with liberal campaign contributions, and since our Planning Commission is made up of political appointees, it is no surprise that no's become yeses. Community plans become twisted and mangled in the process. Los Angeles has taken on all of the worst qualities of Manhattan, without its redeeming features. It is not too late, though, to stop or even reverse the Manhattanization of our city. What is needed are community planning boards made up of residents with decision making authority over community plans, zoning matters and the delivery of services. They should not be appointed by the Mayor or City Council, but rather elected by their peers. Appointees don't have to be planning experts - you don't need to be a shoe maker to know when a shoe fits

As we move into charter reform, here are some key concepts that should be seriously considered: 1. There should be one planning board for each of the 35 community plans area in the city. These boards should be composed perhaps of from 9 to 15 individuals, or 15 to 21 individuals who reside in their respective communities. The boards should be dominated by those who live there - residents, not developers or outsiders who want to make money in an area but aren't willing to raise their families there

2. Planning department staff members should be appointed as ex-officio members of the planning boards in order to provide technical advice and assistance. As advisors, they can help citizens act with wisdom on complex planning matters

3. CPB members should be elected by their peers, using a simplified election process. Here is one scenario to consider

Suppose town hall-like forums were held in various communities

Prospects for the board would explain their views and philosophies. Ballots and written statements could be distributed at the meeting or mailed to residents. After perhaps two such meetings, a vote would be taken to elect the CPB members. The League of Women Voters might be willing to assist in maintaining the integrity of the voting process. This scenario is only one of many that could be used, at little cost, to create elected boards which would represent residents' interests

4. Bona fide homeowner organizations should be well represented on the CPBs. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience waiting to be tapped on the part of homeowner leaders throughout this city. They should actively participate in the planning process

5. There must, of course, be checks and balances to prevent runaway board decisions or modifications of community plans which are not in keeping with sound citywide planning. City commissions should be drawn from a pool of residents with broad community interests, not special or vested interests, as is now the case

6. The CPB's should be decision making bodies, not merely advisory groups, and be responsible for both zoning and community plans. The present suggestion that planning boards advise the planning commission, who in turn advise the planning and environment committee, who then advise the council, is unrealistic

Residents should be able to control their own neighborhoods

7. The CPBs should operate in an open manner, with meetings held at times convenient to residents, perhaps during evening hours. Residents should be allowed to speak without the heavy hand now placed on them by the existing planning commission and council rules

8. Charter provisions should be changed in order to decentralize the planning process and provide for a simplified election procedure for CPB members. It is time for a change in the planning philosophy of this city, and charter reform is a vehicle to do it. Most residents do not wish to live in a "world class" city. Instead they want world class neighborhoods that are comfortable and safe, free of traffic, congestion, air pollution, and noise. This is the dream that drew many people to Los Angeles in the first place

The actual task of charter reform can be complex or simple, as the residents of this city desire. One approach to charter reform could be implemented quickly and easily, involving only one or two sessions of a democratically elected reform commission. It could simply rewrite Article III, Section 21. [Powers and Duties of the Council]. The section now reads, "All legislative power of the City...is vested in the Council and shall be exercised by ordinance, subject to the power of veto or approval by the Mayor as herein set forth." After revision, Article III, Section 21 could read: "All legislative power of the City...is vested in a group of 35 community elected planning boards, and shall be exercised by ordinance.

The Mayor and City Council shall ask as advisory bodies to the democratically elected planning boards, with no power of veto or approval by the Mayor or City Council." After this brief charter reform effort, the committee could disband, and residents could once again go about living in a community in which they hold the power, not a special interest Mayor, or developer driven City Council

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Revised 02/13/97