Encino Neighborhood Council Roundup: Metro's new ExpressLanes Program, the Il Villagio Toscano Project and more

The Encino Neighborhood Council met Wednesday to discuss the issues and concerns of the community.

Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield's Office speaks

Rosalba Gonzalez of Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield's office spoke about a upcoming back-to-school resource fair that will include educational commmunity organizations and the LAUSD, so that parents have access to all kinds of educational resources that may benefit their children. Watch Blumenfield's website for more information, as it becomes available.

President's Report (Louis Krokover)

The ENC president took a roll-call for the Department for Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE), to estimate who from the existing board is going to run again for their seat or another seat on the board. The responses were mixed, with members saying yes, no, or saying they were undecided. (check minutes of meeting for complete details).

Public comments

A man identified by the ENC president simply as "David" spoke about the new proposed Il Villagio Toscano project in Sherman Oaks near Sepulveda and the 101 (see ). David criticized the SO neighborhood council's approval of the project, calling it an error on their part. He said that he urged the Encino Neighborhood Council to take the matter up and vote down the project because it would increase traffic in the area.

Presentation by Kathy McCune, Metro ExpressLanes Deputy Program Manager

One of Metro's new projects is a "congestion reduction demonstration program" that will last for one year. Metro will introduce new express lanes on the 110 and the 10 east of downtown, McCune told the ENC board and community members.

The program will convert 25 miles of existing HOV lanes to Metro Express It will expand transit service (including 59 new buses) on both freeways and introduce congestion pricing to manage traffic demand. It will spend $142 million in transit improvements, $129 million in roadside investments, and $19 million in ExpressPark.

According to McCune, Metro are issuing a new device for car users to affix to their cars to pay for tolls in the Metro Express lane; if you use the lane as a single passenger, you'll pay a toll. If you car pool, with 1 or more other people, there will be less of a toll, or no toll at all. The device will be available this June at walk-in centers, mobile vans, and on Metro's website.

Travelers will also get ExpressLane credits if they take the Silver Line bus once in a while (Metro's informational video on the project even shows an Angeleno using a bus for the first time!)

For more information go to www.metro.net/works.

Motions and discussions regarding election

 Krokover said that the neighborhood council election is coming up on September 29 (but could be held as late as December 31), and that the ENC bylaws state that June 30 is the last day for the current board members to sit, unless they chose to extend seats. 

The board voted to extend their seats. They also voted to hold the elections on September 29 at the Encino Community during a 4-hour time window. They voted in favor of allowing postal voting as well as voting in person.