Neighborhood Council Approves New Budget

The Westwood Neighborhood Council approved a $37,500 budget for the next year at its meeting Wednesday night, with no more than a quorum of members present.

A previous version of the budget allotted $41,000 for the year, but the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment has since given the council a new amount and the budget had to be approved again, said councilmember Laura Winikow. The $3,500 difference was shaved off from a sum of grant money awarded to local organizations and schools annually.

"The only place to cut it was in the neighborhood grants, so that’s been reduced," Winikow said. "Everything else is exactly the same."

The council has budgeted $24,500 for community improvement projects and neighborhood purpose grants for the next year. Neighborhood purpose grants are awarded to non-profit organizations that have a Westwood presence. Previous grants have been given to the Westwood-Brentwood Symphony Orchestra, Hammer Museum, Friends of Westwood Library, and local schools.

About 16 percent of the budget pays for community outreach, from advertising to the council's website. About 18 percent of the budget, or $7,000, is allocated for operations costs—facilities rental, office supplies, postage, etc.

The council took no action on the motion against the proposed Venice Beach zip line. A quorum was not present to approve the Community Care Facilities Ordinance for the second time.

The next Westwood Neighborhood Council meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Westwood Presbyterian Church.

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