West Adams Board regular meeting August 18, 2025 Draft minutes — not yet approved [6:38 pm] Meeting called to order. Quintus Jett presiding. [6:40 pm] The roll was called. Present (9): Quintus Jett, Blake Lynch, Tora Miller, Ernesto Ramirez , Jhoiey Ramirez , Emily Reyes , Alexandria Sulaimankhil , Juilio Valdez, and Richard Williams Absent (3): Jace Dawson, Angela Gilbert, and Connye Thomas [6:42 pm] Public comment on new Treasurer being honest and truthful. Lots of underspend budget in the past and stakeholder hopes for this to be taken seriously [6:43 pm] Pubic Comment - Question about visual art opportunities through NPG's, works in the community and wanted to see how to get a proposal on the agenda for community art workshops and apply for an NPG. Board suggested to send an email to westadamsnc@gmail.com. [6:44 pm] Jace Dawson arrived at the meeting [6:45 pm] Park Director Comment - Halloween Event is coming up on oct 31 at Vineyard Rec Center. Food and games for the kids, it was suggested to let families know who live in the area and it is free. WANC is of course invited [6:45 pm] Connye Thomas arrived at the meeting [6:45 pm] Angela Gilbert arrived at the meeting [6:46 pm] Homeowner comment - glad about land use discussion around parking and new buildings coming up in the area. Multi use with no parking is a major concern. [6:48 pm] Another stakeholder is commenting on affordable housing. They would like more information around how things are actually being treated as affordable. Council let the stakeholder know that we don't approve these project, but they do come up for discussion here. Take an action to discuss during the agenda item. Get to know who is backing these projects. [6:51 pm] Fire Department - Batallion 18 - when you call 911, if you see a rubbish fire or trash fire call immediately . Smoke detector beeping means change batteries. You can call to get information on how to give CPR until help arrives. Fairfax and Adams has dead brush and the first department will look into this upon request from the WANC [6:54 pm] State Assembly - Starting today session start, vote now for california redistrict to help balance what texas is doing. If this passes then on Nov 4th it can voted on. State agencies will be at the jazz festival on august 30th at La Merc Park [6:56 pm] Field Deputy for Heather Hutt - SD 79 is a state led initiative. Tomorrow there is an agenda item on the City Council meeting Aug 18 at 10AM on youtube or in person. Caltrans lot as been requested to be cleaned by the city council, but has been working with caltrans to fix this up it is a LADWP lot. Western to Fairfax along the 10 is being addressed with LADWP on a bi weekly basis. Rapid response team to help with city services. Jonathan can not speak on how the council will vote but suggests to join the meeting at 10AM PST. [7:02 pm] EmpowerLA - Alfonso is out on paternity but will return next month. Announcements will be sent via email with questions or comments for assistance. Neighborhood council awards are upcoming. Workshops, speakers and panels on August 27th to learn about how the cit works and public policy. Election feedback is open, survey closes at the end of the month. Appointments, regional panels, grievances along with other areas can be made. Followup email will be sent. [7:09 pm] Everyone is up to date with their training except Jace, Tora and Alexandria . 3 board seats are available - education, at large and business . Goal to add these in september. Each member needs to join a subcommittee . CD to movie night report - we bought candy and gave it out and we the council gave out 250 boxes of candy to connect with the neighborhood. [7:12 pm] Jace Dawson has confirmed that certifications are completed. [7:13 pm] Old Business - Approval of the Minutes [7:13 pm] On agenda item 4, Quintus Jett made a motion to "(4) Motion to approve the minutes of WANC Board & Stakeholder Meeting from July 21, 2025" [7:14 pm] The assembly voted on a motion to: "(4) Motion to approve the minutes of WANC Board & Stakeholder Meeting from July 21, 2025" Ayes (0): none Noes (0): none [7:14 pm] The assembly voted on a motion to: "Motion to approve the minutes of WANC Board & Stakeholder Meeting from July 21, 2025" Ayes (10): Jace Dawson, Angela Gilbert, Quintus Jett, Blake Lynch, Ernesto Ramirez , Jhoiey Ramirez , Emily Reyes , Connye Thomas, Juilio Valdez, and Richard Williams Noes (0): none Ineligible (2): Tora Miller and Alexandria Sulaimankhil The motion passed. [7:16 pm] Monthly Expense Report has not bee generated. This needs to be generated and therefore NPG's may be reduced in 2025 due to budgetary cuts. City council has not voted on roll over amount. [7:18 pm] New Business 6.a - Resident since 2020 have come to chat about this. Both stakeholders and employees have come to advocate for public safety. After speaking with LAPD and City attorney stakeholder suggested coming to speak to the WANC about Community Safety at Ybarra Village, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) residential community, at 3015-3031 S West View Street. A social worker and stakeholders talked about public safety due to ongoing issues with an individual who has been arrested multiple times and there are restraining orders. -- Board asked what they are asking for - asking for help with safety - LAPD keeps coming but it doesn't address the larger safety issue with the location. -- Board asked how we know the person is ill. Resident service coordinator who is a case manager is working with the VA and Department of Mental Health but the individual has declined services. -- Police reports have been filed over 2 years, and there has been success cleaning up drug issues. Comment from stakeholder - based on threats is there any plan to re home this individual? There is an eviction notice but waiting for a lock out date, unsure where the individual will go next. President mentions that the Council does not have authority to change this situation , but the board and stakeholders can add something to this discussion and come together as a community to help this individual. Stakeholders are hoping for community to be aware of this to bring education, compassion and assistance to all involved. Empower LA - confirms that this is a space to discussion but the council is limited on scope for solutions on this topic. The council can help connect stakeholders with the right contacts within the city council or mayors office. We can not offer solutions, but we can help connect. Question on security - The security guard can not follow anyone outside of the premises. Public Safety Committee has stakeholders who are interested in traffic safety, but public safety is another key item for us to think about adding to a broader conception of safety to that committee. Awareness is key to this discussion. Look into the PET team which has been done and service was refused. Suggestion to form a neighborhood watch, and WANC can help connect stakeholders with the right people [7:45 pm] Board Appointments - Blake has nominated himself as the alternate signer Second Card Holder - Emily had nominated herself as the second card holder [7:46 pm] On agenda item 6 c, Blake Lynch made a motion to "Motion to appoint authorized signers with Emily Reyes as Second Card Holder and Blake Lynch as Alternate Signer" [7:46 pm] The assembly voted on a motion to: "Motion to appoint authorized signers with Emily Reyes as Second Card Holder and Blake Lynch as Alternate Signer" Ayes (10): Jace Dawson, Angela Gilbert, Quintus Jett, Blake Lynch, Ernesto Ramirez , Jhoiey Ramirez , Emily Reyes , Connye Thomas, Juilio Valdez, and Richard Williams Noes (0): none Ineligible (2): Tora Miller and Alexandria Sulaimankhil The motion passed. [7:47 pm] Community Impact Statement Signers need a 5 total and we need to fill 3. We have 2 Angela Johey, Ernesto nominated to join the group. [7:50 pm] On agenda item 6.c 2 , Emily Reyes made a motion to "Motion to appoint 3 new community impact statement signers in Angela Gilbert , Johey Ramirez and Ernesto Ramirez" [7:52 pm] NC's have been asked to add a Homeless Liaison . Q was asked if the person has to be a board member, and it was confirmed by EmpowerLA that it can be a stakeholder. Self nomination Elli Mongomery. [7:52 pm] The assembly voted on a motion to: "Motion to appoint 3 new community impact statement signers in Angela Gilbert , Johey Ramirez and Ernesto Ramirez" Ayes (10): Jace Dawson, Angela Gilbert, Quintus Jett, Blake Lynch, Ernesto Ramirez , Jhoiey Ramirez , Emily Reyes , Connye Thomas, Juilio Valdez, and Richard Williams Noes (0): none Ineligible (2): Tora Miller and Alexandria Sulaimankhil The motion passed. [7:54 pm] On agenda item 6 c 3 , Emily Reyes made a motion to "Motion to appoint Elli Mongomery, a WANC stakeholder, as the the WANC homeless liaison" [7:58 pm] The assembly voted on a motion to: "Motion to appoint Elli Mongomery, a WANC stakeholder, as the the WANC homeless liaison" Ayes (10): Jace Dawson, Angela Gilbert, Quintus Jett, Blake Lynch, Ernesto Ramirez , Jhoiey Ramirez , Emily Reyes , Connye Thomas, Juilio Valdez, and Richard Williams Noes (0): none Ineligible (2): Tora Miller and Alexandria Sulaimankhil The motion passed. [7:59 pm] New business b.1 discussion around land use committee to talk about the new building and parking issues and authorize the board to set up a community forum. The people who are interested need a way to get together to execute an event. This can include people from CD10, State Assembly Office, Relevant Departments. See if we can get space at Dorsey for a town hall meeting. Connie, Quintus, Sotchi Morales , Paul Chavez, Julie, Cain are all interested. [8:03 pm] On agenda item 6 b 2 , Connye Thomas made a motion to "Motion to authorize Quintus Jett and Connye Thomas to lead the planning for a community forum on land use" [8:05 pm] The assembly voted on a motion to: "Motion to authorize Quintus Jett and Connye Thomas to lead the planning for a community forum on land use" Ayes (9): Angela Gilbert, Quintus Jett, Blake Lynch, Ernesto Ramirez , Jhoiey Ramirez , Emily Reyes , Connye Thomas, Juilio Valdez, and Richard Williams Noes (0): none Ineligible (2): Tora Miller and Alexandria Sulaimankhil The motion passed. [8:06 pm] Jace Dawson left the meeting [8:07 pm] Need more civic action , civic engagement 101. we could authorize a planning and refer to the right committee [8:09 pm] Qunitus Jett refers the civic 101 agenda item to the rules committee [8:11 pm] For next meeting agenda consideration 1/ Review ByLaws 2/ Slank needs a rep for South LA Neighborhood Council 3/ Budget Advocates 4/ Region Grievances 5/ Decide how much $$ to allocate to NPGs 6/ Quarterly Goals 7/ Website Updates 8/ Committee Dates and Fill Up Committees [8:15 pm] Meeting adjourned. The neighborhood council counts abstentions as yes votes.