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Graduation Set for First NC Planning Class |
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Planning & Land Use
By Jacque Lamishaw
The first Planning Training Class created through the cooperative effort of DONE, the L.A. Planning Department, the Planning Pilot Program and its Oversight Committee, (PPP-OSC) will graduate on May 10 at L.A. City College.
The Planning Training Curriculum was developed from a requirement of the Pilot Program as agreed to after months of negotiation between an organized Neighborhood Council Committee and the Planning Department. The basis for the classes was suggested by Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, Chair, Transportation Committee, bringing together the Planning and other City Departments, Neighborhood Councils, DONE and private sector Planning Consultants. Councilwoman Greuel has also worked with the class on Transportation issues.
At the January 2008 orientation meeting for the course, as reported in CityWatch, almost 100 NC board officers and planning committee members attended to hear the standing room only kick-off by Councilwoman Janice Hahn, Vice Chair, Education and Neighborhoods Committee, DONE Interim GM BongHwan Kim, Planning Chief ZA Michael LoGrande and Councilwoman Wendy Greuel’s Chief Planning Deputy, Dale Thrush. At that time over 80 students registered for the first two semesters.
With each class limited to 36 students, all from a different NCs, it was a difficult task to develop criteria to assure a fair acceptance for the first class. Though many were disappointed at having to wait for the Fall semester, beginning in August, they all are anxious for that new semester to begin.
The Spring 2008 semester started with the basics, with many class handouts of important Planning information that most had not seen. Important internet websites were disclosed for the use of NC Planning Committees and real life information and situations were revealed. The first class was grueling and there was even homework! But, everyone took it in stride and did very well on the homework reviews. They knew that this knowledge would empower them to make a difference for their neighborhoods. In addition to Councilwoman Greuel, the class has heard presentations from Frank Bush, Chief Inspector, Code Enforcement and Tom Rothmann, City Planner, Code Studies/Office of Zoning Administration, Department of City Planning.
The Spring 2008 semester has sailed quietly and without fanfare through the sea of information propelling it to this final hour. The first class of students, representing 32 different Neighborhood Councils will start their graduation day representing to a moot Public Hearing for four past planning cases just how much they have learned about planning and being able to present to the Zoning Administrator, (on this day, retired LA Planning Dept. AZA, Jon Perica), good arguments supporting or opposing the cases they reviewed at the last class session and now before the ZA.
After the post-hearing debriefing and discussion, the PPP-OSC will host a luncheon for all, to be followed by the official graduation ceremony and the presentation of the Certificates of Completion.
Presenting the Certificates will be BongHwan Kim, Interim GM of DONE. Officiating will be class instructor, Robert B. Lamishaw, a private Planning Consultant, who will be joined by Tom Rothmann, City Planner. Cake and sparkling cider will follow! More info on the Planning Pilot Program at: www.mouoversight.org) (Jacque H Lamishaw is a Planning Consultant, Co-Chair of the Pilot Program Negotiating Committee and NC/Planning Training Class Coordinator.) _
CityWatch
Vol 6 Issue 36
Pub: May 2, 2008
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