Welcome to the Grass Roots Venice Neighborhood Council (GRVNC) election questions and answers section. This material applies to the election to be held September 10th and 11th, 2005. Please send comments or questions to the volunteer election committee public information contact Dante Cacace at cacace@gte.net, or call (310) 305-1022. Please use the word Election 2005 in your subject.
What is a neighborhood council?
Who is eligible to vote or run for a seat on the board?
How do I register as a candidate?
What if I’m homebound and can’t come to an outreach event?
What is a “valid credential” ?
What board seats are up for reelection?
Where and when is the Election?
How can I find out more about the candidates?
What are the important dates to remember for the election?
What are the responsibilities of a Venice Neighborhood Council officer?
What is a neighborhood council?
Neighborhood councils are official advisory bodies whose operations are supported and funded by the City of
Los Angeles. At its best, a neighborhood council can be an effective and credible voice for the entire
community, helping to bring City Services to it’s stakeholders, set priorities for neighborhood improvement
projects, influence land use policy and hold our elected officials accountable at all levels of government.
Who is eligible to vote or run for a seat on the board?
Anyone who lives, works, or owns property within the Grass Roots Venice Neighborhood Council boundaries. You must be at least 16 years of age or a junior or senior in high school. In addition, anyone participating in, among other things, educational institutions, religious institutions, community organizations or other non-profit organizations, block clubs, neighborhood associations, homeowners associations, apartment associations, condominium associations, resident associations, school/parent groups, faith based groups and organizations, senior groups and organizations, youth groups and organizations, chambers of commerce, business improvement districts, arts associations, political action groups, service organizations, park advisory boards, boys and girls clubs, cultural groups, environmental groups, codewatch, neighborhood watch, police advisory board groups, and/or redevelopment action boards within the geographical boundaries of GRVNC. See the "GRVN Election Procedures" for more information.
How do I register as a candidate?
You need to complete a candidate filing form and appear IN PERSON at one of the four outreach events to register as a candidate. The deadline to register and have your name on the ballot is Sunday, August 21 at 1pm. You must also bring valid credentials proving stakeholder status.
You may appear IN PERSON at one of the four outreach events to register to vote, or you may register to vote on the days of the election. You MUST bring valid credentials proving stakeholder status at the time you register, or at the time you vote.
YES! You must appear IN PERSON at one of the four outreach events to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot. You must also bring valid credentials proving stakeholder status.
What if I’m homebound and can’t come to an outreach event?
Homebound persons may contact Jerry Kvasnicka, the Independent Election Administrator, by calling (323) 256-6330 or sending an email to jkvas@earthlink.net in order to make arrangements to provide valid credentials to register and vote by mail.
What is a “valid credential” ?
All Stakeholders, even those who have registered for previous elections of the GRVNC, will need to provide proof of their stakeholder status in the form of a valid credential. Valid credentials will constitute one (1) of the following unless otherwise specified by these election procedures:
• CA Drivers License
( Current -- for an address within the GRVNC area)
• CA Residency Card
(Current -- for an address within the GRVNC area)
• School ID Card
(Current -- for a school with in the GRVNC boundaries)
• A business card
(In combination with any of the following with a matching Venice address- Business license, business check, or pay stub).
• A recent utility bill
(Current within 90 days -- for an address within the GRVNC area)
• An imprinted check
(Current -- including an address within the GRVNC are)
• Pay stub
(Current within 90 days from a business within the GRVNC area)
• Passport
(only in combination with any other credential item)
• School report card
(No older than June 2005 from a school with in the GRVNC boundaries)
• Property tax bill
(Most recent with an address within the GRVNC area)
OTHER CREDENTAILS:
• Church/Religious Institution within the GRVNC area:
Letter (on business letterhead) from Church/Religious institution; contribution statement
• Nonprofit Organization within the GRVNC area:
Letter(on business letterhead) from organization; receipt (dues, membership card with contact information)
• Senior Group within the GRVNC area:
Letter (on business letterhead) from organization; receipt (dues, membership card with contact information) • •
• Venice Boardwalk license or certificate
(Current – not less than 90 days old)
• Homeless Credential
Recent (within 90 days) documentation from a local Venice agency indicating that the stakeholder is a client of the facility or receives services from said facility
See the "GRVN Election Procedures" for more information or contact the Independent Election Administrator by calling (323) 256-6330 or sending an email to jkvas@earthlink.net .
What board seats are up for reelection?
All twenty-one board seats are up for reelection.
Executive Committee (7 seats)
President – 1 year term
Vice President– 1 year term
2nd Vice President – 1 year term
Government Relation – 1 year term
Secretary – 2 year term
Treasurer – 2 year term
Communications – 2 year term
At Large (7 seats)
Seven (7) seats – 2 year term
District Representative (7 seats)
Seven (7) seats – 1 year term
(each district seat is for a specific geographical area)
Where and when is the Election?
September 10 & 11 - 10am to 5pm at
Venice High School
13000 Venice Blvd., LA CA 90066
(parking available at the school)
How can I find out more about the candidates?
A Candidate Forum will be held at Venice High School (see above) on Wednesday September 7 at 6 pm. Candidates must also submit 200 word statements by August 21st at 1pm that will be included in an voters guide available online, at the election days and mailed to voters registered to Vote-by-Mail.
Do I have to register if I have registered for a GRVNC or other city, state or federal election in the past?
Yes, all voters and candidates in the 2005 election must register and show a credential proving their stakeholder status.
What are the important dates to remember for the election?
See the election time line by clicking here: http://www.grvnc.org/NewSite/Election2005/2005ElectionTimeline.htm
What are the responsibilities of a Venice Neighborhood Council officer?
(from "ARTICLE IV" of the GRVNC bylaws)
A. The Governing Body of the GRVNC shall be the GRVNC Board of Officers. The Board of Officers shall establish policies and positions of the GRVNC at its regular meetings and review and recommend actions to governmental and other entities on issues affecting the Venice community. The GRVNC Board of Officers is comprised of Twenty-One (21) Officers, elected from and by the population of GRVNC Voting Members, as follows:
Seven (7) Executive Officers (elected at-large)
Seven (7) At-Large Officers
Seven (7) Geographical Representative Officers
B. Seven (7) Executive Officers elected at-large (i.e. any Voting Member may run for and vote for any at-large office), including:
1. President (Chair General, Board and Executive Committee meetings, connect with other Neighborhood Councils in Los Angeles).
2. Vice President (Chair Event Planning Committee, assume duties of the President when the President is unavailable to perform his/her duties).
3. Second Vice President (Assume duties of the Vice President when the Vice President is unavailable to perform his/her duties, Co-Chair Communications and Outreach Committee. Serves as Executive committee liaison for Geographic representatives).
4. Secretary (Record minutes, post minutes to website no later than 7 days after meetings, make minutes available prior to next meeting, maintain public record of the GRVNC).
5. Treasurer (Chair Budget, Finance and Fundraising Committee, oversee finances, report at Board Meetings, maintain balance sheets, financial accountability, etc. Co-sign along with another Executive Officer all checks for disbursement of funds greater than $100).
6. Communications Officer (Chair Communications and Outreach Committee, oversee Early Notification System, etc.).
7. Government Relations Officer (Chair Government Relations Committee, perform City Oversight function, etc.).
C. Seven (7) At-Large Officers
Seven (7) Officers shall be elected At-Large from Voting Members. These Officers may (but are not required to) represent specific Community Stakeholder Organizations operating within the GRVNC boundary area, such as neighborhood associations, chambers of commerce, religious institutions, schools, arts associations, political action groups, youth organizations, non-profits, etc.
D. Seven (7) Geographical Representative Officers
Seven Officers shall be elected from Voting Members who live (either homeowner or renter) in each of the following districts of the GRVNC boundary area:
1. Lincoln Place / Penmar
2. North Beach / Rose / Ocean Front Walk
3. Central Venice / Oakwood
4. South of Palms, East of Lincoln
5. Windward Circle / Abbot Kinney / Milwood / Walk Streets
6. Oxford Triangle / Silver Triangle / President’s Row
7. Canals / Peninsula / South Beach / Silver Strand
Geographical representatives shall represent the interests of the Community Stakeholders within their District. Geographical representatives will maintain excellent lines of communication with the various neighborhoods, business, and other organizations operating within their district. Geographical representatives will actively outreach to Community Stakeholder groups and individuals within their district. Geographical representatives will, in conjunction with the Communications and Outreach Committee (see Article VII) and the City of Los Angeles, carry out the Neighborhood Council responsibilities related to the Early Notification System, as created and maintained by the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (hereinafter referred to as “DONE”).
(From Article VII of the GRVNC bylaws), additional responsibilities for the District representatives.
G. Land Use and Planning Committee: This nine (9) member Committee shall include seven (7) GRVNC Voting Members (i.e. registered GRVNC Community Stakeholders), each as nominated by the individual Geographical Representative Officers, one for each District. Additionally, the Committee shall include two (2) GRVNC Officers, as nominated by the Board of Officers. Committee members shall elect the chair and/or co-chair(s). The Land Use and Planning Committee shall review, take public input, report on and make recommendations of actions to the Board of Officers on any land use and planning issues affecting the GRVNC community.