TARZANA NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
ANIMAL WELFARE COMMITTEE
AGENDA
Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 7:00 PM
VIRTUAL TELEPHONIC MEETING
How to Join the Virtual Telephonic Meeting
Go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84397587781
By Telephone: Dial 1-669-900-6833, enter 843 9758 7781 and Press #
Using the Zoom App: Join Meeting and enter ID: 843 9758 7781
You may also call in using the following phone numbers:
833-548-0282, 888-475-4499, 877-853-5257, 833-548-0276
To view the Agenda CLICK HERE
Help Reduce the Number of Animals at the LA Animal Shelter
The City’s six Animal Services Centers continue to operate at critical capacity. Sadly, over 2100 animals have been euthanized this year. If you're looking to add a pet to your family, LA Animal Services is offering reduced adoption fees for dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens throughout the month of November.
This weekend, November 2-3, Best Friends LA Super Adoption Event takes place at the Rose Bowl stadium. Bring the whole family to this free and fun event where you can meet hundreds of amazing furry friends looking for homes from Best Friends, L.A. Animal Services, L.A. County DACC, and more than a dozen other local shelters and rescue groups. All pets are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and ready to go home the same day. Click here for more info.
If you can't adopt, consider fostering a pet. When you foster a canine buddy or feline friend, you not just save the life of that animal, but also free up a space for another dog or cat in need. Click on the links to view canine buddies and feline friends available for adoption or fostering.
Facebook: @LAAnimalServices
Instagram: @laanimalservices
X: @lacitypets
With the alarming increase in silicosis cases in the San Fernando Valley and across California. Blumenfield, local leaders, and community groups will be hosting a forum on Saturday, November 9th at the Taxco Theater in Canoga Park to provide resources to workers who work in stone cutting and manufacturing industries. For more information, please reach out to Legislative Deputy Adrian Salcedo at [email protected].
You are invited to a Free Pet Wellness Day event Saturday, November 9 at Balboa Sports Center from 9am – 1pm in partnership with the Michaelson Foundation. The event will include spay and neuter services, vaccines, microchipping, hygiene, and much more, including free collars and pet treats. Appointments are required. To make your appointment, please visit www.tinyurl.com/petevent9
If you or someone you know doesn’t have access to air conditioning, the City has regional resources available throughout the weekend. Many City facilities including pools, libraries, and recreation centers are open and available to all. For more heat relief resources, visit Cool Spots LA at www.emergency.lacity.gov/extreme-heat
BOB BLUMENFIELD
COUNCILMEMBER, THIRD DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER BLUMENFIELD AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CELEBRATE
GROUNDBREAKING OF FIRST SELF-SUSTAINING PARK IN LA
WEST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, CA – Tomorrow, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield will be joined by city, local leaders and residents for the ceremonial groundbreaking of Caballero Creek Park. This site will convert a 1.5-acre underutilized lot into a multiple-benefit park, located at the convergence of the Los Angeles River and Caballero Creek in Tarzana. It will be the first self-sustaining park in Los Angeles- meaning water will be captured on and off-site and using solar, the water will be cleaned to irrigate the park.
The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), Department of Recreation and Parks, Bureau of Sanitation, General Services Department, and Los Angeles County have joined forces for Caballero Creek Park. Blumenfield helped bring in seven different funding sources and cut through significant red tape over the past few years to get shovels in the ground. He also partnered with Reseda High School so this new space will serve as an outdoor classroom. The design utilizes innovative methods that lead to watershed protection, including a bioswale and a wetland component for storm water treatment. The new wetlands will create habitat, clean water and help connect Angelenos to California’s struggling riverine ecology. The site plan also includes a variety of offerings for the community including an outdoor fitness center, play and recreation, access to the LA River bike paths, and more.
This park will mark the latest new City park that Blumenfield has helped create following the Costanso Fire Station Park and the LA River and Aliso Creek Confluence Park. He also led the effort to create the new facilities at the Woodland Hills Rec Center, as well as major renovations at various parks throughout his community.
WHAT: Blumenfield will be joined by city leaders and residents for a ground breaking of a new park in the West Valley.
WHO: Councilmember Bob Blumenfield
Joe Edmiston, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
Members of the Board of Public Works
Officials from Tarzana Neighborhood Council and community members
WHEN: Thursday, August 1 at 9am
Councilmember Blumenfield Introduces New Environmental Efforts to Ensure Clean Drinking Water and Reduce Health Risks from Artificial Turf |
Recently the Council approved Councilmember Blumenfield’s motion that instructs the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to test for the presence of Polyfluoroalkyl / Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and other similar contaminants and provide information on how to ensure safe potable drinking water for the City. This was prompted by recent revelations that DWP, for the first time ever, detected these contaminants in two water sources in the San Fernando Valley (the Pollock Well Field and at the Tujunga Well Field). While the levels were not deemed dangerous, it raised enough concern for Blumenfield to put together the motion.
Separately, Blumenfield introduced a motion to help Los Angeles transition away from artificial turf/synthetic grass and encourage the transition to California drought-friendly landscaping. Made from petroleum products, artificial turf/synthetic grass has been found to cause serious environmental issues as it degrades, can magnify the ‘heat island effect,’ and can burn in a wildfire. In the past it had been heralded as a good water-saving landscape alternative, but the conventional wisdom has been rapidly changing as the product has been studied, peer-reviewed and tested. Ultimately, a ban on future non-functional / decorative turf may be necessary. Artificial turf is now known to contain harmful substances such PFAS, and other “forever chemicals”. In April 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration, through the Environmental Protection Agency, categorized PFAS and other “forever chemicals” as hazardous substances dangerous to human health. The EPA has concluded that exposure to PFAS may lead to reproductive effects, developmental delays, and risks of some cancers. Exposure can occur through inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, and mucous membrane exposure, including microplastic dust kicked up on artificial turf fields.
On the effort regarding artificial turf, Charming Evelyn, Chair of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter’s Water Committee, said, “Sierra Club stands in strong support of this motion from City Councilmember Blumenfield. This is a crucial step for preventing widespread contamination and protecting public health.”
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Unveiling Restored Art Panels on Snoopy Bridge
Councilmember Blumenfield was joined by community members and students from Tarzana Elementary School to formally unveil the restored art panels on the one-of-a-kind Snoopy Bridge. Since the 1970s, the Snoopy (also called “Peanuts”) Bridge over Wilbur Avenue near Tarzana Elementary School has been a beloved community landmark. After the Snoopy art panels were defaced with graffiti, Blumenfield and his team worked with community members, Charles M Schulz Creative Associates, and Hattas Studios to refurbish this Valley treasure. It was a complicated task, but all parties worked together to make it happen.
Blumenfield secured $20K in funding and contracted with Hattas Studios to bring the murals back to their original condition. The work also included an application of an anti-graffiti coating both to deter future vandalism and, if it occurs, make it easier to remove. Blumenfield is thrilled that the art panels have been restored for future generations to enjoy and is grateful to the community members who brought this to his attention and have been a driving force behind this project, especially Stephanie Brody, Kirk Donovan, and Patty Jo Wolfson.
Tarzana Neighborhood Council Board members Iris Polansky and Susan Rogan were also in attenance to help celebrate.