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Sylmar Alum Wins Big in Microsoft Contest June 2011
Sylmar Redevelopment Project June 2011
SNC Position on Lopez Canyon Upheld May 2011
Mining, Charter School Town Hall May 2011
Sylmar BID Groundbreaking May 2011

Against Proposed Charter December 2010
Town Hal on Debris Basin December 2010
Mining November 2010
Solar Array in Granada Hills November 2010
SNC Sponsors Halloween Event November 2010
Brush Clearance August 2010
Reserve Animal Control June 2010
New Board Members Installed April 2010

News Archive 2009 and Prior

Sylmar Alum Wins Big in Microsoft Contest

Just before the 2011 fall semester began for UCSB student Alberto Perez (Sylmar High School alum) read the SNP newsletter and saw that Microsoft was having a "Win Big" contest. He immediately decided that he would enter Sylmar High School in Microsoft Store's contest. The contest required participants to submit a response to the prompt of how the school/organization that was being nominated could benefit from the grand prize of $50,000 worth of Microsoft software/products.

As a past SNP and Voice member at Sylmar High School, he wrote about the collaborative efforts between the Sylmar Neighborhood Partnership and College Summit, which have helped in the contribution of Sylmar High School's recent success.

Then, last week he received an e-mail informing him that his proposal and Sylmar High had been selected as a semi-finalist in the contest, and the next step was to get friends and family to vote. So then Alberto, like many others who have been using social media websites to raise awareness around issues of interest, took this to Facebook and posted the link on his profile and on groups he was connected to, in an effort to win the contest.

Finally, on Tuesday (Oct. 12th), he received a call with the good news, they let him know that Sylmar had won the $10,000 first prize for winning the L.A. region.

Congratulations to Alberto and Sylmar High School for winning a great prize and being able to continuously provide positive experiences here at Sylmar HS for our students.

Check out Alberto's essay here!
News from the Sylmar Neighborhood Partnership

Sylmar Redevelopment Project

On the day of our June 23, 2011 meeting, we received a notification by the CRA/LA for a project within our Community. This project was previously under a different lead agency applying for zone change, variance etc., and presented by Mr. Kurken Alyanakian. At that time the board voted to appose the project due to inconsistencies with the plan, poor outreach to the surrounding community and less than cooperative manner to incorporate and address community concerns.

This project is now under CRA/LA as the lead agency. As it stands our position will be of non-support until we receive additional "information of significant changed" to the project as stated by the City Attorney.

The project consists of a mixed-use of commercial space combined with 150 units of Senior Citizen housing. It is located at 12415 – 12421 San Fernando Road and 14938 Astoria Street, Sylmar, CA 91342, consists of two motel buildings of six units each, a Laundromat and a single-family residence. Both motels are completely vacant and boarded up. The Laundromat is vacant and boarded up. The single-family residence at 14938 Astoria Street is occupied by a family of five individuals. CRA Project Description.

SNC Position On Lopez Canyon Upheld by Superior Court

The Superior Court of the State of California has agreed with our position that Lopez Canyon requires an Environmental Impact Report and more oversight. Read the Court's Findings on Lopez Canyon from May 2011.

At the May 23, 2010 Land Use meeting the committee discussed how Lopez Canyon had been a landfill and had been designated for open space. However, it has become a site for a trucking school. A City hearing was held April 15, 2010. A new appeal was filed May 5, 2010. The committee recommended that the SNC board take a position against the development.

At the June 24, 2010 SNC board meeting the board passed a motion to support an appeal by the Community Alliance for Open Space (CAFOS) of an approved industrial use of the Lopez Canyon Landfill for a Truck Driving Academy.

At that meeting discussion about Lopez Canyon showed maps and described the project, saying that Lopez Canyon has 660 acres, including “440 acres of” buffer zone. Two-thirds is planned to start being opened up as recreational open space. The Truck Driving Academy takes up a miniscule amount of space. The one-and-a-half acres where the Academy would be can’t be used for open space, It’s already being used for similar activities. The City is using the space to train heavy equipment operators.

In support of the appeal comments noted that the Academy violates the General Plan by changing open space zoning to industrial use. A number of other NCs support the appeal. SNC boardmember Mr. Krall believed that this is about not allowing the City to violate the Plan and set a precedent. SNC boardmember Mr. Bhakta added that Sylmar Stakeholders “have suffered” because of such actions and precedents.

The SNC is pleased to have played an important role in supporting our community for the betterment of Lopez Canyon.

SNC Tackles Mining, Charter School Town Hall, & Equestrian Improvements at May 2011 Meeting

The landowner of the mining project near Gavina Ave. by the Pacoima Dam is doing an Environmental Impact Report; the SNC is following it and will provide more information as it becomes available. The SNC will hold a Town Hall Meeting to address the proposal to turn Sylmar High School into a Charter School; date and location to be determined. $5,566 was allocated towards a project to remove and replace existing burnt, old and graffitied wooden horse rails between Glenoaks and Excelsior on Foothill Blvd. with new rails, hedges, shrubs and irrigation.

The SNC-sponsored Race for Youth raised more than $11,000 for Police youth programs. Volunteers are needed to study the feasibility of the SNC having a Fall Olive Festival. The Fire Department will cite homeowners who have not cleared brush from their property. Don Neal, current board member, was elected as V.P. of Communications.

Sylmar BID Ground Breaking

The Sylmar Business Improvement District (BID) Ground Breaking was held Thursday, May 12 at the median on San Fernando Road & Truman Street. The Ground Breaking was attended by SNC President Quyen Vo-Ramirez and Director Chris Shows. The SNC had a presentation about the BID at our March 2010 meeting and had passed a motion to support the BID at the September 25, 2008 meeting.

From left: Duran Villegas, CRA/LA Project Manager; Chris Shows, Sylmar Neighborhood Council member; John Meisner, CRA/LA Construction Supervisor; Sal Martinez, Martinez Landscape; Councilmember Richard Alarcon; Al Avila, President, Sylmar BID; Susan Levi, Sylmar BID Consultant; Quyen Vo-Ramirez, President, Sylmar Neighborhood Council.

The Sylmar BID includes a total of 43 parcels represented by 31 individual property owners fronting San Fernando Road. Nearly one mile long along San Fernando Road, from Hubbard Street to Polk Street. The commercial property owners within this district pay a self-imposed annual assessment of about $2,000 each to improve the economic vitality of the area as well as create an aesthetically pleasing environment for those that work, live and patron the corridor.

Council District 7, the CRA/LA and the BID have formed what is an excellent example of a public private partnership. The CRA/LA has allocated nearly $350,000 towards improving this much blighted area of San Fernando Road in this first phase. The landscaping of the medians will serve as a beautiful entryway to “The Vista at Sylmar” welcoming patrons to the area. The BID has recently planted 36 trees, installed decorative banners and will complement all of this with decorative benches and litter receptacles at the bus stops along San Fernando Road.

Phase I
Landscape 4 medians at Truman
Installed 36 street trees
Installed graphic pole banners
Bus Stop benches
Bus Stop litter baskets

Phase II
Install 5 additional medians on SF Road
Landscape railroad right-of-way
Install bike path rest area: shaded seating, water fountain, bike racks
More Photos

SNC Takes Stand In Support Of Community Against Proposed Charter School

The L.A. City Planning Commission had a Special Meeting on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at the Van Nuys City Hall Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, 14410 Sylvan Street, Van Nuys, CA 91401.

On July 22, 2010 the Sylmar Neighborhood Council voted to oppose the 27,000 square-foot proposed charter school at 13245 W. Hubbard Street. After hearing from our community along with the support of our City Council Member Richard Alarcon and his Planning and Land Use Deputy Dan Rosales, we feel that the position of non-support of the charter school is warranted for the following reasons but not limited to:

1. Location: proposed location on Hubbard St. and Eldridge, wedged in between Hubbard Elementary School and Los Angeles Mission College is a poor location that has caused more community concerns than provides us with opportunities.

2. Parking: No parking for High School students on campus would only mean reduced parking for community residents. This will only compound the lack of parking for community residents in addition to the existing condition of LA Mission College students parking on neighboring streets and not in the provided parking structure.

3. Traffic: Existing pedestrian and vehicular traffic on Hubbard St. during the morning and evening hours is more then challenging to navigate through during the week. Adding a school on Hubbard St. would only increase traffic that may cause a chain reaction with other existing concerns. For example: trash collection day would cause a greater bottleneck with the added proposed charter school traffic.

SNC Hosts Town Hall Meeting December 8, 2010

SNC Directors Tour The Debris Basin

Second Town Hall: Long Term Plan for the Debris Basin
December 8, 2010 6:30pm
Olive View Medical Center Auditorium.
Flyer | Flyer in Spanish | Agenda

The SNC held a first Town Hall on the basin on September 30th to get answers to the questions listed below.  View the Minutes / Notes from the meeting. Join us for this important meeting.
Letter from the Department of Public Works: July 2010

What are the plans, short-term and long-term, for the MAY SPS (soil placement site) above the homes just East of Olive View Med Center and Wilson Canyon Park?

How much more soil will be moved here?
Is it done for now? When will it start again?
What about drainage and mudslides? Is there a danger?
What will our former canyons and natural hillsides become? What will it look like?
Will I lose my mountain view forever?
Will there be more houses built on the compacted soil?

When were these plans made? Are they on file somewhere?
How will this affect access to Wilson Canyon Park, since trucks are re-routed over our main access road?
How will this help or hurt plans for a Rim-of-the-Valey Trail system?
The water runoff funnels into our streets. Is there a plan to change that and go underground?
The water runoff damages my yard every year. Is do I call the City or the County of LA for help?

Come get the answer to these and other questions that affect your lives.

Mining in Sylmar

At the November 2010 meeting it was brought to our attention that mining is being conducted in Sylmar. Please see this Notice of Preparation about this project.

LADWP Moves Forward with City's Largest Solar Array

Board of Water and Power Commissioners Approves Initial Environmental Documents to Install Solar Photovoltaic Panels on City Reservoir

Project Will Generate 5 Megawatts of Clean, Renewable Energy

As part of its strategic initiative to expand local solar generation, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) advanced plans Tuesday, November 2, 2010 to build a 5-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic installation atop a covered reservoir in the Granada Hills area.

Called the Van Norman Bypass Reservoir Solar Project, the $15.3 million project will become the city’s largest solar array, involving construction of solar modules on a 575,000-square-foot rigid roof that covers a potable water reservoir. The project will help the City of Los Angeles meet its renewable energy goals as well as pending state renewable energy goals.

“This is an exciting step as we launch our initiative to expand development of local solar on city-owned property,” said Lee Kanon Alpert, president of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, which approved the initial environment documents required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) on Tuesday, November 2, 2010.

“This project will foster the city’s green economy and help create green jobs. It also demonstrates our strategy of developing renewable energy in a thoughtful and cost-effective way by leveraging existing assets, including one of our own reservoirs,” LADWP General Manager Austin Beutner said.

The Van Norman Solar Project will be constructed over a six-month period in late 2011. However, proceeding with the project is subject to funding allocation.

The reservoir, located off Interstate 5 in the Granada Hills section of the San Fernando Valley, contains about 80 million gallons of treated drinking water, about one-third of the city’s normal supply. It is covered by a corrugated aluminum roof supported by trusses and braces.

The environmental study approved by the Board found no significant environmental effects from the project.

SNC Sponsors Halloween Event 2010

The SNC supported the Sylmar Recreation Center’s annual Halloween Trick or Treat City with $500.

August 26, 2010 Board Meeting

Attending the Thursday, August 26 Board meeting were the LA City Fire Battalion Chief Ernst, Captain Kennington and additional firefighters of Fire Station 91. They spoke on fire safety, brush clearance and citation for those that do not comply.

Also, Captain Brian Scott of LA Mission area Police Station also came to speak on crime in the area, and the Lock It, Hide It and Keep It Safe Program.

Supporting Our Community

At our June 2010 meeting we voted to support the July 4th celebration at Hansen Dam with $500 to cover sound equipment.

We also decided on $750 to support training 10 new volunteer officers for the Reserve Animal Control to assist with rescue, abuse and lost animals, etc. And $50 for an SNC brick to promote the SNC and support the San Fernando Valley Historical Society at the Pioneer Cemetery. Order yours today!

New Board Members Installed

At our April 2010 meeting the newly elected board members were installed and executive officers elected. Our officers are: President - Quyen Vo-Ramirez, VP of Administration - Hiral Bhakta, VP of Communications-Tammy Flores, Treasurer-Randall Kelley, Public Relations Coordinator-Nick Krall.

We thanked our outgoing board members who served admirably: VP of Communications Rick Donnelly, Erlin Arellano, Fabian Garcia, Saul  Gonzales, Rudy Lopez, Liz Meher, Jan Sandstrom, and  Jim Schopper.

Erlin Arellano, Jan Sandstrom, Jim Schopper

Rick Donnelly