Neighborhood Panel Bylaws Leave City, Residents at Odds

Los Angeles officials told a group of Granada Hills residents on Friday to open voting in elections for a proposed neighborhood council to people who work in the area, as well as residents, even if it means including employees of a controversial landfill.

The dispute caused city officials to recommend a postponement on certification of the Granada Hills Neighborhood Council, which had been scheduled for Tuesday. Officials said they will not certify the council unless the bylaws are changed.

Greg Nelson, administrator of the city Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, said the City Charter is clear on the matter.

“The City Charter very clearly says that stakeholders include anyone who lives, works or owns property in the area,” he said.

Mary Edwards, a council organizer and longtime foe of the controversial Sunshine Canyon Landfill, said she disagrees.

“We feel it would undermine our neighborhood council,” she said. “This is supposed to provide parity for the neighborhoods. Business does not need more representation at City Hall.”

Leaders of the North Valley Coalition, who for years have fought an expansion of the landfill, are helping organize the 19-member neighborhood council, which would advise city leaders on local issues.

The organizers have proposed that each business receive one vote in council elections, but that employees of firms not get individual votes.

Edwards fears changing the bylaws might allow Browning Ferris Industries, which operates the dump, to bus in employees for the election in a bid to stack the neighborhood council with pro-landfill members.

A BFI spokesman said the firm would like to participate in the neighborhood council, but has no plans to try to take control.

“That is paranoia at best,” said Arnie Berghoff, a spokesman for the firm.

Berghoff said the Los Angeles City Council in 1999 voted to give BFI permission to expand the Sunshine Canyon Landfill into Granada Hills.