Calling all Central San Pedro stakeholders! We are excited to announce that the Neighborhood Council elections are coming up in 2021 for the 2021-2023 term. The voting day for the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council is Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Here, you can find all you need to know about how to vote for or how to run as a candidate in our neighborhood.  If you have any questions at all, feel free to reach out to info@centralsanpedro.org. 

CANDIDATE FILING NOW CLOSED
 (The Deadline was March 30, 2021, 5:00PM)

How do I vote in these elections?

Voting this upcoming term will be by mail. Voters can apply to receive a ballot by completing a Vote-By-Mail application through the City Clerk’s 2021 Neighborhood Council Elections Vote-By-Mail Portal, completing and submitting a paper application, or sending an email or photo of application. 

Please Note: The Vote-By-Mail portal will
not be open until April 16, 2021.

After the application is received, the Clerk’s office will verify stakeholder eligibility and mail the appropriate ballot. Paper applications can be received at any time once made available. All applications are due to the Clerk’s office by June 8, 2021.

For more information, you can check out some Vote-By-Mail FAQs here.

Important Dates:

 

 

What are Neighborhood Councils?

Neighborhood Councils are the closest form of government to the people. LA’s 99 Neighborhood Councils together form the grassroots level of the Los Angeles City government. They are advisory bodies, who advocate for their communities with City Hall on important issues like development, homelessness, sustainability, and emergency preparedness. 

Neighborhood Council board members are City officials who are elected by the members of their local communities, but they donate their time as volunteers. There are currently 99 Neighborhood Councils in Los Angeles, each serving about 40,000 people. All in all, Neighborhood Councils are a grassroots way to increase civic engagement, and to make the government more responsive to local needs. 

Committees serve as the vehicle to really “do the work” for the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council  – our current committees are Anti-Corruption and Transparency, Arts & First Thursdays, Budget & Finance,  Bylaws, Planning and Land Use, Outreach, Public Safety, Recreation/Parks/Schools, Port, and Homelessness.  

 

What Does it mean to be on the Neighborhood Council?

Each Council is unique. Though every Neighborhood Council is held to the local, state, and federal standards that other City officials and agencies must observe, each Council has its own board structure, with seats representing the particular type of stakeholders which that Council serves.

Here’s a quick rundown of the commitment you can expect: 

Term: 2 years

Meetings: 1 mandatory monthly board meeting, suggested 1-3 committee meetings every 4-8 weeks, attendance at various liaison and alliance meetings should you choose to participate

Weekly Commitment: 5-15 hours (depending on number of committees joined)

This video is a great jumping off point for anyone who wants to learn more about what Neighborhood Councils are and how they operate!  

Who can run?

Another unique feature of LA’s Neighborhood Council system is its broad, inclusive definition of stakeholdership. 

Unlike other government officials, who are elected by residential stakeholders of the area they serve, Neighborhood Councils are open to participation by anyone who is part of the fabric of daily life in a community. This includes those who live, work, or own property or a business there.

Also included are “community interest stakeholders,” who have some type of ongoing, substantial involvement within a Council’s boundaries, such as students of a local school, or the congregation of a local church. Board members – and candidates, and voters – need not be US citizens or legal US residents to qualify. Participation is also open to the formerly incarcerated.

For a more detailed definition of STAKEHOLDER, follow this link to our bylaws and direct your attention to Article IV.

Watch or listen to a recent candidate info session here. You’ll be able to toggle between the Chat transcript and an audio transcript at the top right of the screen.  Part 1 introduces Neighborhood Councils and explains who can run or vote in NC elections; Part 2 takes you step-by-step through City Clerk’s online candidate application process; and Part 3 covers low-cost / no-cost tips for running a successful campaign.

What if I feel like I’m underqualified?

As a stakeholder in the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council, your opinion matters. Current and past board members come from all walks of life, the only thing they all share in common is a passion for their community. If you are on the fence about running, feel free to reach out to info@centralsanpedro.org and we can connect you to a board member to talk about their experiences on the board. Additionally, you can always attend a monthly board meeting or committee meeting to get a better idea of how we operate.  You are welcome here!

How can I sign up to run?  

From February 13, 2021 through March 30, 2021, Central San Pedro stakeholders can apply to be a candidate through a portal on the city website. Follow this Official Candidate Filing link to start filling out your application. The process for getting on the ballot is fairly simple, but let us know if you have any questions!

What are the available positions?

The Central San Pedro NC Board is composed of 17 At-Large Board Members.  Board Members should be people that are passionate about and demonstrate an existing involvement in their communities. If you are elected as a Board Member, you will have the autonomy to join committees for community topics that you are passionate about – simply put, the focus and intensity of the role depends on the stakeholder who occupies it. 

PLEASE NOTE: All Directors will have the opportunity to run for an officer position (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Communications & Outreach Officer) at the first official board meeting following the election. The officers serve 1 year terms and are able to run for reelection annually.

At-Large Stakeholder Board Members (17)
Stakeholders who are 18 years or older and live, work, own real property, or declare a stake in the neighborhood as a community interest stakeholder.