NEIGHBORHOOD PANELS OPEN FIRST APPLICATIONS TAKEN FOR GRASS-ROOTS GROUPS.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Los Angeles' attempt to create a series of neighborhood councils to bring government to the people began Monday, nearly two years after voters approved the concept.

Residents from Wilmington and San Pedro were first to submit applications to create neighborhood councils when the doors opened at the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment at 8:30 a.m.

``We really were excited by it,'' said Greg Nelson, who took over the department as interim general manager last week.

``We hope that every part of the city applies and that we can truly have a participatory democracy where neighborhoods can decide what they need and want,'' Nelson said. ``People want to have a say in what government is doing.''

Spokeswoman Elizabeth Flynn said the department expects to be able to process only 20 of 200 expected applications during the first year, and that information was being requested from throughout the city. It's expected to take about 60 days to process applications.

In the San Fernando Valley, West Hills residents plan to meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Justice Street Elementary School to vote on a slate of candidates.

``Los Angeles has a new mayor and several new council members,'' said Gil Weinrich, a member of the West Hills group's formation committee. ``Now is an ideal time for residents of the city to invigorate the democratic process by providing a voice for neighborhoods.

``The key question will be if there can be effective community participation,'' Weinrich said. ``If they don't do that it will be adding an insult to injury on the commitment of service for the San Fernando Valley and the hoops we've been made to jump through.''

However, others are skeptical of the process.

``If this was the most important part of the new charter, then why did it take nearly two years to put into effect?'' said Richard Close of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association and chairman of Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment, or Valley VOTE, the group spearheading the study of Valley secession.

Neighborhood councils were one of the key selling points of the new charter and were pushed by former Mayor Richard Riordan and others as a way to try to head off the secession movement in the Valley and other areas.

But, Gerald Silver of Homeowners of Encino said he didn't believe the neighborhood councils will accomplish that and will find it difficult to replace existing groups.

``We already have a chance to be involved,'' Silver said. ``Just because you have these neighborhood councils doesn't mean anyone will listen to them.''

Silver also complained about how complicated the applications were. Nelson agreed with him on that point.

``The city was asking for information that wasn't needed,'' Nelson said. ``The forms are now six pages instead of 21 and just asking basic information to make sure the councils are open to everyone.''

The department also is planning a series of workshops around the city to help interested groups form neighborhood councils.

The first is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Los Angeles Valley College, 5800 Fulton St., Valley Glen.

Information is available at the city's Web site, www.lacity.org. On the list of city departments, click on Neighborhood Empowerment.

Mayor James Hahn, who has supported the councils, called earlier this year for legislation that would give the neighborhood councils a role in reviewing the performance of general managers and the city budget, and a way to play more than an advisory role on local issues.

``It's important, in a democracy, for citizens to feel connected to their government,'' Hahn said. ``We have dealt with the criticisms of the applications. We've initiated programs to give the councils more power. No one has tried to implement a neighborhood council concept on as grand a scale as this one is.''