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Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council is certified by the City of Los Angeles to enable stakeholders to participate in improving Porter Ranch and communicating with City Hall.
YMCA Proposes Expanded Parking in the North Valley
Mel Mitchell, PRNC President

A new Limekiln Canyon Trailhead and expanded YMCA parking are in the works at Porter Ranch. Jane Stanton, North Valley YMCA Executive Director, Dave Hasson, YMCA Board Member and Chris Murray, Rosenheim & Associates Project Consultant presented the plan at the July Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council board meeting.


The YMCA is seeking support from the PRNC and a variance from the City for the addition of 78 parking spaces, which would be created by leveling the berm to the east of the facility. The lot would follow City guidelines to include one tree for every four parking spaces.

They are also responding to community requests to improve safe access to Limekiln Canyon. They propose to grade a foot trail from Corbin near the south end of the YMCA parking lot down to the canyon. “We think this project is a great addition for Porter Ranch, enabling people to really enjoy Limekiln Canyon.” said Jane Stanton.

Having heard the presentation in July, the PRNC plans to discuss and take a position at the August 12, 2008 meeting.

PRNC Officers Elected
Election results were certified by the City Clerk in early July which allowed the board to elect new officers at the July 8, 2008 meeting. The results are:

President: Mel Mitchell
Vice President: Paula Cracium
Secretary: Ali Dabirian
Treasurer: Chris Cooper

Architectural Design Unveiled for Porter Ranch School
Becky Leveque, Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council Boardmember

R. L. Binder unveiled her design for the Porter Ranch K-8 school at LAUSD’s community meeting on July 9, 2008, explaining that their intent is to create a “large sculptural piece out of the entire campus.” The design was made expressly for Porter Ranch to complement the residential community. It is not intended to look like a house or a shopping center, but more like a museum. Binder likened it to the Whitney Museum in New York or similar to the style of renowned Mexican architect, Luis Barragán.

Architectural plan as of July 2008: View from Mason looking northeast. School entrance and kindergarten rooms on the right. Elementary rooms on the left. Colors have not yet been selected, but will coordinate with the surrounding housing colors.

The school is to be located on the Southeast corner of Mason and Sesnon to serve 1,047 students kindergarten through 8 grade. It is planned for a fall 2012 opening.

The entrance to the school, from the parking lot is identified by a bell tower like structure, acting as an architectural marquee, four feet thick with honeycomb spaces at the top, reminiscent of a Spanish mission.

They have created a system of walls with slender punches for visual interest. Picking up on the geometry are overhangs to protect from sun exposure. The design is intended to provide protection from the wind as much as possible in Porter Ranch.

The roof is planned to be relatively flat with an asymmetrical parapet as a short wall to mask the equipment and pipe vents housed there.

The two story elements will be steel frame with stucco. The gym, food service and multipurpose room will be concrete block with stucco.

Don Lombardo, President of Renaissance, and Pat Pope, President of Sorrento, both expressed concern about the large, plain walls of the multipurpose room and gym facing north on Sesnon. Sue Hammarlund, PRNC member commented that the walls say, “Paint me,” and suggested climbing vines to protect from graffiti and add visual interest. The architect said they will consider these comments and evaluate design options.

Al Grazioli, LAUSD Valley Region Development Manager, noted that the plan calls for an enlarged gym with bleachers for 250 people and the multipurpose room will have a room divider for community meetings and a room to store 300 chairs. These enhancements are being paid for by Porter Ranch Development Company.

View from playground looking west towards elementary school. Covered arcades connect the buildings.

The next step in the process is to bring the Environmental Impact Report for public comment in late September.
More about the school.

Sidewalk Repair Comes to Porter Ranch
Ron Nagai, Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council Boardmember

Majestic tree lined streets in Porter Ranch are unfortunately plagued with cracked, broken and dangerous sidewalks. To address this issue, Mr. Ming Gong, Los Angeles Program Manager for the 50/50 Sidewalk Reconstruction Project was the guest speaker at an informative and emotional Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council meeting on July 8, 2008.

He explained that the City has 11,000 miles of sidewalk, 4,000 miles of which needs repair. No permanent repairs were completed from 1976 to 2000. Last year 59 miles were repaired. At that rate it would take the City 83 years to repair sidewalks currently damaged.

The 50/50 program was created to accelerated sidewalk repair. Participating residents pay 50% of the reconstruction cost and the City of Los Angeles contributes the matching funds. The reconstruction cost of $18/square foot includes labor, materials and necessary tree work. Those interested in the program should contact Mr. Gong’s office at 818 374-6857. The first step is to schedule an on site meeting with an estimator. Upon payment of the resident’s 50% share ($9/square foot), the project will be scheduled for completion within 3-6 months. The participating residents are asked to sign an agreement which details the scope of work and their share of the reconstruction cost.

Some benefits of the program include: no permit fees, no inspection fees, workmanship guaranteed for five years and of course safe sidewalks. Signing up for the program moves you up the priority list for sidewalk repair.

This program currently handles about 450 requests a year. They are hoping to add two new crews which would increase capacity to 900 requests per year. The program only applies to residential requests.

Some stakeholders expressed concern at the meeting that the City has created a two tier system for those who can pay and those who can’t, even though all are subject to being sued by people tripping on damaged sidewalks. One resident pointed out that the City’s pine tree in front of her house has caused three temporary repairs, which actually make the sidewalk more dangerous. Shouldn’t the City address the root cause: the tree? Requests were also made to handle damaged sidewalks on Rinaldi and broken crape myrtle trees on Sesnon.

Coyote Alert: Harden the Target
By Becky Leveque
Under cover of twilight two coyotes jumped over our backyard fence violently attacking and killing our dog, Smokey on January 15, 2008. My husband, Dave, stood less than 50 yards away from Smokey and heard the violent attack as it was occurring. He ran to the hill and saw the two coyotes running on the cement drain below our home. Smokey climbed up the hill and made her way back into the house. Dave wrapped her in a towel and rushed her to the vet, where she immediately underwent three hours of surgery. Smokey died of her injuries two hours later. It was heartbreaking.

As we investigated the coyote problem we found many neighbors with small, unprotected dogs in their back yards. We need to harden our target for coyotes just like Neighborhood Watch hardened the target for crime. One house at a time. Prevention is the key.

Coyotes are not protected animals. However, Animal Services has a policy of not killing coyotes, because that encourages their growth, with fewer coyotes contending for the same food supply. Officer Pro from the West Valley Animal Shelter told me, “Coyotes have a 76 mile radius, they are very territorial, smart, cunning, quick and hungry.” They can easily jump over a six foot fence. The type of coyotes we have are called “Urban Coyotes”. They adapt very easily.

Coyote Recommendations:
The Southern California Veterinary Medical Association recommends bringing pets inside at night, as most attacks occur at night. Bring pet food inside at night too, remove fallen fruit from trees, and store trash in containers with tight lids. If you see a coyote stalking your pet, they recommend you yell and throw rocks at the coyote and take your pet inside.

The LA County Department of Animal Care and Control notes that backyard brush provides habitat for coyote prey and should be cleared; coyotes would rather dig under a fence than jump over it, so fences should have an “apron” buried at least four to six inches, extending out 20 inches and securely attached to the fence.

Report coyote sightings to the West Valley Animal Care & Control Center at 888-452-7381. For a map of coyote activity, visit www.coyotebytes.org.


Our Mission
To provide an inclusive open forum for public discussion of issues and to advise the City of Los Angeles on issues concerning City governance, the needs of this neighborhood council, the delivery of City services, and on matters of citywide nature.

To initiate, execute and support projects for the physical, social and cultural improvement of the Porter Ranch Neighborhood.

To facilitate communication between the City of Los Angeles and Community Stakeholders on issues of concern to the community and / or the Stakeholders.

Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council Boundaries-Map

• The Southern boundary is the 118 Freeway
• The Eastern boundary is Aliso Canyon
• The Northern boundary is the City line
• The Western boundary is on the East side of Brown's Canyon road. Starting at the City Line on the North end, down to the gate at the South end of Brown's Canyon and then proceeding in a straight line South to the 118 Freeway