The proposed new maps for the Los Angeles City Council’s 15 districts were released today, January 25th, and they place the Reservoir complex in one district, instead of being split in two, as it is now:

http://graphics.latimes.com/la-council-redistricting/

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-city-redistricting-20120126,0,7773637.story

The proposed map places the Reservoir wholly within the Fourth District, a seat now held by Tom LaBonge.  Current district boundaries place the southeast end of the Reservoir in Councilman Eric Garcetti’s 13th District and the northwest end in the Fourth.

The City must redraw its lines every 10 years to reflect population and demographic changes.  The redistricting process is overseen by a Redistricting Commission, which then presents its maps to the Council, which must adopt a plan by March 1.  The new lines will take effect this year, and will impact elections in 2013 (when Garcetti is termed out) and 2015 (when LaBonge is termed out). 

The Commission will now take the draft proposed maps out to a series of community meetings and public hearings over the next month.  It is possible that the maps will change, but probably not by much.  The new maps must reflect the fact that the San Fernando Valley grew over the past decade, while many areas of the central city, including Silver Lake, stayed the same or even lost some population.   They also must comply with the Federal Voting Rights Act.

A State Commission recently redrew State Legislative and Congressional lines—the Reservoir will soon be in US Rep. Adam Schiff’s district, Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s district and State Senator Kevin de Leon’s district.  Schiff and de Leon will be representing the Reservoir for the first time, while Gatto is the current Assemblymember.

Should sheep be used to keep the grass and weed the Silver Lake Meadow?  The Neighborhood Council considers it:

http://echopark.patch.com/articles/should-sheep-groom-silver-lake-reservoir-path

Craig Collins, a resident of Silver Lake for almost thirty years, was elected president of the SLRC at its November board meeting last week.  He takes over leadership of the Conservancy from outgoing president Noah Stein.

Craig was active in conservation efforts in the Pacific Northwest prior to moving to Los Angeles, where he spearheaded efforts to create a National Scenic Area in the Columbia Gorge.  He also worked to develop solar and conservation energy policies for the Western states.

Currently he creates comprehensive visual and written strategic communications for a variety of non-profit, conservation and community organizations.

Also elected to continue serving in their posts as incumbents were Cherie Miller, vice-president; Herb Gold, treasurer; and Leslie Edmonds, secretary.

The City Maven, a blog that covers Los Angeles City Hall, recently posted a story about the Headworks by Travel Town, which will feature underground reservoirs that will replace Silver Lake and Ivanhoe in a couple of years.  The story tied the project to possible DWP rate hikes:

http://www.thecitymaven.com/2011/11/09/dwp-reservoir-project-linked-to-proposed-water-rate-increases/

A Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Committee will hear a proposal by Dion Neutra, son of famed architect Richard Neutra, to move the new signalized pedestrian crosswalk connecting the east side of Silverlake Blvd. with the new Meadow.  His proposal is to move it to the intersection of Earl and Silverlake to create a crosswalk and traffic signal there because he believes that the current location blocks views of the famous modernist VDL House that his father designed and built in the mid-20th Century.

Residents on Earl Street are opposed to moving the signal because they say that it will turn Earl into a heavily trafficked connector between Silverlake and Glendale Boulevards in the same way that Duane Street is now.  They say less drastic measures can be taken to protect views of the architecturally significant home.  Here are the meeting details if you want to weigh in:

MONDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 7th @ 7:00 pm
Citibank (2450 Glendale Ave — Community Room)
Silver Lake Neighborhood Council (SLNC)
Transportation & Public Works Committee