Del Rey Council Fails to Meet Quorum for Meeting

The Del Rey Neighborhood Council failed to meet its minimum quorum of eight board members Thursday evening and will have to reconvene at an undetermined date to vote on the funding of children's programs.

"We apologize for that," council President Eric DeSobe told the handful of audience members in attendance. "We're a volunteer organization and it appears to be one of those nights."

Several of the board members were officially excused from the meeting, but DeSobe said one of the unexcused members included Area A Director Neil Saund. Saund has been absent from a string of meetings and the board in February considered a motion to remove Saund from the board.

No action has been taken since to remove Saund, who has been on the board since 2009.

The board heard a report from Cecilia Castillo, a field deputy for Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, whose district includes Del Rey. Castillo said the $6.9 billion budget passed by the City Council on Wednesday included a 10 percent reduction in funding for neighborhood councils. It was not immediately known if money unspent by neighborhood councils this year would be allowed to roll over into the next fiscal year.

The city has been coping with a $336-million revenue shortfall and the city council's proposed budget also includes a redeployment of Los Angeles Fire Department services. Castillo said the modified coverage plans call for some stations to lose staffing for hook-and-ladder fire engines, but that none of the stations serving Del Rey would be impacted. Station 69 in the Pacific Palisades is the only station in Councilman Rosendahl's district that would be impacted, based on its number of calls.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has until Monday to approve or veto all or parts of the budget.

The council also heard a plea for $3,200 in funding to supply the Mar Vista Gardens' summer camp program, but was unable to vote on it due to the lack of quorum.

They also heard a request from resident Charlotte DeMeo for $400 to serve as the title sponsor for the second Del Rey Art Walk. The first Del Rey Art Walk occurred in December when artists opened their homes to display their works. The next art walk has been scheduled for June 25 and nine stops already have been listed. More information on the upcoming walk can be found on their Web site.

The council was unable to vote on the request, also due to the lack of quorum.

DeSobe polled the board members in attendance to see if a special meeting could be held Tuesday to make up for Thursday's lack of quorum. The next regular meeting of the council is scheduled for June 9.