Mt. Washington · Council report

Arroyo Seco board approves food, bicycle repair and neighborhood party grants

Draft minutes from August 24 record community grants, a Kite Hill follow-up letter and unresolved concerns about a development project.

Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council · Governing Board · Monday, August 24, 2026

The short version

1.The board approved Neighborhood Purposes Grants for food distribution, bicycle repair support and a Day of the Dead party. The draft lists both requested and recommended amounts for two grants without clearly restating the final awards.
2.A $2,000 grant for NELA Food Distribution passed unanimously after discussion restored the amount from a $1,700 recommendation.
3.The board approved a follow-up letter about Kite Hill to Councilmember Hernandez and appointed Michael (Tai) Kim to the open at-large seat.
4.Board member Constance Villalvazo urged a halt to an unnamed development project, citing community input, parking and alleged construction hazards. No motion was made.
5.The Mount Washington Committee plans a September meet-and-greet; the next full board meeting is September 28.

What they decided

Approve prior meeting minutes

Approved

7 yes, 2 abstentions

Appoint Michael (Tai) Kim to the open at-large board seat

Approved

Unanimous; count not recorded

Pay The Mailroom $500 for July 2026 website service and maintenance

Approved

12 yes, 0 no; 2 absent

Approve July 2026 Monthly Expenditure Report (MER)

Approved

12 yes, 0 no; 2 absent

Neighborhood Purposes Grant (NPG) for Studio 50's Day of the Dead Neighborhood Party

Approved; draft lists $2,500 requested and $2,000 recommended without clearly restating the final amount

11 yes, 1 abstention; 2 absent

$2,000 Neighborhood Purposes Grant for NELA Food Distribution

Approved

12 yes, 0 no; 2 absent

Neighborhood Purposes Grant for Bicitecta bicycle repair parts, training and community support

Approved; draft lists $3,000 requested and $1,500 recommended without clearly restating the final amount

10 yes, 2 no; 2 absent

Select a site for the 2027 neighborhood council election

Pending; Ramona cannot be used

Send a follow-up letter about Kite Hill to Councilmember Hernandez

Approved

12 yes, 1 abstention; 2 absent, as recorded in the draft

July website service and maintenance by The Mailroom$500 approved

Studio 50 Day of the Dead Neighborhood Party grant$2,500 requested; $2,000 recommended; final amount unclear in draft

NELA Food Distribution grant$2,000 approved

Bicitecta bicycle repair parts, training and community support grant$3,000 requested; $1,500 recommended; final amount unclear in draft

Council storage facility fee increase discussed during financial reportRising to $317 per month

General public comment included a report that a food storage facility is planned for Lincoln Heights.

Next board meeting: September 28, 2026.
Mount Washington Committee: September meet-and-greet; no date listed.
Montecito Heights and Sycamore Grove Local Issues meeting: August 25.
Monterey Hills event: October 10; approvals and coordination with Council District 14 are underway, and a photographer is needed.
Patrick Lewis and Willard Chan will look into alternatives to the council's increasingly costly storage facility.
President Lynda Valencia plans to attend the next LA32 Neighborhood Council meeting following the development discussion.
A site still needs to be selected for the 2027 neighborhood council election.

Summary written by AI from the council's posted document. Check the original for official wording.