Community Impact Statements

There are four main types of Council Actions, i.e., Administrative, Funding, Policy, and Community Impact Statement (CIS).

These actions are the actual decisions made by the Mar Vista Community Council Board of Directors at any of its public meetings by a majority vote.

Community Impact Statements (CIS) are the main function of any Neighborhood Council.

Every CIS is connected to a Los Angeles City Council File Number or a reference number tied to an action by the City Council, its committees, or any City board or commission. It is Mar Vista's communication to the City as how the community wishes their representatives to vote on a matter that is before them. There are five types of actions our board may choose: For, For If Amended, Against, Against Unless Amended, and a Neutral Position.

What is a Community Impact Statement (CIS)?(1)

A Community Impact Statement is an official statement or position adopted by a Neighborhood Council on issues pending before the City’s decision makers. The Community Impact Statement process was created specifically for Neighborhood Councils so they can publicly express their support, opposition, or suggestions about any matter pending before the City Council, its committees, or City commissions. A Community Impact Statement (CIS) is an official statement used to express the position of a Neighborhood Council (NC) as a whole, and is not to be used to express personal opinions.

Submitting a CIS expresses a serious and committed position on an issue by a Neighborhood Council, and demonstrates community interest and support of the issue. This process allows you to communicate collectively as a Neighborhood Council and as a community, but it does not preclude stakeholders and board members from also expressing their opinions as individuals. Letters submitted to the City Clerk identifying an opinion on a specific Council File will also be included in the file, and can help strengthen your position.

What are the advantages of filing a CIS?(2)

When the MVCC files a CIS, we "earn a seat at the table" at City meetings where that issue appears on the agenda. This means a MVCC representative will be given 5 minutes to speak about the Community's stance on the matter, as opposed to the 1-2 minutes usually given speakers during the Public Comment section on the item.

The Los Angeles City Council File Managment System is open to the public.

2018 Community Impact Statements