Picus Urges Inquiry in Warner Center Vote

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Joy Picus on Tuesday urged the city attorney’s office to determine whether planning officials violated the state’s open-meeting law by acting on a matter concerning the planning blueprint for Warner Center, allegedly without adequate public notification.

In her motion before the City Council, Picus also asked that the city’s lawyers make recommendations to “guarantee full public participation” in the Planning Commission’s deliberations. Her motion will be voted on Tuesday by the full council.

After homeowners complained about a possible Brown Act violation, planning officials agreed Monday to suspend their decision and hold a hearing March 12 to discuss the matter again.

The Brown Act requires that government agencies make their decisions in public and that the public be amply notified of the matters the agencies will discuss.

The controversial commission action directed planners to expand their environmental review of the Warner Center Specific Plan to include a new development scenario. A top planning official conceded Monday that the commission’s handling of the item had created “an appearance problem.”