Recently in Encino Neighborhood Council Category

A $4.5 million project to rebuild a wild bird habitat is underway at Balboa Park's Bull Creek, according to the Encino Neighborhood Council's Web site.

The project includes reviving 28 acres within the Sepulveda Dam Flood Control basin to encourage 200 species of wild birds, including the American goldfinch, the ash-throated flycatcher and the Bullock's oeriole, to nest and thrive within the area.

Plans include building a C-shaped side channel to allow reclaimed water from Lake Balboa to flow around an island, as well as pedestrian bridges over key parts of the channel.

A private contractor hired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is overseeing the project, has installed a fence around the site, deterring park-goers from using a portion of the pedestrian walkways.

The fence is expected to stay up for two to six months.

The Bull Creek Channel in the Sepulveda Basin is a federally-owned flood control region. The government leases about three quarters of the 2,097-acre site to the city of Los Angeles for a wildlife preserve, parks, tennis courts and golf courses.

For more information, visit www.encinocouncil.org.

The Encino Neighborhood Council held its election on June 28 and nine people were elected to seats on the board.

Sherman Gamson is the apartment/condo representative with 205 votes.

Allan Sarver and Louis Krokover are business representatives with 45 and 36 votes, respectively.

Larry Shade is the volunteer/service representative with 164 votes.

Nareg Kitsinian is the planning and land-use representative with 357 votes.

Arshavir "Arch" Kitsinian is the religious organization/institution representative with 434 votes.

Rosemarie S. White is the park advocate/environment representative with 122 votes.

Harout Keosian is the education representative with 355 votes.

Tonya Barseghian is the public safety representative wiith 169 votes.

Six candidates are running for open seats on the Encino Neighborhood Council.

They are, Diane Rosen, running for planning and land-use representative, Jean Strauber, running for education representative, Louis Krokover, running for business representative, Sherman Gamson, running for apartment/condo representative, Jeff Katofsky, running for businesss representative, and Sharon Brewer, running for park advocate/environmental representative.

The write-in candidate filing deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 25.

The election will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at the Encino Community Center, 4935 Balboa Ave., Encino.

For more information, call the L.A. City Clerk's office at 213-978-0001.

To download a candidate filing packet, visit www.encinocouncil.org.

In its January 2008 newsletter, the Encino Neighborhood Council gives the following building updates:

* - At 5501 Newscastle is another "monster" 120-unit apartment building coming to Encino. This project will add hundreds of new residents to our community, jamming streets, city services, police and fire facilities, markets and the like.

This project is being buiding under a new state law, SB 1818, which permits a 35-percent density bonus because it includes nine below-market-rate (low-income) apartments. Also, the building height will be over 59 feet. The density bonus allows an extra 30 apartments and a 20 percent reduced yard setback.

* - Valley Beth Shalom is planning a major expansion. The first phase will include a renovation of the sanctuary, a new parking garage and a two-story nursery school. The second phase will include a new day school building, expansion of the offices, a new social hall building and a new day school administration building.