Homeowner Named to Vacant Neighborhood Council Spot

Studio City Neighborhood Council President named Denise Welvang to the vacant position of the Neighborhood Council on Wednesday night, bringing the number of the council to the full 15 voting members for the first time since the beginning of the year. 

Welvang has owned a house for about a decade on the west side of Studio City near Coldwater Canyon Boulevard, which marks an area represented by Los Angeles City Councilman .

“It’s a little part of Studio City that sometimes gets forgotten and isn’t always represented,” Welvang said after her appointment. “I really feel like if you care about your community you need to get involved.”

, who sits on a renter’s position of the council, is the only other member who lives in Koretz’s district. Most of Studio City is represented by Councilman , and part of the east side is covered by .

In picking her, Walker said, “I had a lot of great candidates, it was a large choice.” (Walker said the names and number of candidates who applied to the position are not public.) The president of the council makes the sole decision for the replacement, with approval of the council.

The voluntary neighborhood council is a powerful advisory board that offers suggestions and input to the city council and city committees in decisions involving building, traffic, businesses, land use, environment and many other aspects of the community. Each of the councils is given $45,000 a year to distribute and use within their communities. Council members are elected by stakeholders for periods of two years representing different areas of the community, such as condo owners, apartment renters, business owners, business property owners and fulltime employees. One youth member does not vote.

, who represented the renters, was voted off the council last year, and then got re-elected to the position, and then resigned late last year because he moved out of the area. Then, , who was in a homeowner position, sold his house, but was moved to the vacant renter’s spot. Welvang then filled the spot left vacant by Taylor.

“I’ve been in the area most of my life, my family lived here when I was younger,” Welvang said. “I went to school, and then lived in Toluca Lake for a while and now live in Studio City again.