PPCC Hosts First Virtual Meeting

Lisa Cahill Announces Departure from Councilmember Bonin’s Office

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Following a few months of board meeting hiatus, the Pacific Palisades Community Council returned virtually on Thursday, June 25.

The meeting, with roughly 30 people in attendance, ratified the Executive Committee’s authorization to hold Special Zoom Meetings on June 25 and 30 in order to properly distribute and vote on amendments to bylaws that would allow virtual meetings when circumstances—like the coronavirus pandemic—arise going forward.

The June 25 meeting served as the first distribution of the proposed bylaws amendments recommended by the Bylaws Committee, which were explained by Committee Chair and PPCC Treasurer Richard Cohen.

“Our regulators have given special dispensation to registered charities, and we are one of those, and they’ve given us permission to have other than in-person meetings during the COVID crisis,” Cohen said. “We’re going to have this meeting and our next meeting under that authority, and we’re going to use that authority to conduct our normal business and we’re going to do our business of changing the bylaws so that even if it isn’t a crisis, we can have meetings other than in-person.”

The change requires that the Executive Committee determine that there are exigent circumstances and under those circumstances, PPCC will be allowed to have meetings that are not held in-person.

The process will be repeated and a vote by the PPCC board was scheduled for June 30. Though the meeting and voting took place after the Palisadian-Post went to print, a passing vote was anticipated. A follow up story will appear in the July 9 edition.

Lisa Cahill

After a little more than three years working in the community, Brentwood-Palisades Deputy-Environmental Liaison for Councilmember Mike Bonin Lisa Cahill shared at the PPCC meeting that she would be vacating her position, effective June 30.

Cahill reported that she accepted an offer as deputy executive at a nonprofit focused on supporting children and families. Though she could not yet reveal what organization she would be joining, Cahill detailed that her new position would be to lead the vision, supervise their team and build out a board of directors.

“Public service has always been very important to me and as such, I have always tried to do my very best as a deputy for Councilmember Bonin,” Cahill wrote to the Palisadian-Post. “I have really enjoyed working with so many smart, civically minded Palisadians—it’s been a true honor.”

Cahill went on to say that she is “incredibly grateful” for the opportunity Bonin has given her and that she hopes her work has demonstrated his dedication to the Palisades community.

“I am deeply appreciative of those who have shown me kindness and am happy to call many of them my friends,” Cahill shared. “The beauty of the Palisades is not in its lovely homes or breath-taking ocean views, but in the smiles and hearts of those who call it home, and I will miss everyone so very much.”

Cahill explained that she has prepared a detailed overview for the new deputy to facilitate a smooth transition. She has also asked that the office set up an email account for all Palisades and Brentwood matters.

This email address, which will be intermittently monitored by Constituent Advocate Durrah Wagner, Deputy District Director Matt Tecle and District Director Arianne Garcia, is c11.palibrentwood@lacity.org.