Governance & Services

The City of Westchester will adopt a lean governance model initially, contracting out many essential services while building local infrastructure. This ensures a seamless transition without massive startup costs.

Governance Structure

Our proposed city government will be built on the foundation of our existing, highly engaged community organizations:

• City Council: Elected representatives from districts across Westchester, Playa del Rey, and Playa Vista.
• Existing Frameworks: We will leverage the community ties and organizational structures of the Neighborhood Council of Westchester and Playa (NCWP) and Kentwood Home Guardians (KHG).

Proposed Services Model

Contracted Services (Initial Phase)

To minimize the initial tax burden and startup costs, the following services will be contracted (potentially from LA County, neighboring cities, or private providers):

• Police / Law Enforcement: Contract with the LA County Sheriff's Department or form a joint powers authority with a neighboring city (e.g., Culver City or El Segundo).
• Firefighting & Ambulances: Contract with the LA County Fire Department.
• Waste Disposal: Private contracting to ensure competitive pricing and high-quality service.
• Water, Power & Gas: Continue utilizing existing regional utility providers (LADWP/SoCalGas) or transition to Southern California Edison and private water purveyors.
• Libraries: Join the extensive LA County Library system.

Managed Services (City-Owned)

The city will directly manage the core services that provide immediate local control and impact our daily quality of life:

• Housing and Zoning: Establish a local Planning and Development department to manage zoning, issue permits, and locally address state mandates like SB 9 to protect our neighborhoods.
• Parks and Recreation: Take over management of local parks, recreation centers, and community programs to ensure they are well-maintained and fully funded.
• Education: Explore forming a dedicated Westchester Unified School District to improve local school control.
• Administration & Finance: Establish a Comptroller/Accounting office to manage the city budget, taxes, and revenue locally.