What’s a Community Impact Statement ?
(aka a CIS)
Neighborhood Councils play an advisory role in the Los Angeles municipal government. They gather, vet, debate, and come to a consensus on matters that impact City life and policy, and deliver their official stance on these issues in letters called “Community Impact Statements” (CIS), which are shared with City decision-makers, such as the Mayor, City Council, or City Departments such as City Planning.
In the context of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council system, the number of Community Impact Statements (CIS) a council submits is widely recognized as a key metric used to measure its overall success and active community advocacy.
Why the Number of CIS Submissions Matters:
• Official Voice at City Hall: A CIS is the official position adopted by a Neighborhood Council board regarding pending city legislation, policy, or budget issues. Unlike individual public comments, a CIS represents the collective, deliberated stance of the neighborhood's stakeholders. https://neighborhoodempowerment.lacity.gov/community-impact-statements/
• System-Wide Metric: Local advocates and city departments—such as the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE / EmpowerLA) (https://neighborhoodempowerment.lacity.gov/)—often look at the volume of submitted CISs to evaluate how effectively an individual council is fulfilling its advisory mandate to the city government.
https://neighborhoodempowerment.lacity.gov/about-neighborhood-councils/
https://cityclerk.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2022/22-1111-S9_CIS_08222022115758_08-22-2022.pdf
• Tangible Legislative Influence: When a council files a CIS, it is attached directly to the LA City Clerk's Council File Management System (CFMS). This guarantees that city council members see the neighborhood's stance during policy discussions, and it grants the local council representatives extended speaking time during official City Council committee hearings.
https://www.bhnc.net/community-impact-statements
https://neighborhoodempowerment.lacity.gov/about-neighborhood-councils/
While it isn't the only measure of success—councils also distribute community grants, organize cleanups, and host local forums—the volume of CISs is the most direct indicator of how actively a neighborhood is engaging with Los Angeles city policy.
https://laist.com/news/politics/la-neighborhood-councils-3-things-to-know-before-attending-a-meeting
https://laist.com/news/politics/how-to-run-for-neighborhood-council-los-angeles
https://cityclerk.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2022/22-1111-S9_CIS_08222022115758_08-22-2022.pdf