INTRODUCTION Los Angeles County, with more than 10 million people within its borders, is the most populous county in the nation. County officials, faced with dwindling revenues, are constantly challenged with providing essential services at the most economical cost to serve this huge population. To inform the public of available services, the Board of Supervisors ordered the preparation of this Citizens Guide to County Services. This is an update of earlier editions, and the information included was current at the time of publication. An online version is available at lacounty.gov/citizen_guide_frame.htm This booklet, prepared by the County Public Affairs Office, is a directory of services under simply stated headings to help find the appropriate department or agency performing the service. In some instances, telephone numbers and addresses listed are those of central County offices. For local listings of County offices in your neighborhood not listed in this booklet, please consult your local telephone directory under the general section heading of "Los Angeles, County of." Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material in this booklet, and we hope that it is helpful. For information concerning services not listed or additional assistance, please contact: Public Affairs Chief Executive Office County of Los Angeles Room 358, Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration 500 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90012 Telephone: (213) 974-1311 Website: lacounty.gov E-mail: [email protected] Revised: January 2009 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .................................................................................................1 About Los Angeles County........................................................................10 The History of Los Angeles County ..........................................................12 Los Angeles County’s Contract Services Programs .................................19 County of Los Angeles Strategic Plan ......................................................20 Tenure Data for Elected Officials ..............................................................21 Organizational Chart .................................................................................22 Responsibilities of the Board of Supervisors ............................................23 Map of The County of Los Angeles...........................................................24 The 88 Cities in the County of Los Angeles..............................................25 Unincorporated Areas Within the County of Los Angeles.........................26 Communities Within the City of Los Angeles ............................................27 First Supervisorial District Map .................................................................28 Cities and Communities Within The First District......................................29 Second Supervisorial District Map ............................................................30 Cities and Communities Within The Second District.................................31 Third Supervisorial District Map ................................................................32 Cities and Communities Within The Third District.....................................33 Fourth Supervisorial District Map..............................................................34 Cities and Communities Within The Fourth District ..................................35 Fifth Supervisorial District Map .................................................................36 Cities and Communities Within The Fifth District......................................37 Internet Websites for Los Angeles County Offices and Related Agencies ......................................................................................38 Cities within the County of Los Angeles....................................................40 Directory of Services .................................................................................43 211 LA County...........................................................................................44 Adoption Services (See Children and Family Services) ...........................44 Adoptions, Records...................................................................................44 Affirmative Action Compliance, Office of...................................................44 Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures, Department of.............46 AIDS Programs and Policy........................................................................48 Air Pollution Control District (See Air Quality)...........................................48 Airports ......................................................................................................48 Air Quality..................................................................................................49 Alcohol and Drug Program Administration................................................49 Alternate Public Defender .........................................................................49 Ambulance ................................................................................................50 Animal Care and Control, Department of..................................................50 Annexations/Incorporations (See Local Agency Formation Comm.)........51 Anthropology Exhibitions (See Natural History Museum).........................51 Apartments, Sanitation Issues (See Housing Inspections).......................51 Arboretum and Botanic Gardens...............................................................51 Archives (See Court Records) ..................................................................52 Arrest Records ..........................................................................................52 Art Museum (See Museums) ....................................................................53 Arts Commission .......................................................................................53 2 Assessment Appeals Board......................................................................55 Assessor....................................................................................................57 Auctions.....................................................................................................58 Auditor-Controller ......................................................................................60 Bad Checks, Restitution Program.............................................................60 Bail ............................................................................................................61 Beach Closures (See Beaches, Monitoring) .............................................61 Beach Commission ...................................................................................61 Beaches and Harbors, Department of ......................................................61 Beaches, Monitoring .................................................................................62 Beaches, Surf Conditions (See Fire Department).....................................62 Bees ..........................................................................................................63 Bicycle Trails .............................................................................................63 Bids ...........................................................................................................63 Birds, Dead................................................................................................64 Birth Certificates........................................................................................64 Board of Supervisors.................................................................................67 Boarding Homes, Hotels ...........................................................................69 Body Art and Tattoos ................................................................................69 Bonds ........................................................................................................70 Boundary Changes, Cities and Districts (See Local Agency Formation Commission) .................................................70 Building, Permits or Improvements ...........................................................70 Burial .........................................................................................................72 Bus Benches (See Permits) ......................................................................72 Bus Passes ...............................................................................................73 Bus Stop Amenities...................................................................................73 Business Filings and Registrations ...........................................................73 Business License ......................................................................................74 Business License Commission/Charitable Org and Solicitation ...............75 Business, Office of Small ..........................................................................75 Cable Television........................................................................................76 CalWORKs Business Services, Programs (See Public Social Services, Department of) ............................................76 Checks, Uncashed ....................................................................................76 Chemical and Biological Analysis (See Environmental Toxicology Laboratory).............................................76 Chief