Citizen service center is planned to assist W. Hollywood residents

City commissioners last week gave preliminary approval to plans for a citizen service center in West Hollywood.

The center, which is expected to open in about six months, will be at the northeast corner of Taft Street and North 62nd Avenue.

``This gives us an opportunity to have an alternative to City Hall,'' City Manager Sam Finz said. ``It gives us a presence in the community, so the citizens know the city is there and available.''

It also gives the city the chance to use a piece of property that had become a $4 million white elephant. The property is the site of a sewage pump station built in the 1970s that has never worked.

The cost of renovating the property, plus making improvements to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, is expected to be $88,140. The majority of the funds will come from the sale of two pieces of surplus property owned by the city.

The new service center will be staffed without hiring any additional employees. Employees from police, code enforcement, human resources and citizen assistance will be assigned to the new center.

West Hollywood residents are excited about the prospect of having more city services available in their neighborhood.

``I think it will do a lot to unify the city and show voters west of U.S. 441 that we haven't been forgotten,'' said Paul Eckley, secretary of the Driftwood Civic Association and a 10-year resident of the area. ``For too many people, City Hall is a place that is a long way off and is out of touch with the residents out here.''

Hollywood officials say this is just the beginning of their plans.

``We hope this is the first of more satellite service centers in the future,'' said George Keller, the city's director of development administration. ``We want to be a part of the neighborhood. This is a way of reaching out and connecting with the community.''