Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu, 4th District, has appointed members to his discretionary funds task force, which will meet on Oct. 8 for the first time.

The nine members making up the task force are Owen Smith, president of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council; Cindy Chvatal, president of the Hancock Park Homeowners Association; Chris Laib, co-president of the Los Feliz Improvement Association and a board member for Friends of the Griffith Observatory; Anastasia Mann, president of the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council; Krista Michaels, president for the Cahuenga Pass Property Owners Association; Lucy Gonzalez, of the Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Association; Bob Anderson, a board member of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association; Ron Ziff, first vice president of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council; and Richard Bogy, vice president of the Toluca Lake Homeowners Association.

The task force will review all discretionary funding in the 4th District. Council offices receive approximately $1-$1.5 million per year in discretionary funding.

The first order of business will be to analyze approximately $600,000 in funding for projects approved during the final days of Ryu’s predecessor, Councilman Tom LaBonge. The projects include 27 allocations ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 for projects at Los Angeles and Hollywood high schools, the Petersen Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Korean Cultural Center, Hollywood Heritage, the Los Angeles Historical Society and the Hollywood-Wilshire YMCA. The task force will also evaluate approvals for payments of $15,000 to $40,000 for projects such as tree removal and structural repairs to a wall in Griffith Park, and sidewalk repair near a parking facility in Larchmont Village.

The task force members, who will meet monthly, will serve one-year terms and are not paid. The first meeting will be held Thursday, Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. at Ryu’s Hollywood field office, 6501 Fountain Ave.

In addition to the allocations approved during LaBonge’s final days in office, the task force will analyze all new proposals for discretionary funding. Ryu said the task force fulfills a campaign promise to create more transparency for city spending.

“This team of community advocates is committed to refocusing discretionary funds on their intended purpose, to benefit the district and its neighborhoods,” Ryu said.

Jack Humphreville, a member of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, said he is eager to learn what the task force decides and which projects will be funded.

“In terms of discretionary funds, it will be very interesting to see how this thing goes. Everybody isn’t going to get everything,” Humphreville said. “I think some of the money could be used more wisely.”

Chvatal, who has been working with Ryu’s office to have streets repaired in Hancock Park, said she is particularly interested in funding for infrastructure needs such as street and sidewalk repair.

“I am delighted to have been selected. I am very interested in discretionary funds and how they are being used in our district,” Chvatal said. “They certainly should be used in every part of our district. Every neighborhood should have a say in it, especially funds earmarked for infrastructure.”

Smith, who is also the president of the Brookside Homeowners Association, said he is keeping an open mind about the funding.

“I have no particular agenda,” Smith added. “I want fairness and equitable distribution. I think you have to look at each project as it comes along.“