Politics & Government

City Staffer Phyllis Winger Retires After 25 Years

She served the community under three council members in District 12. After two-and-a-half decades, Chief Planning & Land Use Deputy Phyllis Winger retired.

In his weekly newsletter, Councilman Mitch Englander recalls the years of service Winger gave to the community.

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This week, our beloved Phyllis Winger, Chief Planning and Land Use Deputy for Council District 12 retired after 25 years of service to three consecutive Councilmembers representing the 12th Council District.


Phyllis has been a passionate advocate for maintaining our unique community, with its vast open spaces, beautiful rocky vistas and equestrian lifestyle. She worked to ensure a jobs-housing balance to reduce the traffic and development impacts common to other parts of the City. Business and manufacturing thrive in our district due to her efforts to preserve the M zones in our Chatsworth manufacturing corridor.

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A resident of the San Fernando Valley, Phyllis has fought to preserve the character and quality of life in CD 12, including successfully fighting the largest development in the history of Los Angeles, Las Lomas.

Phyllis’ early community involvement included her participation in the Valley’s anti-busing movement, where she met Hal Bernson. After being elected to the City Council in 1979, Councilman Hal Bernson appointedPhyllis to various Citizens Advisory Committees, one of which dealt with land use matters in the district. Her work on this committee was so instrumental that Councilman Bernson asked her to work for him and assist his planning deputy with a project. After the planning deputy left to pursue other goals, Phyllis became his point person on all planning and land use matters.

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Councilman Bernson, who served as Chair of the City’s influential Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee for most of his tenure on the City Council, relied heavily on her to provide valuable land use advice.She has subsequently continued this vitally important role on her counsel to Councilman Greig Smith from 2003 to 2011, and my own staff from 2011 to present.

Phyllis handled more land use issues than any other City Council staff. Her leadership has been instrumental in numerous projects including but not limited to the expansion of the Porter Ranch Community, Community Care Facilities Ordinance, Medical Marijuana, Van Nuys Airport, and Sierra Canyon.

She has overseen hundreds more land use issues in the Twelfth District during her tenure, and her stewardship has resulted in many notable developments in the district, ranging from houses of worship, schools, equestrian facilities, business both large and small, commercial centers and establishments, and residential projects— all of which have benefited tens of thousands of residents and contributed to the fabric of our community.

Over the years, she has become the most knowledgeable aide in the City on planning issues. At her Council tribute many Councilmembers lauded her experience, generosity and grace in their praise of her City service.

In addition to her duties overseeing planning and land use issues, Phyllishas also overseen the Airport’s Master Plans, community redevelopment, housing, the Southern California Association of Governments and the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), was a member the Valley Council of Governments.She is also involved in various boards and organizations, serving as a Board Member of the North Valley YMCA and “The Executives,” a support organization deeply committed to the comfort and welfare of the aging community, for the Jewish Home for the Aging where she has been involved for more than 15 years. An active community volunteer in the San Fernando Valley for more than 40 years,Phyllis is a highly regarded community leader, extensively involved in the education of children within their community.

- Mitchell Englander, Councilmember, Twelfth District


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