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We have had quite a busy month at SCAG, and change is in the air!
SCAG will hold a New Member Orientation on Wednesday, October 29, at 11:30 a.m. at the Liberty Grill in downtown Los Angeles. Don't miss the chance to serve as a mentor to our newest SCAG members! More information is available under Upcoming Events in this newsletter and on the SCAG web site.
I am very pleased to announce the opening of SCAG's regional office in Orange County! The office is located at 600 S. Main Street in Orange, CA, in the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) building. Please join us for an open house and reception following the OCTA board meeting on Friday, October 10, at noon.
On September 26, SCAG and the Port of Long Beach co-hosted a press conference urging Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign Senate Bill 974 (SB 974) for the creation of funding to improve transportation infrastructure around the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, public health and safety and traffic congestion. Officials from transportation agencies, local cities, air quality and port organizations and others joined with Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) to call on the governor for action, including San Gabriel Mayor and SCAG Vice President Harry Baldwin; Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge; San Bernardino Supervisor and SCAG Past President Gary Ovitt; OCTA Chief Executive Officer Arthur Leahy; Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster; and Martin Schlageter, Campaign Director of the Coalition for Clean Air. The press conference was accompanied by editorials from California Governors George Deukmejian and Gray Davis and covered by the Long Beach Press Telegram, Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Whittier Daily News, Pasadena Star-News, Los Angeles Times, Fresno Bee, Contra Costa Times, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, San Francisco Chronicle, Sing Tao Daily Newspapers, Chinese Daily News and Long Beach TV (Channel 8) and KSCI-LA (Channel 18). For photos of the event, please click here.
SCAG's Strategic Planning Team has been hard at work continuing to shape positive changes within our agency and organized a staff retreat on September 23 at the Sheraton Universal Hotel. Under the theme "Turning over a New Leaf," Hon. Jon Edney, Hon. Pam O'Connor and Hon. Harry Baldwin joined staff for a day of updates on the Strategic Plan and vision for the future. Best of all, we had fun with many games, awards, a bridge-building session and plenty of time to relax and get to know each other! Photos of the retreat are available here.
On September 17, SCAG hosted a retirement dinner at the Sheraton Hotel Los Angeles in honor of Jim Gosnell, who served as SCAG's Deputy Executive Director for the past six years and retired after 37 years of service. It was a joyful reunion with numerous friends and colleagues from his tenure at SCAG, with many heartwarming notes of tribute celebrating Jim's many accomplishments that contributed to a better quality of life in the SCAG region. Speakers included Executive Director Hasan Ikhrata, former Executive Director Mark Pisano and former Department Director Frank Hotchkiss. We wish Jim well as he embarks on this new chapter of life, which he indicated would include traveling and playing golf! Please click here to see photos of the event.
Finally, for those of you who were unable to attend our successful and first-time High Gas Prices Summit on September 10, photos of the day's events are available. Please click here to view the photo album.
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Executive Director Report
by Hasan Ikhrata
On September 10, SCAG partnered with our six county transportation agencies and Mobility 21 to host a first-time regional summit on the global crisis of high gas prices and the impacts to Southern California communities. Approximately 130 individuals attended the summit including 13 Regional Council Members, other elected officials, transportation agencies, academics, private sector representatives and community advocates. We thank President Richard Dixon, Vice President Harry Baldwin, TC Chair Mike Ten and Regional Council Member Pam O'Connor for speaking along with the experts and helping to make the day so successful. The Summit entitled, "High Gas Prices: The Tipping Point" met at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel to discuss Southern California's response to the global shortage of oil and to share next steps on crafting public transportation solutions with stable financial resources. SCAG co-hosted with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Orange County Transportation Authority, Ventura County Transportation Commission, San Bernardino Associated Governments, Riverside County Transportation Commission, Imperial Valley Associated Governments and Mobility 21. The event was sponsored by DMJM Harris/AECOM and Samuelson and Fetter. President Dixon opened the Summit and was followed up with excellent expert comments. The Summit received media coverage from Antelope Valley Press, KFWB, CNN/Time Warner Cable, Contra Costa Times, LA Daily News, Red Orbit News, Riverside Press-Enterprise, San Bernardino Sun and Sing Tao Daily. TC Chair Mike Ten followed up with a CNN local headlines interview airing this month summarizing the Summit and key findings. Presentations and other information from the Summit are available on the SCAG website at www.scag.ca.gov/events/highgasprices.htm. We are currently reviewing the Summit summary to recommend next steps with the speakers and co-host agencies and will provide an update at the October meeting.
On September 26, SCAG co-hosted a press conference along with Senator Lowenthal, the county transportation agencies, AQMD, Clean Air Coalition and several Mayors from Southern California cities, including the cities of Long Beach, San Gabriel, Riverside, Montebello and Walnut. The press event was held in Long Beach coinciding with the League of Cities conference and involved officials from Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange and Los Angeles Counties. Officials urged the Governor to sign SB 974 (Lowenthal). Senator Lowenthal, the Mayors and key stakeholders discussed how their communities would be benefited by enactment of SB 974. More than $350 million per year would be provided for improvements through a container fee and would be used to increase rail safety, reduce congestion relief and improve air quality. There was good media attendance. The Governor has until September 30th to sign or veto this landmark legislation.
The Staff Retreat was held on Tuesday, September 23, at the Sheraton Universal in Universal City. The theme of this year's retreat was "Turning Over a New Leaf – Renewing Communication, Trust and Accountability." One hundred employees attended as well as three Regional Council Members: Harry Baldwin, Jon Edney, and Pam O'Connor. Jon Edney and I provided opening remarks stressing the importance of SCAG's work and employees participating in the strategic planning process. Jon announced that he would be working with the Strategic Planning consultants, Win-Win, to create a workshop for the Executive Administration Committee regarding the process. The morning was spent with various Advance Team members telling the "Story of SCAG" as they envision it to be in 2018 and presenting the final draft Mission, Vision and Core Values Statements. Employees also were provided information regarding the 14 study issues of the Strategic Plan.
For the printable Executive Director's Report, please click here.
Click here for the complete report.
SCAG Action Report
SCAG ADOPTS 2008 REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
SCAG's Community, Economic and Human Development (CEHD) Committee and the Regional Council took action to adopt the 2008 Regional Comprehensive Plan (RCP). The RCP presents a vision for how Southern California can balance resource conservation, economic vitality and quality of life, and the Plan will serve as an advisory document for local governments in the SCAG region for information and voluntary use in developing local plans and addressing local issues of regional significance. Because of its advisory nature, the RCP will not be used in SCAG's Inter-Governmental Review (IGR) process.
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN AMENDMENT RELEASED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
The Transportation Committee (TC) released the Draft Amendments to the 2008 Regional Transportation Plan (Amendment #1) and 2008 Regional Transportation Improvement Program (Amendment #08-01). There are 81 project changes proposed under this amendment, located in Imperial, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties, and the changes are broadly categorized as minor in nature, including changes to completion years, as well as minor modifications to project scopes, costs, and funding. Public comments will be accepted on the Draft Amendments through 5 pm on Friday, November 7, and the Draft Amendments are available to view and download at www.scag.ca.gov/rtp2008/amendment.htm.
ASSEMBLY BILL 32 – THE CALIFORNIA GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTION ACT OF 2006
The Energy and Environment Committee (EEC) took action recommending that SCAG's Regional Council authorize comments on the AB 32 Scoping Plan. AB 32 is a broad and general law that commits the State to a numerical target for greenhouse gas reductions, empowers the California Air Resources Board (along with other State agencies) to put in place measures to achieve those reductions and prescribes a process for defining and delineating implementation actions. The Scoping Plan will be re-released as a revised draft on October 3, and must be adopted by the ARB prior to January 2009. The Regional Council accepted the EEC's recommendation, incorporating several comments based on input and discussion, and a letter will be transmitted to the Air Resources Board including comments on financial incentives, requirements related to SB 375, analytical methods, regional targets and other transportation and land use strategies. EEC TO CONSIDER MEMBERSHIP IN LOS ANGELES CLIMATE ACTION GROUP
The EEC also requested to take formal action in November on whether to join the Los Angeles Regional Collaborative for Climate Action & Sustainability, which brings leaders together to develop strategies and an action plan for AB 32; to share information and best practices on climate changes and sustainability goals; and to develop a communications plan for informing stakeholders in the Los Angeles region.
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SCAG is proud to announce the opening of its first satellite office in Orange County. Staff has worked closely with OCTA and will welcome elected officials, business and community leaders for an open house on Friday, October 10, at 12 noon. The SCAG Regional Office is located at 600 South Main Street, Orange, CA 92863.
SCAG's Regional Services conduct various community outreach activities and workshops around the SCAG region regarding current plans and upcoming projects, and the Regional Offices will serve an essential role in strengthening relationships with local planning partners. |
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Legislative Update
Senate Bill 375 SB 375 was signed into law by the Governor on September 30, 2008. SB 375 reduces greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from automobiles and light trucks by providing for regionally based GHG reduction targets achieved through integrated transportation and housing planning. SB 375 directs the California Air Resources Board to set greenhouse gas reduction targets for each of the state's 17 regional areas by 2010 and instructs metropolitan areas to meld housing and transportation plans into a single document through the development of a Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) incorporated into the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). If necessary, the MPO is directed to prepare a separate Alternative Planning Strategy (APS), which may be adopted concurrently with the RTP, and to demonstrate that either the SCS or APS (if needed) can achieve the regional GHG emission reduction targets. It offers incentives for implementation of the SCS through transit priority projects, including relief from certain CEQA review for some infill projects and developments near transit stops.
Senate Bill 974 Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed SB 974, the bill that would have assessed a $30 per twenty-foot equivalent unit on each shipping container processed in the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland. The revenues would be used to alleviate congestion of the ports by funding projects to improve the flow and efficiency of the ports and to mitigate air pollution caused by the movement of cargo to and from the ports.
In his veto message, the Governor cited concerns that the bill failed to provide assurances that selected projects might not achieve the greatest cost-effectiveness, emission reductions and public health protection, and did not adequately provide funds to the San Joaquin Valley to reduce pollution related to container cargo coming directly to and from the ports throughout the Valley.
SCAG will work with local and regional stakeholders to ascertain the best way to secure the necessary funding for these critical goods movement purposes, whether through imposition of other locally derived fees or successor legislation.
Proposition 1A - The Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act On August 26, despite an earlier threat to veto all bills during the budget impasse, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 3034 (Galgiani), the $9.95 billion high-speed rail bond legislation. The Governor made an exception despite the prolonged budget delay in order to meet the ballot publication deadlines. The Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act submits a $9.95 billion general obligation bond to the voters for approval on the November 4, 2008, ballot, designated as Proposition 1A.
The final bill re-establishes the initial segment, San Francisco-Los Angeles-Anaheim, as the priority construction, but allows other corridors or segments to be funded concurrent with the initial phase so long as they do not adversely impact the initial segment. While the final version includes some language that could benefit Southern California and may be less restrictive than the previous version, the bill still leaves open the priority order of segments, leaving it to High Speed Rail Authority for determination and creating the potential for a north-south inequity.
Click here for the complete report.
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News from the Subregions
A funding formula that equally divides operational costs was approved at a joint meeting of three Coachella Valley Association of Governments Committees that included the CVAG Executive Committee, the CVAG Technical Advisory Committee and the CVAG Homelessness Committee. The funds will support the operations of Phase I of the Western Coachella Valley Multi-Service Center, which includes 150 emergency shelter beds, a full service kitchen, dining room, Access Center, County Safe-Haven Program and its accompanying full service partnership clinic.
The Western Riverside Council of Governments Executive Committee approved the addition of the City of Menifee (one of Riverside County's newest cities) as a Member Agency. The new member will take their seat at the November WRCOG Executive Committee. During the summer, the new City of Wildomar also became a WRCOG member agency and already is participating on WRCOG's Committees.
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Upcoming Events
Mobility 21 will hold its 7th Annual Southern California Transportation Summit at the Wilshire Grand Hotel on Monday, October 20. The summit will serve as a catalyst for building consensus on key regional solutions and to foster collaboration among transportation leaders of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties. More information is available at www.mobility21coalition.com.
Join the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) in Seattle from October 28 – 31 for the 2008 Annual Conference. Many conference sessions are approved for CM (certification maintenance) credit, and a list of workshops and conference information can be found at www.ampo.org.
Welcome to SCAG! A New Member Orientation session will be held on Wednesday, October 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the upper patio of the Liberty Grill in downtown Los Angeles, located at 1037 S. Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015. For more information, contact Linda Jones at (213) 236-1912 or jonesl@scag.ca.gov.
To view other upcoming events, please click here.
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Did You Know?
- The City of La Quinta, called the "Gem of the Desert," is a blend of beauty, charm, and opportunity. La Quinta is home to the nationally acclaimed Arnold Palmer Classic Course at SilverRock Resort, and the city has been named by the Robb Report as the "Best Place to Live for Golf," with more than 20 exceptional golf courses, including the famous PGA West. In celebration of its 25th anniversary in 2007, the city commissioned the production of a book especially dedicated to documenting the history of La Quinta entitled, "La Quinta: A Legend in the Making" by Victoria J. Bailey and Gayl Biondi.
- Once a lush green pasture extending from the Los Angeles River east to the Pomona area, the City of Rosemead was settled in the 1850s, including a man named Leonard Rose, who purchased 500 to 700 acres to breed and train horses. He named his land Rose's Meadow, which was shortened to Rosemead and gave the city its name. The city recently introduced the Rosemead Citizens Academy, an interactive program designed to educate and inform the community about city operations and the policy-making process. Classes take place each Wednesday from September 17 through October 29 from 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Although the City of Carson has a long and colorful history dating back to the founding of California, it is a young community as an independent city. One of Carson's first accomplishments was the construction of the Carson Mall (now renamed the South Bay Pavilion at Carson) in 1972. Other notable high points include the growth of California State University, Dominguez Hills; the building of the Olympic Velodrome that brought the 1984 Olympic Games to Carson; the opening of the Carson Civic Center; the Carson Regional Library; and the Home Depot Center, which opened in 2003 and recently hosted Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on October 4.
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