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Angeles
Chapter Conservation Committee
Angeles Chapter Office, The
Equitable Building Ste 302
3435 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles 90010
[6th Street and Mariposa, 1 blk east of Normandie]
Click
here for current Conservation Committee Newsletter
Draft Agenda
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
7:15 Introductions and Announcements
(be prepared to post your announcements), approval of the Agenda
7:25 Deferred LA/Long Beach port discussion:
see April agenda for previous LBGrp resolution possible action (Vietmeier,
Hinz, Politeo)
7:45 Reports
- Forests: E. Sierra and Angeles NF Wilderness Bill
(Don Bremner)
- Conservation Management: progress on review of
procedures vis-à-vis negotiating (Judy Anderson)
- Transportation: High Speed Rail progress (Darrell
Clarke)
- Building Better Conservation Action training (attendees)
- Staff Coordinators Activity (6 mo recap, and plans)
(Jennifer Robinson, Maddalena Serra)
- Election Activity: feedback and assessment (Susana
Reyes)
- Michael Tou from Congressman Brad Sherman's
office will talk on the subject of the Army Corps of Engineers lowering
the protection for the LA River by not identifying some parts as navigable.
X:XX Discussion
- Transportation Committee
Transportation Sales Tax Measure (Darrell.Clarke)
- Brief slide inventory on current positive
projects and projects of concern affecting San Pedro Bay and freight
movement. Two large container terminal projects, one crude oil terminal
project, two rail yard projects, a freeway project, a dredging project,
a waterfront project (see next item), wetland & habitat, restoration,
California Coastal Trail. (5 minutes, plus time for Q&A if desired.)
No action sought. (Harbor Vision Task Force)
X:XX Action Items (awaiting copy of resolutions;
to be circulated separately)
- Soledad Canyon Mine (Cemex) Federal Legislation
Recommendation
(Kathy Squires)
- Support for Cities resolutions banning plastic
shopping bags
(David Czamanske)
- Presentation regarding addition of "Cool
Cities Waterfront" option to Los Angeles Waterfront DEIR. This
will be a fast-moving process, the possibility of which is opened
up by the TraPac container terminal settlement (see June Southern
Sierran) and Commission President Freeman. Chapter-level participation
will be important. Overlaps with concerns of Energy, Transportation,
Green Building. (5-10 minutes for presentation + Q & A). Motion
to support Cool Cities Waterfront sought. (Harbor Vision Task Force)
SEE BELOW.
X:XX Conservation Grants (if any)
X:XX Closed session item
X:XX Adjourn —- next meeting July
16.
COOL CITIES WATERFRONT RESOLUTION
The
Sierra Club urges the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners to direct
port staff to add a "cool cities" option to the Draft EIR/S
for the Los Angeles Waterfront before the DEIR/S is circulated. The
option should address challenges with global warming, livable cities,
environmental stewardship and completion of the California Coastal Trail
in the area west of the Main Channel and south of the Vincent Thomas
Bridge, as well as the area under the bridge and Knoll Hill. Completion
of the option will require study and integration of off site pedestrian
links, transit and parking.
A letter supporting
the additional alternative is to be delivered to the five harbor commissioners
and Port's executive director and to be CCed to Councilwoman Hahn and
Mayor Villraigosa's staff as soon as possible. Further specifications
of the "cool cities" waterfront alternative should be developed
as promptly by the Harbor Vision Task Force working in conjunction with
interested committees dealing with energy, green building, transportation
and wetlands habitat. These efforts will require outreach to other allies,
both regional and in the San Pedro area.
Pro: The waterfront development is a
significant development, entailing more than 300,000 square feet of
construction of retail space, a cruise terminal, possible convention
center, and other structures in a tidelands setting where the site property
is administered by the City in trust for the people of the State of
California.
Current plan options create an auto-centric
"shopping mall by the sea" and do not adequately address
concerns of global warming and livable communities which have been
expressed by environmentalists, local community members and by progressive
merchants. If the City is to expect private developers to break new
ground in developing infill development that fully supports cool and
livable cities, the City must lead the way and can set a good example
in this project.
Con: There are multiple con positions possible which avoid environmental
issues in different ways, for example, we need to develop the waterfront
as fully as possible without regard to cool cities issues for the
immediate work that would be offered. I cannot think of any con arguments,
except the work involved, as to why the Sierra Club should not push
for this.
Chapter Conservation Committee
Chair: Judy Anderson
Chapter Conservation Coordinator: Jennifer Robinson
Chapter Conservation Coordinator: Maddalena Serra
Motions should be submitted
in advance, together with objective background
material and supporting and opposing arguments, both to the Committee
Chair and Newsletter Editor, for distribution with the agenda. Other
motions will be postponed for action at a later meeting unless the
motion is submitted in writing and unless the Committee votes an exception
to ordinary procedure. Motions needing further action by the Angeles
Chapter ExComm or some higher level of the Sierra Club should start
out: "The Angeles Chapter Conservation committee recommends that the
Sierra Club..." To find out more about voting requirements and
representatives, consult the Angeles Chapter website Conservation
Committee..."
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