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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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This page last modified: 6/16/2008