More vacancies on boards and commissions causes missed opportunity

LONG BEACH MISSES THE VOTE ON IMPORTANT TARGETS FOR
GREEN HOUSE GAS REDUCTIONS

On Tuesday August 17, 2010, the Long Beach City Council at the urging of Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal and Council member Patrick O’Donnell, passed an agenda item requesting a resolution in support of California Air Resources Board (CARB) efforts to reduce criteria pollutants and green house gas (GHG) emissions from motor vehicles.

The resolution called for support of “ambitious regional GHG reduction targets as envisioned by SB375 that incentivize local governments to integrate land use and transportation planning that supports air quality and public health goals and emphasizes reductions in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) through alternatives such as driving, walking, biking and mass transit options.” The motion passed 8-0 (DeLong absent)

I for one was proud and glad that our City weighed in on such an important action since at the end of the month, CARB is planning to finalize regional draft targets and this week local area planning agencies weighed in on the targets. Long Beach is the second largest city in Los Angeles County and should play a role in the implementation SB375.

CARB is finalizing targets for 2020 and 2035. Statewide area planning agencies are already weighing in and making a statement that they are willing to work for the following targets:

Region 2020 / 2035
Bay Area 7% / 15%
Sacramento 7% / 16%
San Diego 7% / 13%
SCAG 6% / 8% (our region)

Gateway Council of Governments (COG) met Wednesday and voted on a 4% goal for 2020 which is way below all others. Even Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) staff stated, “If we do business as usual we can achieve 6.5%” The SCAG meeting held the next day the Regional Council (RC) voted to support 6% in 2020 and a paltry 8% in 2035 after the staff recommended 8% / 13%.

How could this happen? And was Long Beach present to advocate for the policy the entire city council voted on? The answer is NO, Long Beach was MIA. Long Beach was a no show. SCAG is the largest regional metropolitan planning agency in the NATION and the City of Long Beach is the second largest city in LA County and has 2 (two) votes on the RC. But no one was present, not even staff.

The City of Los Angeles passed a similar resolution and had numerous city staff, and council representatives present at the SCAG meeting testifying and expressing the importance of achievable and ambitious goals for the sake of their citizen’s public health and for good transportation planning.

At the Gateway COG the scenario was much the same, the City of Long Beach and is the largest city in the COG and also has 2 (two) votes on the board but only one showed up. No statement of the previous council policy position was made and the COG passed a dismal 4% goal for 2020.

We live in a non attainment area because of our poor air quality and we struggle daily with congestion and traffic. Here was an opportunity for us to weigh in.
It is not enough for our City Council to pass paper policy and good intentions if they are not prepared to advocate for that policy at the regional or state level.

I am asking the Mayor and City Council to fill the vacant SCAG positions and the vacant Gateway COG positions and instruct staff to defend, promote and advocate the policy direction that the policy making body votes on at regional meetings especially when votes are taken. Otherwise the agenda items the council votes on are only good for re-election brochures but do nothing to advance the interests and quality of life of the people of Long Beach.