The Design Advocate

The AIA|LA ADVOCACY REPORT - February 17, 2012

2012-02-17T16:54:00.001-08:00

The AIA|LA ADVOCACY REPORT

February 17, 2012

from the desk of Will Wright , Hon. AIA|LA

Director, Government & Public Affairs

This report is written in effort to keep the AIA|LA membership updated on the various efforts I've been involved with on behalf of the organization. It's a call to action to inspire more architects to provide the leadership to improve the built environment.

+ The AIA|LA Mayoral Candidates Forums

As a city, how shall we select our next Mayor? What criteria will we use to analyze their leadership capacity?

For the next five Friday nights we're interviewing mayoral candidates about their strategies to lead our city into a future that might quite possibly be vastly different then how it is today. For the better, or for the worse - we don't know. To broker that transition and to make certain we're investing in changes that will improve the quality of life for all Angelenos, we'd like to ask each mayoral candidate to describe their vision and their design priorities.

We'd like to discuss:

Each mayoral candidate's specific vision for the future of Los Angeles
Mayoral leadership to exert influence on the way other public agencies impact the built environment (LAUSD, METRO, LA County, etc)
Mayoral leadership to exert influence on key private sector projects that greatly impact the City of LA
The mportance of architecture and design, as it relates to the economic performance of the city
The connection between architecture and urbanism (the space in between buildings and how buildings relate to each other)

While Environmental and economic sustainability, resource conversation, enhanced mobility and access, community health, social justice and planning for complete communities are all integral tenets of architecture, the Mayoral Candidate forum is a chance to dig deeper into the philosophy of the candidates. The forum is meant as an opportunity for each candidate to declare their vision for the future of Los Angeles and describe a path for how we get there.

To register for each of the mayoral forums CLICK HERE.

+ THE MAYOR'S TOD CABINET

Nat Gale and Dan Caroselli from the Mayor's Office of Economic and Business Policy have invited me to participated in a TOD cabinet charged with prioritizing tactics to ensure that development standards around transit are more strategically coordinated between the City of LA and Metro. My initial comments were as such:

Everyone should comment on the proposed additions to CEQA guidelines implementing SB226. The proposal sets forth a streamlined CEQA review process for infill projects and contains performance standards that will determine an infill project’s eligibility for streamlined review. 2/23 at 1pm Ronald Reagan State Building Auditorium, 300 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Look at urban design guidelines for within a TOD, especially around parking
Analyze the relationship between LID and TOD and where trade-offs can occur.
Look at building and land typology and make sure we are attracting the types of businesses that attract the types of employees we want to foster (i.e. live / work or light industrial instead of the typical TOD predominance of low-paying retail jobs).

As more progress is made with this cabinet, I will keep you update. In the meanwhile, if you have suggestions for how to improve the social and economic performance TOD's, then reach out to me with your ideas so that I can share them with the Mayor's office.

+ S.C.A.G.'s Regional Transportation Plan

On Tuesday, February 14th, AIA|LA submitted a letter to S.C.A.G. encouraging them to adopt the Envision 2 alternative of the 2012 - 2035 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy. The Envision 2 option will foster smart growth land use and housing patterns to achieve superior environmental results in air quality, aesthetics, open space and farmland preservation, water conservation, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, mobility, and land use.

We also reiterated our recommendations for SCAG to prioritize active transportation policies in the plan.

In response to the process of developing recommendations for SCAG, we've launched a blog that we hope will inspire more architects to get involved with regional transportation planning.

http://urbandesignintelligence.blogspot.com/

If you'd like to get more involved, email me and I will add you as contributor to the blog. As an architect, your voice matters!

+ The Mural Ordinance

On February 7th, I attended a panel discussion that City Planner Tanner Blackman organized along with Daniel Lahoda of LaLa Gallery about the proposed draft of the citywide MURAL ORDINANCE. Artists Shepard Fairey and Saber were also on the panel and gave their candid assessment of the ordinance. For the most part, everyone feels that this ordinance is a positive first step in the right direction to allow more art to happen in the public realm. The Mural Ordinance will appear in front of the Cultural Affairs Commission and then on to the Planning Commission for additional consideration.

If you have interest in getting involved, then send me an email and I will introduce you to the City Planner that is managing the process.

+ Updating the City of Los Angeles Zoning Code

On February 15th, City Planners Erick Lopez and David Olivo presented MORE PLANNING, LESS REACTING: a proposal to comprehensively revise the City's zoning code. The last comprehensive revision to the city's code occurred in 1946! The proposed plan is to create a hybrid code that integrates the values of USE, FORM, and ORIENTATION (UFO). Essentially, it would enable us a city to re-priotize the values that we want to regulate/ encourage. To clarify, a revised zoning code wouldn't necessarily upzone or downzone specific parcels willynilly. Rather, it would create a new set of classifications (based on Use, Form and Orientation) that would then be used to describe either the current condition or the future potential of a specific parcel of land.

A revised zoning code would:

1. provide more clarity.

2. Facilitate better place-making possibilities.

3. streamline the entitlement process by consolidating all the various clearances needed into more concise sections of the code.

4. saves taxpayers money by reducing the amount of paperwork and resources needed to process cases.

Right now, we need more people encourage City Council through its annual budgeting process to prioritize revising the zoning code. As you may recall, in 2011 as part of our annual AIA|LA Legislative Day at City Hall, we called on our Councilmembers to INVEST IN UPDATED ZONING CODE. Now is the time to provide the support to help push this agenda forward. Contact Councilmember Paul Krekorian, the chair of the Budget & Finance Committee and advocate for the importance of prioritizing the city's budget so that we can invest in revised zoning code.

+ CEQA Reform

On February 23rd (1:00pm) there is a public workshop on CEQA Guidelines Update for Infill Streamlining (SB 226) to discuss the proposed "performance standards that will be used to determine an infill project's eligibility for streamlined review." This is you chance as an LA-based architect to weigh in on which projects we should be facilitating in effort to make our city more economically and environmentally sustainable. The workshop is at the Ronal Reagan Building, Auditorium, 300 South Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

REMINDER - DEADLINE to receive comments is February 24:

Over the past several months, along with Mark Christian, I've been coordinating a series of conference calls with various land-use experts about ideas for how to reform CEQA to streamline urban infill development. This has led to strengthening the connection between AIA|CC and the Governor's Office of Planning & Research. On January 25th, the Governor released his draft performance guidelines for what types of urban infill projects will may qualify under SB 226 (Simitian) for streamlined review. The deadline for comments on this draft is February 24, 2012. Comments can be e-mailed to CEQA.Guidelines@ceres.ca.gov

For 2012, in my capacity as the Public Affairs Director for AIA|LA, I am involved with the following efforts:

+ The LA County BizFed Board of Directors - along with Leron Gubler of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, I am serving as the co-chair of the Polling & Research Committee

+ ClimatePlan - serving on the Steering Committee to develop their Strategic Plan

+ BOMA-PAC - Public Member of the Board

+ Mobility 21 - member of the 2012 Steering Committee

+ 2012 Rail-Volution - member of the Steering Committee

+ City of Los Angeles Mobility & Circulation Element - member of the Public Outreach Task Force

+ Fifty Years of Historic Preservation in Los Angeles - member of the Exhibition and Reception Committee

For more information, please contact:

Will Wright, Hon. AIA|LA
Director of Government & Public Affairs
AIA
/ los angeles
-
A Chapter of
The American Institute of Architects
3780 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213.639.0764 phone
213.639.0767 fax
will
@aialosangeles.org
www.aialosangeles.org

Food, Fitness and Democracy

2012-02-16T12:10:00.001-08:00

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The Sustainable Development Report

Issue No. 8 : February 2012

ELP Advisors works with cities, agencies, stakeholders, foundations and business groups to craft strategies to grow thriving, healthy, vibrant communities.

Change in Leadership for Housing & Community Development

Cathy Creswell, head of the state's Housing and Community Development (HCD) agency left her post on February 14th. Ms. Creswell was with HCD for 25 years, and was
appointed Acting Director of the department in January of 2011. She notes that her time at HCD had given her the opportunity "to work with the most dedicated, compassionate, and talented professionals and advocates in the world."

Ms. Creswell will be succeeded by Linn Warren. Mr. Warren was formerly Program Director at the California Housing Finance Agency and served as Chief of Multifamily Lending from 1990 to 1995.

Human Infographic

This is what happens when GOOD
attacks traffic: leagues of hip-looking young adults come together on the streets of downtown L.A. to show us how small actions can have a big impact.

In a city where drivers spend 72 hours a year stuck in traffic, it's hard to believe that if just three percent of our drivers changed modes (bicycling, walking, transit), traffic would move 15 percent faster. For this, and other fun factoids, check out the video here.

Infill Development CEQA Overhaul

The Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) recently announced public workshops to solicit comments on
new CEQA regulations for infill development [PDF]. The proposed guidelines, part of the implementation of SB 226, would streamline the CEQA review process for infill projects, outlining new standards that will determine a project's eligibility for a speedier review. To see the proposals and review the new performance standard click here.

The workshops will be held on February 21st in Sacramento, February 22nd in Fresno, and February 23rd in Los Angeles.

Events

UCLA Ziman Center's California's Urbanscape: A New Paradigm for Redevelopment in the 21st Century
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Los Angeles, CA

Edward R. Roybal Memorial Lecture on Aging in Place
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Los Angeles, CA
-- Featuring Henry G. Cisneros, Executive Chairman of CityView

LA on the Verge of a Transit Breakthrough: Move LA's 4th Annual Transportation Conversation
Friday, February 24, 2012
8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Los Angeles, CA

Complete Streets for California Conference 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Los Angeles, CA
8:00 a.m.

Growth, Innovation, and the Accelerating Pace of Urban Life: Are 21st Century Cities Sustainable?
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Los Angeles, CA

ULI Urban Marketplace 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Los Angeles, CA
-- Featuring ELP's Cecilia Estolano

California Water Policy Conference
March 8-9, 2012
Los Angeles, CA

Good Jobs Green Jobs Los Angeles Regional Conference
March 15-16, 2012
Los Angeles, CA

315 W. 9th Street, Suite 1010

Los Angeles, CA 90015

Phone: 213-612-4545

Fax: 213-488-3468

www.elpadvisors.com

www.lesardevelopment.com

Food, Fitness and Democracy

As we slowly recover from the traditional Valentine's Day chocolate hangover, we're thinking that if "food is love" then the growing movement around increasing access to fresh and healthy food is spreading a powerful message in some of our most underserved communities.

This month we're highlighting one of the most exciting strands in the sustainable economic development movement - the diverse and dynamic efforts to re-organize our relationship to food production, distribution and consumption in order "to reduce hunger, improve public health, increase equity in our communities, create good jobs, stimulate local economic activity, and foster environmental stewardship."

And as we're trying to make healthier food options available to more people, we think it only makes sense that we also try to invest more in the bicycle and pedestrian improvements that will ease traffic, increase fitness and make our communities more livable. We hope that when the dust clears on the federal transportation reauthorization bill, our spending priorities will have shifted to a more sustainable path.

Perhaps Congress might benefit from the kind of Participatory Budgeting exercise that cities across North America are using to engage taxpayers in deciding how to allocate scarce public dollars. Here's a vote for a new twist on democracy.

Sincerely yours,

Cecilia V. Estolano | Jennifer LeSar | Katherine Aguilar Perez

Linking Health and Sustainability

The fresh and local food movement is one of the most vibrant forces sweeping through urban communities in the U.S. From urban farms in Detroit, green carts in New York, to North Carolina's 10 percent campaign, residents throughout the nation are being exposed to the benefits of locally sourced food. When coupled with a broader healthy communities agenda, the push for better access to fresh produce and locally produced food holds the promise of fundamentally transforming a multi-billion dollar industry. It also has the potential to drive demand for more sustainable communities.

Communities and policy makers alike are taking note of these trends, advocating for increased mobility options (public transit, walking, biking) and increasing access to healthy fruits and vegetables, particularly in historically underserved communities. Throughout California, a number of organizations are working on adopting healthy community strategies, receiving awards to transform communities, developing models for sustainable regional food systems, and increasing awareness among youth about the importance of leading healthy lifestyles.

Groups throughout the state are receiving funding to implement healthy communities strategies. The Mayor of Baldwin Park recently teamed up with First Lady Michelle Obama and a number of funders, spearheaded by the California Endowment, to announce FreshWorks. The $200-million program will "provide financing at or below market rates to encourage grocers to set up shop in underserved communities" throughout the state, according to the L.A. Times. Promoted, in part, as an economic development tool, the program is expected to create or retain 6,000 jobs in California and spur innovation in food retailing. As part of the program, First Lady Michelle Obama announced the first major investment: $20 million to bring "new grocery stores into City Heights, Inglewood and South Los Angeles."

In addition, the Los Angeles County Department of Health (LACDH) received $9.8 million dollars from the Centers for Disease Control as part of the U.S. Health & Human Services Community Transformation Grants (CTG). LACDH will use the money to support existing community initiatives aimed at reducing tobacco use, improving nutrition and increasing physical activity. Grant recipients include the City of Baldwin Park, where funds will support youth-led efforts to ban junk food in Baldwin Park public schools, and finance "Healthy Selection" product aisles in existing businesses.

Baldwin Park is also part of the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Cities Campaign. The organization works with municipalities throughout California to "help city officials adopt policies that improve their communities' physical activity and retail food environments." They are working with over 100 California cities to make recommendations on land use, healthy food, and employee wellness policies. Among their built environment recommendations, the organization urges cities to invest in projects that increase opportunities for physical activity, address walking and bicycling connectivity issues in their communities, and to include health goals and policies related to physical activity in general plan updates. The organization also invites cities to build incentives for development project proposals that demonstrate a "favorable impact on resident and employee physical activity."

Organizations in Los Angeles are promoting healthy community strategies to increase access to "good" food, promote physical activity, and to use local food sourcing as an economic development tool. In 2009, the City of Los Angeles created a Food Policy Council to increase the availability of fresh produce in the city and region-wide. Founding Chair of the Council, Paula Daniels notes that California leads the nation in agricultural imports, yet "very little of the food that is produced in the region is consumed in the urban core. Over one million L.A. County residents suffer from food insecurity." To address these issues, the Council envisions the re-invigoration of our local and regional food system - strengthening our network of small and mid-size growers and connecting them to end customers in Los Angeles.

You don't necessarily need to know what a Regional Food Hub is, or what exactly goes into conducting a foodshed assessment, or how to

Mayoral Candidate Forums: Corrected Version

2012-02-14T15:53:00.001-08:00

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Mayoral Candidate Forums Sponsored by AIA
(Note: Earlier version of this notice contained an incorrect link to AIA website page)
As you know, the mayor has a great deal of influence in zoning and land use matters through the power to appoint members of the City Planning Commission and Area Planning Commissions, as well as the heads of the Planning Department and other key city agencies. Virtually all significant sign regulations and projects involving signage are influenced by these commissions and individuals, so the views of the mayor are very important to the future of the city's visual environment and the effect of outdoor advertising and other forms of signage on communities and neighborhoods.
The L.A. chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA/LA) has helped oppose the predatory practices of the outdoor advertising industry by supporting more stringent regulations on billboards and other forms of signage. Beginning this coming Friday, Feb. 17, the group is sponsoring a series of public forums with candidates for mayor in the 2013 elections. Those forums will offer community leaders and individuals concerned with the saturation of our public spaces with commercial advertising an opportunity to seek the candidates' views on this important issue.
Should we allow ads in parks and other public facilities? What about digital signage, on the city convention center and elsewhere? What should be done about digital billboards that were put up without any notice or public hearings? What kind of benefits should communities receive from developers wanting massive amounts of new advertising signage in sign districts?
Please take this opportunity to ask these and other questions of the candidates. The currently scheduled forums are as follows:

Friday, February 17 (7pm - 9pm) - Mayoral Candidate Jan Perry

Friday, February 24 (7pm - 9pm) - Mayoral Candidate Austin Beutner

Friday, March 2 (7pm - 9pm) - Mayoral Candidate Kevin James

Friday, March 9 (7pm - 9pm) - Mayoral Candidate Wendy Greuel

Friday, March 16 (7pm - 9pm) - Mayoral Candidate Eric http://www.aialosangeles.org/article/aia-los-angeles-organizes-a-series-of-mayoral-candidate-forumsGarcetti

All forums will be held at the Ron Deaton Civic Auditorium at the downtown L.A. police headquarters at 100 W. 1st St. For more information, and advance registration, go to the AIA/LA website.

Do You Think L.A.'s visual environment is degraded by too much commercial advertising?
Sign up for regular news items, website updates, and alerts about actions you can take to bring control of our public visual spaces back to the people, where it belongs. Already on our mailing list? Forward this newsletter to anyone you know who may be interested in the issue.

Ban Billboard Blight is a California-registered non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. But maintaining a website, putting out mailings, and preparing materials for meetings and hearings are just some of things we have to spend money on. For details on how you can help by making a donation, go here.

You are receiving this e-mail because you signed up at our website, or otherwise expressed an interest in the issue of outdoor advertising.
Unsubscribe will@aialosangeles.org from this list.
Our mailing address is:

Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight
2700 Military Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Add us to your address book

Copyright (C) 2012 Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight All rights reserved.
Forward this email to a friend
Update your profile

Mayoral Candidate Forums

2012-02-14T14:00:00.001-08:00

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Mayoral Candidate Forums Sponsored by AIA
As you know, the mayor has a great deal of influence in zoning and land use matters through the power to appoint members of the City Planning Commission and Area Planning Commissions, as well as the heads of the Planning Department and other key city agencies. Virtually all significant sign regulations and projects involving signage are influenced by these commissions and individuals, so the views of the mayor are very important to the future of the city's visual environment and the effect of outdoor advertising and other forms of signage on communities and neighborhoods.
The L.A. chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA/LA) has helped oppose the predatory practices of the outdoor advertising industry by supporting more stringent regulations on billboards and other forms of signage. Beginning this coming Friday, Feb. 17, the group is sponsoring a series of public forums with candidates for mayor in the 2013 elections. Those forums will offer community leaders and individuals concerned with the saturation of our public spaces with commercial advertising an opportunity to seek the candidates' views on this important issue.
Should we allow ads in parks and other public facilities? What about digital signage, on the city convention center and elsewhere? What should be done about digital billboards that were put up without any notice or public hearings? What kind of benefits should communities receive from developers wanting massive amounts of new advertising signage in sign districts?
Please take this opportunity to ask these and other questions of the candidates. The currently scheduled forums are as follows:

Friday, February 17 (7pm - 9pm) - Mayoral Candidate Jan Perry

Friday, February 24 (7pm - 9pm) - Mayoral Candidate Austin Beutner

Friday, March 2 (7pm - 9pm) - Mayoral Candidate Kevin James

Friday, March 9 (7pm - 9pm) - Mayoral Candidate Wendy Greuel

Friday, March 16 (7pm - 9pm) - Mayoral Candidate Eric Garcetti

For more information, and advance registration, go to the AIA/LA website.

Do You Think L.A.'s visual environment is degraded by too much commercial advertising?
Sign up for regular news items, website updates, and alerts about actions you can take to bring control of our public visual spaces back to the people, where it belongs. Already on our mailing list? Forward this newsletter to anyone you know who may be interested in the issue.

Ban Billboard Blight is a California-registered non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. But maintaining a website, putting out mailings, and preparing materials for meetings and hearings are just some of things we have to spend money on. For details on how you can help by making a donation, go here.

You are receiving this e-mail because you signed up at our website, or otherwise expressed an interest in the issue of outdoor advertising.
Unsubscribe will@aialosangeles.org from this list.
Our mailing address is:

Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight
2700 Military Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Add us to your address book

Copyright (C) 2012 Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight All rights reserved.
Forward this email to a friend
Update your profile

COMMENT ON SCAG's RTP by VALENTINE'S DAY

2012-02-10T15:30:00.001-08:00

Send a Love Letter to Better Transportation & Land Use
by Mark Vallianatos
Why you should comment on the draft SCAG 2012-2035 regional transportation plan/ sustainable communities strategy.
What is the RTP?

To read the plan in its entirety, click on the image
The SCAG 2012 to 2035 Regional Transportation Plan/ Sustainable Communities Strategy  is a $525 billion, 23 year transportation and land use blueprint for the six county, expected-to-grow-to 22 million person Southern California Associations of Governments region. The 230 page draft report, 446 page list of projects to fund,642 page environmental impact report, and numerous appendixes lay out a vision for transportation and land use in the greater Los Angeles region along with a plan to raise and spend over $520 billion to maintain, operate and expand transportation infrastructure through 2035.
Comments on the draft plan are due by 5pm on Valentine’s day, February 14, 2012. I’d encourage everyone interested in the future of streets, transit, sustainability or the built environment in the region to submit comments by emailing RTP@scag.ca.gov While not everything in the draft plan will get implemented, the RTP is a strong indicator of how transportation agencies, counties and cities will prioritize investments in transportation. If there are harmful or wasteful projects slated to be funded, you should encourage SCAG to drop them. If you want local governments to prioritize different transportation investment, you should let SCAG know. If you have ideas for other ways to improve mobility, to raise funds to pay for transportation, to encourage more sustainable land uses (especially housing patterns and locations), or otherwise transform how we move people and products, let them know.
I hope that some Streetsblog readers will check out the project list to see and comment on what is planned – and what is left out- for your part of the region and/or for the transportation sector(s) that you know best. For my comments, which I summarize below, I’ve tried to focus on the improved mobility and more sustainable neighborhoods that I hope to see evolve over the next 25 years. If the draft plan moves us in that direction, I’ll acknowledge the positive elements of the plan. Where the draft plan falls short or moves in the wrong direction, I’ll suggest changes.
A Vision for the Future
So what are some compelling but achievable long term visions for transportation and land use in the region? Mine would include:
Rapid implementation of more balanced transportation options. The region is still far from recovering from a frenzy of car-based development. The SCAG region has 21,638 center-line miles of road (55,890 lane miles of roads), 4315 miles of bikeways of varied quality (almost zero of it protected lanes on streets), and 470 miles of passenger trains (only 80 miles of which is light rail/subway, the rest metrolink). Opportunities and infrastructure to walk, bike, and take transit should be rapidly expanded so residents have choices for how to get around.
Transportation that doesn’t kill us, make us sick, or destroy the future. Moving people by cars and materials by trucks and diesel trains and separating where we live from where we work and shopproduces fatal collisions, cancer and heart disease, obesity and diabetes  and climate change, with a disparate impact on residents of low income neighborhoods bisected by highways and living near ports, warehouses, railyards and intermodal facilities. Shifting to active transportation and safer streets; insisting on zero emission technologies; promoting walkable land uses; and taxing polluting forms of transportation to pay for clean mobility options can help ensure we are not harmed by our transportation systems.
Streets for people, not roads for cars. Streets are our most important public spaces so let’s reconfigure them to be vibrant, safe, healthy places rather than sewers for cars. Why can’t we get some world class street designs implemented in this region, like the models for South Figueroa showcased by myfigueroa last year? At the least we deserve slower speed limits, more cross walks, and better sidewalks, not to mention more murals and legal street food.
A network of rapid buses as the primary way to travel Los Angeles in a vehicle. I like Jarrett Walker’s vision for Los Angeles streets in 2030 “Indeed, the Rapid has come to feel like a subway on the surface. Nothing gets in its way, so it glides smoothly from one stop to the next past all the frustrations of other traffic. In fact, the Rapid is the only reliable way to travel down most of the great boulevards of LA, if you’re going further than you can cycle. And because it works, all kinds of people ride it.”
Good places rather than more sprawl. People are drawn to diversity in the built environment, so municipalities should legalize interesting, mixed-use neighborhoods by getting rid of zoning rules that restrict mixed use development to a small fraction of cities’ land area. Governments should also not be contributing a single cent towards more sprawl so I’d like to see an end to road building and the provision of public sewers or utilities ingreenfield, exurban areas of the region.
An expansive network of protected bike lanes. The cycling rate in greater Los Angeles is pitifully low, although growing, with a severe gender imbalance. The main reason for this is likely that most people will not ride bicycles in traffic (or separated from traffic by a painted line). In the developed world, every nation with high rates of cycling has separated bike facilities while every nation with low cycling rates lacks this infrastructure. Let’s start creating a network of protected bike lanes/ cycletracks in all urbanized areas of Southern California, like the Dutch did beginning in the mid 1970s. I realize that protected lanes are frowned upon by state street engineering standards but this is a 23 year plan so we can assume that separated facilities will be legalized.
Expanded passenger rail for mobility and as hubs of walkable neighborhoods. New light rail in Los Angeles County has been one of the main positive trends in transportation and land use in the region. Planned and new lines should be rapidly built to fill in gaps in the system. From light rail to high speed rail, new lines and stations should be designed to encourage walkable, mixed use development, more affordable housing, and last mile connections by bike and foot (rather than land-wasting parking lots).
Less space for cars and trucks. Roads and parking currently take up too much of our land, which encourages car-based transportation and all the problems that accompany it. Driving increases when roads are constructed, lengthened or widened. Yes, it is that simple. So we should not be building any new road space anywhere in the SCAG region. Instead we should remove space for cars by planning for freeway removal as smart cities are doing around the world; implementing road diets to give car lanes to pedestrians, bikes and buses; barring cars from city centers either permanently or regularly as part of expanded ciclavias; and ending all minimum parking requirements.
Comments on draft RTP
While I don’t think that the draft RTP moves far enough towards this improved transportation and land use end goal, I would like to acknowledge some of the positive elements of the draft plan.
The planning process took account of the relationship between transportation, land use, sustainability, environmental justice and economic development.
The draft plan calls for significant investments in transit construction, operations and maintenance.
The draft plan increases investments in active transportation compared to previous RTPs.
The draft plan anticipates that vehicle miles traveled will increase less than population growth.
The sustainable communities strategy quantifies how different forms of growth will have very different impacts on sprawl, energy and water use and other sustainability indicators.
The draft plan anticipates adoption of zero emission technologies towards the end of the plan time frame.
The draft plan supports high speed rail.
The draft plan anticipates a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from transportation in line with the goals of SB 375.
The single largest anticipated funding source in the draft plan is implementation of a fee on driving or an increase in the gas tax, either of which would discourage driving.
Much of the new highway space proposed in the draft plan is toll roads, HOV lanes, or HOT lanes (open to HOV or Tolls) and therefore may lead to less new, induced driving than the provision of free, multiuse lanes.
I think there are some major areas in which the RTP should be strengthened or modified
Increase investments in active transportation from the $6 billion budgeted to the approximately $40 billion recommended by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to fix sidewalks, implement jurisdictions’ bike plans; and invest in last mile infrastructure near transit stations.
Budget an additional $1 billion for the construction of 1000-2000 miles of protected bike lines to increase rates of cycling among non traditional cyclists (protected lanes recently constructed in Long Beach cost approximately $580,000 per mile).
Expand and accelerate transit investments so all planned transit projects in the RTP are constructed by 2022. Existing and new transit services should be funded so as to be affordable with frequent service.
Do not add any lane miles of highways or major arterials, because as Duranton and Turner have shown, “For interstate highways in the densest parts of metropolitan areas we ﬁnd that vkt increases in exact proportion to highways, conﬁrming the ‘fundamental law of highway congestion’ suggested by Downs(1962, 1992). This relationship also approximately holds for other important roads in dense areas and for interstate highways in less dense parts of metropolitan areas.” The SCAG region currently (base year 2008) has 21,638 miles of road and 55,890 lane miles of roads. The draft RTP anticipates adding 948 centerline miles/ 7419 lanes miles which would be a 4.4%/ 11.1% increase. Converting mixed flow lanes to toll, HOV or HOT lanes or converting HOV lanes to toll or HOT lanes would be acceptable.
Pay for additional active transportation and transit investments by cancelling highway expansion projects and by increasing fees on driving. I believe that the dozen most expensive road expansion projects in the RTP are: east west freight corridor ($15.2 billion), Riverside to Orange County CETAP ($13 billion), high desert corridor ($6.9 billion), 710 corridor expansion ($6.1 billion), 710 gap closure ($5.6 billion), 5 north capacity enhancements ($5.3 billion), 241 expansion ($2.7 billion), mid county parkway ($2.3 billion), 15 widening ($ 1.7 billion), 405 widening in Orange County ($1.7 billion), 5 widening ($1.6 billion), and 79 expansion ($1.4 billion). Building these highways projects will expand driving, while cancelling them will allow $63.5 billion to be spent on active transportation and transit.
Adopt alternative 3 (the envision 2 alternative) smart growth land use and housing patterns) rather than the planned project. This alternative version of the plan relies on smart growth land use and housing patterns to achieve superior environmental results in air quality, aesthetics, open space and farmland preservation, water conservation, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, mobility, and land use.
Encourage sensitive densification of existing single family zoned areas by encouraging municipalities to allow cottage housing, duplexes, accessory dwellings, and small lot subdivisions in R-1 zones.
Encourage all jurisdictions to eliminate mandatory parking minimums for existing and new buildings.
Set a goal to reduce rather than expand vehicle miles travelled within the region. Vehicle Miles travelled in the baseline year 2008 was 445,844 daily, approximately half on freeways, half on arterial roads. SCAG calculates that this number will rise to 546,806 daily by 2035 without any changes to roads (a 22.6 % increase). Under their plan, VMT will still rise, to 516,990 (16% increase). They also anticipate that VMT for trucks will grow even faster, expanding from 30,201 to 53,431 under their 2035 plan (a 76.9% increase).
Plan for highway removal or modification. Learning from cities removing highwayshttp://www.cnu.org/highways/freewayswithoutfutures2012 , agencies and municipalities should plan to remove, cover or alter and reclassify as arterials highways that divide communities, negatively impact valuable natural resources such as rivers and coasts, or channel excessive traffic into neighborhoods. Freeway stubs such as the 710 N above the 10 or the 2 as it approaches Silverlake are ripe for removal or conversion and the 101 through downtown Los Angeles has been the subject of advocacy for capping for a park.
Do not invest in goods movement roads and rail expansion in the hopes that zero emission technologies will emerge decades later. Invest more in zero emissions trucks and locomotives now as a precondition before expanding freight infrastructure. Otherwise impacted communities will continue to suffer disproportionately from pollution from good movement.
Price driving and parking to reflect the externalities of car and truck use. There are a variety of methods for increasing the price of driving, some of which are contemplated in the RTP’s financial plan. Higher gas taxes, carbon taxes, charges based on miles driven, appropriately and dynamically priced parking, andcongestion charges aimed at commuters entering central city areas are all useful policies.

URGENT: Call your reps TODAY to save transit, bike & ped funds

2012-02-09T11:42:00.001-08:00

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ACTION ALERT!                      February 9th, 2012

Urgent Action Alert from TransForm
- - - - -

The House version of the federal transportation bill is awful... and must be stopped.

All across the country, people are calling Washington today to send a message: cutting designated transit, bicycle and pedestrian funding is not an option. Take two minutes to help us overwhelm the House now.

We knew the House of Representative's version of the draft federal transportation bill would be bad. But we never thought it would be this bad.
Their draft bill, HR 7, would eliminate all dedicated bicycle and pedestrian programs.
It gets worse. The House Ways and Means Committee is now trying to force all the revenue from gas taxes to be used only for roads. For decades transit has received about 20% of fuel tax receipts, meaning billions in guaranteed funding for buses, trains, and ferries. Without these funds, transit would have to go begging before Congress for general funds each year.
HR 7 is a far cry from the bipartisan, transportation choices-friendly Senate version of the bill authored by California's Senator Boxer. Almost everyone hates HR 7, except big oil, the trucking industry, and sprawl developers.
So let's stop HR 7 in its tracks. Today, as part of the Transportation For America campaign, thousands of people across the country are calling their Congress members and telling them to oppose HR 7.
We have a script and way for you to quickly look up your House member.
Please take two minutes and help bring sanity back to the federal transportation bill debate.
Thanks for helping us send a strong message from across the country,
Marta Lindsey
Communications Director
TransForm 436 14th Street, Suite 600, Oakland, CA 94612

510.740.3150 x321

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[CEQA.Guidelines.SB226] Notice of Public Workshops: Proposed CEQA Guidelines Implementing SB 226

2012-02-08T10:42:00.001-08:00

Dear CEQA Reform Advocates: as an FYI, I wanted to share notice with you about the upcoming public workshops to discuss SB 226 implementation. The workshop in LA is on Thursday, February 23 (1pm).
-Will Wright
AIA Los Angeles

The Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) is pleased to announce public workshops to solicit comments on proposed additions to the CEQA Guidelines implementing SB 226 (Simitian, 2011). The proposal sets forth a streamlined CEQA review process for infill projects and contains performance standards that will determine an infill project’s eligibility for streamlined review. The proposal and related documents are available online at http://opr.ca.gov/s_sb226.php.
The workshops will be held on February 21 in Sacramento, February 22 in Fresno, and February 23 in Los Angeles. During the workshops, OPR staff will provide an overview of the proposed CEQA Guidelines update, introduce the performance standards and discuss next steps in the rulemaking process. An opportunity will be provided for public input on the preliminary discussion draft. A flyer with more information on the workshop dates and locations is available online at http://opr.ca.gov/docs/SB226FebWorkshopNotice.pdf.
Written comments on the proposal are requested by February 24, 2012, and should be submitted via electronic mail to CEQA.Guidelines@ceres.ca.gov.

TONIGHT: LA Mural Ordinance Community Discussion

2012-02-07T14:52:00.001-08:00

Feb.7:  LA Mural Ordinance Community Discussion (Los Angeles Arts District BID & LALA Gallery)
Location: LALA Gallery // 1335 Willow Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Time: 7:00 - 9:00pm
Guests: Shepard Fairey (Artist); Saber (Artist); Daniel Lahoda (LA Freewalls); Tanner Blackman (LADCP)
Web: http://bit.ly/waP9UA
This is your last chance to make your voice heard… Public Comment on the new LA Mural Ordinance will end soon. The Dept. of City Planning, LALA Gallery and the Arts District BID want to celebrate our policy momentum with a final public discussion and chill event on February 7th.
Please familiarize yourself with the Draft Ordinance HERE.
This event promises to inspire some very exciting discussion about the future of Public Art in LA.  Los Angeles City Council Districts 9 and 14 will be in attendance as well as 2 of the world’s most renowned contemporary muralists and Los Angeles locals, Shepard Fairey and Saber.
Please attend this event, but more importantly, put it on your Facebook and Twitter, invite your friends, and tell your neighbors!!! The Arts District has become the epicenter of contemporary muralism without ANY civic support! Imagine what we can do with the city’s recognition.
Event Details:
New Mural Ordinance Community Discussion with Shepard Fairey and Saber
LALA Gallery
1335 Willow St.
Los Angeles, CA. 90021
(Enter on Santa Fe, next to Villain’s Tavern)
Press Contact: (213) 415-1826    info@lahodafinearts.com

INVITE - Please attend The AIA|LA MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUMS

2012-02-06T14:53:00.001-08:00

The AIA|LA MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUMS
PRESENTED BY MATT CONSTRUCTION
In an effort to encourage more public discourse about the value of design excellence, AIA Los Angeles has coordinated a series of candid discussions with prospective mayoral candidates for the City of Los Angeles. Moderated by Los Angeles City Planning Commission President, Bill Roschen, FAIA and Los Angeles Times Architecture Critic, Christopher Hawthorne, the forums will serve as an opportunity for a diverse constituency to learn more about each candidate's vision for the future of our city and the actions they will take to ensure we get there.
While environmental and economic sustainability, resource conversation, enhanced mobility and access, community health, social justice and planning for complete communities are all integral tenets of architecture, we'd like to evolve the conversation beyond those holistic fundamentals. We'd like to talk about what our city looks and feels like! What's it like to experience Los Angeles and how can we build upon that experience to ensure we have a city that remains economically competitive with other world-class destinations?
AIA|LA will ask each mayoral candidate provocative questions centered on the importance of architecture, urban design and city planning and create a score card to highlight and contrast each candidate's response.
If you care about Los Angeles and want to contribute to the dialogue that will move our city forward with an emphasis on the importance of design excellence, then come spend your Friday nights in February and March with AIA|LA and get to know the mayoral candidates!
Thanks to the generous contribution of MATT CONSTRUCTION, this event is free and open to the public with advance registration.
Each forum will be held at the Ron Deaton Civic Auditorium at the LAPD Headquarters Building in Downtown, Los Angeles.
To register for each forum, please click on the following:
Friday, February 17 (7pm - 9pm) - Mayoral Candidate Jan Perry
Friday, February 24 (7pm - 9pm) - Mayoral Candidate Austin Beutner
Friday, March 2 (7pm - 9pm) - Mayoral Candidate Kevin James
Friday, March 9 (7pm - 9pm) - Mayoral Candidate Wendy Greuel
Friday, March 16 (7pm - 9pm) - Mayoral Candidate Eric Garcetti
For more information, please visit AIA|LA's dedicated webpage.
Free and open to the public. LIMITED CAPACITY.
Location:
Ronald F. Deaton Civic Auditorium
LAPD Police Administration Building
100 West First Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
For more information, please contact:
Will Wright, Hon. AIA|LA
Director, Government & Public Affairs
AIA Los Angeles
3780 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90010
tel: (213) 639-0764
email: will [@] aialosangeles.org

Where do you think health happens?

2012-02-02T13:30:00.001-08:00

TransForm e-news: February 2, 2012
Your monthly pass to world-class public transportation and more wonderful, walkable communities.
“Health happens in neighborhoods, not doctors’ offices,” says Dr. Jackson, an environmental health professor at UCLA in Monday’s New York Times.
He’s right, of course: the more we’ve sprawled, the more chronic disease rates have soared. Car-centered places foster obesity, inactivity, social isolation, stress and depression. It’s tragic but true.
But TransForm’s just-released report, written in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health, shows how we can win better health outcomes by harnessing opportunities in Regional Transportation Plans.
And if you’re into the intersection between health and transportation, we want you to get involved in the new Healthy Transportation Network we’re launching here in the Bay Area with the Safe Routes to Schools National partnership February 15.
Now onto the rest of the e-news:

House releases awful version of the federal transportation bill

Transit, biking and walking fare okay in Governor Brown’s state budget

Join us in taking on Sacramento in the name of transportation choices May 1 and 2

Be part of the new Healthy Transportation Network

Transportation spending plan adopted by Alameda County

Learn options for saving Caltrain tonight

The revolution in East Bay bus service is beginning

Eight new projects will make it safer to get to public transportation

Watch a recording of our webinar on how we can grow smarter near transit

Be a model in our photo shoot February 17 in San Francisco

Conference on affordable housing and climate February 4 in Oakland

Sustainable mobility conference February 23 in Berkeley

House releases awful version of the federal transportation bill
As detailed in the Chronicle, the House of Representative’s version of the draft federal transportation bill is a far cry from the bipartisan, transportation choices-friendly Senate version that Senator Boxer shepherded. The House version would eliminate all dedicated bicycle and pedestrian programs, including Safe Routes to Schools. And just today the House Ways and Means Committee introduced eliminating guaranteed funding for the Mass Transit Account and forcing transit to go begging before Congress for general funds each year.
Things are going to get ugly as a compromise between the House and Senate is sought – and we need to be sure legislators hear how important public transportation, walking, and biking are throughout. The House bill is expected to move very quickly, so contact your Congress members now about this intolerable approach to transportation funding.
Transit, biking and walking fare okay in Governor Brown’s state budget
When Governor Brown recently released his proposed 2012/13 budget, it included some hope. First, the Governor is interesting in putting some of the revenue from the nascent Cap and Trade program developed by the Air Resources Board towards public transportation. Though this revenue will be modest at first, it could grow significantly over time. There is also a small increase in State Transit Assistance in the budget. It’s not enough to address the past decade of massive state cuts to public transportation, but it’s something. The governor also proposed an increase in funding for bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Read the details in our budget analysis.
Join us in taking on Sacramento in the name of transportation choices May 1 and 2
We’re hosting the first ever California-wide Transportation Choices Summit and Lobby Day on May 1 and 2 – and we want you to be part of it! Hundreds of people and organizations will unite in pushing our state legislators to invest in a California with real transportation choices: safe, abundant options for walking, biking, and public transportation. Learn more and register now (sliding scale registration and travel scholarships make attending affordable for all). We are also looking for sponsors and volunteers to help us make this day as big and bold as possible. Contact Ahmad about ways to get involved.
Be part of the new Healthy Transportation Network
TransForm and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership are kicking off a powerful new collaboration of advocates, community members, health professionals, and planning experts from across the Bay Area: the Healthy Transportation Network. If you want to learn about and shape key transportation decisions so they yield healthy outcomes for all, get plugged in at our kickoff on Wednesday, February 15 from 9 - 10 a.m. To make it easy to participate, this first meeting will be a free call-in meeting and focus on ways the Bay Area's Sustainable Communities Strategy can be harnessed to improve health. Sign up to get the meeting info and on the Network email list. You can also contact Manolo to learn more.
Transportation spending plan adopted by Alameda County
Last week, the Alameda County Transportation Commission approved a transportation spending plan for funds that would be raised if voters approve increasing the County’s transportation sales tax in November. The final plan was definitely an improvement from where the Commission started, but lacks some taxpayer safeguards we and others recommended.
Many thanks to the hundreds of people like you who spoke out at the hearings and sent a flood of emails to Commissioners, to our allies in the Community Vision coalition, and to several elected officials who pushed hard for a better plan. We are analyzing the details of the adopted plan, are looking for opportunities to win those safeguards in other forums, and will keep you posted on where we go from here. Read more or contact Manolo.
Learn options for saving Caltrain tonight
We need a permanent solution to Caltrain’s lack of a dedicated funding source so we’re not back where we were in 2011, desperately fighting to keep all trains running and stations open. Tonight, February 2 at 7 p.m. in Menlo Park, join Friends of Caltrain for an update on legislative options for Caltrain funding from Assembly Member Jerry Hill and an update on Caltrain's modernization plan with Program Director Marian Lee. Get the details. In other train news, efforts to derail the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit have failed so far – hooray!
The revolution in East Bay bus service is beginning
Bus Rapid Transit is revolutionizing bus service around the world by mimicking rail with features like dedicated lanes, state-of-the-art buses, and traffic signal priority. After years of advocacy, final decisions to start construction of Bus Rapid Transit in the East Bay are within sight!
AC Transit has released its final plan for the route between San Leandro, Oakland and Berkeley based on community input about pedestrian safety, traffic, stations and more. The final plan includes adjustments to station locations, new traffic signals (including signalized pedestrian crossings), new bike lanes and even some new landscaped medians! We hope you’ll join us in supporting the plan at upcoming public meetings which will soon be listed on our website. Contact Joél with questions and to be kept in the loop on the project.
 Eight new projects will make it safer to get to public transportation
The Safe Routes to Transit program – first proposed and now administered by TransForm and the East Bay Bicycle Coalition – just awarded $4 million for projects across the Bay Area that will make it safer and easier to walk or bicycle to public transportation.
Check out what was funded, like a new bike station for Downtown Oakland and a pedestrian tunnel at the Santa Clara Caltrain Station. Funding for the program comes from Regional Measure 2, the one-dollar bridge toll increase for public transportation passed by voters in 2004. The Bay Area’s getting better and better thanks to this first-in-the-nation program, and now, TransForm is spreading this idea statewide! We’ve been working with advocates in the San Diego region to promote Safe Routes to Transit and it received $700 million over 40 years in their Sustainable Communities Strategies (as documented in our recent report).
Watch a recording of our webinar on how we can grow smarter near transit
GreenTRIP is TransForm’s cutting-edge program that certifies residential and mixed-used developments that reduce parking, create more affordable homes, plus offer incentives for new tenants to drive less and own fewer vehicles. If you missed the recent webinar with TransForm’s executive director, Stuart Cohen, and program director, Ann Cheng, you can watch a recorded version now on the Switzer Foundation’s website.
Be a model in our photo shoot February 17 in San Francisco
We are doing a photo shoot on Friday, February 17 at the Caltrain station in San Francisco (4th St.) from 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. We would love you to be part of it! We are especially looking for people in business/professional clothes with bicycles for this photo shoot, though would like to get a few more casual, bike-free shots, too. We will take photos near Caltrain but not in the trains. No experience is required and all ages and ethnicities are encouraged to participate. Read the details and RSVP, then invite your friends on Facebook.
Conference on affordable housing and climate February 4 in Oakland
The League of Women Voter’s annual league day will focus on how to meet regional housing needs as part of the Bay Area's Sustainable Communities Strategy mandated by California’s new climate and smart growth law, Senate Bill 375. Register now.
Sustainable mobility conference February 23 in Berkeley
The University of California Transportation Center’s is presenting “Sustainable Mobility and Cities: Marrying Technology and Policy.” Topics will range from transportation pricing to the “last mile problem.” Learn more and register now.

Marta Lindsey, Communications Director
TransForm
436 14th Street, Suite 600, Oakland, CA 94612
510.740.3150x321
Find us at www.TransFormCA.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES - HEALTHY PLANNING AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

2012-01-31T12:27:00.001-08:00

Attached please find a summary of upcoming 2012 grant opportunities for healthy planning/active transportation, including the upcoming LA County Department of Public Health Healthy Eating/Active Living RFP.

Funding opportunities_Final_January 2012.pdf Download this file

Healthy Places Coalition Digest - January 2012

2012-01-30T14:09:00.001-08:00

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January 30th, 2012

The Healthy Places Coalition advances public health involvement
in land use and transportation planning to ensure that all neighborhoods in
California promote the opportunity to live a healthy life.

Opportunities for Action

Funding: Sustainable Communities Planning Grants
The Strategic Growth Council (SGC) has released the RFP for approximately $18 million of round two Proposition 84 funds to support development, adoption, and implementation of Sustainable Community planning elements throughout the state. Grants will be made in amounts of $100,000 - $1,000,000 and proposals are due February 15, 2012. More information can be found here and the FAAST application system can be accessed here. For more information contact the DOC Planning Grant and Incentive Program.

California Safe Routes to School Funding Available:
California’s Department of Transportation (Caltrans) recently announced a call for Safe Routes to School projects, applications due March 30th, 2012. $45 million in funds for is available from federal and state sources. Eligible awards will include infrastructure projects, with up to 10% of costs going to non-infrastructure work; cities and counties across California can apply. Learn more and apply here.

Comment on the Southern California Sustainable Communities Strategy:
The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has released its draft Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) that will guide the region’s growth and transportation systems. This plan could help improve air quality, transportation resources, and public health in the region. Comments are being accepted through February 14th, and a series of public hearings have been scheduled. Learn more here.

Sign On: All Communities Deserve Safes Places to Play and Be Active
Safe Places to Play and Be Active, developed by the Joint Use Statewide Task Force and the Strategic Alliance, articulates a vision for equal and accessible physical activity opportunities. Safe Places to Play and Be Active will be presented to local, state, and federal policymakers to garner support for effective health and equity promoting policies and practices. Join other supporters including CPEHN, Safe Routes to School Partnership, CANFIT, and The City Project. Sign on today as an organization or individual endorser by contacting Sandra Viera at Prevention Institute.

Events

New Partners for Smart Growth Conference

Date: February 2-4, 2012
Location: San Diego, CA
Registration is open for the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference, February 2-4, 2012. Learn more here.

Conference Sessions Featuring HPC Partners:

Advancing an Agenda for Healthy, Equitable, and Sustainable Environments in California
Date/Time: Thursday, February 2, 2:00-5:15pm
Organization: Prevention Institute

Building a Powerful Regional Equity Coalition to Deliver on Sustainable Communities
Date/Time: Friday, February 3 ,10:00-11:30am
Organization: PolicyLink

Housing and Freeways: How Close is Too Close
Date/Time: Friday, February 3, 3:30-5:30pm
Organization: CA Air Quality Districts, Sacramento Housing Alliance, and others

The Evolving Story of SB 375: California's Landmark Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Law
Date/Time: Friday, February 3, 3:30-5:30pm
Organization: ClimatePlan

Public Health, Transportation, & Land Use: Institutionalizing Partnerships & Practices to Create Healthier Communities
Date/Time: Saturday, February 4, 10:15am-12:15pm
Organization: Prevention Institute

Community Schools - The Case for Joint Use
Date/Time: Saturday, February 4, 10:15am-12:15pm
Organization: LA County Department of Public Health

Complete Streets for California 2012 Conference
Dates: March 2, 2012
Location: Kyoto Hotel, Downtown Los Angeles
The second annual UCLA Complete Streets conference will look back at past accomplishments and will concretely analyze the most recent evolution of complete streets through research and examples of implementation. This gathering of interdisciplinary professionals and researchers will look at ways that streets can be vibrant community spaces and safe for all users. Register here.

Resources

Roadmap for Healthier General Plans:

Public Health Law and Policy has released a new guide to updating local plans and creating healthier communities. Access this step-by-step guide for your local community here.

Model Design Manual for Living Streets:
This new manual helps cities update current practices to achieve balanced street design for all users and all modes, focusing on ensuring that pedestrians, cyclists and transit users can travel safely and comfortably, as well as incorporating features to makes treets beautiful, vibrant, and sustainable. This collaboration between the LA County Department of Public Health and the UCLA Luskin Center for innovation is available here.

Transportation Health Impact Assessment Toolkit:
The Transportation HIA Toolkit, recently released by the CDC, provides a framework for public health departments, city planners, project managers, and other stakeholders to conduct HIAs on proposed transportation projects, plans, and policies. Access it here.

Designing Healthy Communities:
Dr. Richard Jackson, MD, MPH, in partnership with the Media Policy Center, has produced a 4-part PBS miniseries that looks at the impact our built environment has on public health. Dr. Jackson connects bad community design with burgeoning health costs, then analyzes and illustrates what citizens are doing about this urgent crisis by looking upstream for innovative solutions. The series and companion book are available here.

To contribute to the Healthy Places Coalition Digest e-mail Sandra Viera.

Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative

California Convergence

California Department of Public Health, Center for Physical Activity
California Pan Ethnic Health Network
California Park and Recreation Society
Center for Civic Partnerships
County of San Diego, Chronic Disease and Health Disparities
Human Impact Partners
Local Government Commission
PolicyLink
Prevention Institute
Public Health Law and Policy
Samuels and Associates

San Francisco Department of Public Health, Program on Health Equity and Sustainability

Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health

Stay Connected

Visit our website: www.preventioninstitute.org
Prevention Institute
221 Oak Street
Oakland, CA 94607
t 510-444-7738 | email: prevent@preventioninstitute.org

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The AIA|LA ADVOCACY REPORT - January 27, 2012

2012-01-27T15:45:00.001-08:00

The AIA|LA ADVOCACY REPORT
January 27, 2012
from the desk of Will Wright , Hon. AIA|LA
Director, Government & Public Affairs
This report is written in effort to keep the AIA|LA membership updated on the various efforts I've been involved with on behalf of the organization. It's a call to action to inspire more architects to provide the leadership to improve the built environment.
+ The AIA|LA Mayoral Candidates Forums
With the support of Christopher Hawthorne, Bill Roschen, Tanner Blackman, Stuart Magruder, Jim Favaro and Chava Danielson, I've coordinated a series of forums with prospective mayoral candidates. The AIA|LA Board and membership is encouraged to attend each session and to help shape the discussion. We've collated a set of questions to get the conversation flowing. [See attached]
For more information on each forum and to register, please CLICK HERE.
http://www.aialosangeles.org/article/the-aia-la-mayoral-candidate-forums-2012
+ The Hollywood Community Plan
On Wednesday, January 18th, with support from the AIA|LA Urban Design Committee, I coordinated a community roundtable discussion about the proposed Hollywood Community Plan. City Planner Kevin Keller shared a brief presentation to a group of architects, urban designers and community members. The forum served as an opportunity to vet various community concerns so that more emphasis could be directed towards key urban design issues such as better pedestrian access and safety, enhanced design and economic vitality.
The Hollywood Community Plan will be calendared at an upcoming LA City Council Planning & Land Use Management committee meeting. As soon as I have a date, I will keep the AIA|LA community updated.
+ S.C.A.G.'s Regional Transportation Plan
On Tuesday, January 26th, with the support of Gwynne Pugh and John Kaliski, I coordinated a roundtable discussion about how AIA|LA can most effectively provide specific recommendations to help improve SCAG's Regional Transportation Plan.   The Task Force devised a framework for how AIA|LA provide comments and at the same time expand the role of the architect in the ongoing discussion about the future of our region's transportation system. Public comments to SCAG are due by February 14, 2012
+ CEQA Reform
Over the past several months, along with Mark Christian, I've been coordinating a series of conference calls with various land-use experts about ideas for how to reform CEQA to streamline urban infill development. This has led to strengthening the connection between AIA|CC and the Governor's Office of Planning & Research. On January 25th, the Governor released his draft performance guidelines for what types of urban infill projects will may qualify under SB 226 (Simitian) for streamlined review.   The deadline for comments on this draft is February 24, 2012. Comments can be e-mailed to CEQA.Guidelines@ceres.ca.gov and public workshops will be held in early February 2012.
+ The Mayor's Budget Survey
In effort to help shape the direction of the City, I encourage more architects and designers to participate in the Mayor's Budget Survey so that we're able to help influence the city's priorities. What should our core services be?
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012LABudgetSurvey
+ The City Controller's Business and City Improvement Survey
Similarly, City Controller Wendy Greuel has issued a survey to solicit input so that she can develop a comprehensive evaluation of city services. As architects and designers, your opinion matters - your voice can help shape the response that will be needed to improve the performance and efficiency of city government.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/lacontrollersurvey
+ Development Reform with LADBS and Department of City Planning (DCP)
For the past year, along with representatives of the Building Industry Association (BIA), we've been meeting quarterly with Bud Ovrom and Michael LoGrande to identify key points to help streamline the process to obtain planning and building permits. Both Stuart Magruder and Scott Johnson participated in the most recent session we held on Monday, January 23rd. These quarterly meetings are also opportunities to hear various initiatives being led by the Department of City Planning and LADBS that need the support of AIA|LA (such encouraging City Council to invest in an updated zoning code).
+ Building Code Interpretation with LADBS
With the support of AIA|LA Building Performance & Regulations co-chairs Mark Savel and Rhoden Skyles, I've been coordinating a quarterly series of meetings directly with LADBS management to answer specific member-driven code interpretation questions. Our most recent meeting was on Thursday, January 26th and numerous questions were addressed. [see attached]. If you have specific questions about the building code, or if you find a building inspector or plan checker to be interpreting the build code differently than you are, then please submit your specific question in writing to me and I will make sure it is added to the agenda for the next meeting, which will be on Thursday, April 26 (7:30am).
+ The Political Outreach Committee
Under the leadership of Jim Favaro and Roger Sherman, we recently met with Deputy Mayor Matt Karatz' office to refine a proposal to create a Design Excellence Program for the City of Los Angeles. Our next meeting with Deputy Mayor Karatz is scheduled for March 13th (10am). Between now and then, the POC will be working to further refine their proposal. If you'd like to contribute to helping shape this proposal, please join us at our next POC meeting on Tuesday, February 14th - Valentine's Day!
+ The Moral Ordinance
For the past several months, I've been attending various working group meetings with City Planner Tanner Blackman as he collects input from the public to help shape the draft of the citywide MURAL ORDINANCE. I encourage architects and designers to lend support to the process by submitting comments directly to Tanner Blackman at tanner.blackman[@]lacity.org - Deadline for public comments is Wednesday, February 8, 2012.
+ Updating the City of Los Angeles Zoning Code
As you may recall, in 2011 as part of our annual AIA|LA Legislative Day at City Hall, we called on our Councilmembers to INVEST IN UPDATED ZONING CODE. Now is the time to provide the support to help push this agenda forward. On Wednesday, February 15th, the AIA|LA Urban Design Committee will be hosting a presentation by City Planners Erick Lopez and David Olivo about their proposed plan to initiate a comprehensive zoning code revision. This early discussion will serve as an excellent opportunity for AIA|LA to help shape that proposal.
For 2012, in my capacity as the Public Affairs Director for AIA|LA, I am involved with the following efforts:
+ The LA County BizFed Board of Directors - along with Leron Gubler of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, I am serving as the co-chair of the Polling & Research Committee
+ ClimatePlan - serving on the Steering Committee to develop their Strategic Plan
+ BOMA-PAC - Public Member of the Board
+ Mobility 21 - member of the 2012 Steering Committee
+ 2012 Rail-Volution - member of the Steering Committee
+ City of Los Angeles Mobility & Circulation Element - member of the Public Outreach Task Force
+ Fifty Years of Historic Preservation in Los Angeles - member of the Exhibition and Reception Committee
For more information, please contact:

Will Wright, Hon. AIA|LA
Director of Government & Public Affairs
AIA
/ los angeles
-
A Chapter of
The American Institute of Architects
3780 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213.639.0764 phone
213.639.0767 fax
will
@aialosangeles.org
www.aialosangeles.org

Bike Up! LA a benefit for the California Bicycle Coalition - Feb 8th

2012-01-26T14:02:00.001-08:00

Hi all,
A group of really passionate folks in Silver Lake are organizing a benefit event for the California Bicycle Coalition on Wednesday, February 8th. Attached is the flyer. The theme of the night is making the City of LA (and the LA region) more bike-able, by shaking things up in Sacramento. Dave Snyder, the ED of the California Bicycle Coalition will be at the event to talk about the work CBC is doing and local electeds CM Tom LaBonge and possibly CM Eric Garcetti will also be attendance.

This is a fundraiser but the event is free and open to everyone. Please spread the word and I hope I will see you all on Wednesday, February 8th from 7 to 9pm at the Living Room in Silver Lake (3531 W. Sunset Blvd)!

Cheers,
alexis
--------------------------
Planning & Policy Director
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
t: 213.629.2142 / f: 213.629.2259
www.la-bike.org
Help build a better, bike-able L.A. County:
Become an LACBC member today!

BikeUpLA_Flyer_FINAL.pdf Download this file

Upcoming Mural Ordinance Outreach Events

2012-01-26T12:21:00.001-08:00

Greetings. As you may know, the public comment period for the Mural Ordinance will be coming to a close shortly (http://cityplanning.lacity.org/Code_Studies/Misc/MuralOrdinance_DiscussionDraft_LADCP.pdf ). With that in mind, there are five upcoming outreach events where you will be able to share your last minute concerns, critiques, and support so that they may be considered for the final review. Any questions or statements can be sent to myself via email (tanner.blackman@lacity.org). The events are as follows:

Jan.30: Reading & Discussion of the new Mural Ordinance for LA (East Side Riders & United Painters and Public Artists)
Location: Watts Labor Community Action Center // 10950 South Central Avenue, Watts, CA 90059

Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Guests: Tanner Blackman (LADCP)
Web: http://on.fb.me/yBvHxw
Jan.31: Mural Ordinance Update (Mural Conservancy of LA, Cal State LA, American Communities Program, Department of City Planning)
Location: Cal State University, Los Angeles Art Building Room FA223 // 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032

Time: 6:10pm
Guests: Dr. Andrew Lyndon Knighton (CSULA); Dr. Manuel Aguilar-Moreno (CSULA); Isabel Rojas-Williams (MCLA); Tanner Blackman (LADCP); Frank Romero, Ismael Casarez, Adam "Codak" Smith (Artists); David Diaz (CSULA)

Web: (please see attached flier)
Feb.4: Q&A at Lab Art (Lab Art Los Angeles)
Location: Lab Art // 217 S. La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Time: 7:00 - 9:00pm
Guests: Tanner Blackman (LADCP); Jonathan Paul (Artist); Lydia Emily Archibald (Artist & Activist); Daniel Lahoda (LA Freewalls Projects & LALA Gallery Owner)

Web: http://on.fb.me/vZRWEm
Feb.6: Reading and Discussion of the new Mural Ordinance for Los Angeles (Tia Chucha's & United Painters and Public Artists)

Location: Tia Chucha's Centro Cultural and Bookstore // 13197-A Gladstone Avenue, Sylmar, CA 91342
Time: 6:00 - 9:00pm
Guests: Tanner Blackman (LADCP)
Web: http://on.fb.me/zL1FAl

Feb.7: LA Mural Ordinance Community Discussion (Los Angeles Arts District BID & LALA Gallery)
Location: LALA Gallery // 1335 Willow Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Time: 7:00 - 9:00pm
Guests: Shepard Fairey (Artist); Saber (Artist); Daniel Lahoda (LA Freewalls); Tanner Blackman (LADCP)
Web: http://bit.ly/waP9UA

Thank you again everyone for your continuous involvement and participation in the development of this ordinance. I look forward to seeing you all soon.
Best,
Tanner

Governor Brown Releases Package of CEQA Reforms

2012-01-25T15:13:00.001-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Governor's Press Office
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
(916) 445-4571
Governor Brown Releases Package of CEQA Reforms
SACRAMENTO – As part of his ongoing efforts to spur job creation, streamline regulations and boost renewable energy, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today released a package of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reforms that will simplify and expedite the approval process for key job-creating projects in California.

“These reforms will fast-track key projects that put Californians to work,” said Governor Brown. “Like California, CEQA must be more nimble.”

The package of CEQA reforms was released today by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and provide the regulatory changes necessary to implement SB 226 (Simitian), which the Governor signed last October.

Once these draft reforms are finalized, they will simplify the approval process for infill projects by eliminating repetitive studies of environmental effects already addressed in other planning documents, such as general plans and zoning codes. This will help reduce the time and cost often associated with infill projects, while also allowing cities to focus on new or unique projects that help create jobs, revitalize cities and promote transit.

SB 226 also removes hurdles to harnessing solar energy and growing green-collar jobs by exempting solar projects located on existing rooftops and parking lots.

Earlier this month, Governor Brown issued proposed implementation guidelines for AB 900 (Buchanan), signed last September. AB 900 sends CEQA litigation for certain large projects directly to the Court of Appeal and requires a decision on the merits in a short timeframe. The law also offers immediate help to projects that provide California with the most economic and environmental benefit.

Together, CEQA reforms in SB 226 and AB 900 will reduce repetitive documentation and expedite litigation timelines while preserving informed decision-making and mitigation of environmental harm.

The SB 226 guidelines, released today, can be found here. The AB 900 guidelines, released last month, can be found here.

###
Governor Jerry Brown
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
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Mobility Element - Think Lab Workshops

2012-01-23T17:11:00.001-08:00

LA2B_ThinkLabs_BusShelter.pdf Download this file

2012 UCLA Complete Streets for California Conference

2012-01-23T17:08:00.001-08:00

Registration is now open for the 2012 UCLA Complete Streets for California Conference
March 2, 2012
As the support behind the complete streets movement continues to evolve, exemplary on-the-ground projects are steadily growing in strength and in numbers. What are recent accomplishments that have made appearances on the horizon of this movement, how have these efforts fared in their objectives to redefine and repurpose streets as public spaces? What are promising new approaches and strategies for implementing complete and living streets in California and in the U.S.? The second UCLA Complete Streets conference will present speakers from academia and practice to share observations and findings about recent accomplishments and explore new research and complete streets implementation examples.
Selected panels include:
-          What should be the role of complete and living streets in the transportation network?
-          Safety and Equity Considerations
-          Redefining Street Performance Metrics
Selected Confirmed Speakers to date include:
-          Reid Ewing, Professor, University of Utah
-          Regina Freer, Los Angeles City Planning Commission
-          Eran Ben-Joseph, author Rethinking a lot (forthcoming) Professor, MIT
-          Jackie Douglas, Executive Director, Livable Streets
-          Jose Luis Moscovich, Executive Director, San Francisco Transportation Authority
For a detailed agenda and to register, please visit: http://www.regonline.com/completestreets2012

AIA|LA Task Force to discuss the Regional Transportation Plan - January 24 (6:30pm)

2012-01-23T10:11:00.001-08:00

REMINDER:
We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, January 24th (6:30pm) to participate in a roundtable discussion on regional transportation planning.
AIA|LA RTP/ SCS Task Force Roundtable Discussion
Tuesday, January 24 (6:30 - 8:30m)
AIA Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA 90010
RSVP to Will@aialosangeles.org
As you may already be aware, SCAG recently released the Draft 2012-2035 Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS).
Our objective will be to develop a set of recommendations that I can present to the AIA|LA Board of Directors for official endorsement. Since SCAG's deadline for public comment is February 14, 2012, I need to consolidate all of our comments rather quickly.
Your leadership and participation is instrumental in helping us shape our public response.
To access the Draft 2012-2035 Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
To access the Executive Summary, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
If for some reason you are unable to attend the Task Force roundtable, but would still like to provide public comment, you can either do that via the SCAG website, or you can share your ideas directly with me so that I can integrate your perspective into our set of recommendations.
Additional Resources:
MOVE LA = http://movela.blogspot.com/2011/12/regions-first-sustainable-communities.html
NRDC = http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/aeaken/will_southern_californias_sb_3.html

Will Wright
Director of Government & Public Affairs
AIA
/ los angeles - A Chapter of
The American Institute of Architects
3780 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213.639.0764 phone
213.639.0767 fax
will
@aialosangeles.org
www.aialosangeles.org

FAST Invites You to a Westside Mobility Plan Briefing on January 31, 2012

2012-01-20T11:20:00.001-08:00

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The CEQA Streamlining “Slippery Slope” May Help Rail Transit

2012-01-18T10:40:00.001-08:00

New post on Legal Planet: Environmental Law and Policy

The CEQA Streamlining “Slippery Slope” May Help Rail Transit
by Ethan Elkind

A steep slope needs a good train

Whenever proposals come along to exempt or streamline environmental review for certain projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), CEQA defenders fear the slippery slope. Even if the target projects are environmentally benign, the concern is that once the CEQA armor has been pierced, special interests will be able to exploit the opening to secure favorable treatment for their bad projects. Eventually, the exceptions could swallow the law, and the whole system of environmental protections would collapse. To some extent, Eric described these concerns in a recent post.

But what if a little bit of slippery slope leads to some good environmental outcomes? Case in point: Assemblyman Mike Feuer's newly introduced legislation AB 1444, which expands the circle of eligibility for the CEQA streamlining provisions of AB 900 to public rail transit projects. (AB 900, as you may recall, created a special club for certain $100 million projects, subject to the Governor's review, to be eligible for fast-track approval process at the state Court of Appeal for any CEQA challenges.)

Public transit is the poster child for the kind of environmentally benign development that CEQA should be encouraging, not discouraging, if the law is truly about better environmental outcomes. Transit gets people out of cars, serves low-income constituents who might otherwise drive gas-guzzling clunkers, and provides a critical alternative to road and highway construction. While some rail transit may chew up open space or farmland, most urban rail transit serves existing neighborhoods, concentrating development where we need it. Of course, rail transit can create major impacts worth analyzing in advance, such as the potential to destroy historical resources, gentrify neighborhoods, or create safety hazards. But taking years to study these impacts, while driving up costs and gerrymandering routes based on lawsuits, seems like a very un-environmental outcome. However legitimate the criticism has been of CEQA reforms like AB 900, it's a good deal for California if we can help speed construction and lower the cost of rail transit. In this case, CEQA streamlining may not be such a bad place to slip to.

Ethan Elkind | January 18, 2012 at 6:39 am | Tags: AB 1444, AB 900, CEQA, rail transit | Categories: California, Politics, Regulatory Policy | URL: http://wp.me/prxko-3rH

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Between the Lines :: Los Angeles Magazine

2012-01-17T12:35:00.001-08:00

FEATURES
Between the Lines
That prized garage space or curbside spot you’ve been yearning for may be costing you— and the city—in ways you never realized. A journey into the world of parking, where meter maids are under siege, everybody’s on the take, and the tickets keep on coming
By Dave Gardetta
12/1/2011

Between the Lines.pdf Download this file

State of the State: Vision Needed

2012-01-17T11:54:00.001-08:00

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The Sustainable Development Report

Issue No. 7 : January 2012

ELP Advisors works with cities, agencies, stakeholders, foundations and business groups to craft strategies to grow thriving, healthy, vibrant communities.

Speed Lottery

The best way to initiate change is by making it fun. We're of the opinion that if it works for kids, it'll probably work for adults as well. Volkswagen sponsors an ongoing search for fun and/or playful ideas that help make the world a better place. If you've got an idea that fits that bill, you can submit it through the company's Fun Theory website.

In 2010, the Volkswagen Fun Theory Award was given to Kevin Richardson for his idea of a
Speed Camera Lottery. The idea is to make it profitable (and, hence, fun) to follow the posted speed limit. It works like this: motorists will have their speed checked as usual. And, as usual, speeders will risk a fine for exceeding the limit. The incentive for more cautious drivers, however, is that they have the opportunity to win cold hard cash. To boot, the winnings are paid from the fines collected from the speeders.

Volkswagen wanted to try out this theory, so it set up a test in Stockholm, Sweden. A street speed indicator was set up on a street over a three-day test period. Over 24,000 cars passed the speed camera. Before the experiment took place the average speed was 32km/h (20 mph); it dropped to 25km/h (15 mph) during the experiment. What if red light and speed cameras in the U.S. adopted a carrot and stick policy like this? Would the effect be slower speeds and safer streets?

Check your Emissions

The EPA has just released a nifty mapping toolthat shows users just how many tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) your neighborhood polluters are emitting. Like the rest of the U.S., California's biggest GHG emitters are power plants. The Golden State's power facilities spew over 45.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MT CO2 e) into the atmosphere, a fraction of the nation's total output (2.3 billion metric tons). Refineries came in as the number two emitter, with under 26 million metric tons in the state and 183 million metric tons nationwide.

Things get more interesting when you get down to the local level, though. In Los Angeles County, refineries are the biggest polluters, with more than double the emissions of the area's power plants. Orange County, on the other hand, reports that most of its direct CO2 emissions are from local landfills.

Explore the online tool for yourself to see how your neighborhood or region stacks up.

Check Out Metropolis II

Those of you looking to geek out over Jetsons-esque visions of the future should head over to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) this weekend to check out Metropolis II. The sculpture by Chris Burden is described as "a massive mini-city of towering buildings interwoven and surrounded at all heights by tiny street-like tracks that carry 1,100 toy cars quickly and noisily around." It takes up 500 square feet and is nearly 10 feet tall in parts. Check out this video to see it in action.

Since this work requires an operator to be functional, the sculpture will only be run during specific times, so LACMA urges you to plan your visit accordingly. The sculpture will be operational at the following times:

Fridays: 12:30-2 pm; 3-4:30 pm; 5-6:30 pm; 7-8:30 pm

Weekends: 11:30-1:00 pm; 2-3:30 pm; 4-5:30 pm; 6-7:30 pm

Metropolis will only be operational on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays so mark your calendars.

Events

VERDEXCHANGE: vx2012
January 22-24, 2012
Los Angeles, CA
-- Cecilia Estolano moderates a panel about "Scaling up Clean Tech Enterprises: Creating Regional Ecosystems that Support Green Growth"
-- Save 20% when registering using the following discount code: VXELP

Webinar: Creating a Path for Financing Sustainable Water Infrastructure
Thursday, January 26, 2012
10 a.m. PST/1:00 p.m. EST

Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference Submittals Due February 1st
February 1, 2012

UCLA Extension Land Use Law & Planning Conference
February 3, 2012
University of California, Los Angeles
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
-- Cecilia Estolano participates on a panel called "Death by a Thousand Cuts: The Diminution of Redevelopment"

New Partners for Smart Growth
February 2-4, 2012
San Diego, CA
-- Cecilia Estolano moderates a panel on "Smart Water: Aligning Land Use and Infrastructure for Healthier Communities and Cities"

Creating Reliable Valuations in the Absence of Good Historical Data: ULI Online Live Workshop
February 16-23

315 W. 9th Street, Suite 1010

Los Angeles, CA 90015

Phone: 213-612-4545

Fax: 213-488-3468

www.elpadvisors.com

www.lesardevelopment.com

State of the State : Vision Needed

We start 2012 with irrefutable evidence that local and state governments are undergoing profound and irreversible transformation. California's redevelopment agencies will soon be dissolved, local governments continue to slash services and payroll, a state super-agency is being dismantled, and a $4.8-6.9 billion proposed package of tax increases may not actually yield enough to save education from further budget cuts.

Private employment is slowly growing but our unemployment rate remains high, at least in part because of lay-offs in the public sector. As we send this newsletter out, we anticipate another gloomy State of the State address from Governor Jerry Brown. What does this all mean for sustainable development? It means we need to be clear about our values and then forge new and deeper collaborations among unlikely allies to fight back the pall that hangs over California's governance.

It means that we need a surfeit of creativity for new approaches to old and deepening problems. While we mark the end of redevelopment and its potential to create more livable, balanced communities, we think it's time to get serious about California needing a real economic development program that is up to the challenge of a globally integrated economy.

We need a permanent, reliable source of funding for affordable housing and we need a strategy for green growth. We cannot wait for the state to recover its footing. The fact is it will never be the same. Let's dust ourselves off and remake the state in the image of our boldest vision.

Sincerely yours,

Cecilia V. Estolano | Jennifer LeSar | Katherine Aguilar Perez

Out of the Ashes : Framing Sustainable Development as RDAs Dissolve

Last Friday was the deadline for cities to decide whether they would assume the role of Successor Agencies for their soon-to-be-dissolved redevelopment agencies (RDAs). While the Mayor and City Council of Los Angeles decided to orphan the storied Community Redevelopment Agency, cities and counties up and down the state grappled with the chaos of interpreting AB1X26. Some sought to push back the Day of Dissolution from February 1st to April 15th, while Senate President Pro Tem Darryl Steinberg introduced SB 654 to allow local governments to hold onto the $2 billion in low and moderate income housing funds currently on deposit with RDAs. The League of California Cities and the California Redevelopment Association have put on a brave face hoping to somehow resuscitate redevelopment. However, Governor Jerry Brown has not given any indication of the slightest interest in reviving redevelopment, especially in the face of continuing budget woes.

Amidst the swirling activity around short-term efforts to buy more time and clarify the most confusing aspects of AB1X26, it's worth considering what a real sustainable economic development program for the state of California might look like. Let's start fresh with a new mission that uses the most effective tools of redevelopment in the service of long-term economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Let's retain and update the following redevelopment tools: (1) Flexible, nimble assemblage and disposition of land; (2) brownfields clean-up and reuse; (3) infrastructure investment; and (4) a dedicated funding source for affordable housing.

Here are seven essential elements for a new approach. First, let's start with a vision for a lower carbon economy that generates good paying jobs. This vision includes an integrated approach to mixed-income housing development, urban infill and transit-oriented development, business creation and expansion, and the provision of accessible green and open space. AB 32, SB 375 and the Strategic Growth Council's Strategic Plan give us an outline for this vision.

Second, let's focus on supporting and growing sectors, particularly in the manufacturing and green industries for which California's regions have a competitive advantage. Let's base our support of these sectors on solid data and analysis. Third, let's invest in strategic infrastructure (sewers, stormdrains, water storage and green infrastructure, rail, public transit, renewable power, transmission lines, ports and airports) that will enable sustainable green growth.

Fourth, let's frame our workforce training and development strategies around the needs of existing California businesses in leading and emerging growth sectors that can pay family-supporting wages. Let's create meaningful, enduring partnerships with business, labor, community colleges, CBOs and other key stakeholders to nimbly adjust and deliver training programs that give workers the means to constantly up-skill in a competitive global economy.

Fifth, let's foster and harness creativity and innovation through collaborations among our extraordinary universities, research institutions, venture capital and other investors, start-ups and industry innovators and local, regional and state government staff. Our goal should be to nurture the development of new and emerging sectors through spin-offs, start-ups and business expansion in the fields that hold the best promise for family-supporting jobs.

Sixth, let's leverage the different roles of government (regulatory, proprietary,

Last Two Days to Register for VerdeXchange before Prices Increase

2012-01-17T10:51:00.001-08:00

VERDEXCHANGE Green Marketmakers Conference – January 22-24, 2012, Los Angeles

VERDEXCHANGENEWS

The 'One' Global Event for Accessing the California and Western States Clean and Green Marketplace
January 22-24, 2012
Los Angeles, California
www.verdexchange.org/

VX2012 Sponsors



With 40 Cross Platform VerdeXchange Panels and Intimate Networking Opportunites with GreenMarketmakers Planned, You Can't Afford to Miss VX2012.
VERDEXCHANGE's 5th Annual Green Marketmakers Conference
January 22-24, 2012
Prices Increase Thursday, January 19th
Register Now and Save!

The VERDEXCHANGE Conference brings together green marketmakers—the "drivers of change" of the public and private sector who, along with environmental stewards, create the global and local markets for green technology products and sustainable services.

New speakers are being added everyday. Confirmed speakers pictured above include:

Nancy Ryan (Deputy Director, California Public Utilities Commission), Michael Allman (President & CEO, SoCal Gas), Antonio Villaraigosa (Mayor, Los Angeles), Ron Nichols (General Manager, LADWP), Mickey Kantor (Former US Secretary of Commerce) and Adel Hagekhalil (City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation).
VX2012 panelists and speakers already confirmed include, among others:
Carla Peterman (California Energy Commissioner), Mike Levin (Flex Energy, Inc.), Cecilia Estolano (ELP Advisors), Peter Brown (Chairman and Secretary of the Board, OASIS), Tom Soto (Managing Partner & Founder of Craton Equity), David Nahai (President, David Nahai Consulting Services, LLC), David Rosenheim (Executive Director, The Climate Registry), V. John White (Executive Director, CEERT), Michael Peevey (California Public Utilities Commission), Pat Proano (LA County of Public Works Environmental Programs), Riggs Eckelberry (President and CEO, Origin Oil Inc.), C. Scott Miller (President, The Miller de Wulf Corporation), Peter Hamilton (Director of Energy Services, California Center for Sustainable Energy), Susan Robinson (Director of Public Sector Services, Waste Management), James D. Boyd (Vice Chair, California Energy Commission), Malia Cohen (San Francisco Board of Supervisors), Atushi Denda (Deputy Director, Shimizu Corp), Mark Fillinger (Director of Development, First Solar Inc.), Harlan Kelly (San Franisco Public Utilities Commission), Michael Rosenfeld (UK Trade & Investment), Robert Owen-Jones (Asst. Secreretary Climate Change & Energy Efficients, Australia), Jeff Joyner (Greenberg-Traurig), Michael Berg (Principal, Berg & Associates), Danny Wong (Avery Dennison), Christian Graeff (Co-Founder, Cleantech Business Park, Berlin), Peter Hamilton (Director Energy Services, CA Center for Sustainable Energy), Fred Johring (President, Golden State Logistics), Susan Kennedy (Senior Policy Advisor with Alston & Bird, Fmr. Chief of Staff to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger), Richard Katz (Board Director, Los Angeles Metro), Catherine Reheis-Boyd (President, Western States Petroleum Association), Donald Paul (Executive Director, USC Energy Institute), Andreas Kugescheid (VP Governmental Affairs at BMW AG), Mike Wallace (Director, Global Reporting Initiative), John "Woody" Wodraska (President, Wodraska Partners, Inc.), Christopher Hawthorne (Architectural Critic, Los Angeles Times), Doug Failing (Executive Director of Highway Programs, Los Angeles Metro), Osamu Onodera (Director, Japan New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, Silicon Valley Office), Juan Castaneda (Manager Power System Technologies, SCE), Mark Irwin (Director of Technology Development, SCE), Wayne Ratkovich (President and CEO, The Ratkovich Company), Bill Abolt (National Practice Leader of Shaw's Sustainability, Energy and Carbon Management Practice), Felicia Marcus (Western Director, NRDC), John Roberts (Executive Director, Transportation, Los Angeles Metro), Marshall Parsons (Manager Home Area Networks, SCE), Vikram Budhraja, (President, Electric Power Group, LLC), Zev Yaroslavsky (Los Angeles County Supervisor, 3rd District), Jun Niimi (Consul General of Japan, LA), Aaron Klemm (Energy Project Manager, Huntington Beach), David Franzen (Consul General of Canada, LA), Jack Baylis (The Shaw Group), Liz Logan (PwC), Robyn Beavers (Vestas Wind Systems), James N. Goldstene (CARB), Tom Soto (Craton Equity), Jeff Kightlinger (MWD), Won-Sok Yun (Kotra LA), Nancy Skinner (CA Assembly), Robert Hertzberg (g24i), Timon Meyer (Senior Advisor, Cleantech Business Park, Berlin), Fred Walti (Ex. Director, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator) and Kaylynn Kim (Tierra Global). See more.

EXHIBITING WILL BE:

BMW; CODA; The Nissan Leaf; The Toyota Prius; as well as Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, amongst others.

TESTIMONIALS:
"That’s why I attend the VERDEXCHANGE Conferences: It’s an under-one-roof event where I can count on learning about the most recent market trends and on having the opportunity to meet in small groups settings with the buyers and sellers, investors, and environmental stewards shaping the market."
-Mary Nichols, Chair, California Air Resources Board
"California is the epicenter of climate change initiatives and those attending the VERDEXCHANGE Conference will hear firsthand about when and where the most interesting opportunities will be felt. I look forward to engaging with the leading executives in the public and private sector and learning how these marketmakers plan to meet the demand for breakthrough renewable technologies."
-Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta
"Looking at the lineup, the VERDEXCHANGE Conference will do for the green marketplace what the Sundance Film Festival did for the movie industry...Nowhere else do I see a confluence of the diverse range of sectors—energy, finance, transportation, public and private utilities, built environment planning and universities—all with the singular goal of delivering and capitalizing on clean and green products and services."
-Former U.S. Commerce Secretary and Former U.S. Trade Secretary Mickey Kantor
VX2012 builds on and confirms the central thesis of previous VerdeXchange conferences: California and the Western States are opportunity-rich markets for renewables and sustainable practice, as well as portals to all of North America.
Approximately 500-650 delegates will attend VX2012, including industry leaders and procurers of solar, wind, energy efficiency, alternative fueled vehicles, finance, clean water, carbon auditing, smart grid, and green building. All are, or wish to be, actively investing in and shaping the U.S., Western States, and global green economy marketplace.

Details:
VERDEXCHANGE 2012 Conference
January 22-24, 2012
Los Angeles, CA
Register
Learn more at the new and improved conference website.
We look forward to seeing you at the conference!
Sincerely,
David Abel
Chairman, VerdeXchange

Administrative Information
This email was sent to Will Wright (will@aialosangeles.org)
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Who mourns for the CRA, other than the CRA?

2012-01-13T11:20:00.001-08:00

New post on Urban ethics and theory

Who mourns for the CRA, other than the CRA?
by drschweitzer

I've not posted much about the decision to kill off state fundings for CRAs (Community Redevelopment Authorities) in California, largely because I haven't really known what to think. I have students who tell me that the CRAs are absolutely crucial, but I've never seen any evidence of it. For example, California taxpayers chucked a lot of money into LA Live via the Community Redevelopment Authority, and we didn't even get a bus bench or a street tree out of the deal as far as I can see. And every time I say "why can't we pursue a TOD near this or that Blue Line station" the response is that "those are outside the authority of the CRA." So really impoverished areas are not targeted?

So in my experience--not in my research area, but in my experience in LA--the CRA in LA chucks money into already viable projects in places the extra money isn't needed and refuses to advocate (or doesn't advocate very well) for community design factors in addition to the project's internal amenities in return for public investment. Stated that way, CRAs seem to be in the business of giving gifts to developers and not asking for much in return. I have nothing against developers, but I also don't know why some deserve gifts from taxpayers for building something they'd probably build any way (and if they didn't build it, something else could go up there) and not providing street amenities.

Two recent Op-Eds echo my impressions. Like I said, I don't study CRAs so maybe I am being grossly unfair, but others share my assessment.

Bill Fulton in the LA Times notes that the CRAs have had every reason to avoid real risks:

When the governor proposed eliminating redevelopment, I was the only mayor in California who supported him. I did it because I believe redevelopment needs serious reforming. Despite decades of incremental improvements to the law, cities still find "blight" where there is none. They have used redevelopment to do anything and everything because the law has allowed them to and they have felt they had no other options. The result has been that one of every eight property tax dollars in the state has been going to redevelopment agencies through "tax-increment financing," a system that sends any increase in property taxes after land is redeveloped back to the agency instead of to county coffers.

Janet Denise Kelly writes in City Watch LA's Minorities Not Mourning Death of CRA:

The 20 year anniversary of the 1992 Los Angeles Riots is nearing. This period brought great travesty to the City and South Los Angeles in particular where buildings burned and people rebelled against social and economic injustice. Since 1992, there have been promises to rebuild South Los Angeles and to target areas for business growth and job creation. Those promises have been modest at best or maybe even lip-service to appease community members.

Crenshaw Boulevard has seen growth with the new stores, the renovations of the Baldwin Crenshaw Mall, and new restaurants like Post and Beam and Buffalo Wild Wings. The USC area has had a total makeover because of its proximity to downtown. These areas because of their political influence and middle class residents have been able to wrangle in businesses and housing developments to position them for more growth in the future.

However, the most blighted communities are still struggling due to the remnants of the 1992 uprising and have been fighting for a piece of the redevelopment pie for years to rid themselves of high concentrations of liquor stores, smoke shops, or problem business that prohibit economic progress.

drschweitzer | 01/13/2012 at 08:41 | Tags: economic growth, urban development | Categories: Economic development | URL: http://wp.me/px5Au-1ma

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PCL Insider for January 12, 2012

2012-01-12T19:56:00.001-08:00

PCL INSIDER: News from the Capitol

HOW ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FARES IN GOVERNOR’S BUDGET

Last week, due to a technical glitch, the Brown Administration unintentionally released the Governor’s proposed budget a few days earlier than expected. Through $10.3 billion in cuts and increased revenues, the proposed budget would close a $9.2 billion deficit, compared to last year's $26 billion gap, and build a $1.1 billion reserve. The most severe cuts will be inflicted on CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, child care, and the Cal Grant Program. The budget is contingent on voters approving a temporary increase in the sales tax and a higher levy on wealthy residents. If voters reject the ballot initiative in November, the state would be forced to cut another $4.8 billion from schools and community colleges; a cut equivalent to 3 weeks of instruction. ‘Trigger cuts’, as they’re called, would also strip funds from courts, public safety officers and flood protection.

So how did the environment fare in the proposed budget? Overall, environmental protection did better than many other programs, though there are significant cuts to key programs, and much of the funding that has been allocated is for projects that are controversial even within the environmental community. The Department of Parks and Recreation will see $22 million in cuts, twice the reduction from last year’s budget, which would result in the closure of up to 70 state parks. Additionally, if the Governor’s tax initiative does not pass, it will trigger the elimination of all seasonal lifeguards on state beaches and a 20% reduction of the Park Rangers workforce.

Programs that will see more funding in 2012 include highly contentious projects, like California High Speed Rail and the Delta conveyance program. The budget allocates $15.9 million to usher along the development of a high speed rail system, which is under increasing scrutiny due to governance, routing and financing issues. The budget would also allocate more funding to the Department of Water Resources for its work on the highly controversial Bay-Delta conveyance research and planning processes; specifically, for 135 positions for preliminary engineering work to support the Delta Habitat Conservation and Conveyance Program.

The budget also earmarks $1 billion that are to be received by auctioning pollution credits to California companies to be used to “create jobs and deliver public health, economic and environmental benefits” as part of the state's effort to curb global warming. Businesses have complained that this cap-and-trade program, a critical piece of California's landmark legislation aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, represents an unfair tax. Cap-and-trade is also controversial among the environmental and environmental justice communities, some of whom believe it merely commoditizes dangerous pollution rather than directly and more aggressively curbing it.

The governor’s proposal still needs to be debated by the Legislature, and the Brown Administration will release an updated version in May. The deadline to have a budget passed by lawmakers and signed by the governor is June 30.

WATER AND FOOD, TWO KEY INGREDIENTS IN CALIFORNIA’S FUTURE

California is a national leader in food production, but there is mounting concern about the costs, land conversion, and water shortages. At the same time, significant questions have come up about the role of water in the more developed regions of the state. Two panels, one focused on our food, the other on water plans, will bring to light some of the concerns we are facing.

The Role of Food in California's Environmental Future

Our food future may be at risk based on water availability, rising energy costs, loss of critical lands due to sprawl and poor planning, and other critical environmental factors. This panel will focus on the role of food in California’s environmental future and what changes we may be headed toward, including a greater emphasis on local food production. Participants will have a better awareness of the connection between food production, energy and water consumption, and environmental protection, and will hear about regulatory trends on food production.

Kari Hamerschlag, Environmental Working Group

Claudia Reid, Fresh Producers

David Runsten, Community Alliance with Family Farmers

Show Me the Water (Plan)

With water and the future of water at the state and local level being of extreme importance in planning for our future communities, the link between water usage and land use planning must be addressed. This panel will focus on water in the planning process, including General Plan updates, Water Supply Assessments, and environmental review. Participants will gain tools to engage in the land use process to promote better water use and tools for better connections between land and water will be considered, such as developing Title 24-like standards for water.

Curt Johansen, Sustainable Community Partners, LLC

Susan Lien Longville, Water Resources Institute

Dennis O’Connor, Principal Consultant, CA Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Water

The Annual Environmental Legislative Symposium and Awards Ceremony is Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the Sacramento Convention Center. Register now to reserve your spot! If space is still available, you may be able to book room at the Citizen Hotel.



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Irony of the day: Even if you are cleared by security to park at City Hall's visitor parking area, you can still be cited a parking ticket.

2012-01-12T17:29:00.001-08:00

Parking adjudication p.1.pdf Download this file

Parking adjudication p.2.pdf Download this file

Greuel: City Contracts Cost Los Angeles Millions in Unrealized Revenue

2012-01-12T16:38:00.001-08:00

  Share http://www.simplesend.com/simple/textlink.asp?NewsletterID=64454&SI=27033...">

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2012

Greuel: City Contracts Cost Los Angeles Millions in Unrealized Revenue

LOS ANGELES –Today, Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel revealed that untimely approval of permits by the City’s Bureau of Street Services for advertising on street furniture led to $23.1 million in lost financial opportunity for the City.

In her audit of the City’s street furniture contract with CBS Decaux, LLC, Greuel warned that an additional $57 million could be lost if City officials do not pursue a contract amendment to resolve outstanding issues.

“This issue needs to be taken up immediately,” said Greuel. “During these difficult economic times, it is unconscionable to leave $57 million on the table when that funding could otherwise be used for funding essential services.”

The CBS Decaux contract, which was originally executed as a 20-year agreement in Jan. 2002 by the Board of Public Works, was intended to expand the City’s street furniture program by providing modern amenities for transit patrons, while also generating approximately $150 million in revenue for the City. The audit revealsthat through the first ten years of the contract, the City could have received at least $53 million in revenue; however, from inception of the contract through January 2011, the City only realized $29.9 million due to the methodology used to calculate annual fees paid to the City and delays in approving site permits, costing the City $23.1 million. In addition, $57 million more could be lost if a contract amendment is not pursued to resolve outstanding issues.

Greuel called on City leaders to streamline the program’s site approval and permit application process and torestructure how street furniture funds are distributed. Since 2002, each Council district has received more than $1 million in funds for community improvements. Given the state of Los Angeles’ struggling economy, Greuel said that money should be redirected entirely into the General Fund.

“Given the high stakes that are at risk, I urge the Bureau of Street Services and the City Attorney to revisit the terms of this contract to generate as much revenue as possible for the City going forward. Creating a more effective and efficient City requires the assistance of all City entities and we cannot afford any further delays to take action,” Greuel added.

Controller Greuel’s audit is attached.
Controller Greuel has conducted nearly 50 audits and uncovered nearly $100 million that the City has lost to waste, fraud, and abuse over the last two years.

For more information, please visit the Controller’s website at controller.lacity.org

# # #

This message was sent to will@aialosangeles.org by:

Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel
200 North Spring Street, Room 300
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-978-7200 (p)
213-978-7211 (f)

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SPUR Report 2012 :: The Urban Future of Work

2012-01-11T17:19:00.001-08:00

The Urban Future of Work - Executive Summary
As the Great Recession continues, what path does the Bay Area need to take in order to rebound?
High unemployment rates and slow employment growth continue to threaten our economy. Once-successful sectors are in decline. Even the workplace itself is in transition. New technologies and ways of working have disrupted everything from the speed of a typical product cycle to the amount of real estate a company needs.
But as our economy changes, the emerging story is also a positive one. While many formerly robust industries are struggling, the Bay Area’s innovative knowledge services sector is growing quickly, led by companies such as Google, Facebook and Twitter. And while technology allows us to work remotely, the role of the office is becoming even more important. Companies are finding that they need the vibrancy and density of an urban-style environment in order to collaborate, innovate and stay competitive.
How can we capitalize on the Bay Area’s successful knowledge services sector and its trend toward density and interaction to strengthen our region’s economy?
In this SPUR report, we make the case that there is a strong link between density and job growth. In fact, we believe that locating jobs closer to transit, and closer to one another, will be key to the Bay Area’s long term economic growth.
We recommend 20 strategies for increasing density, strengthening the regional economy and promoting job growth.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The mission of the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association is to promote good planning and good government through research, education and advocacy.
SPUR is a member-supported nonprofit organization. Join us.
SPUR
654 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
tel. 415.781.8726
info@spur.org
www.spur.org

SPUR_The_Urban_Future_of_Work.pdf Download this file

The Rail Story of Transforming Los Angeles

2012-01-11T16:26:00.001-08:00

The Rail Story of Transforming Los Angeles
     Friday, January 20, 2012
In little more than two decades, greater Los Angeles has seen more than 100 miles of rail with more than 100 stations built and opened. Metro is on track to double those numbers in the coming decades with rail extending into almost every area of Los Angeles County- perhaps even sooner if the America Fast Forward initiative is successful. If infrastructure is one of the greatest influencers of planning and public form, Los Angeles is on the verge of transformational change.
While each new station has its own design opportunites and challenges, they also present planning opportunites and challenges for the surrounding areas. Can stations be designed to integrate into the growing Metro system, cognizant of scarce public dollars, while also being emblematic of the communities where they are located? What do communities around the new stations want to become and what can planners, developers, and community activists do to ensure these outcomes? What can Los Angeles learn from other cities?
Moderator:
Mott Smith- Principal, Civic Enterprise Development & Founding Board Member, California Infill Builders Association
Panelists:
Martha Welborne- FAIA, Executive Director, Countywide Planning, Metro
John Given- Principal of Development, CIM
Neal Payton- AIA, Principal, Torti Gallas & Partners, Inc.
CM Credit - This activity is pending approval by the AICP in the amount of 1 hour.
Luxe Hotel
11461 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, California
7am-9am

7:00am Registration
7:30am Breakfast
8:00am Panel Discussion
$30 members
$45 nonmembers
$10 student members
$15 student nonmembers
Pre-registration closes on January 18, 2012. After January 18, 2012 and at onsite registration the cost will be an additional $10.00. No refunds or credits will be provided after this date.
Annual Sponsors







Register Now!
For more information:
Contact: Westside Urban Forum
Phone: 310-322-1520
Email: info@westsideurbanforum.com
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Westside Urban Forum
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LA/2B: Think Lab

2012-01-11T13:55:00.001-08:00

New post on LA/2B

LA/2B: Think Lab
by lacityplanning

We are excited to announce dates for the first round of Mobility Element Think Lab workshops!

Please join us at Think Lab to learn more about the Layered Network, provide ideas for the Mobility Element, and participate in "LA/2B: 2050" and a Walk Audit, two exciting activities that will help shape the future of mobility in Los Angeles!

lacityplanning | January 11, 2012 at 12:39 PM | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/p1WYCp-2Z

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Guest blogger David Pettit: In the Weeds with GHGs

2012-01-11T11:51:00.001-08:00

New post on Legal Planet: Environmental Law and Policy

Guest blogger David Pettit: In the Weeds with GHGs
by Guest Blogger

This post, by David Pettit of the Natural Resources Defense Council, is part of an occasional series by guest bloggers.

As Ann Carlson and Rick Frank have previously blogged, on December 29^th 2011, U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill ruled that California’s low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, on its face, by both discriminating against out-of-state corn ethanol and crude oil and regulating activities occurring wholly outside California. Judge O’Neill enjoined the California Air Resources Board (CARB) from implementing the LCFS, pending appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. CARB and the defendant-intervenors in the case, including NRDC, have appealed the injunction and the merits rulings.

As Ann pointed out, the LCFS is part of California’s GHG reduction strategy under AB32 and is expected to produce roughly 15% of the reductions needed to return to 1990 levels of GHG emissions by 2020. It is designed to incentivize all producers of motor fuels, including gasoline and corn ethanol, to reduce by 10% the carbon intensity of motor fuels sold in California. I’d like to get into the weeds for a bit and describe how the LCFS works in some detail, the better to discuss the basis for and potential consequences of Judge O’Neill’s ruling.

The LCFS is a performance based standard that works by assigning a carbon intensity score to all transportation fuels and setting up a trading system for credits. All producers, both domestic and importers, must meet the average carbon intensity standard for their fuel products. Producers of fuels with a carbon intensity score greater than the standard set by CARB can meet the standard by selling more lower-carbon fuels, using banked credits, or purchasing credits from other fuel providers. This raises the value of lower-carbon intensity fuels and decreases the value of higher carbon-intensity fuels.

The carbon intensity scores are calculated using a GHG lifecycle analysis based on an analytical tool, really a huge Excel spreadsheet with the acronym “GREET,” developed at the Argonne National Laboratory, in addition to other modeling tools. It is essential that the intensity score account for the lifecycle GHG profile for a motor fuel, otherwise a fuel that is actually creating a lot of emissions during its production process could end up with an artificially low carbon intensity score if those emissions are ignored. AB 32 requires the state to reduce total GHG pollution, not just some. I’ll return to this point a bit later in discussing Judge O’Neill’s ideas about a carbon tax as an alternative to the LCFS.

With respect to corn ethanol, Judge O’Neill identified two ways in which CARB’s methodology violates the Commerce Clause: transportation and energy use.

Judge O’Neill wrote that out-of-state producers of corn ethanol were punished by use of the transportation factors in GREET because those factors increase carbon intensity scores for out-of-state but not in-state producers. However, a closer look at the GREET model shows that this is not so. In fact, California producers of corn ethanol are punished in terms of carbon intensity because of the GHGs emitted in transporting the corn feedstock to ethanol plants in California. Basically, we don’t grow enough corn here and so we have to import it from the Midwest and elsewhere. Those emissions increase California corn ethanol’s score more than the Midwest producers’ scores are increased by having to ship their finished product to California, placing California producers at a disadvantage relative to Midwest producers in terms of transport emissions.

With respect to energy use, the GREET model evaluates GHGs emitted in the production of electricity used at an ethanol plant, and GHGs emitted from producing heat used in the plant to make ethanol, which may or may not be from electric power. For example, a large fraction of the electrical power in the Midwest comes from coal-fired electrical plants, and some of the Midwest producers use coal as a heat source in their facilities. In California, by contrast, there is little coal-fired electricity and no use of coal to provide heat in California ethanol plants. California producers tend to pay a higher price per unit electricity for this cleaner electricity, in addition to other factors. The GREET model takes this into account for the Midwest by assigning an average GHG score to all Midwest ethanol plants based on government and industry data. CARB modified the GREET model to use California data for both electricity generation and heat. The treatment of these factors in the GREET model is the single largest reason why carbon intensity scores for California-produced ethanol are lower than those for Midwest-produced ethanol using the same production process. If California producers used higher carbon inputs, this would be reflected in their score in the same fashion and if Midwest producers use lower carbon inputs, they can apply for lower scores as some companies are doing already through biomass-cofiring.

Does the GREET model’s realistic treatment of real differences in lifecycle GHG emissions for corn ethanol make the LCFS violate the Commerce Clause? In the view of NRDC, the answer is no. The LCFS does not facially (or otherwise) discriminate against out-of-state ethanol or crude oil. The LCFS evenhandedly regulates all transportation fuels sold in California based on lifecycle emissions, not on location. California's carbon calculations apply the same to the lifecycle emissions of all fuels, including the emissions needed to refine and transport those fuels. The GREET tool applies whether the fuel is made in California or elsewhere. To ignore the fact that, for example, much Midwest electricity comes from coal is to ignore reality.

Standing up from the weeds, is the Commerce Clause really a bar to a state that wants to protect its land and people from climate change by reducing GHG emissions caused by its people? Construing a state regulation as “environmental” doesn’t insulate it from Commerce Clause review, Read more of this post

Guest Blogger | January 11, 2012 at 12:39 pm | Tags: AB 32, California, Climate Change, constitutional, dormant Commerce Clause, LCFS, U.S. District Court | Categories: California, Climate Change, Energy | URL: http://wp.me/prxko-3qy

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The Design Advocate

The AIA|LA ADVOCACY REPORT - February 17, 2012

As a city, how shall we select our next Mayor? What criteria will we use to analyze their leadership capacity?

Food, Fitness and Democracy

Mayoral Candidate Forums: Corrected Version

Mayoral Candidate Forums

COMMENT ON SCAG's RTP by VALENTINE'S DAY

Send a Love Letter to Better Transportation & Land Use

URGENT: Call your reps TODAY to save transit, bike & ped funds

[CEQA.Guidelines.SB226] Notice of Public Workshops: Proposed CEQA Guidelines Implementing SB 226

TONIGHT: LA Mural Ordinance Community Discussion

INVITE - Please attend The AIA|LA MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUMS

The AIA|LA MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUMS

PRESENTED BY MATT CONSTRUCTION

Where do you think health happens?

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES - HEALTHY PLANNING AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Healthy Places Coalition Digest - January 2012

The Healthy Places Coalition advances public health involvement in land use and transportation planning to ensure that all neighborhoods in California promote the opportunity to live a healthy life.

Opportunities for Action

Events

Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative

San Francisco Department of Public Health, Program on Health Equity and Sustainability

Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health

Stay Connected

The AIA|LA ADVOCACY REPORT - January 27, 2012

Bike Up! LA a benefit for the California Bicycle Coalition - Feb 8th

Upcoming Mural Ordinance Outreach Events

Governor Brown Releases Package of CEQA Reforms

Governor Brown Releases Package of CEQA Reforms

Mobility Element - Think Lab Workshops

2012 UCLA Complete Streets for California Conference

AIA|LA Task Force to discuss the Regional Transportation Plan - January 24 (6:30pm)

FAST Invites You to a Westside Mobility Plan Briefing on January 31, 2012

The CEQA Streamlining “Slippery Slope” May Help Rail Transit

New post on Legal Planet: Environmental Law and Policy

The CEQA Streamlining “Slippery Slope” May Help Rail Transit

Between the Lines :: Los Angeles Magazine

State of the State: Vision Needed

Last Two Days to Register for VerdeXchange before Prices Increase

With 40 Cross Platform VerdeXchange Panels and Intimate Networking Opportunites with GreenMarketmakers Planned, You Can't Afford to Miss VX2012.

The VERDEXCHANGE Conference brings together green marketmakers—the "drivers of change" of the public and private sector who, along with environmental stewards, create the global and local markets for green technology products and sustainable services.

Who mourns for the CRA, other than the CRA?

New post on Urban ethics and theory

Who mourns for the CRA, other than the CRA?

PCL Insider for January 12, 2012

Irony of the day: Even if you are cleared by security to park at City Hall's visitor parking area, you can still be cited a parking ticket.

Greuel: City Contracts Cost Los Angeles Millions in Unrealized Revenue

SPUR Report 2012 :: The Urban Future of Work

The Rail Story of Transforming Los Angeles

LA/2B: Think Lab

New post on LA/2B

LA/2B: Think Lab

Guest blogger David Pettit: In the Weeds with GHGs

New post on Legal Planet: Environmental Law and Policy

Guest blogger David Pettit: In the Weeds with GHGs

The Healthy Places Coalition advances public health involvement
in land use and transportation planning to ensure that all neighborhoods in
California promote the opportunity to live a healthy life.