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Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee
Background
This committee addresses a number of issues related to the environment including open space, water and air quality.
Open Space
| Located in a valley just below the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, the San Gabriel Valley land is 50% zoned for institutional and open space use. However, most of that open space is included as part of the Angeles National Forest. The rest of the San Gabriel Valley is already 99% built out, leaving little room for new parks. With a state standard of 5 acres of open space for every 1,000 people, a doubling of the park acreage is required to meet this standard. It is imperative that communities in the San Gabriel Valley work together to focus on accommodating open space needs in a built-out urban environment. The San Gabriel & Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC), which the SGVCOG played a key role in helping to create, has worked with our local communities for open space and habitat preservation and development. In fact, since the COG worked with then State Senator Hilda Solis to create the RMC, almost $50 million in RMC funding over the last five years have gone to SGVCOG member cities to support various open space and habitat projects. |
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Check out current RMC projects in the San Gabriel Valley by clicking here.
Air Quality
As the San Gabriel Valley is located within South Coast Air Basin (one of the most polluted air basins in the nation), air quality within the region is of crucial importance to stakeholders within the Valley. In 2001, the maximum pollutant concentrations (ozone and particulate matter) exceeded federal standards by wide margins. The East San Gabriel Valley, in particular, had high ozone concentrations. The Basin’s severe air pollution problem is a consequence of the combination of emissions from the nation’s second largest urban area and meteorological conditions which are adverse to the dispersion of those emissions. The average wind speed for Los Angeles is the lowest of the nation’s ten largest urban areas. In addition, the summertime maximum mixing height (an index of how well pollutants can be dispersed vertically in the atmosphere) in Southern California averages the lowest in the U.S. The Southern California area is also an area with abundant sunshine, which drives the photochemical reactions which form pollutants such as ozone.
The San Gabriel Valley’s main source of water supply comes from its groundwater basin; in fact, 90% or 280,000 acre-feet of the Valley’s annual water supply come from the basin. The groundwater basin is 167 square miles of surface area, has more than 8 million acre-feet of water, and is pumped from about 200 wells. About 10% of the San Gabriel Valley’s water needs are met by “imported” surface water delivered directly to customers. This imported water also helps in replenishing the groundwater supply. There are three important groundwater basins. The Main San Gabriel Basin is the largest, and is separated from the Raymond Basin to the northwest by the Raymond Fault, which serves as a partial barrier to groundwater flow. The Puente Basin is a shallow basin that underlies the Puente Valley and is tributary to the Main San Gabriel Basin. These three basins are managed separately.
Water in the San Gabriel Valley is an integral component of its history, having been critical in developing the Valley’s agricultural economy. Later, following a postwar boom in industrial development and the release of toxic industrial chemicals into the groundwater system, a number of serious water quality issues surfaced. Significant concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were discovered in the Valley’s groundwater in the late 1970s and remain the main focus of current groundwater cleanup. Other water quality issues involve nitrates, perchlorate, and other emerging contaminants – all with serious public health consequences. Besides contamination, other water supply challenges include: groundwater storage opportunities, infrastructure to maintain water levels, use of recycled water, consumer water conservation, and storm water capture.
Organization
This committee consists of elected and appointed officials from member agencies. Staff members from the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy also serve as ex-officio members.
Chair
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Mary Ann Lutz
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415 S. Ivy Ave.
Monrovia, CA 91016
Phone: (626) 932-5550
Mary Ann Lutz has served as Chair of the SGVCOG Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee since 2007. She was first elected to the Monrovia City Council in 2003. She has also served as Monrovia’s representative on the COG Governing Board since 2003. Ms. Lutz currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Regional Water Quality Control Board on appointment by the Governor.
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Vice-Chair
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Denis Bertone
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245 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, CA 91773
Phone: (909) 394-6200
Denis Bertone was first elected to serve on the San Dimas City Council in 1998. He has served as San Dimas’s Delegate on the COG’s Governing Board since 1999. As a COG Delegate, he is a member of the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy Board and the Energy and Environment Committee.
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Membership
There are currently three (3) member agencies that participate on the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee. The member agencies and their representative on this committee are as follows:
| Member Agency |
Representative |
| San Dimas |
Denis Bertone |
| Claremont |
Sam Pedroza |
| Monrovia |
Mary Ann Lutz |
Meeting Dates & Times
The fourth Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. at the City of Monrovia Corporate Yard Buildling.
Agendas
HOT TOPICS
Environmental Funding Opportunities
| Program |
Ground Water Clean Up |
| Sponsor Agency |
Department of Public Health |
| Funding Available |
$60 million (max of $5 million per project) |
| Application Procedures |
NOFA to be released in June or July 2008 |
| Website |
www.cdph.ca.gov |
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| Program |
Water Use Efficiency |
| Sponsor Agency |
Department of Water Resources |
| Funding Available |
$15 million |
| Application Procedures |
Draft proposal solicitation package has been released; Concept proposals are due on August 20, 2008 |
| Website |
www.owue.water.ca.gov |
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| Program |
Delta Knowledge Improvement |
| Sponsor Agency |
Department of Water Resources |
| Funding Available |
$2 million (max of $250,000 per application) |
| Application Procedures |
Draft proposal solicitation package available; Final to be released on August 1st; Application due date is August 29, 2008 |
| Website |
www.water.ca.gov |
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| Program |
Proposition 84 Grants (Enhancement, protection, conservation, restoration, and preservation projects for region) |
| Sponsor Agency |
Sierra Nevada Conservancy |
| Funding Available |
$17 million |
| Application Procedures |
Applications for competitive grants and the first round of strategic opportunity grants are due September 15, 2008 |
| Website |
www.sierranevada.ca.gov |
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| Program |
Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program |
| Sponsor Agency |
Department of Transportation |
| Funding Available |
$10 million (not final until the State Budget is approved and signed by the Governor) |
| Application Procedures |
Applications due in October 2008 |
| Website |
www.resources.ca.gov |
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| Program |
Urban Streams Restoration |
| Sponsor Agency |
Department of Water Resources |
| Funding Available |
$7 million |
| Application Procedures |
Draft guidelines are expected to be released in late Summer 2008 |
| Website |
www.water.ca.gov |
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| Program |
River Parkways Grant Programs |
| Sponsor Agency |
Resources Agency |
| Funding Available |
The proposed 2008/09 budget includes $28.5 million |
| Application Procedures |
Technical Assistance workshops will be held in August; Applications will be due in October 2008 |
| Website |
www.resources.ca.gov |
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| Program |
Stormwater Grants |
| Sponsor Agency |
State Water Resources Control Board |
| Funding Available |
$90 million |
| Application Procedures |
Draft guidelines to be released in August or September 2008 |
| Website |
www.waterboards.ca.gov |
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| Program |
Wildlife Conservation (Natural Community Conservation Plans, Ecosystem Restoration, Forest Conservation) |
| Sponsor Agency |
Wildlife Conservation Board |
| Funding Available |
$25 million |
| Application Procedures |
Accepts applications on an on-going basis |
| Website |
www.web.ca.gov |
- To view the latest Conservation Strategy Group "Funding Update" newsletter, click here.
Solar Technology Presentation
On May 28th, approximately 30 elected officials, city staff members, and local agency representatives attended this very informative presentation by Sue Kately of the California Solar Energy Industries Association. Cities in attendance include: Arcadia, Azusa, Claremont, Covina, Duarte, Glendora, La Canada-Flintridge, Monrovia, Monterey Park, San Dimas, San Gabriel, San Marino, and West Covina. Also in attendance were representatives from the Air Quality Management District, the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Metropolitan Water District, Rivers & Mountains Conservancy, Southern California Gas Company, Three Valleys Municipal Water District, and Intergy.
Model Ordinance Collection
Under the direction of the EENR Committee, staff has begun to develop a compendium of model environmental ordinances on a number of topics including: energy efficiency, solar energy, green buildings, water recycling and/or conservation, building materials, trees, recycling, solid waste, open space, and walkability/bikeability. Model ordinances, resolutions, and green city action plans are being collected from cities within the San Gabriel Valley, as well as other jurisdictions in Southern California and beyond for the purpose of facilitating cites' efforts to adopt ordinances that protect our Valley's critical natural resources.
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