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Board of Supervisors to Support Ground Reliability Improvement Program

The Board of Supervisors will send a five-signature letter in support of the Groundwater Reliability Improvement Program (GRIP) to Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation as well as to the Honorable Grace Napolitano and Robb Whitaker, General Manager of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

For years, Los Angeles County has depended on imported river water from Northern California and from the Colorado River to replenish the groundwater. Imported replenishment water is not available for the foreseeable future and is not a reliable source due to long-term drought, increased demands, environmental restrictions and climate change. It is also costly and energy inefficient.

GRIP is critical because it will ensure that Los Angeles County continues to be able to sustainably draw upon groundwater supplies for drinking water.

“GRIP benefits all of us, as well as businesses, educational institutions and government offices,” said Supervisor Knabe. “This truly needs to be supported to authorize Federal assistance for the project in order to make this economically viable and to help relieve demand on imported river water.”

Metro to hold community meetings on the South Bay Metro Green Line Extension Project

Metro will hold four community meetings beginning Wednesday, October 20, to update the public on the South Bay Metro Green Line Extension project. The purpose of these meetings is to seek public comments and input as the environmental process continues for extending rail service farther into the South Bay to improve mobility in southwest Los Angeles County.

Metro is currently preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/DEIR) to identify transit improvements that would provide an alternative to the I-405 corridor by accessing the regional rail network through connections to the proposed Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor, currently under environmental review.

As part of the Draft EIS/EIR, Metro will assess existing conditions in the study area, further refine the project alternatives, assess their potential impacts and identify possible and reasonable mitigation measures.

Two ‘build’ alternatives are being considered in the DEIS/DEIR. The Light Rail Alterative will evaluate extending the Metro Green Line from its current terminus at the Redondo Beach Station to the proposed Torrance Regional Transit Center (RTC).

The freight track alternative will evaluate operating self propelled rail transit vehicles on the Harbor Subdivision right-of-way using upgraded rail tracks from the El Segundo/LAX area to the proposed Torrance RTC. In addition the Draft EIS/EIR will evaluate the No Build and Transportation Systems Management alternatives.

The public is encouraged to attend the community meetings and provide their input. Discussed at the meetings will be a project overview and update, a recap of the Scoping Meetings that took place earlier this year and a progress report on the project alternatives and proposed station locations.

The following is a list of upcoming meetings:

Wednesday, October 20, 2010 (6-8 p.m.) Nakano Theater, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance.

Thursday, October 21, 2010 (6-8 p.m.) Lawndale Christian Church, 4234 W. 147th Street, Lawndale.

Monday, October 25, 2010 (6-8 p.m.) North Redondo Senior Center, Perry Park, 2308 Rockefeller Lane, Redondo Beach.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 (6-8 p.m.) Flight Path Learning Center, 6661 West Imperial Highway, Los Angeles.

Click Here for more information about the South Bay Metro Green Line Extension Project

County to Update Emergency Oil Spill Contingency Plan

The Board of Supervisors approved a motion to direct the Los Angeles County Fire Department to develop a comprehensive and coordinated update to the County’s 2004 Emergency Oil Spill Contingency Plan, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

“It would be prudent for the County to ensure we are ready in advance for any future oil spills in our region,” said Supervisor Knabe. “There is a potential for serious negative impacts along our Southern California coastline and I believe we should use the lessons learned during the recent Gulf Coast crisis, as well as include the latest response methods and techniques, in the development of an updated plan.”

The Fire Department took the lead in developing the 2004 plan and will work with the Sheriff’s Department and the Departments of Beaches and Harbors and Public Works as well as the United States Coast Guard, coastal cities and various oil companies in the region to review and update the existing plan to ensure preparedness for any future oil spill.

Residents Warned to Stay Out of Flood Control Channels

Supervisor Knabe joined County officials this week to advise residents to stay out of County flood control channels, rivers and debris basins during storm season. While the County’s vast network of bike trials remain open n to the public on dry days, residents should never enter flood control channels when it rains.

“The message is simple: when it rains, stay out of the water ways,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Do not tempt mother nature by entering these water ways during a storm. You will not win. That’s a guarantee.”

At peak flow, the  Los Angeles River moves close to 183,000 cubic feet of storm water per second out to the ocean equaling the pressure of 40 million garden hoses running at full blast.

Click here to watch a Storm Weather Preparedness video and learn more about the dangers of flood control channels during storms.

The Best Jobs Program in America is About to End

By Supervisor Don Knabe

In less than a week – absent action from Congress – we will have to say farewell to a Federal Stimulus program that employed nearly 27,000 adults and disadvantaged youth since we implemented the program in Spring 2009.  And I cannot understand why this has to happen.

Our 10,000 Jobs Program here in Los Angeles County was funded through the Economic Recovery Act’s new Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – Emergency Contingency Fund (TANF ECF). This new fund has proven to be one of the Act’s greatest successes in creating jobs and stimulating the economy.  It created subsidized employment for thousands of people, created opportunities for private businesses and non-profit organizations to conduct business in the middle of a deep recession and reduced both the State and the Federal government’s costs to provide welfare benefits.

Policymakers in Washington have told me that this program has been the most effective use of the Stimulus dollars they have seen.  Business owners have told me that, without this program, they wouldn’t have been able to stay open.  People who have gotten jobs have told me that earning a paycheck and taking care of their family has been much better than collecting a welfare check.   In fact, many adults employed through this program have transitioned to permanent, unsubsidized jobs.  To me, that is proof alone that this program is a success.  We just need Congress to take action and extend this program.

In all, I have not seen any downside to this whatsoever.  That is, until next week, when thousands of people will be once again out of work.  I expect most of them will be seeking welfare benefits again, at a significantly higher cost to state and federal government.  Does this make any sense?

I don’t want to say farewell to a program that has done so much good for so many people.  If Congress does the right thing, we could keep these folks working, and employ more.  And we could save taxpayers money.  The Congressional Budget Office estimates that if TANF-ECF is continued into the next federal fiscal year, it could reduce Food Stamp costs by roughly $170 million due to its positive effect in increasing the income of poor families.

So I respectfully ask my friends in Congress – both Democrats and Republicans – what are you waiting for?  Please take action to reauthorize the Stimulus funding that made the 10,000 Jobs Program such a great success.  You will keep people working, you will create more jobs and you will keep the economy moving closer towards recovery.

Thousands to be Out of Work Next Week as 10,000 Jobs Program Ends

The 10,000 Jobs Program will be shutting down next week, if Congress does not act to reauthorize the federal stimulus program that made it possible.  An estimated 7000 people will lose their jobs as a result.

“This program was made possible by economic stimulus dollars and has created jobs for thousands of people, helped businesses and non-profit organizations and actually reduced both the State and the Federal government’s costs to provide welfare benefits.  It would be a tragedy if Congress let this program come to an end,” said Supervisor Don Knabe.

The Economic Recovery Act created a $5 billion Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Contingency Fund (ECF).  A provision in the Fund made it possible to utilize it for subsidized employment.

This enabled Los Angeles County to create the 10,000 Jobs Program, which resulted in nearly 27,000 subsidized jobs for 10,500 adults and another 16,500 disadvantaged youth.

These subsidized jobs have helped private businesses and non-profit organizations in the middle of a deep recession.  Nearly three-fourths of all subsidized employment placements have been with the private sector employers.

Absent action from Congress next week, TANF ECF will expire on September 30, 2010, resulting in the loss of jobs and income for 7,000 adults in Los Angeles County.

“If Congress were to reauthorize this for another year, we could keep these folks working, and employ more, and we could save taxpayers money,” said Knabe. “But they need to act now.”

County Seeks Co-Existence Between Mobile Food Vendors and Restaurant Owners

Los Angeles County will convene a taskforce to report back in 90 days with recommendations of how to facilitate the co-existence of both mobile food vendors and restaurant owners, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

Restaurants have raised concerns that mobile food trucks and food cart vendors are unfairly competing with them. Some vendors park in front of restaurants and draw customers away from them. Mobile food operators often do not pay for parking, rental space, property tax, and hire fewer employees. With lower overhead costs, they are able to offer cheaper prices as well.

“In this economy, we need to promote a business environment where both restaurant owners and mobile food vendors can work together to serve the public safely and conveniently, and thrive,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Bringing the parties together in a constructive atmosphere is a means to see what can be done to make the situation better for all concerned.”

The taskforce will include representation from the Southern California Mobile Food Vending Truck Association, the Restaurant Association, the Department of Public Health, the Small Business Commission and other interested parties.

Firefighters Suppress Small Brush Fire in Whittier

A five-acre brush fire broke out yesterday in the City of Whittier along Colima Road in the Puente Hills Habitat. When firefighters arrived on scene, the fire had burned two acres, and was running north. To control the perimeter and keep the fire from moving into nearby structures the response was upgraded to a second alarm brush fire.

Firefighters on the ground were aided by two Super Scoopers, one heli-tanker, and three helicopters, including one from Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters were able to knockdown the flames in one hour and 31 minutes, and reached full containment at 7:58 p.m. County Fire resources remained on scene overnight, and will remain on scene for mop-up and fire watch.

“Our Los Angeles County firefighters did an incredible job,” said Supervisor Don Knabe. Their quick action and assessment prevented many homes in the Friendly Hills area from being affected.”

Weekend I-710 Closures to Effect Downey

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will conduct four extended weekend closures on the Long Beach Freeway (I-710) in both northbound and southbound directions from just south of Firestone Boulevard to just north of the Glenn Anderson Freeway (I-105).  The construction taking place is part of the I-710 Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project to replace 10 to 15 inches of aging pavement from I-405 to I-5.

This weekend’s closure begins Friday, September 10 at 11:45 p.m. and continues through Monday, September 13 at 5 a.m.  FULL FREEWAY CLOSURES will occur twice during the weekend: Friday at 11:45 p.m. until Saturday at 6 a.m., and again on Sunday at 11 p.m. until Monday at 5 a.m.
During the first six-hour FULL FREEWAY CLOSURE, moveable median barriers will be placed that will guide all motorists onto the southbound side when I-710 is re-opened on Saturday at 6 a.m. The number of lanes available to motorists will be reduced:  two lanes for northbound travel and three for southbound.  On Sunday at 11 p.m., another FULL CLOSURE occurs to remove the temporary barriers in time for the Monday morning commute.
CLOSED On-ramps to northbound I-710:

Eastbound & westbound on-ramps from Rosecrans Avenue and Imperial Highway

CLOSED On-ramps to southbound I-710:

Eastbound & westbound on-ramps from Florence Avenue, Firestone Boulevard and Imperial Hwy

CLOSED Freeway Connectors: Eastbound and westbound I-105 to northbound I-710
I-710 Full Freeway Closures are scheduled for these 4 weekends:

September 17-20

September 24-27

October 1-4

October 8-11

RESTRICTIONS: Speed reduced to 45mph. No oversized loads permitted due to narrow lanes.

DELAYS AND DETOURS: Motorists can expect delays and are advised to use alternate routes and marked street detours. Trucks are advised to use Garfield Avenue.

PROJECT DETAILS: This pavement rehabilitation project will apply several layers of a long life asphalt concrete mix that will provide the roadway with several decades of service, improve pavement performance, require less future maintenance and result in a smoother ride for the traveling public. The contractor for the $50 million project is Sully-Miller.  The project is over 50% complete.  The estimated completion date is spring 2011.

BENEFITS OF EXTENDED WEEKEND CLOSURES: Moving all motorists to one side of the freeway allows construction crews to work safely and continuously for 53 hours throughout the weekend.  This schedule is cost effective and reduces the need for weeknight closures when traffic volumes are normally higher.

Los Amigos Golf Course Irrigation Overhaul Completed

Supervisor Don Knabe is proud to announce the completion of the irrigation system renovation project at the County’s Los Amigos Golf Course in the City of Downey. More than $4.2 million was invested into the project that was finished on time and on budget.

The old irrigation system was more than 30 years old and had exhausted its useful life.  The County replaced the old system with a new automated system and established a reclaimed water connection and pump house to irrigate the golf course.  Two lakes were drained, renovated and relined so they could be used as reservoirs for excess reclaimed water.

The project was funded by Golf Course Capital Improvement Project Funds, which are collected with every greens fee and can only be used on the course where it is collected.  Additional funding came from the Fourth Supervisorial District Capital Project funds and from a grant by the Central Basin Municipal Water District.

The project supported the County’s Sustainable Design Program by providing a reclaimed water irrigation system that will eliminate the use of potable water for landscape irrigation.  Additionally, it uses Smart Water Controller technology to irrigate the course and maintain proper conditions while minimizing over watering.