Parks and Environment

Long Beach To Host Regional Water Summit

Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and the Southern California Water Committee are partnering together to host the Los Angeles County Water Summit on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at the Queen Mary in the City of Long Beach.

The event, which will be held between 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., will focus on the state of water in Southern California. The summit is sponsored by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Castaic Lake Water Agency, Central Basin Water District, County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, MWH, Water Replenishment District of Southern California, West Basin Water District, and Building Industry Association of Southern California.

Make no mistake about it, we stand at a crossroads in California’s water history, said Supervisor Knabe. I am an optimist by nature so, for my part, I predict that we will step outside of the box and we will develop aggressive water conservation and recycling programs that will reshape demand in Southern California.

For more information on the Los Angeles County Water Summit please contact the Southern California Water Committee at (909) 980-4700.

Annual Taste Of The Heights Returns To Pathfinder Park

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, in conjunction with The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, The County Arts Commission, Hacienda Heights Chamber, Rowland Heights Chamber, Friends of Steinmetz Senior Center, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, and local community groups and businesses, will celebrate the Sixth Annual Taste of the Heights on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The annual event will be held at Pathfinder Regional Park in Rowland Heights, with more than 1,500 participants and more than a dozen restaurants. The night will feature a live band, The HoDads, with dancing, wine tasting, and great food.

Pathfinder Regional Park is a hidden beauty atop the hill overlooking the city lights. Ticket prices are $10.00 per person in advance and $12.00 at the door. This includes a taste from each of the sponsored restaurants. In addition, a Kid’s Zone for youth 5-12 years will have special taste food, jumper, arts and crafts, and fun. Children’s tickets are available for $3.00 each. For information and advance tickets please call (626) 333-1369.

County Waives Park Fees For Veterans, Military Personnel And Their Families

In honor of Memorial Day, admission fees and vehicle entrance fees have been waived to the regional park facilities on May 23-25, 2009, for Veterans and their families. The motion, introduced by Supervisor Don Knabe, was unanimously approved today by the Board of Supervisors.

As Memorial Day approaches, it is important that we recognize the many contributions that Veterans and their families have made for our great County over the years, said Supervisor Knabe. We owe them many freedoms that we have today, and they truly deserve the honor and respect of their fellow Americans.

All Veterans, military personnel and their immediate families are invited to visit the following Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation facilities from May 23 through May 25, 2009:

Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park

120 Via Verde Drive

San Dimas

(909) 599-8411

Castaic Lake Recreation Area

32132 Castaic Lake Drive

Castaic

(661) 257-4050

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area

4100 North La Cienega Boulevard

Los Angeles

(323) 298-3660

Santa Fe Dam Regional Park

15501 East Arrow Highway

Irwindale

(626) 334-1065

Schabarum Park

17250 East Colima Road

Rowland Heights

(626) 854-5560

Whittier Narrows Regional Recreation Area

750 South Santa Anita Avenue

South El Monte

(626) 575-5526

Arboretum of Los Angeles County

301 North Baldwin Avenue

Arcadia

(626) 821-3212

Descanso Gardens

1418 Descanso Drive

La Canada Flintridge

(818) 952-4400

South Coast Botanic Garden

26300 Crenshaw Boulevard

Palos Verdes Peninsula

(310) 544-6815

Virginia Robinson Gardens

(310) 276-5367

By appointment only

County Debuts New Solar Mapping Program

Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, announced a new Internet-based technology today that will allow businesses and homeowners to determine if their properties are good candidates for solar power.

The new website, available at http://solarmap.lacounty.gov went live today. It is the largest solar map in terms of geographic area in the world, covering 3,000 square miles. The program uses roof size, pitch and shading from nearby trees, buildings and mountains to provide a building’s solar potential and the potential value of installing solar panels.

By typing in an address, a person will learn the property’s roof size, area suitable for solar panels, electricity produced, electricity savings, carbon reduction, nearby solar installations and case studies, available rebates from utility companies, and information about installers.

The level of detail provided means that residents and solar installers do not need to go up on every roof to see if it can support solar, saving time and money. Solar installers will be able to give more detailed estimates based on specific situations, but the solar portal provides generally accurate guidelines of what can be expected. The ultimate goal is to make the website a one-stop solar shop for residents and businesses.

The solar website, developed at a cost of $93,500, was generated from high-resolution imagery and elevation information acquired in 2006 which included roof-top and ground elevation every five feet. It calculates and ranks incoming solar radiation every 25 square feet, using roof pitch, orientation, and shading from surrounding structures and trees to provide the best estimate possible.

The project will be of great benefit to the County itself, as it includes high resolution – three-dimensional modeling of 800 County buildings. These detailed analyses will be used to evaluate and implement cost-effective installations, including solar power and solar water heaters. The County is a major electricity user, with facilities spread over a wide geography, operating in more than 3,000 buildings that comprise more than 60 million square feet.

The County is also developing a program that would assist homeowners and businesses in financing solar panels. On April 14 the Board of Supervisors approved Supervisor Ridley-Thomas’ motion to create by July a program that would allow property owners to finance energy-efficiency upgrades by borrowing money from the County and paying it back through their property tax bills.

County Funds South Bay Groundwater Monitoring Project

Supervisor Don Knabe announced a multimillion dollar effort to further protect groundwater aquifers in the South Bay through a new technology project. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works will soon begin a $2.6 million project to build an underground telecommunications conduit that will allow better monitoring and control of wells throughout the South Bay.

A total of 153 injection wells stretch from the Palos Verdes Peninsula, north to Los Angeles International Airport, as part of the West Coast Basin Barrier Project. By injecting into water into these wells, seawater from Santa Monica Bay is prevented from seeping into the critical freshwater aquifers underneath the Los Angeles Basin. Seawater intrusion is the movement of ocean water into fresh groundwater, causing contamination of the groundwater by salt.

By creating a unified communications system between the wells, engineers with the Department of Public Works can control the West Coast Basin Barrier remotely from a monitoring facility in Alhambra. This allows for more rapid changes in the injection system and better monitoring of the groundwater supply in the underground aquifers.

In this first phase of the project, the County will construct a 12-inch-wide underground conduit which the future telecommunication controls will eventually run through. Public Works expects the conduit construction, which will involve areas in the Cities of El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and Torrance, to start in April 2009 and complete in October 2009. Access to adjacent properties will remain open during construction and traffic impacts will be minimal.

Elimination Of The California Department Of Boating And Waterways Opposed By The Board Of Supervisors

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed today to oppose Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to eliminate the California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW). The motion, authored by Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Board, also directs the County’s Chief Executive Office, in conjunction with the Sheriff’s and Fire Departments and the Department of Beaches and Harbors, to prepare a letter of opposition to be sent to the Governor.

Under the Governor’s government efficiency proposal, DBW would be merged into the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). DBW, which is completely self-funded by the boating public’s resources, currently funds launch ramp construction, loans for marina construction, construction of boating safety centers, boating safety and law enforcement programs, abandoned vessel removal, public outreach programs, and even weed control in boating areas throughout the State. If the two Departments merge it will likely result in cuts and delays to current projects and programs for boaters, including the County projects and programs.

The County of Los Angeles directly benefits from many DPW programs: the Department of Beaches and Harbors benefits from grants and loans for dock construction; the County Lifeguards get funding for boats, as does the Sheriff for boats and safety programs. The County will need to find different funding, if such funding is even available, for these projects and programs.

The Department of Boating and Waterways is critical to the future of boating in California, and any diversion of funds may result in the rapid deterioration of California’s boating waterways and infrastructure, said Supervisor Knabe. Additionally, diverting its resources to another State department, which has its own priorities, robs the very community that funds it. Boaters will still pay registration fees, but they won’t be getting the full benefit of those fees as they have in the past.

Los Angeles County Hiring Lake Lifeguards

The Lake Lifeguards of the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation are recruiting new applicants for their Lake Lifeguard service. The Los Angeles County Lake Lifeguards safeguard 40 miles of California’s most enjoyed inland waters, Castaic Lake, Bonelli Park and the Santa Fe Dam.

The mission of the Lake Lifeguards is to protect swimmers and save lives at Los Angeles County lakes. For over 75 years, Los Angeles County Lake Lifeguards have earned a reputation as one of the finest life guarding agencies in the world. They are looking for quality individuals with a strong athletic background (swimming, running, water polo, etc.) to continue this tradition.

A Lake Lifeguard observes an assigned area of a lake from a tower, launch ramp or patrol boat to preserve order, prevent accidents, and effect rescues. All candidates must have the ability to swim 1000 meters in eighteen minutes or less. New applicants for the Lake Lifeguard program require no prior experience. Upon completion of swimming exam, applicants will be enrolled in the Lake Lifeguard Academy where they must complete a County approved basic course of instruction including advanced lifesaving, first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

For more information, please contact Jim Hughes, Lake Aquatics Manager, at (909) 599-9364 ext. 2010.

Minimum Requirements:

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required.

AGE: At least eighteen (18) years of age. You must be 18 on or before May 16, 2009.

VISION: At least 20/30 in each eye without correction.

HEARING: (see official job bulletin)

EDUCATION: Proof of high school graduation or its equivalent is required at the time of appointment.

LOCATIONS:

San Fernando Regional Pool Facility

208 Park Avenue

San Fernando, CA 91340

Saturday, February 14, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

San Dimas Swim & Racquetball Club

990 West Covina Boulevard

San Dimas, CA 91773

Sunday, February 15, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Atlantic Pool

570 South Atlantic Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90022

Sunday, February 22, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Dredging Of The Marina Del Rey South Entrance Channel Has Begun

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors announced that the United States Army Corps of Engineers began dredging the south entrance channel to Marina del Rey on January 2, and will continue until the approximate completion date of March 15, 2009.

The $3 million dredging project will remove 50,000 cubic meters of contaminated sediment using a hydraulic dredge to remove a tip shoal area at the south entrance of the Marina harbor. Upon completion of the project, the dredged portion of the south entrance will return to the design depth of -20 feet mean lower low water. The sediment will be pumped to a temporary sand separation plant situated on parking lot # 3 located at 8600 Vista del Mar in Playa del Rey. Utilizing a new application, the treatment facility will separate sand from other materials and contaminants, resulting in sand suitable for nourishment at Dockweiler State Beach. The material unsuitable for beach placement will be trucked to an inland landfill.

For more information, contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs Office at (213) 452-3925 or click here.

Supervisors Fund Two Projects On Catalina Island

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors allocated nearly $1 million in funding today that will benefit two projects underway on Catalina Island.

The first project allocates $415,000 in Cities Excess Funds to the City of Avalon to continue the restoration of Joe Machado Field, a community park that was damaged by mudslides and flooding following a wildfire on Catalina Island in May 2007. The total cost of the restoration is estimated at $1.4 million and will be completed in four separate phases. The first phase, removal of debris and demotion of the damaged areas of the park, is currently underway.

In exchange for the $415,000 allocation, the City of Avalon will return an earlier grant for the exact same amount of money that had been previously given to the City. In June 2005, the County committed $415,000 to Avalon from the 1996 Safe Neighborhood Parks Proposition fund. That initial grant was to be used for the construction of a community center, but the project was postponed due to lack of additional funding. Because of the community center postponement, the City of Avalon will return the initial $415,000 grant to the County in exchange for today’s new grant for the same amount of money. The funds from the new grant can then be applied to the restoration of Joe Machado Field.

The second project allocates $500,000 from Fourth District Capital Project funds at the request of Supervisor Knabe to help the Santa Catalina Island Conservancy complete road improvements across portions of Catalina Island. The money will be used for making all-weather improvements to roads that are currently unsealed and dirt roads.

Los Angeles County Golf Club 2009 Schedule

Supervisor Knabe invites you to experience the wonders of the Los Angeles County Golf System; an affordable, quality and accessible recreational activity for the residents of Los Angeles County.

The Los Angeles County Golf Club (LACGC) visits and conducts tournaments at a different County golf course each month. In 2009, the LACGC will visit four Fourth District golf courses; Lakewood Golf Course on January 25, La Mirada Golf Course on February 22, Diamond Bar Golf Course on June 28, and Los Verdes Golf Course on December 13. Additionally, in 2009 we have added two new tournament events to our schedule, LA County Club Championship, and the LA County / PLGA Partners Cup.

Dust your clubs off and join the fun! Log onto www.lacountygolfclub.com or call (626) 254-8533 for more information. See below for the full 2009 schedule for the LACGC.