Transportation

Knabe To Change Vote On Transit Sale Tax Issue

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe has announced that at the next meeting of the Board of Supervisors, he will enter a motion to reconsider the Board’s previous vote on the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (MTA) sales tax measure. Supervisor Knabe has also decided that at the time of the reconsideration he will change his vote from ‘no’ to ‘yes.’

Supervisor Knabe’s planned reconsideration and intention to change his vote effectively means that the MTA sales tax measure now has the three votes it needs to pass the Board of Supervisors and go before the voters as part of the consolidated November 2008 Presidential Election ballot, and not as a totally separate election.

This morning, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk informed the Board of Supervisors that the costs of a concurrent election, with the MTA sales tax appearing as a totally separate ballot in the November election, would cost taxpayers an additional $10.3 million. If the MTA measure were included as part of the main ballot, the cost would be $7.2 million, instead of the $17.5 million estimated for a separate ballot.

Additionally, the MTA measure would have to be setup as a completely separate election that would be conducted on the same day as the November 4, 2008 general election. Polling places would require additional staffing and voters would get separate ballots, sample ballots and voter guides for both elections.

I remain absolutely opposed to the MTA sales tax measure and I plan to spend my time and effort campaigning against it, said Supervisor Knabe. The plan is not equitable for all County residents and this is the wrong time to burden people with even higher taxes.

Although I am against the sales tax plan, I cannot in good conscience burden County residents with over $10 million in higher election costs. The taxpayers will have to pay for these costs, and that is something I will not allow to happen. Additionally, the separate ballots, voter guides, and other resources needed to conduct a separate election on the same day as the Presidential Election could cause unnecessary confusion and challenges for voters. This upcoming election is the most important in many years, and voters deserve better than a potential disaster at their polling place.

Knabe Opposes Sales Tax Increase

Supervisor Don Knabe announced his opposition today to a proposed half-cent sales tax increase to pay for transit projects across Los Angeles County. The Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) Board of Directors, which Supervisor Knabe is a member of, is scheduled to discuss the sales tax proposal at tomorrow’s Board Meeting.

Now is not the time to burden the residents of Los Angeles County with yet another tax increase, said Supervisor Knabe. Taxpayers in our County already pay the second-highest tax rate in California, behind only Alameda County. Metro’s proposed increase would unfairly push our local tax rate even higher.

We need to make long-range investments in expanding mass transit options and improving our existing transportation infrastructure across every part of our County, but now is not the time to do it on the backs of taxpayers. We have too many people in Los Angeles County struggling to make ends meet right now. This tax increase, at this time, is an unnecessary burden on residents.

New Series Of Property Tax Assessment Seminars Set

The County of Los Angeles is sponsoring a series of free seminars during July, August and September to assist property owners who feel their taxes should be lowered due to a decline in the value of their property. The 90-minute seminars will be offered at six locations: Culver City, El Monte, Glendale, Lakewood, Lancaster and Van Nuys. Additional seminars will be scheduled throughout the County on a year-round basis.

The seminars are intended to help taxpayers better understand the assessment appeals process, which many find confusing. The seminars will be of value to homeowners who are interested in learning about the assessment appeals process and to those who have already filed an appeal. The seminars will cover taxpayers’ appeal rights when and how to file an application for reduction in assessment. The seminars will also cover how to prepare for a hearing, what qualifies as admissible evidence, what will happen at the hearing and what to expect after the hearing.

The dates, times and locations of the sessions are as follows:

– Lancaster – Lancaster Library, 601 Lancaster Boulevard, July 16, 10:00 a.m.

Free parking at library.

– Glendale – Glendale Library, 222 Harvard Street, July 23, 10:00 a.m.

The library will validate three hours parking at the corner of Maryland and Harvard.

– Culver City – Culver City Library, 4975 Overland Avenue, August 18, 10:00 a.m.

Free parking behind the library.

– El Monte – Crippen Senior Center, 3120 Tyler Avenue, August 21, 10:00 a.m.

Free parking at the center.

– Lakewood – Iacoboni Library, 4900 Clark Avenue, September 22, 10:00 a.m. Parking at corner of Clark Avenue and Del Amo Boulevard.

– Van Nuys – Bernardi Senior Center, 6514 Sylmar Avenue, September 24, 2:00 p.m. Free parking, entrance on Hamlin Street.

Persons with disabilities who believe they need reasonable accommodation or help in order to attend a seminar may call (213) 974-1431. Hearing-impaired persons with TDD equipment may leave a typewritten message by calling (213) 974-1707 (TDD).

Schedules for the seminars may be obtained by calling (213) 974-4240 or on the Internet at http://bos.co.la.ca.us/SCRIPTS/publiced.htm

Harbor Boulevard Improved In La Habra Heights

The County of Los Angeles has completed the construction of a roadway improvement project on Harbor Boulevard in the City of La Habra Heights, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

The $904,880 project focused on resurfacing and reconstructing the roadway, the reconstruction of the curbs, gutters, sidewalks and curb ramps, the modification of traffic signals, and the installation of new striping and pavement markings.

It is important that we constantly look for ways to improve the roads in our County, said Supervisor Knabe. By improving Harbor Boulevard, both the residents of La Habra Heights and the nearby unincorporated County areas that travel this route will benefit.

Construction Set To Begin On Dockweiler State Beach Youth Center

Over four miles of the Marvin Braude South Bay Bike Trail will soon be refurbished or completely rebuilt after Supervisor Don Knabe agreed to fund the project with $5 million in Fourth District Capital Improvement funds. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the project today.

The portions of the bike path to be renovated are located between Culver Boulevard in Playa del Rey and Calle Miramar in Torrance. The project involves removing damaged Portland Cement Concrete (Cement) and Asphalt Concrete (Asphalt) and reconstructing those portions of the bike path with similar materials. Also, slurry and crack sealing will be used when complete restructuring is not necessary. The project will now go out to bid, and construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2009. Over 21,000 feet, over just over 4 miles of the bike path will be repaired or reconstructed.

The Marvin Braude Bike Trail stretches nearly 22 miles between Will Rogers State Beach and Torrance County Beach, with most of the path running along public beaches. This past March, the County completed the renovation of a portion of the bike path is located between 62nd Avenue and Culver Boulevard in the Playa del Rey community of the City of Los Angeles.

It is important that the bike paths running along public beaches are safe, said Supervisor Knabe. I am glad to fund improvements that will enhance the safety and increase enjoyment of the numerous residents and visitors who use the Marvin Braude Bike Trail.

Project Details

– Culver Boulevard to 38 feet north of Grand Avenue

1. Reconstruct approximately 9,000 feet of cement pavement

2. Reconstruct or slurry approximately 800 feet of asphalt pavement

– 38 feet north of Grand Avenue to 45th Street

1. Reconstruct approximately 1,000 feet of asphalt pavement

2. Slurry approximately 4,510 feet of asphalt pavement

– 45th Street to 1st Street

1. Reconstruct approximately 800 feet of asphalt pavement

– Torrance Loop to 3,960 feet south of Torrance Loop

1. Reconstruct approximately 1,000 feet of asphalt pavement

2. Slurry approximately 3,960 feet of asphalt pavement

– 3,960 feet south of Torrance Loop to Calle Miramar

1. Reconstruct approximately 100 feet of cement pavement

Funding Continues For Fourth District Paratransit Shuttle Service

Supervisor Don Knabe today announced that the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $608,000 in funding for the continuation of paratransit shuttle service for eligible patrons in the unincorporated areas of the Fourth District for Fiscal Year 2008-2009.

The program will include the following paratransit shuttle services: La Rambla, Marina del Rey, Rancho Los Amigos, Teen Mother, and the Whittier Islands.

I am pleased to be able to secure the funds for this service, said Supervisor Knabe. Many of our transit dependent residents utilize public transportation and these shuttle services are a vital component of their livelihood.

The County will provide funding through the Fourth District’s Proposition A Local Return Transit Program. The financing continues the successful shuttle service for eligible patrons of the unincorporated areas of the Fourth District, improving mobility for transit dependant patrons.

Statement By Supervisor Knabe On Proposed 2008-2009 Los Angeles County Budget

The Chief Executive Officer’s proposal for the Los Angeles County 2008-2009 Budget rightly focuses on limiting growth of government programs in the time of a slowing economy and slowing revenue into County coffers.

For the first time in several years, we are experiencing a loss in property tax revenue from the stalled real estate market and the potential loss of state funding in many areas. However, this proposed budget reveals that Los Angeles County remains in solid financial shape and today we are not facing the widespread financial shortfalls and cutbacks that many other levels of government are currently suffering.

What we will have to keep a close eye on is the potential impact the proposed Federal and State budgets could have on the County in the year ahead. Proposed cuts in both of these budgets could potentially mean a loss of up to $500 million in funding to the County in the year ahead. Both the Federal and State budgets proposals are still very uncertain at this point, so the potential hit the County could take is unknown today. We likely will not know more about these impacts until September or October. If State and Federal budget cuts impact the County, then we will cross that bridge when we come to it. Until then, the County will move forward with our own budget proposal that is free of service cuts at this time.

As far as our budget proposal, I am very pleased to see $4.6 million in new funding for enhanced unincorporated Sheriff patrols. This means our unincorporated area residents will benefit from dozens of additional patrol deputies in the near future. Additionally, $3.3 million in new funding will be dedicated to gang prevention efforts.

Although the vast majority of our County programs and departments remain financially solvent, the ongoing deficit in the Department of Health Services is still deeply alarming and continues to loom on the horizon. With a potential structural deficit of over $700 million in the next two fiscal years, the time to act and to make difficult decisions has arrived. We must resolve this deficit without reducing health services to patients. Closing clinics and access points to healthcare is not the answer in a time when we should be opening additional clinics. We need creative decisions and a willingness to look at out-of-the-box solutions to solve this deficit and we need to make these decisions now.

Improving Traffic Flow Between The City And County Of Los Angeles

A recently completed traffic signal interface between the City and County of Los Angeles will dramatically improve traffic flow throughout the region.

The new interface links the City’s Advanced Traffic Control System with the County’s Information Exchange Network, and will enable a two-way exchange of traffic signal data, including congestion and incident information. It will significantly enhance the ability for both agencies to work together to ensure their traffic signals remain coordinated across City boundaries. Operators in both agencies will be able to monitor the operation of each agency’s signals and make adjustments to ensure the routes are synchronized.

The total cost of the project was approximately $1.41 million, with funding provided by the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the City and County of Los Angeles.

Traffic Signal Synchronization Project Complete In Long Beach And Paramount

The County of Los Angeles has completed the construction of a Traffic Signal Synchronization Project in the Fourth District cities of Long Beach and Paramount, Supervisor Don Knabe announced recently.

The $1,022,691 project was financed with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Grant Funds and Proposition C Local Return Funds, and focused on coordinating the timing of signals along Eastern Avenue/Garfield Avenue/Cherry Avenue between Pacific Coast Highway and Atlantic Boulevard.

This project is part of the County’s ongoing program to enhance traffic flow and safety for drivers and pedestrians. Prior projects have shown travel times through these synchronized routes are reduced by as much as 24 percent during peak travel hours and as much as 29 percent during other periods of the day.

It is important that we constantly look for ways to reduce congestion and improve the flow of traffic on our roads, said Supervisor Knabe. By synchronizing these traffic signals, both the residents of these cities and the nearby unincorporated County areas that travel these routes will benefit.

Construction Set To Begin On Dockweiler State Beach Youth Center

Construction of the Dockweiler State Beach Youth Center, located at the end of Imperial Highway and Vista del Mar, is scheduled to begin January 28, 2008 with anticipated completion in April 2009.

The $6.2 million project is jointly funded by County of Los Angeles Prop A and State of California Prop. 12 bond funds. This project will provide a youth activity center at Dockweiler State Beach and will serve as the southern headquarters for the Los Angeles County W.A.T.E.R. (Water Awareness, Training, Education and Recreation) youth education program offering aquatic sports camps.

The 8,800 square foot building will consist of multi-purpose meeting and training facilities, administrative space, indoor storage facilities, restroom and locker facilities and storage for beach equipment.