Livable Communities Working Group
October 16, 2013 @ 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
The South Bay Cities Council of Governments Livable Communities Working Group is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, October 16, 2013.
LOCATION: South Bay Environmental Services Center, 20285 So. Western Avenue, Suite 100, Torrance 90501
MEETING TIME – 2:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.
The meeting agenda is posted below:
Summary of Meeting agenda:
SCAG has posted “Map Books” online for cities to review and correct. These maps contain SCAG’s land use data base for all cities in the region. The problem is that the maps do not always reflect the current buildings on the ground. Yet accuracy is extremely important since the data base will be used in the Scenario Planning Tool, SCAG’s Sustainable Communities Strategy, and RHNA assessments.
Review involves a potentially time consuming parcel by parcel inspection. We started this process in Hermosa Beach in order estimate the accuracy of the data base and the time required to correct it. We found it to be time consuming and inaccurate. Some jurisdictions elsewhere have replicated our experience while others have reported more accuracy and less time.
Mohja Rhoads will present our Hermosa Beach case study. Frank Wen and Jung Seo from SCAG will comment and provide guidance on how to approach this challenge. Map Book verification affects every South Bay city.
Avital Shavit will make a brief presentation on Metro’s Open Streets Program (used to fund events like CicLAvia). Here is a brief description of the situation:
In September the Metro Board approved a new Open Streets Program that intends to spread the success of CicLAvia beyond the City of LA by providing up to $2 million annually for similar events throughout LA County. The program framework includes a competitive application process and a technical process to collect data and evaluate the costs and benefits. The goals of the program are to increase sustainable transportation mode share (transit, bicycle & pedestrian), provide opportunities for 1st time transit usage and encourage cities to develop multi-modal polices. The program can provide economic and public health benefits as well as provide opportunities to highlight & promote cultural resources. In order to solicit feedback on the board approved program guidelines that will form the basis of the final Open Streets application package, Metro is providing presentations to the Council of Governments, the Metro Technical Advisory Committee and the Metro Streets and Freeways Subcommittee this fall. Comments on the guidelines are due to Metro December 2, 2013. Staff plans to release the final application package and conduct an Open Streets workshop in winter 2014. To submit comments or for more information about the program please contact Avital Shavit @ (213) 922-7518 [email protected].
I will discuss the implications of the Ecotality bankruptcy and the just published Community (PEV) Readiness Handbook. I also would like your response to my current strategy for collecting parking and electric infrastructure data on multi-family buildings.
Finally, Dan Sturges will share his concepts on sustainable transportation. Dan has 30 years’ experience in this field – and was the designer of what eventually was marketed as the GEM. His presentation will be based on one he delivered last week at the Las Vegas Downtown Speaker Series. He will also briefly report on the Shared Use Summit that is being held this week in San Francisco. It is being hosted by UC-Berkeley’s Susan Shaheen and is the first meeting ever of carshare, rideshare, and bikeshare leaders.
This agenda is both practical and visionary. I’m sure you won’t want to miss these topics.
RSVP to Rosie Lackow at [email protected]
Wally Siembab