In an effort to enhance quality of life for its residents, San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) has committed to improving the environment as one of its strategic goals. To achieve this end, SGVCOG’s Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources (EENR) Committee coordinates environment-related efforts among the Valley’s many jurisdictions, pursues funding opportunities for the Valley, and promotes beneficial policies to its member agencies. As an outgrowth of these efforts, the EENR Committee has created five working groups to address issues related to energy, water, open space, solid waste, and air quality. These working groups will expand the committee’s ability to address environmental issues and bring insight and expertise to the committee’s areas of primary concern.

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With an ever-increasing focus on energy consumption and environmental impacts, sustainable and energy efficient design of buildings is a key strategy for local governments and communities to embrace.  The San Gabriel Valley Energy Wise Partnership and SGVCOG hosted a Green Building Workshop on Wednesday, June 10th at the City of Monrovia's brand new LEED-certified library.

 An expert panel of professionals, including representatives from the US Green Building Council, building industry, and local government presented the latest information on green building to more than 70 participants.

Resource CDs were distributed with the following information:

Presentations:

• Green Building Overview, Lance Williams, US Green Building Council - Los Angeles Chapter
• Energy Efficiency in Green Building, Devon Hartman, Hartman Baldwin Design/Build
• Achieving Green Building for Public Agencies, Darren Pynn, Miralles Associates
• Green Building Program, Ursula Schmidt, City of Pasadena
• Green Building Program, Chris Corrao, City of West Hollywood
• Building Sustainble Buildings Sustainably, David Selna, Morley Builders
• Real Cost of Green Building, Coomy Kadribegovic, Davis Langdon
• Savings by Design, Mark Davis, Southern California Edison

Green Building Guidelines & Checklists:

• Comparison of Green Rating Programs
• LEED for Homes Rating System and Checklist
• Build it Green New Construction Guidelines
• Build it Green Home Remodeling Guideilnes and Spreadsheet
• Build it Green Existing Home Checklist, New Multi-Family Home Checklist, and New Single Family Home Checklist
• GreenPoint Rated Builder Handbook

City Ordinances and Programs

• Guide to Local Government Green Building Programs
• City of Pasadena Green Building Ordinance and Brochure
• City of West Hollwyood Green Building Ordinance and Building Manual
• County of Los Angeles Green Building Ordinances
• City of Los Angeles Green Building Ordinance

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 Open Space

Denis Bertone, Chair

 

 

San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC)

The RMC was created by the California legislature in 1999. Legislation was introduced by then-state Senator Hilda Solis.  The RMC is one of nine conservancies within the California Resources Agency. Their mission is to preserve open space and habitat in order to provide for low-impact recreation and educational uses, wildlife habitat restoration and protection, and watershed improvements within our jurisdiction. The area of the conservancy includes the San Gabriel Mountains, the San Gabriel Valley, and much of the Los Angeles Coastal Plain. The Rio Hondo subwatershed was also included. And because the Rio Hondo connects to the lower Los Angeles River, the latter was added.  The sources of capital funds for the RMC are a series of propositions approved by the voters.

 

 

NEWS

 

Open Space Workshop

 

On Thursday, October 27^th, the COG in partnership with the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC) hosted an Open Space workshop in the City of San Dimas. The workshop provided practical and timely information on the status of RMC’s grant program, particularly as it relates to the San Gabriel Valley.  RMC provided an update on the status of all their funded grants, pending projects that have been conceptually approved, and the outlook for future grant cycles.  Participants were provided an overview of a highlight successful multi-benefit project that was able to garner both state and local funds in the City of Duarte. The workshop also presented information on matching fund opportunities from the State and local levels and how to package projects in order to effectively leverage funding from various sources. The Wilderness Society, that provided information on the campaign to designate new areas in the Angeles National Forest as wilderness and scenic rivers and the National Park Service on the San Gabriel Mountain Special Resource Study. Approximately 50 people were in attendance representing cities and non-profit organizations active in the San Gabriel Valley.

 

Water Project Priority List - Open Space Elements

 

All projects incorporate open space elements, recreation opportunities, and habitat preservation.

 

Solid Waste

  

Sam Pedroza, Chair

 

NEWS

 

Solid Waste Working Group hosts roundtable discussion with waste management firms in the San Gabriel Valley

Representatives from the waste management firms active in the San Gabriel Valley met with the Working Group in April and June  to discuss the closure of Puente Hills landfill in 2013 and future green waste management issues and strategies.

 

Los Angeles County Integrated Waste Management Task Force Correspondence

The IWMTF has made its correspondence regarding solid waste, recycling, and hazardous waste issues available on its website.  Visit this page to learn more about the IWMTF positions of varoius legislation and policies.

 

Solid Waste Policy Adopted January 15th, 2009

The Governing Board adopted a solid waste policy at it's January meeting.  Councilmember Sam Pedroza presented the paper and an overview of solid waste issues in the region.  His presentation was based on the Trash 101 workshop held last September.  The policy paper can be downloaded by clicking here.

 

Green Waste Briefing

Dave Davis of MSW Consultants provided the Solid Waste Working Group with a very informative briefing on current and future green waste issues and strategies at the December meeting.  To download a copy of his presentation, click here.

 

 

Trash 101 Workshop

The "Trash 101: A New Era for Solid Waste Management" workshop was held on Friday, September 12th at the Los Angeles County Sanitation District offices.  More than 40 elected officials and city staff attended this successful event.  Thank you to our featured speakers for their insightful presentations. 

 

A special thanks to California Integrated Waste Management Board Member Rosalie Mule for serving as the keynote speaker for the event. 

To obtain a copy of the informational CD distributed at the event, please contact bcooke@sgvcog.org.

 

Agendas & Minutes

 

Please click here for the current agenda.

 

Date	Minutes
January 2010	Minutes
December 2009	Minutes
November 2009	No meeting
October 2009	Minutes
September 2009	No meeting
August 2009	No meeting
July 2009	No meeting
June 2009	Minutes
May 2009	No meeting
April 2009	Minutes
March 2009	Minutes
February 2009	Minutes
January 2009	No Meeting
December 2008	Minutes

Water

 

Mary Ann Lutz, Chair

 

NEWS

  

AB 1881 - State Water Efficient Landscape Model Ordinance

The Water Conservation in Landscaping Act of 2006 requires local agencies, no later January 1, 2010, to adopt the State’s Model Local Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance or the jurisdiction’s own equivalent.  If a city does not adopt its own ordinance, the model ordinance will be automatically adopted by statute.  In order to address concerns expressed by our member agencies and promote regional consistency amongst the city ordinances, we have organized a working group that is meeting bi-weekly. 

 

Water Project Priority List Developed

This memo provides an overview of the process undertaken to develop this list.  The COG compiled and organized the list of projects from agencies in our area included in the Upper San Gabriel & Rio Hondo subcommittee of the Integrated Regional Watershed Management Plan (IRWMP).  Please note this list does not include projects submitted after October 2008.

State Water Resources Control Board Vice Chair, Fran Spivey Weber, attends May Water Working Group meeting

Ms. Weber joined the Water Working Group in May to discuss water-related stimulus funding and the Board's recently adopted recycled water policy. 

Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District's San Gabriel Basin Advanced Water Treatment Recharge Project 

The purpose of this project is to construct a treatment plant for recycled water at the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts’ San Jose Water Reclamation Plan. This will provide a new source of groundwater replenishment for the Main San Gabriel Basin. This project will assist our region in addressing the current water supply and drought conditions that are impacting the entire state. Click here for more information.   

Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation Recycled Water Presentation

At the November Water Working Group meeting, staff from the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation presented on their efforts to utilize recycled water at Department's Parks and Golf Courses.  A full copy of the presentation can be accessed here. 

Agenda & Minutes

Please click here for the current agenda.

Date	Minutes
January 2010	Minutes
December 2009	No Meeting
November 2009	Minutes
October 2009	Minutes
September 2009	Minutes
August 2009	No Meeting
July 2009	No Meeting
June 2009	No Meeting
May 2009	Minutes
April 2009	Minutes
March 2009	Minutes
February 2009	Minutes
January 2009	attend IRWMP mtgs
December 2008	Minutes