Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
www.scag.ca.gov

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the six counties in Southern California. The Federal Highway Act of 1962 mandated the creation of MPOs throughout the country’s major metropolitan areas. The intention of this requirement was to ensure compliance with the 3 C’s (continuing, comprehensive, and cooperative) planning process in the development of a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and a Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP). Additionally, under the Federal Clean Air Act, this agency is responsible for assessing conformity to the Air Plan of all area projects, plans and programs. 

The SCAG serves as the MPO for the following counties: Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura and Imperial. This region encompasses more than 38,000 square miles and over 18 million residents.  The SCAG is governed by a seventy-two member Regional council whose members are elected by districts representing various geographic clusters of cities located throughout the six county areas.  The San Gabriel Valley is divided into seven districts on the Regional Council. Along with developing the RTP and ensuring compliance to the Federal Clean Air Act Air Plan, other major activities of SCAG include: 

• Developing demographic projections plus the integrated land use, housing, employment, transportation programs, measures, and strategies portions of the South Coast Air Quality Management Plan,
• Serving as co-lead agency for air quality planning for the Central Coast and Southeast Desert air basin districts.
• Serving as the authorized regional agency for intergovernmental review of programs proposed for federal financial assistance and direct development activities.
• Reviewing environmental impact reports for projects having regional significance for consistency with regional plans.
• Functioning as the authorized area wide waste treatment management planning agency, pursuant to federal water pollution control statutes
• Preparing the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA), pursuant to state law.
• Preparing, in partnership with the San Diego Association of Governments, and the Santa Barbara County/Cities Area Planning Council, the Southern California Hazardous Waste Management Plan pursuant to the California Health and Safety Code

• Transportation and Communications Committee (TCC): Their role is to study problems, programs and other matters which pertain to the regional issues of mobility, air (quality), transportation control measures and communications, and to make recommendations on such matters to the Regional Council. Major programs that are under the purview of TCC are the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP), Aviation, Highway, Transportation Finance and Transportation Conformity.
• Energy and Environment Committee (EEC): This committee considers environmental and energy issues of regional significance, including but not limited to air quality, water quality, solid and hazardous waste, habitat preservation, environmental justice, and environmental impact analysis.
• Community, Economic, and Human Development Committee (CEHD): Their role is to study problems, programs and other matters which pertain to the regional issues of community, economic and human development and growth.  This committee reviews projects, plans and programs of regional significance for consistency and conformity with applicable regional plans. The CEHD Committee has oversight of the Growth Visioning and Growth Forecasting processes, as well as the Regional Housing Needs Assessment, the Intergovernmental Review effort and the monitoring and analysis of the Regional economy.

SGV Officials Elected to Serve on SCAG Regional Council 

Currently, the San Gabriel Valley is divided into seven districts by SCAG numbered 32 through 38. Each district elects a member to serve as representative on the regional council. The representative selects one additional policy committee on which to serve. Below is a brief biography of the most recently elected SCAG representatives as well as a listing of the communities they represent. 

District 32: Rosemead, El Monte, South El Monte
Margaret Clark, Councilmember, Rosemead	Margaret Clark was first elected to the Rosemead City Council in 1991, including three terms as Mayor. From 1997 to 1999 she served as Rosemead’s alternate on the COG governing board, and from 1999 to 2007 she served as Rosemead’s delegate. She has served on the Solid Waste and Legislative Boards of the COG. She was elected by the COG to serve as founding board member on the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountain Conservancy. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority since its establishment in 1992, the National League of Cities Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the governing board of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel River Watershed Council. In addition to serving on the SCAG regional council, Ms. Clark is a member of the Administrative Committee and Vice-Chair of the Energy and Environment Committee.
District 33: Baldwin Park, Irwindale, Azusa, Glendora, Covina, San Dimas

 

Keith Hanks Councilmember, Azusa	Keith Hanks has served on the Azusa City Council since first being elected in 2005.   He has served as the Azusa representative to the Gold Line JPA, and has been appointed to the Gold Line Construction Authority.  In addition to serving on the SCAG regional council, Mr. Hanks is a member of the Energy and Environment Committee, the Water Policy Taskforce and the Energy Working Group.
District 34: Alhambra, Monterey Park, Montebello
Barbara Messina, Councilmember, Alhambra	Barbara Messina is currently serving on the Alhambra City Council. In 2007, she was chosen to serve as Alhambra’s Alternate on the COG governing board. Previously, Ms. Messina served as Alhambra’s Alternate on the COG Governing Board from 1994 to 1998.  In addition to serving on the SCAG regional council, Ms. Messina is a member of the Transportation Committee.
District 35: San Marino, Temple City, San Gabriel, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Bradbury, Duarte
Harry Baldwin, Councilmember, San Gabriel	Harry Baldwin was first elected to the San Gabriel City Council in 1992, including two terms as Mayor. In 1994 he was appointed to serve as San Gabriel’s delegate to the COG Governing Board and he remains in that position. He also served as President of the COG from 1999 to 2001. Currently, he serves as Vice-Chairman of the Alameda Corridor East Construction Authority and as a board member on the Los Angels County Sanitation District.  In addition to serving on the SCAG regional council, Mr. Baldwin is a member of the Administrative Committee and Chair of the Transportation Committee.
District 36: La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, South Pasadena
Mike Ten, Councilmember, South Pasadena	Mike Ten was first elected to the South Pasadena City Council in 2003, including two terms as Mayor. From 2005 through 2006 he served as South Pasadena’s alternate on the COG governing board. He currently serves as South Pasadena Council’s liaison to the city Parks and Recreation Commission and the Foothill Workforce Investment Board. In addition to serving on the SCAG regional council, Mr. Ten is a member of the Community, Economic, and Housing Committee.
District 37: Industry, La Puente, West Covina, Walnut, Diamond Bar
Carol Herrera Councilmember, Diamond Bar	Carol Herrera has served on the SGVCOG Governing Board since 1997, and was first elected to the Diamond Bar City Council in 1995. From 2004-2006, she served as President of the SGVCOG. She is a member of the State Board of Directors for the League of California Cities and the LAFCO Board. She serves as the President of the Walnut Valley Education Foundation and the Tres Hermanos Conservation Authority. She is a past President of the Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities, and a former member of the Walnut Valley Unified School District Board of Education.
District 38: Claremont, La Verne, Pomona
Paula Lantz Councilmember, Pomona	Paula Lantz was first elected to the Pomona City Council in 1991. She is past President of both the Inland Valley Economic Development Corporation and the Pomona-Walnut-Rowland Water Line Commission. Ms. Lantz currently serves as Chair for Tri-City Mental Health and a member of the Executive Board of Foothill Transit. In addition to serving on the SCAG regional council, Ms. Lantz is a member of the Community, Economic and Housing Committee.

 

SGVCOG Appointments to SCAG Policy Committees

In addition to the regional council positions, which are elected by their respective districts, the COG also appoints 7 members to serve on SCAG’s three policy committees. The distribution of appointments is as follows:

• Community, Economic, and Human Development (CEHD): 3
• Energy and Environment Committee (EEC): 2
• Transportation and Communications Committee (TCC): 2

Below is a brief biography of the most recently appointed COG representatives to SCAG policy committees.

Community, Economic, and Human Development Committee
Joe Mosca, Councilmember, Sierra Madre	Joe Mosca was first elected to Sierra Madre City Council in 2206. In 2006 Mr. Mosca was appointed as Sierra Madre’s Alternate on the COG Governing Board.  Mr. Mosca is a member of the Rotary Club of Sierra Madre and is a member of several other community service and professional organizations throughout Los Angeles County. Previous to being elected to the City Council, Mr. Mosca served as the Chairperson of a Public Safety Committee for a Los Angeles Neighborhood Council.
John Nunez, Mayor Pro Tem, Rosemead	John Nunez was first elected to Rosemead City Council in 2005, and was elected Mayor Pro Tem. In 2006 he was appointed as Rosemead’s Alternate on the COG Governing Board. Prior to his election he served on the Garvey School District Board of Education from 1981-1985 and again from 1993 to 2002.  He was also elected to the Alhambra Unified School Board in 2002 and served over two years as President, Vice President and Clerk of the Board. He is a former Chairman of the County Committee on School District Organization and member of their Policy and Nominations Committee.
Joseph P. Gonzales, Councilmember, South El Monte

Energy and Environment Committee
Denis Bertone, Councilmember, San Dimas	Denis Bertone was first elected to serve on the San Dimas City Council in 1998. He has served as San Dimas’s Delegate on the COG’s Governing Board since 1999. As a COG Delegate, he is a member of the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy Board and the Energy and Environment Committee.
Sam Pedroza, Councilmember, Claremont	Sam Pedroza is serving his first term on the Claremont City Council. He recently served on the Claremont Community Services Commission, which he was appointed to in 2001. Sam is as an Environmental Planner for the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County. His responsibilities include government relations, outreach and public relations. He serves as treasurer for the San Gabriel Valley Public Affairs Network, a networking organization for public and government affairs professionals. He is the Stakeholder Representative to the Joint Powers Agreement Board for the San Gabriel River Discovery Center. He is a founding board member of Amigos de los Rios, an organization that advocates for open space opportunities along the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Rivers. Sam is also active with the Sierra Club's San Gabriel River Conservation Task Force.
Transportation and Communications Committee
Sharon Martinez,  Mayor, Monterey Park	Sharon Martinez currently serves as the Vice President of the SGVCOG. She was first elected to serve on the Monterey Park City Council in 2001, and has also served as Mayor. In addition to her City Council and COG activities, Ms. Martinez is currently an appointed member of the Los Angeles County Commission on Local Government, and serves as a board member on the Metro San Gabriel Valley Sector Governance Board, Rebuilding Together, and the Latin Business Association.
Luis Ayala, Councilmember, Alhambra	Luis Ayala was first elected to the Alhambra City Council in 2006. He is a member of the League of California Cities. He is the former Deputy to L.A. County Supervisor Gloria Molina (SE Region). He served as the de facto city manager for the unincorporated areas of Florence-Firestone and Walnut Park, delivering services to over 70,000 constituents and overseeing capital development projects.

Other Los Angeles County Councils of Governments (COGs)

• City of Los Angeles
• Gateway Cities
• Las Virgenes Malibu
• North Los Angeles County
• South Bay Cities
• Westside Cities

Other Southern California Councils of Governments (COGs)

• Arroyo Verdugo
• Coachella Valley
• Imperial Valley
• Orange County
• San Bernardino
• Ventura
• Western Riverside

League of California Cities 
http://www.cacities.org

The League of California Cities is an association of California city officials who work together to enhance their knowledge and skills, exchange information, and combine resources so that they may influence policy decisions that affect cities.

Founded in 1898 on the principles of local control and interagency cooperation, the League has grown from a handful of public officials to include the voluntary membership of 478 California cities. Today, the League and its member cities are working hard to strengthen the effectiveness of their advocacy efforts.  The League's mission statement reflects this commitment to "restore and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians". 

California Contract Cities Association (CCCA)
http://www.contractcities.org/

The primary purpose of the California Contract Cities Association is:

Independent Cities Association (ICA)
http://www.icacities.org/

The Independent Cities Association (ICA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public benefit corporation that was established in 1961 by the full service cities (cities that provide their own police and/or fire services) in Southern California to represent the interests of the member cities collectively.

The Independent Cities Association maintains public/private partnerships with carefully selected public and private sector organizations for the purpose of furthering the interests of all concerned.

ICA is a no nonsense organization governed by a 20 member Board of Directors elected by the member cities. The combined population of ICA members cities is approximately 7 million.

• To serve cities contracting for the performance of municipal services
• To serve as their rallying point for the achievement of all things necessary, proper and legitimate for the common good and welfare
• To take appropriate action on problems involving cities contracting for the performance of services
• To seek out the facts concerning the problems of contractual cities as they arise, and if necessary, to represent and intercede on behalf of the members of the CCCA to the end that such problems be speedily and justly concluded
• To assemble, examine and study all pertinent information pertaining to the cost of the performance of municipal services, the level of services so supplied, and to take appropriate action thereon when fully advised in the premises.

California Association of Councils of Governments (CALCOG)
http://www.calcog.org/