S IGNA L T R I BU N E Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and Signal Hill VOL. XXXIX NO. 25
Putting a CAAP on it
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
June 16, 2017
LB and LA mayors reaffirm commitment to Clean Air Action Plan.
signed a declaration that reinforces their pledge to work together regionally and nationally in advancing the Paris agreement goals. The mayors’ joint statement comCory Bilicko mits to advancing clean technology Managing Editor and other efforts to move toward the goal of zero emissions and enEleven days after President Don- suring the creation and approval of ald Trump announced that the United a 2017 CAAP update by November States would withdraw from the Par- 2017 that is “bold” in achieving a is climate accord– a United Nations clear timeline and sets measurable Framework Convention on Climate milestones to help ensure progress Change agreement to address green- toward near-term regional air-qualhouse-gas emisity attainment sions mitigation, “Washington may not goals– includadaptation and ficare about clean air... but ing through zero nance beginning in you can be damn sure and near-zero 2020– the mayors technologies– as of Long Beach and that we do.” well as the ulLos Angeles met to timate goals of reaffirm their joint zero emissions commitment to –LA Mayor Eric Garcetti for cargo-hanclean-air goals and dling equipment timelines for their respective ports. by 2030, and zero emissions for onAt a press conference at the San road drayage trucks serving the ports Pedro Downtown Harbor Monday by 2035. morning, Long Beach Mayor Robert The updated CAAP also seeks to: Garcia and LA Mayor Eric Garcetti expand at-berth emissions reduction;
Cory Bilicko | Signal Tribune
During a press conference Monday morning at the San Pedro Downtown Harbor, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti speaks from the podium about his city’s and Long Beach’s latest update of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan. Also pictured (from left) are: Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero; Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia; Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners Vice President Lou Anne Bynum; Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners Vice President David Arian; 15th District LA City Councilmember Joe Buscaino; and Port of LA Executive Director Gene Seroka.
develop pilot programs to test zero-emissions drayage trucks at scale in order to stimulate the production of these vehicles, demonstrate feasibility and provide meaningful data in real-world port operations; and expand technology-advancement programs. Per the declaration, the twin ports will release a final timeline and process for the development and submission of a proposed final 2017 CAAP update to the combined Boards of Harbor Commissioners by November 2017, as well as a subse-
quent 2017 CAAP update reporting plan that includes a commitment among the mayors, the boards, staff and all stakeholders to communicate regularly and in a timely manner as the updated CAAP programs are developed and implemented at the ports. The statement also calls for the creation of a San Pedro Bay CAAP Implementation Stakeholder Advisory Group of key public and private industry stakeholders, including Southern California Edison, Los Angeles Department of Water and
Power, related Port and City staff, and key partners to advise the ports regarding details of CAAP implementation and further ongoing operational efficiency programs to move toward zero-emissions goods movement. Furthermore, the declaration sets out to advance a Green Ports Collaborative among fellow “Climate Mayors” and ports on the West Coast– and later expanding nationally– to advance similar goals by see PORTS page 11
Mayor apologizes for miscommunication regarding commissioner appointments SH council approves new public lighting, SHP CUP extension and dealership. Anita W. Harris Staff Writer
After public complaints at the June 13 Signal Hill City Council meeting about commissioner appointment procedures at the previous meeting, Mayor Edward Wilson apologized to the council for confusion resulting from not communicating sufficiently prior to the meeting about his decision to implement appointment procedures based on the city charter. During Tuesday’s meeting, the council also approved energy-efficient upgrades for street lighting, a one-year extension on Signal Hill Petroleum’s conditional-use permit for drill sites and the sale of land for a new Mazda dealership.
Procedures controversy In the wake of controversy created at the May 23 council meeting during which Wilson implemented charter-based procedures for appointing commissioners, two Signal Hill residents at the June 13 meeting voiced their dissatisfaction. The city charter authorizes the mayor to nominate candidates for subsequent council approval, and, if he chooses, allow no nominations by other council members. City Attorney Dave Aleshire has noted that this procedure is based on state law and is a common appointment method, though it was a significant departure for the Signal Hill council. “In the past, it was an informal process where different people would throw out names and keep working on it until they had a majority,” Aleshire said after the May 23 meeting. “It became an awkward issue when the mayor threw out who he was not willing to nominate.”
Anita W. Harris | Signal Tribune
Former Planning Commissioner Tom Benson addresses the Signal Hill City Council at its June 13 meeting.
Though Wilson had nominated enough commissioners to fill seats on the three commissions that had openings, the council did not approve all of them, leaving four vacancies for which Wilson did not make further nominations, nor allow any other council member to do so. Wilson has stated that he knew, according to the city charter, that existing commissioners must continue to serve until they are replaced, and his choice not to continue nominating candidates would therefore not
cause the commissions to become inoperable. Nonetheless, existing commissioners being asked to continue, as well as council members, reacted vehemently to Wilson’s decision to not make or allow further nominations. “It was one of the most unfair procedures I’ve ever seen in my 20 years on council,” said Councilmember Larry Forester after the meeting, noting that in the past, all council members were allowed to
nominate candidates, even if that procedure is not specified in the charter. Janice Montgomery identified herself as a Signal Hill resident during public business at the June 13 meeting and addressed the council, specifically Wilson, about the procedural change at the May 23 meeting. “I’m extremely upset,” she said. “You changed it without notifying any council member what the see COUNCIL page 13
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