NEWS/HARBOR CURRENTS

Water-treatment Company Gets Environmental Exemption

LOS ANGELES – On June 22, the Los Angeles City Council voted 13-0, with Councilmen Eric Garcetti and Greig Smith in absentia, in favor of an agreement that exempts environmental management company, Camp Dresser and McKee Inc. from California Environmental Air Quality Act requirements.

The decision allows an additional $400,000 for a total contract of $4.4 million and authorizes the Port of Los Angeles’ executive director, and the board secretary of the Harbor Commissioners to execute the agreement.

The $400,000 funds are available in the Capital Improvement Program. Increasing the contract authority by that amount will allow the company to complete the environmental impact report for American President Lines shipping company and provide continued state and federal environmental documentation support such as General Conformity Determinations. The $400,000 will be spent in fiscal year 2010-11. As of November 2009, $1.3 million has been spent against the contract; and a total of $3.8 million has been committed to other projects that require existing funds. The total cost to prepare this environmental impact statement and report will be about $2.5 million.

POLA Tariff Exempt 09-0677

LOS ANGELES – On June 22, the Los Angeles City Council, voted 13-0, with Councilmen Eric Garcetti and Greig Smith in absentia, to approve an amendment to the Port of Los Angeles Tariff exempting it from the California Environmental Air Quality Act on the infrastructure cargo fee.

The amendment sets the collection of the infrastructure fee to start Jan. 1, 2012 and revises the fee amount to be unspecified until it is determined on Sept. 30, 2011 when it will be amended and subject to the review and approval of the California Association of Port Authorities. The decision also authorizes the Board of Harbor Commissioners’ secretary to certify the adoption of a temporary order and execute the permanent order upon publication in a newspaper, as required with a new proposed specific amount by Sept. 30, 2011.

The board reports that construction of the projects is expected to begin in Fiscal Year 2010-11 or later. Each of the projects is currently programmed in the Harbor Department's Capital Improvement Program with the funding expected to come from internal Harbor Department resources. Not receiving any funding from the infrastructure cargo fee, while still moving forward with the listed projects will require the Harbor Department to borrow more than originally anticipated for FY 2010-11 or use more of its cash generated from operations. The magnitude of the additional borrowing or the amount of cash used will vary depending on the amount of operating revenues generated and when and whether the fees might be implemented.

The City Clerk transmitted the file to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The last day for Villaraigosa to act is July 6.

POLA Fanfare Fountain Receives Architectural Award

SAN PEDRO – The Port of Los Angeles’ Fanfare Fountains and water features at the entrance to the world cruise center received the Los Angeles Architectural Award, June 29, in the landscape architecture category from the Los Angeles Business Council.

Pumping 400,000 gallons of recycled water, with nearly 60 custom fountain jets coupled with water streams, the fountains on the east side of the Swinford Street and Harbor Boulevard intersection in San Pedro are synchronized to music and lights.

The fountains and water features were designed by WET® of Sun Valley, Calif. – the firm was also the designers of The Fountains of Bellagio, The Fountains of City Center and Revson Fountain at Lincoln Center.

"This fountain has helped to transform the complex – a major economic engine for Southern California – into an important space for public gathering," said Mary Leslie, president of the Los Angeles Business Council.

City Grants $10 million to Toberman Village Project

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles City Council voted of 10-0, June 25, to grant up to $10 million in tax-exempt multifamily housing revenue notes to the Toberman Village Project in San Pedro, which will provide 49 units of affordable housing for low-income families.

The decision also would authorize the general manager, LAHD or a designee, to negotiate and execute the construction loan documents and report back to the council within two years or sooner, upon completion of the project's construction but prior to the execution of the permanent financing agreements, with a status report.

The City Clerk transmitted the file to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The last day for Villaraigosa to act is July 6.

Breakwater Feasibility Moves Forward

LONG BEACH – The Long Beach City Council voted to proceed with a feasibility study of the East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration Study (Long Beach Breakwater) and sponsor the project, June 22, after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its Reconnaissance Study June 21.

Community members have been pushing to bring down the breakwater and bring back waves to Long Beach with the hopes of restoring its shores environment and promoting better tourism for the city.

The Long Beach breakwater was built as a part of the deepwater port project. The construction of the San Pedro and Middle Breakwaters started in 1899 and 1932, and completed in 1912 and 1942 respectively. The construction of the Long Beach Breakwater started in 1941, but was halted in 1943 due to World War II. Construction was resumed in 1946, and completed in 1949. The U.S. Navy moved in to the port of Long Beach in 1940 and used the breakwaters for military purposes.

With the closure of the U.S. Navy base, the Long Beach breakwater has lost its original purpose.

Since the breakwater was created, Long Beach's waterfront has deteriorated. The natural flow of the ocean current and waves had previously assisted in keeping the beaches and waters in Long Beach free from stagnating pollutants. With the breakwater, urban runoff or storm water from the Los Angeles River gets trapped within the Harbor.

Breakwater reconfiguration proponents believe that bringing back waves to Long Beach will help restore the ecosystem, hail economic benefits for the city, increase property values in the city, and bring surfing back to the city’s shores.

However, they recognize that there may be some adverse effects such as erosion on the peninsula, sand movement in the area and a need for structural re-enforcements in the Harbor.

The report concludes that there is federal interest in proceeding to a feasibility study in which the Army Corps would evaluate opportunities for ecosystem restoration, water quality improvements and recreation improvements in Long Beach. The report also determined that improving the water quality, clarity and circulation can enhance and restore reef and kelp habitat within San Pedro, and that the project could result in improved conditions for recreational swimming and surfing.

These improvements are not without constraints. The reconnaissance study listed Port of Long Beach berths, Navy anchorage, Long Beach peninsula, THUMS islands, marinas and docks and navigational safety, stating that these areas must not be adversely affected.

The Reconnaissance Study identifies potential alternatives such as reconfiguring the Long Beach Breakwater, changes in alignment of the LA River, creation of rocky reef habitat and measures to address pollutants in the Los Angeles River.

Specific alternatives would later be developed in the feasibility study through a community outreach process.

The Feasibility Study will take a minimum of 4 years to complete and will cost $8,337,400. In the Feasibility Study, the Army Corps will conduct an extensive analysis including wave modeling, water quality modeling, economic analysis, environmental analysis, engineering and design analysis, geo-technical studies, review of tidal elevations, sediment transport, and analysis of other areas.

The city council committed $4 million that will come from a variety of sources, including $2.5 million from the Tidelands Fund, and another $800,000 from in kind services from the City of Long Beach. The remaining funds will come from grants and other agency support.

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Carson Imposes $1000 Fine for Illegal Fireworks

CARSON – The City of Carson established, June 29, a $1000 fine for the use, sale and possession of illegal fireworks within the city.

The fine is the maximum amount permitted by law.

Since 2006, the City has been enforcing an aggressive campaign to issue citations and impose a fine to individuals who violate the City ordinance regulating the sale and use of fireworks within Carson.

Under the ordinance, “safe and sane” fireworks can only be discharged from noon on June 28 to midnight on July 4. The ordinance further states that fireworks can only be sold at properly licensed stands within the city from noon to 10 p.m. on June 28 and from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. from June 29 to July 4.

Residents are encouraged to report illegal fireworks in their neighborhood by contacting the Sheriff’s Department at (310)830-1123.

Mayor Seeks Stricter School of Choice Process

LOS ANGELES – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa urged the Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent and governing board to implement more rigorous modifications to the Public School of Choice program.

In a letter dated June 9, Villaraigosa outlined the following recommendations:

• Reconstitution as default.
• Increase weight given to an applicant’s proven track record.
• Hold all applicants to the same standard, specifically, the Supplemental Application, which only Charter and Network Partner applicants must complete.
• Progressive governance structures that give consideration only to innovative governance structures.
• Any unethical practices conducted during the advisory vote process should either exempt the guilty party's application from eligibility, or cause it to forfeit the advisory vote.
• A point total should be ascribed to each criteria, and scores given based on that point system.
• All participants should be required to either participate in a District pilot or create their own new teacher evaluation program, based on and in furtherance of the recommendations of the District’s Teacher Effectiveness Task Force.
• Additional support for applicant teams.
• Hold successful applicants accountable.

LAUSD recently released a draft Request for Proposals for the second round of PSC, with a short window for public comment. The Mayor, along with other groups, submitted recommendations.

Letters of Intent to participate are due June 30. Full applications are due in December.

“I partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District to create the Public School Choice motion because I firmly believe this is a powerful vehicle for reform that will improve our schools,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “However, as with any new program, there is a learning curve and room for improvement and we need to take the lessons learned over the first year and create a stronger, more equitable process that serves our children best.”

O.C. Hacker Suspect Arrested on Charges Related to Sexually Explicit Videos

GLENDALE – Luis Mijangos, who claims to be affiliated with an underground gang of hackers was arrested, June 22, on federal extortion charges that allege he hacked into dozens of computers, obtained personal data about people using the computers, and then demanded sexually explicit videos from female victims in exchange for keeping their personal information private.

The arrest of the 31-year-old Santa Ana man came after a 6-month investigation.

Mijangos infected more than 100 computers used by about 230 individuals, at least 44 were juveniles.

Mijangos contacted the female victims, informing them that he was in possession of intimate images and videos and threatening to distribute those stolen images and videos to every addressee in the victims' contact lists unless they made additional videos for him.

Mijangos threatened to retaliate against them by releasing the images and videos if they called the police.

Mijangos acknowledged that he hacked into computers, but claimed that he did so at the request of boyfriends and husbands who sought to determine whether the women were cheating on them. Mijangos acknowledged that he asked for additional sexual videos but only to determine whether the women would actually do it. Mijangos also admitted his involvement with an international network of hackers and his participation in credit card fraud.

The criminal complaint charges Mijangos with extortion, a felony offense that carries a statutory maximum penalty of two years in federal prison.

Supreme Court limits local gun bans

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 5-4 vote, June 28, that the constitution's "right to keep and bear arms" applies nationwide as a restraint on the ability of the federal, state and local governments to substantially limit its reach.

In doing so, the Supreme Court extended its 2008 ruling that individuals have a right to own guns in all the cities and states signaling, for the first time, that less severe restrictions could survive legal challenges.

While the decision did not strictly strike down the Chicago area law, it did leave little doubt that other gun control laws would eventually fall.

Wilmington Community Shows Discontent Against Tesoro

WILMINGTON – More than 100 community members and environmentalists marched, June 26, to the Tesoro Refinery to protest the company's alleged hypocrisy in launching their Family Community Day.

Demonstrators rallied outside of the event underscoring their displeasure with Tesoro’s attempt to buy the community’s perception, stating the Family Community Day was insulting in lieu of the company’s spending to destroy Assembly Bill 32, a clean energy and clean air bill signed into law in 2006, by placing it on the November ballot.

The company invited the community to learn about the refinery, take a tour and visit information booths in their parking lots. The event also included jumper bounce homes for children. Attendees included workers and organization from Wilmington and Long Beach, some of which the company donates money to.

Tesoro spokespeople have not responded to requests for comments at this point.

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