Environmental initiatives that you have participated in and your role?
Bachelor’s degree in Biology.

Los Angeles Harbor oil spill the bird cleanup program – Volunteer
Wild trout population survey with the US Forest Service – Volunteer
Windstar Foundation – Intern: Biodome program
Rocky Mountain Institute – Intern Sustainable Agriculture program
Solar powered business
Solar powered home

American Cetacean Society – Whale Watch Guide

Cabrillo Marine Museum – Intern tour guide teaching kids about sea life

Sea Lab – Advisory Board member

Leadership Redondo Commercial Recycling Program – Project Participant to encourage Redondo Beach commercial business to comply with CA AB 939 Recycling Act

Redondo Beach City Council Member – Partial list:

• SCAG Transportation Committee — Committee Member: successfully lobbied to add active transportation to the Southern California Regional Transportation Plan.
• South Bay Environmental Services Center – Chairman: obtained AQMD grant to study low speed, low emission neighborhood vehicles; water saving programs efficient appliance trade in programs; efficient lighting trade-in programs.
• Provided home for the South Bay Seven Cities Bicycle plan

• Raised private funds and in-kind contributions for Perry Park batting cages.

• Initiated Redondo Beach Green City Program

• Raised private funds to capture matching County funds to revitalize Perry Park playground.

• Successfully zoned AES power plant site as park space on ballot measure.

• Provided leadership to complete North Redondo Beach Bike Path

• Provided leadership to complete North Redondo Beach Multi-Modal Transit Center and Green Line Extension.

Beach Trash Yoga – a whimsical thing I do when I walk on the beach stretching and exercising as I pick up trash at the waterline.

Experience shows that good public policy works.   The recent fires in California indicate that our forestry management requires serious review – especially given the prospect of climate change.

If elected what would you do to improve zero emission transportation including but not limited to walking, biking, and renewable energy vehicles?

When I was elected to the City Council, I had a role in the SBCESC grant award from the SCAQMD to study low speed, zero emission neighborhood electric vehicles. I worked successfully to add “Active Transportation” to the SCAG Regional Transportation Plan. I provided a home city for the Seven City Bicycle Plan. I overcame objections to complete the North Redondo Beach bike way on the Edison Right of Way.

I worked on the SCAG Transportation Committee, Chaired the SBCOG, and worked on issues pertaining exclusively to my City.  Public dollars for projects are a scarce resource. Competition for them is fierce. Small communities must participate in the law-making before the money is allocated else the rules get stacked by those with more experience, clout, awareness, strategic acumen etc.  Such is the downside of term limits for small cities.  The City of Los Angeles is the big gorilla in our region.  Small Cities must unite to compete with Los Angeles for resources.  Small Cities must work hard to maintain their independence given State mandates that seek to undercut independent cities.  It’s a tough fight for term-limited, part-time city council members against full-time, highly compensated, big-city and State boards.  And then there are the special districts…

Work hard, learn fast, stay engaged. As Treasurer, I say operate efficiently and productively to maximize the resources available to the policy makers.  And be a good watch dog on the tax-payers’ behalf.

What is your position on the use of captured and recycled storm water, conservation, and wastewater recycling?

Water resources and conservation should be maximized in our dry chaparral ecological region.

I would like to see the LA River restored to riparian habitat.   River basins are stakeholders, too.  Nature has a stake just as we have a stake in nature.  The concepts of reduce, reuse, recycle apply to water, too.

What is your current position on the proposed West Basin Municipal Water District ocean water desalination project and what facts do you base your current position upon? What are your questions or concerns regarding the project? 

A problem facing Redondo Beach from a water use perspective is the potential redevelopment of the AES Power Plant into water thirsty commercial and residential uses.  Local activist Jim Light is on the record proposing 14 story buildings on the site.  This is really strange because the existing powerplant is  net neutral in water consumption and generates no traffic.  The proposal by AES to convert the site to battery storage to support green energy generation resources was soundly rejected.  That use would have required little water use and would have dedicated a large swath of land to open space.  With continued increases in demand for water, new sources must be developed thus buttressing the rationale for a de-sal plant.

What are the three most pressing environmental issues facing your City and how will you deal with them?

The Redondo Beach Waterfront is crumbling and decaying.  It under-performs economically.  Funds from operations pay for environmental mitigation.  Clean water violations threaten the Seaside Lagoon.  Redondo Beach receives poor grades from Heal the Bay for ocean water quality.  Sheet water runoff is unabated from the slabs of asphalt and concrete surrounding King Harbor.  Storm water runoff is dirty and difficult to control.  Sea level rise threatens the harbor and store fronts.  These problems require massive investment to correct.  A divided community prevents action.  This is a difficult situation.  As Treasurer, it is important to relay to the public that reducing revenues and higher costs in our waterfront will force some less than optimal intervention.  We are running out of time.  But this is another example where policy makers must work together to come up with solutions.   A lack of courage there is not.  All sides profoundly defend their positions.  What is lacking is meaningful action.

Not all news is bad.   Ocean populations are recovering. Notice the oysters in the harbor. Scientists report improvements in indicator species populations (delicate life forms that quickly die off in dynamic environmental conditions) like the brittle sea star in the bay.  Huge numbers of anchovies (or are they sardines?) attract blue whales for extended visits.

What skill sets, experiences, and expertise do you possess on environmental issues that empower you to deliver superior service to your community when compared to your fellow candidates? 

Integrity and Environmental Stewardship are core values of mine. My fellow candidate claims his position on the South Bay Parkland Conservancy (SBPC) is his major environmental accomplishment.  I have personally raised more money for parks and succeeded in protecting more open space than the SBPC.  The SBPC has been reported to the IRS to be in violation of tax deductible status.   Real world accomplishments do matter. The SBPC raises money to sue the City, not to preserve parks and open space. Suing the city actually reduces money for parks and open space.  I was an early donor and participant in the SBPC but quickly learned to give my time and dime to other interests.  Integrity is critical when managing and protecting scarce public resources.