Comment Log Display

March 8, 2013


Mr. Matt Rodriquez
California Environmental Protection Agency
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95812

Re: City of Long Beach input on the development of an investment
plan for auction proceeds from the State’s cap-and-trade program to
reduce greenhouse gases

Dear Secretary Rodriquez:

On behalf of the City of Long Beach, I write in support of the
progress that has been made by CalEPA and the California Air
Resources Board to implement the State’s cap-and-trade program. 
The City is particularly encouraged CalEPA has recognized
communities along the southern I-710 corridor as disadvantaged
communities for investment per SB 535, and requests cap-and-trade
auction proceeds be directed to local governments to implement
local projects that will reduce greenhouse gases in these and
adjacent communities.

Long Beach, population 461,257 (2010), is the second largest city
in the County of Los Angeles and the seventh largest in California.
 Located directly adjacent to the Ports of Long Beach and Los
Angeles, the City contains four zip codes, which CalEPA classifies
as high priority, and places within the top five-percent bracket on
the CalEnviroScreen map [CALENVIROSCREEN Top 5% Base Map – Los
Angeles Area (Jan 2013)].  These areas are urban, densely
populated, and home to a community that represents various ethnic
and socioeconomic backgrounds. 

As noted in the agencies’ report, there are several sources of
greenhouse gas emissions that directly contribute to climate
change.  The City of Long Beach recognizes that structural changes
in transportation planning, energy, building and neighborhood
programs, urban nature, waste reduction and water conservation are
needed to create a more sustainable future with significantly less
greenhouse gas emissions.

Three years ago, Long Beach adopted the Sustainable City Action
Plan (SCAP) with the mission to create a comprehensive, citywide
model for sustainable programs and projects that would lead Long
Beach towards becoming a greener, more sustainable community.  The
plan was drafted through collaboration with City staff, the
Sustainable City Commission, and the citizens of Long Beach.  On
February 2, 2010, the Long Beach City Council adopted SCAP to focus
on reducing greenhouse gases through policy and operational changes
in transportation, energy, planning and building, waste reduction
and water conservation to create a more sustainable Long Beach.
 
The SCAP holds potential to make Long Beach one of the greenest
cities in the State, perhaps in the nation.  The plan has been
carefully drafted and administered since its inception in 2010 and
the City has accomplished many beneficial projects and programs
with limited resources and funding.  Through policy changes, and
programs and projects consistent with SCAP, Long Beach has been
able to foster sustainable initiatives that involve transportation
improvements, green spaces and corridors, urban agriculture and
forestry, energy use and generation, water quality improvements
throughout the City; and especially in disadvantaged communities. 


Presently, Long Beach transportation planning has shifted towards
the concept of “complete streets”, a focus on transit-oriented
development in new construction.  We have implemented programs to
leverage city resources with the needs of our community, such a
graywater installations, and a very popular mulch delivery program.
 Long Beach has installed over 120 miles of bike lanes and bike
“sharrows” on major corridors connecting neighborhoods to
businesses and key places throughout the City to reduce vehicle
miles traveled.  The City is also in the midst of planting 10,000
trees throughout greenhouse gas impacted neighborhoods.  Along with
the above mentioned projects, Long Beach offers a Green Business
Recognition Program to businesses that strive to become
environmentally sustainable. All of these programs are designed to
meet the ultimate goal of reducing greenhouse gases in Long Beach.


With the proposed use of cap-and-trade auction proceeds going
towards GHG reduction and sequestering methods, the City of Long
Beach supports the visions and guidelines that have been laid out
in SB 1532 and SB 535. This support is due to the direct
correlation of these measures to projects and programs outlined in
the City’s SCAP.

What is needed now is additional funding to implement larger
infrastructure programs and projects that will reduce greenhouse
gases from goods movement and transportation in the region.  At
this time, the City of Long Beach is encouraged CalEPA has
recognized communities along the southern I-710 corridor as
disadvantaged communities for investment per SB 535, and requests
cap-and-trade auction proceeds be directed to local governments to
implement local projects and programs that will reduce greenhouse
gases in these and adjacent communities.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.  Should you have
questions, please contact Tom Modica, Director of Government
Affairs and Strategic Initiatives at 562-570-5606 or
Tom.Modica@longbeach.gov.

Sincerely,



Mayor Bob Foster
City of Long Beach