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Save Water, Energy, Money and the Environment

Volume 11, Number 12

 December 2015 

IN THIS ISSUE...
Calling Volunteers!
SCG
SCE
Sanitation Districts
West Basin
City of Torrance
L.A. Metro
Staff Spotlight
Legislation Corner
Green Building Challenge
December 2015 Events & Workshops
A Worthy Read
Interesting Domestic and International Articles Discussing the Environment, Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation




Upcoming HHW/E-Waste Collection Events



CALLING VOLUNTEERS!

There has never been a better time to help out and be recognized.
  

Check out our volunteer program and learn how to get involved.   
You can make a huge difference! 
 

 Visit Our Cities


Carson
El Segundo
Gardena
Hawthorne
Hermosa Beach
Inglewood
Lawndale  
Lomita

Manhattan Beach
Palos Verdes Estates
Rancho Palos Verdes
Redondo Beach
Rolling Hills
Rolling Hills Estates
Torrance

Residents in San Pedro, Harbor City /Harbor Gateway & Wilmington
County Unincorporated Areas in South Bay

 

 

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www.sbesc.com 

Did You Know?

The winter holiday season in America generates 25% more waste than any other six-week period. That is an extra 25 million tons of garbage disposed of.

Message From the Executive Director of SBCCOG

While you are busy closing out 2015 with celebrations and family events, it's not too early to start thinking about your New Year's Resolutions.  Yes - a better diet always comes to mind.  We are also hearing that more and consistent sleep is a good idea.  At the South Bay Cities Council of Governments, we encourage you to think about making 2015 the year that you remember to take containers to restaurants for your leftovers, consider composting, reduce your shower time, make more of your own decorations for parties, turn off lights when you leave a room, remove unused plugs from their sockets, use recycled office supplies, recycle your Christmas tree and so much more. 
 
We are delighted to close 2015 working on some very important projects. In September, we launched Southern California's first Green Building Challenge for businesses and commercial buildings throughout the South Bay to encourage them to conserve resources and adopt sustainability practices and be recognized for their good work. It now has more than 50 participants and counting. In November we hosted another successfully Holiday Light Exchange where South Bay residents exchanged more than 300 old energy guzzling incandescent light strands for new LED strands reducing their holiday lighting costs by 80%. We also thanked our very dedicated volunteers for all of the work that they do so that we can provide the services that we do.  Also, as we get ready for El Ni�o, we are pleased to have helped distribute over 2,000 rain barrels to residents looking to do their part to conserve water.
 
We hope this past year will serve as a springboard for 2016 as we continue to build on our successful relationships with our partners and community members.
 
We wish you all very Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
  

Jacki Bacharach
 
Southern California Gas CompanyThe Gas Company
Natural Gas Heaters and More
  
Heating is the number-one energy expense for most customers. In fact heating can account for more than half of your total natural gas bill. Upgrading to a more energy-efficient model can help save you money. SoCalGas provides weatherization and furnace repair-replacement to qualified limited-income customers.
 
Southern California EdisonSCE  
El Ni�o is Their Moment in the Sun
 
Nicholas Sette and Paul Roller have stocked up on flashlights and fresh batteries and packed in provisions for both their homes and their cars. Sette cleaned the gutters on the house and checked the flashing on the roof. Roller made sure nothing is blocking the drainage around his hillside home.
 
Sanitation Districts of LA County
Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
Build It and They Will Flock

On October 3rd, over 30 visitors took part in the first Bird Walk held at the Bixby Marshland, tucked next to the Joint Plant. Guided by Manuel Duran, an avid bird watcher, bird photographer, and member of the Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon Society, attendees enjoyed a pleasant day-the weather was perfect and the birds were out in force! From amateur to expert bird watchers, everyone got the chance to see and photograph a multitude of birds, including the Black-Throated Gray Warbler, a Green Heron, and an Osprey, as shown here. The total bird count recorded for that day reached 38! The Bixby Marshland is truly a jewel of nature and the Districts are very proud to support this thriving habitat.

Sanitation Districts are open for free tours on the first Saturday of every month from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. They also schedule tours for groups by appointment. For more information, or to set up a tour, contact us at (562) 908-4288, ext. 2301.

West Basin Municipal Water DWest Basinistrict 
How Will El Ni�o Impact CA's Drought?

Although El Ni�o is set to bring heavy rains, it is just one factor in California's four-year drought. Much of our water supply comes from groundwater that is replenished by snowmelt and El Ni�o's water temperatures may not produce the snowpack that is needed. ACWA has prepared an informative infographic with a high-level look at key drought recovery factors and several unknowns that may come into play. 
 
City of Torrance 
City of Torrance
City of Torrance Stormwater Basin Enhancement Project Wins Award from American Public Works Association
 
The award-winning project undertaken by the City of Torrance was part of a program by the Regional Water Quality Control Board of Los Angeles that requires South Bay cities to treat storm water that may contain bacteria or otherwise prevent it from being discharged into the Santa Monica Bay. Through this project, the City improved the Amie, Entradero and Henrietta Basins to provide natural treatment systems and to improve infiltration and groundwater recharge.

Sign Up For TorranceAlerts
The City of Torrance mass notification system, TorranceAlerts, enables you to get informational messages from the City in the event of an emergency. TorranceAlerts also lets you opt-in for other informative messages including major weather events, traffic, community events, library information and more. TorranceAlerts is provided by the City to help make sure you have the information you need when you need it.

L.A. Metro
December Update On Crenshaw/LAX Line Construction
 
The Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project is moving forward in December with construction of the three underground stations, the six bridges and two underground, cut-and-cover segments underway. In Inglewood, work on the right-of-way, a pedestrian underpass and the aerial Aviation/Century station are now under construction.

Learn more about Metro's Vanpool and ExpressLanes programs.


Our Team Spotlight 
Jennifer Zivkovic LaMarque 
 
Jennifer is excited to join the SBCCOG as a contractor following her service as a senior staff member in the California Legislature for 10 years. She most recently served as former Senator Ted Lieu's District Director until he vacated his seat after being elected to Congress. She previously served as a Senior Field Representative in the California State Assembly. She is currently working on the Green Building Challenge and will be helping to lead the new initiative on homelessness starting in January. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine and a Master of Public Administration Degree from California State University, Long Beach. A native of the South Bay, she takes pride in public service and enjoys working collaboratively with community stakeholders to effect positive change. She lives in San Pedro with her husband and 10-month-old son. 
 
Legislation Corner 
President Obama Signs Long-Term Surface Transportation Bill Into Law
 
President Obama signed into law the long-term surface transportation authorization bill recently passed by Congress - Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). Both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the new transportation law. The bill authorizes approximately $305 billion for Highway, Transit and Railroad programs over 5 years ($61 billion per year). Passage of the FAST Act by Congress and President Obama signing the measure into law today ends a process of Congress repeatedly adopting extensions to the current surface transportation authorization law - MAP-21.

Green Building Challenge
New Participants

We are excited to welcome our newest participants: Critic's Choice Catering, Custom Video Productions, DoubleTree - Torrance, El Baja Chef, Torrance Travelodge, and  Marriott Courtyard -Torrance/Palos Verdes. Read the latest edition of the Green Building Challenge Newsletter here.

December 2015 Events & Workshops 
Click Here to See Upcoming Workshops & Events