CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR

Transcription

1 CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR JUNE 19, 2017 SUBJECT: RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO SB 268 (MENDOZA) LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (METRO) INITIATED BY: COUNCILMEMBER LINDSEY HORVATH A),, (Hernan Molina, Governmental Affairs Liaison~ STATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: The City Council will consider adopting a resolution opposing SB 268 (Mendoza), which proposes changing the composition of the Board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Adopt Resolution No "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD IN OPPOSITION TO SB 268 (MENDOZA) LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION (METRO)". 2. Direct staff to send copies of the adopted resolution to Assemblymember Richard Bloom, Senators Ben Allen and Tony Mendoza, Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, all members of the Board of METRO, and other legislators and organizations as appropriate. BACKGROUND I ANALYSIS: The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is the public transportation agency for the County of Los Angeles. Metro came into existence in 1993 after the merger of the Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD) and the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission. It is chartered under state law as a regional transportation planning agency (RTPA). Metro directly operates bus, light rail, heavy rail, and bus rapid transit services. It provides funding and directs planning for commuter rail and freeway/expressway projects within Los Angeles County. Metro operates the third-largest public transportation system in the United States by ridership with a 1,433 mi 2 operating area and 2,000 peak hour buses on the street any given business day. Existing law established the composition of the Board of Metro to be comprised of 14 members, consisting of the following representatives: a) All 5 members of the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors. b) The Mayor of Los Angeles. c) 2 members of the public and one Los Angeles City Council Member, appointed by the Mayor of Los Angeles. Page 1of4 AGENDA ITEM 2.QQ.

2 d) 4 members selected by the Los Angeles County City Selection Committee. e) 1 non-voting member appointed by the Governor. SB 268 was introduced by Senator Tony Mendoza, (D-Artesia, SD 32) on February 8, This is the third time Senator Mendoza has proposed changing the composition of the Board of Metro. In 2016, Senator Mendoza introduced both SB 522 and SB Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. SB 522 was never heard and SB 1472 was approved in the Senate but did not garner enough support in the Assembly, where it died. SB 268 is Senator Mendoza's proposals to reorganize the Metro Board and is an attempt to increase the representation of cities in areas of the county outside of the City of Los Angeles, contending that the county's other 86 cities are underrepresented on the Metro Board and its projects often benefit the City of Los Angeles at the expense of smaller cities in the county. SB 268 proposes changing the Board membership by: Reducing the number of County Supervisors on the Metro Board from five to two Supervisors, with one Supervisor representing the largest population of the unincorporated area within Los Angeles County. Removing the appointment of two public members to the Metro Board. Increasing Los Angeles Councilmember appointments by the City of Los Angeles Mayor from two to five. Specifying that each LA City Councilmember must represent three contiguous groups of council districts and the Los Angeles City Council is to determine the grouped council districts. Additionally, SB 268 increases from four to seven the number of Board appointments by the Los Angeles City Selection Committee, and requires all appointed members to the Metro Board to serve four-year terms. According to a statement by Senator Mendoza "SB 268 will provide proportional representation, improved access, and accountability within the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority Transportation Board of Directors (MTA Board) and ensure that all areas of LA County are represented fairly during the a/location of local, state, and federal funds... Unfortunately, under the current distribution of MTA Board members, the 87 cities outside of the City of Los Angeles, which represent 51% of the county's total population, only account for 31% of the MTA Board. The current distribution of the MT A Board is unrepresentative of LA County and has resulted in uneven a/location of resources and services. SB 268 will realign and expand the MTA Board to provide better representation for the entire County of Los Angeles, including the unincorporated areas." While SB 268 proposes to address gaps in representation, approval and implementation of such bill does not guarantee that West Hollywood or any other small city that is not directly represented on the Board, would be better off or gain additional representation. As a matter of fact, the new Board may well be less sensitive to the needs of the Westside and the City of West Hollywood. Thus, any understanding that current Board members have about potential alignments serving our City could be lost with the Page 2 of 4

3 installation of a new Board. The City's investment in and results of the outreach and information campaign, advocacy and partnership-building over the last 18 months around the Northern Extension of the Crenshaw/LAX Line would be diluted by reconfiguring the Metro Board at this time. In addition, City staff has worked collaboratively with members of the Metro Board, including Inglewood Mayor James Butts and Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Metro Board Deputy staff and Metro staff for over three years to move the studies forward for a potential alignment through the City of West Hollywood. Through the City's efforts, Metro has committed resources to make the study of such alignment a reality Furthermore, enactment of SB 268 would be disruptive to implementation of Measure M and potentially delay key regional transit projects such as the Northern Extension of the Crenshaw/LAX Line to serve West Hollywood. Changing the composition of the Metro Board at this time is risky and potentially counterproductive particularly at a time. Metro staff and the Metro Board are focusing on the guidelines to implement Measure M, passed by over 71% of Los Angeles County voters in November 2016 election. City of West Hollywood staff is working closely with Metro, through representation on the Policy Advisory Council (PAC) and Local Return Working Group, on finalizing the guidelines. The PAC process includes representation from sub-regional entities, transit providers and end user groups, including businesses and community advocates. Additionally, the City of West Hollywood is working with Metro on the Northern Extension of the Crenshaw/LAX Feasibility Study, to be followed expeditiously by the Alternatives Analysis and Environmental Impact Report, in preparation for potential acceleration of the Northern Extension. If the current Metro Board fails to implement Measure M as approved by the voters, and adopt guidance in conformance with the provisions of Measure M, then a change in the composition of the Board can be considered. Therefore, the City Council is recommended to oppose SB 268 (Mendoza). CONFORMANCE WITH VISION 2020 AND THE GOALS OF THE WEST HOLLYWOOD GENERAL PLAN: This item is consistent with the Primary Strategic Goal(s) (PSG) and/or Ongoing Strategic Program(s) (OSP) of: OSP-1: Adaptability to Future Change. OSP-12: Actively Participate in Regional Issues. In addition, this item is compliant with the following goal(s) of the West Hollywood General Plan: M-2: Collaborate on regional transportation solutions that improve mobility, quality of life and environmental outcomes. M-5: Create an environmentally and financially sustainable transportation network that provides for the mobility and livability needs of West Hollywood residents, businesses and visitors. Page 3 of 4

4 EVALUATION PROCESSES: NIA ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTH: N/A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: N/A OFFICE OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT I LEGAL SERVICES & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS DIVISION FISCAL IMPACT: None. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD IN OPPOSITION TO SB 268 (MENDOZA) LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION (METRO)" Page 4 of 4

5 RESOLUTION NO A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD IN OPPOSITION TO SB 268 (MENDOZA) LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION (METRO). THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: WHEREAS, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is the public transportation agency for the County of Los Angeles. Metro came to existence in 1993 after the merger of the Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD) and the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission. It is chartered under state law as a regional transportation planning agency (RTPA); and WHEREAS, existing law established the composition of the Board of Metro to be comprised of 14 members, consisting of all 5 members of the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, the Mayor of Los Angeles, 2 members of the public and one Los Angeles City Council Member, appointed by the Mayor of Los Angeles, 4 members selected by the Los Angeles County City Selection Committee, and 1 non-voting member appointed by the Governor; and WHEREAS, SB 268 was introduced by Senator Tony Mendoza, (D Artesia, SD 32) and proposes changing the Metro Board membership by reducing the number of County Supervisors on the Metro Board from five to two Supervisors, with one Supervisor representing the largest population of the unincorporated area within Los Angeles County; and WHEREAS, SB 268 also removes the appointment of two public members to the Metro Board and increases Los Angeles City Councilmember appointments by the Los Angeles City Mayor from two to five; and WHEREAS, SB 268 specifies that each Los Angeles City Councilmember must represent three contiguous groups of council districts; and WEHEREAS, SB 268 specifies the Los Angeles City Council is to determine the grouped council districts; and WHEREAS, SB 268 also increases from four to seven the number of Board appointments by the Los Angeles City Selection Committee, and requires all appointed members to the Metro board to serve four-year terms; and ATTACHMENT A

6 Resolution No. 17- Page 2 WHEREAS, while SB 268 proposes to address gaps in representation, approval and implementation of SB 268 does not guarantee that the City of West Hollywood or any other small city that is not directly represented on the Metro Board, would be better off or gain additional representation; and WHEREAS, a new Metro Board configuration may well be less sensitive to the needs of the Westside and the City of West Hollywood; and WHEREAS, if SB 268 is enacted into law, and the Board of Metro is changed, any understanding that current Board members have about potential Metro rail line alignments serving the City of West Hollywood could be lost with a reconfiguration of the Metro Board; and WHEREAS, as a result of these changes, the City's investment in and results of the outreach, information campaign, advocacy and partnership-building over the last 18 months around the Northern Extension of the Crenshaw/LAX Line would be diluted by reconfiguring the Metro Board at this time; and WHEREAS, City staff has worked collaboratively with members of the Metro Board, including City of Inglewood Mayor James Butts and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors' Deputy staff, and Metro staff for over three years to move the studies forward for a potential alignment through the City. Through this work, Metro has committed resources to make the study of such alignment a reality; and WHEREAS, changing the composition of the Metro Board and abandoning these efforts is risky and potentially counterproductive just as Metro staff and the Metro Board are focusing on the Guidelines to implement Measure M, passed by over 71% of Los Angeles County voters in November 2016; and WHEREAS, enactment SB 268 (Mendoza) would be disruptive to implementation of Measure M and potentially delay key regional transit projects such as the Northern Extension of the Crenshaw/LAX Line to serve West Hollywood; and WHEREAS, If the current Metro Board fails to implement Measure M as approved by the voters, adopt and guidance in conformance with the provisions of Measure M a change in the composition of the Board can then be considered; and

7 Resolution No Page 3 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of West Hollywood hereby opposes SB 268 (Mendoza) LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION (METRO). PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS day of --, 20_. ATTEST: MAYOR City Clerk