Climate action plan meeting focuses on potential conservation measures in La Cañada
La Cañada residents recently weighed in on possible measures to be included in a climate action plan that will help city officials draft policies to lower greenhouse gas emissions generated by the community.
Their input, along with correspondence received by residents before the end of a June 9 public review period, could bring big changes to La Cañada in the coming years, including a switch to a single-hauler citywide waste removal contract and a potential carpooling system for student pickup and drop-off.
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In a meeting held April 7 at City Hall, participants reviewed more than 100 possible actions that could be taken pertaining to water and energy conservation, solid waste reduction, transportation and urban greening.
Within each category were several suggestions that could someday be used to guide lawmakers toward legislation that would bring the city of La Cañada Flintridge further into compliance with state and federal emission reduction targets slated for 2020 and 2035.
“Our goal tonight is to bring to you what we’ve developed,” explained Christina McAdams of Rincon Consultants, the group advising staff on the plan thanks to a $75,000 Southern California Assn. of Governments grant. “We want to show you what we have and get your feedback.”
A recently released “Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory” showed that in 2014, La Cañadans used approximately 203,775 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e). More than half of those emissions came from vehicle trips beginning or ending inside city limits, while emissions resulting from the use of electricity and natural gas in commercial and residential accounted for about 33%.
Possible measures under review at last week’s meeting ranged from expanding the city’s use of recycled water and implementing a ban of plastic bags and other single-use items to building more bike and pedestrian areas in town and traffic flow improvements that would keep cars from idling too long.
We all have seen the traffic along Foothill Boulevard has just skyrocketed in the last two or three years. Bike paths (alone) aren’t going to solve that.
— Alan Hoffman, La Cañada resident
While some measures have been previously identified by the city as areas to focus on, others were collected from residents in previous workshops held monthly since February. Those indicated as high priorities will be studied further and their potential impacts on emission reductions enumerated for further public review, McAdams said.
La Cañada resident and solar panel owner Alan Hoffman expressed concern about suggestions conflicting with one another, such as measures calling for more shade trees thwarting solar panelists’ need for maximum sunlight, and marked several transportation-related measures as priorities.
“We all have seen the traffic along Foothill Boulevard has just skyrocketed in the last two or three years. Bike paths (alone) aren’t going to solve that,” Hoffman said.
Carol Caley, who submitted suggestions at a previous meeting, said she was interested in the planting and maintenance of trees in town, while JPLer Beth Fabinsky asked pointed questions about the emissions-reducing impact of the measures.
Deputy Community Development Director Susan Koleda said a draft of the climate action plan will be presented to the La Cañada Flintridge City Council for review in a May 17 meeting.
After that, one more public meeting will take place at City Hall on Thursday, May 19 at 6 p.m., to allow community members every opportunity to provide input before the June 9 public review period ends.
Hoffman said while he was in favor of collecting suggestions on how to lower greenhouse gases, seeing how legislators applied them would be key.
“It looks good on paper — even the bullet train looks good on paper. But the real tough thing is the implementation,” he said.
Anyone unable to attend the meetings in person may direct comments and questions to Christina McAdams at cmcadams@rinconconsultants.com. For more information, call Deputy Director of Community Development Susan Koleda at (818) 790-8881. Documents can be viewed online at www.lcf.ca.gov/planning/climate-action-plan.
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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com
Twitter: @SaraCardine
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