In a release at late afternoon today (May 10), state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D, Los Angeles) announced as chair of the state Senate Rules Committee that Councilman Uranga has been reappointed to a four year term on the Coastal Commission, the powerful state body that decides land uses and public access issues along the hundreds of miles of California's coastline.

In Feb. 2016, Coastal Commissioner Uranga was part of a one-vote Commission majority -- effectively casting a deciding vote -- in firing Coastal Commission Executive Director Charles Lester. The Commission majority's action angered environmental and coastal protection advocates in Long Beach and beyond; Coastal Commissioner Uranga has consistently said he cast his vote on the merits.

Commissioner Uranga's new term lasts through May 20, 2021...if he's re-elected to a second LB City Council term in the April/June 2018 election cycle.

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Commissioner Uranga's reappointment came via a closed-door procedure followed for many years by state Senate Democrat leadership, which makes its Coastal Commission appointments/reappointments in a closed door Senate Rules Committee "executive session" from which the public and press are excluded and no witnesses, pro or con are heard. Commissioner Uranga was appointed to the Coastal Commission in 2015 using that procedure, succeeding then-Vice Mayor Robert Garcia who was appointed to the Coastal Commission under the same closed-door procedure with no public hearings or public or press access to the proceeding in January 2013.

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In October 2013, Garcia's 2014 Mayoral campaign held a fundraiser at the San Fernando Valley home of a then-incumbent Coastal Commissioner, which was lawful but raised eyebrows locally. The political event invitation, obtained and published by LBREPORT.com, told recipients that Garcia was "the pro-business candidate, and wants Long Beach to strengthen it's [sic] name, 'The International City,' by making it an economically booming, world-class city that businesses want to be a part of." [The Coastal Commission effectively controls land uses for hundreds of miles along CA's coast, meaning its Commissioners' decisions can impact coastal area developers, property and business interests.]

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Garcia's selection for the Coastal Commission was controversial locally since he was among LB Councilmembers who voted for a polarizing 2nd/PCH "mixed use" development rejected by a Council majority (3-5) in December 2011 amid stiff opposition by environmental groups. In addition, Coastal Commission Long Beach office staff had informed city officials in writing that in its opinion, the city staff agendized proposed development was problematic and raised issues under the Coastal Act.

The failure of the 2nd/PCH proposed development launched City Hall's move to re-write SE LB's rezoning (SEADIP, now called SEASP) which is expected to reach LB's Planning Commission in June 2017, and then come to the City Council before advancing to the Coastal Commission. On a separate track, if a Council majority votes on May 16 to overrule appeals and approve a city staff-supported $103+ million Belmont Aquatic Center. appellants/opponents have the ability to appeal the approval to the Coastal Commission.

Uranga was named to the Coastal Commission after Garcia was forced to exit the Commission [to his apparent surprise] on becoming LB's non-voting Mayor due to operation of then-state law since he no longer held the voting Council position that he held when appointed.

Garcia's Sacramento allies then made two efforts to change state law in ways that could let Garcia remain on the Coastal Commission. The first attempt used Sacramento's much-criticized "gut and amend" procedure that avoids normal legislative hearings; it failed amid negative publicity. A second open legislative action succeeded and state law has now been changed to let non-voting Mayors become Coastal Commissioners OR a Commissioner's voting alternate who can cast votes if/when the Commissioner is (or chooses to be) absent.

After taking his Coastal Commission position in 2015, Commissioner Uranga didn't name Mayor Garcia or anyone else as his voting alternate...and can presumably to do so (or not) as he wishes.

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