Union Pacific RR Port-Affairs Rep, Proposed By Garcia For Planning Comm'n, Submitted Application Just Days Before Appointment Announced; See Portion of His Resume Text And UP RR's Campaign Contribution Recipients
(Oct. 21, 2014, 7:25 a.m.) -- The Union Pacific RR Port-affairs representative, proposed by Mayor Garcia for appointment to LB's Planning Commission, submitted his application just days before Mayor Garcia announced his choice (subject to Council approval, which is agendized for Council action tonight [Oct. 21])
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A copy of Mr. Perez's commission application, sought and obtained by LBREPORT.com under the CA Public Records Act, indicates it was faxed from UP RR's offices on Thursday, Oct. 2. Mayor Garcia's office issued a release listing Mr. Perez among 13 appointees (nominees subject to Council approval) for city commissions on Wednesday Oct. 8.
In an attached resume, Mr. Perez describes his position from Nov. 2007 to the present in Union Pacific RR Corporate Public Affairs as "Director -- Port Affairs, Port of LA/LB, and Oakland and San Francisco" and describes his work as follows:
[Perez resume text] Manages the interface between Union Pacific staff from operating, marketing and engineering with the Port Commissions, executive staff and the various Port governing entities. Develops and implements the communications strategy regarding UP port expansion plans and infrastructure enhancements. Directs local, state and federal policy and maintains political budget. Responsible for strategic planning, development and implementation of comprehensive community relations, crisis communications plans and public relations efforts.
A review of publicly available campaign finance information indicates the following regarding recipients of UP RR campaign contributions in the recent election cycle:
12/27/2013: Robert Garcia for Mayor 2014: $500
03/15/2014: Robert Garcia for Mayor 2014: $250.
05/23/2014: Robert Garcia for Mayor 2014: $750
03/27/2014: Lena Gonzalez for Long Beach City Council 2014: $400.00
05/23/2014: Lena Gonzalez for Long Beach City Council 2014: $400.00
11/04/2013: Roberto Uranga for City Council 2014: $350.00
03/27/2014: O'Donnell for Assembly 2014: $500.00
10/17/2014: O'Donnell for Assembly 2014: $2,000.00
Mr. Perez is also listed as having contributed $350 personally to Garcia's 2014 Mayoral campaign ($250 in November 2013, $100 in February 2014). On his election, Mayor-elect Garcia named Mr. Perez to his "transition team."
In August 2014, following a roughly three hour hearing with sharply polarized testimony, the LB City Council voted 9-0 (motion by Andrews) to deny appeals and approve -- on the Council's independent de novo review -- contracts without new CEQA environmental review -- which was last performed in 1992 -- that will enable the long-term continued export of coal and bulk petroleum coke from the Port of Long Beach, including the continued use of uncovered rail cars. UP RR transports coal through parts of Long Beach. In other communities, there has been discussion and controversy over how best to mitigate the impacts of coal dust that can be released from open coal cars but not thus far in Long Beach.
In upholding the Port of LB's refusal to perform an updated environmental review, a number of LB Councilmembers echoed Port-staff's position that updated review -- the first serious review since 1992 -- wasn't "required" because there had been "no significant change" in coal export operations. The Council vote came after the City Attorney's office publicly advised Councilmembers that they had the legal right to send the matter back to the Harbor Commission to conduct updated environmental review.
In October 2014, the South Coast Air Quality Management District released its MATES-IV (Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study) draft which updated estimated cancer risks regionally from multiple airborne toxics. SCAQMD's report indicated that although area pollutants have been significantly reduced since 2005, previous health standards had significantly underestimated the public's cancer risks. (The MATES-IV study didn't address other health impacts from pollutants, including pulmonary illnesses and heart disease.) [LBREPORT.com coverage, including updated cancer risk maps, is here.]
Union Pacific RR is currently seeking to build a major new intermodal railyard in West Long Beach (separate from a BNSF-sought "So Cal Int'l Gateway" railyard.) Both projects are opposed by the grassroots West Long Beach Association. The rail projects are supported by a number of organized labor and goods movement related interests.
Union Pacific refers to its desired railyard as "modernization," says it will increase efficiency, double cargo-handling capacity and produce less pollution. Opponents of the UP ICTF project have argued that it doesn't provide on-dock rail but would require hauling containers by truck through WLB areas to get them from ships to the railyard.
The ICTF and BNSF projects won't come directly to the Planning Commission, but the Planning Commission may vote on related matters (including "mitigation" for the railyards' impacts.) [In UP related matters, Mr. Perez, if approved by the Council, would presumably have to recuse himself.] The UP-sought ICTF railyard will be decided by a four-member Joint Powers Authority comprised of two LB Mayor-chosen, LB Council approved Harbor Commissioners (one from LB, one from LB, and the Ports' respective executive directors. (The BNSF-sought SCIG project was approved by the L.A. Harbor Commission, upheld by the L.A. City Council (with Mayor Garcetti [who subsequently endorsed Garcia] then a Councilmember but absent on the vote) which rejected an appeal by the City of Long Beach.
Under the LB City Charter, the Planning Commission has the following powers and duties:
Sec. 1002. - POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.permanent link to this piece of content
It shall be the responsibility of the Planning Commission to advise the City Council on all matters affecting the development and redevelopment of the City and to perform such other related functions as may be authorized by the City Council. All actions of the Commission shall be advisory only, except for those matters where final authority has been assigned to the Planning Commission. The powers and duties of the Planning Commission shall include the following:
(a) To prepare, approve and recommend to the City Council for adoption or amendment a comprehensive General Plan which shall serve as a basic policy guide for future growth, development, redevelopment, conservation and improvement of the City.
(b) To prepare, approve and recommend to the City Council for adoption or amendment all specific neighborhood plans and redevelopment area plans.
(c) To prepare, approve and recommend to the City Council such ordinances and resolutions, including zoning and subdivision regulations, as are necessary to implement the General Plan, specific neighborhood plans and redevelopment area plans. The City Council shall not adopt or amend any such ordinances or resolutions until it has first requested a report and recommendation from the Commission. The report shall be submitted within a reasonable time and shall evaluate such recommendation with regard to its consistency with the General Plan.
(d) To analyze data and information on the physical, social and economic conditions of the City with reference to both past and future conditions, and to report regularly to the City Council on such matters.
(e) To review the City's long range capital improvement plan to ensure that it is consistent with the City's general plan.
(f) To perform such other duties as may be established by this Charter or the City Council.
None of the appointees' applications and resumes for any city commissioners were included in items agendized for public review by Mayor Garcia's office.
