SOUTH BAY WATCH
SOUTH BAY CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
On the Move
The SBCCOG kicks off an ambitious work program that includes identifying sites for South Bay mobility hubs and resiliency centers; expanding the Functional Zero Street Homelessness program; and finding six-figure energy savings for businesses and residents.
IN THIS
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The SBCCOG Visits the New LAX/Metro Transit Center-Metro’s First Measure M Project to Open
PAGE 6 Fall Curriculum Includes Reading, Writing and Energy Savings
PAGE 6 Prepare for the Rainy Season with a FREE West Basin Rain Barrel --Learn How to Get One
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Perspective: AI Should Facilitate Human Connection in Local Government, Not Replace It
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Rolling Hills Addresses Its Rural and Equestrian Composting Needs
On The Move
The SBCCOG Ramps Up South Bay Homelessness, Housing, Transportation and Sustainability Projects from a New Home Base
To better meet the needs of its member cities and partner agencies, the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) has relocated to a new office near Old Torrance. The larger, customized space will better accommodate staff and volunteers as they embark on a growing 2025/26 work program.
Homeless Services
PRIORITIZING RESOURCES
This year, the SBCCOG is managing more than $14 million annually in funds allocated through Los Angeles County to the South Bay through the voter-approved Measure A half-cent sales tax. Of this amount, $3 million will go toward homeless services programs and $11 million will support housing production, preservation and renter protections. The $11 million will be received through the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (known as LACAHSA). This funding constitutes a 600% increase from what the SBCCOG has previously received under the Measure H Homeless Services quarter-cent sales tax, which has been replaced with Measure A.
LEVERAGING PROGRESS
Through innovative and award-winning programs created through Measure H funding, the South Bay has experienced a 13.1% decrease in street homelessness, according to 2025 Homeless Count preliminary results.
It took hard work to get there. The SBCCOG collaborated with the City of Redondo Beach to pilot the Functional Zero Street Homelessness Program. It tracked the weekly progress of unhoused individuals and customized interventions to meet their specific needs. As a result, Redondo Beach decreased its unhoused population by 90% The program received the Eureka Award from the California Association of Councils of Governments,
which recognizes the state’s most innovative regional programs.
With the additional secured funding, the SBCCOG will next work with Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Torrance to expand the Functional Zero program and then move on to other cities. It will also expand the reach of other existing programs. These include Client Aid, which funds critical just-in-time interventions, such as transportation expenses and security deposits; Inglewood street-tointerim housing interventions; investments into the Torrance Tiny Home Village; and street-to-housing case management services throughout the South Bay.
“In our 15 South Bay Cities, our per
capita homeless population of 1.7 per 1,000 people is less than the national average.” said Ronson Chu, senior program manager of Homeless Services for the SBCCOG.
“Through our partnership with our L.A. County supervisors Holly Mitchell and Janice Hahn, we have also decreased street homelessness in the South Bay’s unincorporated areas by 21% this past year.”
The new funding also designates dollars to address 1) housing production, preservation and ownership; 2) renter protection and homeless prevention; and 3) assistance to member cities to implement local services for the unhoused. The specific elements of these programs are being developed.
The South Bay Cities Council of Governments staff at
Transportation and Land Use
GOING MICRO FROM “CARSON TO THE SEA”
The SBCCOG recently kicked its “Carson to the Sea,” project to design the extension of its Measure M-funded Local Travel Network (LTN) from Harbor Gateway and Lomita to San Pedro.
The SBCCOG planned the LTN as a 243-mile network of existing, lowspeed routes. Its objective is to accommodate safer travel for micromobility vehicles (small, low-speed, zero-emission vehicles, such as street-worthy golf carts, e-bikes, pedal bikes and e-scooters) as they share lanes with larger vehicles on designated streets. The LTN launched in El Segundo in 2023. It will soon roll out in Carson, Lomita and Redondo Beach.
The SBCCOG is working with a team of consultants to address identified gaps in the LTN to improve safety within and between these communities and to develop a continuous route. This project will include two large-scale community micromobility events with opportunities to test drive vehicles and learn about micromobility safety.
BUILDING SOUTH BAY MOBILITY HUBS
South Bay Mobility hubs are centralized locations where residents using zero-emission micromobility can transition to long-range modes of transportation, such as a regular car or public transit. They became an important piece of the South Bay’s land use and transportation strategy within its overall climate action plan. This followed a 2013 SBCCOG study that found that micromobility use made sense for the South Bay, where 70% of trips are three miles or less.
The state of California recently awarded the SBCCOG with a 2021 Regional Early Action Planning 2.0 grant to complete a South Bay Mobility Hubs Study. The study will include a conceptual design and implementation plan for four mobility hubs in Carson, Hawthorne and Torrance, and two hubs in the broader South Bay. It will outline how future and existing housing developments could be connected to mobility hubs through multiple modes of transportation, including micromobility.
“Mobility hubs within the subregion will require a sensitive approach that reflects our compact development patterns and existing travel behaviors,” said Shannon Heffernan, AICP, Land Use and Transportation Program manager for the SBCCOG. “While some mobility hubs will expand amenities and services at existing high-demand transit stops, the study will also explore mobility hubs at key community destinations, such as employment clusters, retail centers and city halls, helping to expand mobility options across the subregion.”
“Mobility hubs are designed to solve the first- and last-mile connections that are essential to successful public transit service,” adds Wally Siembab, research director for the SBCCOG. “The mobility hub study will accelerate our strategy to increase micromobility and transit use.”
These “smart” destinations would include access to the Local Travel Network and broadband access through the South Bay Fiber Network—a SBCCOG-developed fiber optic network that enables high-speed, low-cost internet connectivity for South Bay municipal facilities and public agencies.
Mobility hubs will facilitate the transition from micromobility to long-range modes of transportation at key community destinations.
Consultant firm Fehr & Peers will compile an inventory of 50 sites suitable for mobility hub development across the subregion. Community surveys will also be conducted.
its new office location at 357 Van Ness Way in North Torrance
South Bay Sustainable Strategy
CREATING A SUSTAINABLE SOUTH BAY
Going into its fourth decade, the SBCCOG’s South Bay Environmental Services Center (SBESC) continues its equitable and cutting-edge programs aimed at helping the South Bay community become more sustainable by saving energy and water and managing waste. Through partnerships with utilities, water districts, special districts, and a regional energy network, the SBESC brings information to South Bay residents, businesses, students and public agencies. The SBESC also implements programs on behalf of its partners such as West Basin’s Rain Barrel Give-Away program, LADWP’s Cash for Kitchens program, and the SoCalREN’s Kits for Kids program. It pilots innovative green programs, including public agency facility equipment inventories.
PREPARING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
The SBCCOG is now working with Gardena, Hawthorne, Lomita and Manhattan Beach to develop Energy Resiliency Action Plans. The city-specific plans look at near- to long-term strategies to support community preparedness for extreme weather.
Lomita is exploring opportunities for a Community Resilience Center!
It will offer community support during extreme high temperatures or power outages
Such strategies include transforming cityowned facilities into community centers that would provide shelter and resources during climate and other emergencies—such as a place to get cool during a heat wave or power outage.
“With the population of people age 65 and older expected to grow by 61% by 2040 in L.A. County, having a place to go during a heat wave or other extreme event is critical to ensuring the safety and well-being of this vulnerable population,” said Kim Fuentes, deputy executive director of the SBCCOG, who manages sustainability programs, citing data posted in August by the Los Angeles County Aging and Disabilities Department.
The SBCCOG’s partner, the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN), is evaluating locations for these centers—up to four per city. The SBCCOG is working with cities to survey about potential locations and amenities such as WiFi, childcare and EV charging.
What is a Community Resilience Center?
A gathering space for the community
A cooling center during a heat wave
Check out the potential features of a Community Resilience Center!
A power source to charge electronic devices during a power outage
A shelter with food and resources during an emergency
The center will be self-sufficient with on-site energy and supplies. We need your help in creating a familiar and safe space for you and your family to gather!
Please take our survey below.
FINDING NEW SAVINGS FOR BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS
Take our survey to win a raffle prize!
The SBCCOG works with the SoCalREN and SoCalGas to provide energy-efficiency upgrades, rebates or support to businesses. SoCalGas kitchen kits and rebates support businesses in saving energy and money.
Let us know what you and your family need at your Community Resilience Center. Scan the QR code to complete the short survey and be entered to win a RAFFLE PRIZE! Raffle prizes include Energy Efficiency Gift Baskets worth $40.
THE SBCCOG TO HOST OPEN HOUSE
In a new SoCalREN program, the SBCCOG is implementing services to provide and install free energy-efficient equipment, including water heaters, LED lights and refrigerators, to commercial businesses in historically disadvantaged South Bay communities. It’s estimated that this project will save $450,000 in equipment and installation costs for local businesses.
The savings are being offered through SoCalREN’s new Food Desert Energy Equity and Commercial Direct Install Programs, administered by the engineering firm Willdan. Through door-to-door outreach, SBCCOG staff has enrolled 30 businesses in Gardena. The program will soon expand to additional South Bay communities. Audits will begin this fall in Wilmington through SoCalREN’s Residential Direct Install Program. The overall program goal is to complete more than 1,200 home installations throughout Southern California this year.
The SBCCOG’s new address is 357 Van Ness Way, #110 in Torrance. These programs and more will be highlighted at the SBCCOG’s open house on November 20. Look for details soon at southbaycities.org.
To learn more about these and other projects, visit southbaycities.org.
Scan Here Escanear Aquí
Image provided by the SoCalREN
The LAX/MTC spans 1,100 square feet north and south and has 11 elevators, 12 escalators and nine staircases.
The LAX/MTC’s first-come, first-served bike locker (pictured) can be accessed from three levels: ground, intermediate and concourse. The third-floor locker features an automated bike storage service by eLock, providing up to 50 secured bike parking spaces.
The SBCCOG Takes K Line to New LAX/Metro Transit Center
In June, the new LAX/Metro Transit Center (MTC) opened to connect Metro’s C and K lines directly to LAX via a free airport shuttle, creating a faster and more convenient way to get to and from the airport when arriving by transit. The 500,000-squarefoot LAX/MTC is Metro’s first Measure M project to open since voters approved the initiative in 2016.
In late July, the SBCCOG’s staff, board members and partners took a field trip to see the $898.6 million project and experience the rail route to the LAX/MTC from a commuter’s point of view.
“It was my second time riding the Metro rail. It was impressive to see how easy and seamless the entire experience was,” said Colleen Farrell, senior project manager of communications for the SBCCOG. “It was a relaxing ride and fantastic to see so much of the South Bay from the vantage point of an aboveground railway. Also, not having to spend $80 for an Uber ride to LAX is a major selling point to consider for the future.” Metro estimates that the station will serve nearly 5,000 boardings daily by 2035. It offers 24/7 security with more than 200 security
cameras throughout the station. Due to its high-visibility location, it’s patrolled by Metro security, private security, Los Angeles World Airport police and TSA Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response.
During the tour, L.A. Metro Area Manager Andy Sywak called attention to key points of interest, including the art installation “The Distance of the Sun” by local artist Glenn Kaino. Kaino worked with an origami master to create a mobile of paper sculptures. The images were scanned and 3D-printed to create the monumental piece now suspended above the LAX/MTC escalator.
At the bottom of the escalator is an AI-driven smart retail store VenHub, which operates 24/7. Inside the store, robot arms (named “Barb” and “Peter”) recognize merchandise, enabling them to pick up items and pass them through small windows to shoppers after they place their order using a smartphone QR code.
FREE LAX SHUTTLE
Once you arrive at the LAX/Metro Transit Center, a free dedicated shuttle runs every 10 minutes between the station and all LAX
terminals. Shuttles will pick up and drop off passengers at bus bays 1 and 2 on the ground level of the station.
PEOPLE MOVER CONNECTION COMING SOON
In early 2026, the LAWA’s automated people mover will connect directly to the LAX/MTC for even faster access to the terminals. For more information on Metro rail and bus lines, and other buses that service the LAX/MTC, visit metro.net/lax-metro-transit-center. •
Metro Helps Older Adults Get TransitSavvy
Metro’s On the Move Riders Program works to empower older adults with the information and confidence to travel on fixed-route transportation by providing one-on-one and/or group travel training, educational workshops and hosting regional transportation events. To learn more, visit metro.net/riding/moveriders-club.
Fall Curriculum Includes Reading, Writing and Energy Savings
Over the last four years, the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) has helped families of South Bay elementary school students in historically underserved communities save an estimated 70,000 total kilowatt hours of energy in their homes. This school year 56 additional classrooms will benefit from Southern California Regional Energy Networks’ (SoCalREN) Kits for Kids program due to increased demand--a 300% expansion.
“Teachers love the program and how the community benefits from the energy-saving items,” said Lourdes Nitahara, a third grade teacher at Zela Davis Elementary School in Hawthorne and a program participant.
Through the program, teachers implement a short lesson plan on energy, and then students take home a scavenger hunt and free items including LED light bulbs, a night-light and faucet aerators to see energy efficiency work at home.
Participating teachers can earn a $1,000 grant for their class, which has been used to buy classroom supplies, a 3D printer and other learning tools.
Historically, five classrooms in South Bay school districts have participated on an individual basis. With the program and funding expansion, SBCCOG staff was able to enroll additional classrooms covering the Hawthorne, Lennox and Inglewood school districts.
“The program expansion will reach more students, parents and teachers, building a region-wide understanding of energy efficiency,” said Eleanor Murphy, project coordinator for the SBCCOG. “This works to make future generations more eco-conscious and creates a green future for the South Bay.”
The program is offered to families throughout Southern
Kits include LED light bulbs, SoCalREN monster-themed night-lights, efficient-flow showerheads and faucet aerators to install at home.
California. The SBCCOG supports the SoCalREN in bringing these services to the South Bay through staffing that assists with outreach and implementation efforts in schools.
“The South Bay Cities Council of Governments goes above and beyond to support Kits for Kids,” said Kathy Mariscal, associate program manager of energy education for the SoCalREN. “Their hands-on approach makes it possible for us to reach more schools and families each year in disadvantaged communities and Title I schools in the South Bay.” •
To learn more about the Kits for Kids program visit southbaycities.org/kids-corner
Free West Basin Rain Barrels Are Back at Six Events
West Basin Municipal Water Rain Barrel Giveaway Program is back.
This is your chance to practice water conservation, improve water efficiency and prepare to take advantage of the upcoming rainy season. Rain barrels make that effort practical and easy.
SBCCOG partner West Basin will host six giveaway events throughout the district’s service area. Anyone who lives in the service area can receive up to two rain barrels.
West Basin will be distributing a total of 1,500 rain barrels at the following events:
• September 13
Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility, El Segundo 8 to 11 a.m.
• September 27
Donald L. Dear Building, Carson 8 to 11 a.m.
• October 4
Lawndale High School 8 to 11 a.m.
• October 11
West L.A. College, Culver City 8 to 11 a.m.
• November 1
Morningside High School, Inglewood 8 to 11 a.m.
• November 22
Malibu City Hall
9 to 11 a.m.
SIGN UP IN TWO SIMPLE STEPS:
1. Register online for a nearby giveaway location
2. Pick up the rain barrel
Rain barrels go quickly. Register today at WestBasinCA.gov/rain-barrels
Authenticity in the Age of AI: Why Trust, Not Efficiency, Is Local Government’s Greatest Asset
Written by Micah Gaudet, deputy city manager and public safety officer for Maricopa, Arizona
Artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes make it harder than ever to tell what’s real. A carefully crafted prompt can create very compelling images and videos. The propensity for panic or worse is right there. But I want to turn the problem on its head and address the underlying issue: What does it mean to lead with trust in a world where authenticity can be faked?
We may think the danger lies in the tools that write, speak or even look like us. But the greater risk is what happens when these tools work— what happens when they make us faster, more productive but less present. Local government doesn’t operate in systems and processes. We operate in relationships. And relationships are built not on speed but on trust.
In local government, efficiency is not our currency. Trust is.
Cities and counties are exploring AI to streamline permitting, automate responses or generate reports. These uses are helpful, but don’t assume they are neutral. When we choose speed over presence, we risk trading short-term convenience for long-term disconnection.
Here’s why this matters. In 2013, a group of experienced radiologists was asked to review standard lung scans. What they didn’t know was that the researchers had inserted an image of a gorilla (roughly 48 times the size of a typical cancer nodule) into the scan. Despite their training, 83% of the radiologists didn’t see it.
It wasn’t due to carelessness. They were focused. Their attention was tuned to look for cancer, not for gorillas. This is known as inattentional blindness—the failure to notice something obvious when your mind is locked onto something else.
In the same way, local governments that fixate on speed, efficiency and automation may unintentionally overlook the slow, human signals that build trust. AI is not the problem. It’s that when we focus only on the technical, we become blind to the relational.
The extra time it takes to return a resident’s call, sit with a neighborhood group or work through a difficult permitting issue builds legitimacy. These aren’t inefficiencies to be automated; they’re acts of trust building.
They remind people that government is
not a decision-making machine. It’s a place for representation. When AI replaces those rhythms with quicker, cleaner alternatives, we risk losing more than we gain. The process is the product.
And here’s where leadership matters most: In an era where trust is fragile, people aren’t just looking for information. They’re looking for presence. Not a perfect response, but a real person who shows up, listens and acts with integrity each time.
Authentic leadership means resisting the urge to be everywhere, instantly. It means choosing real interactions over performative ones. It means using AI to facilitate human connection, not replace it.
The real challenge isn’t figuring out what’s fake online. It’s committing to what’s real in public life. •
Micah Gaudet recently authored the book “Fragile Systems: An Ecological Approach to AI in Government” about developing authentic leadership in the age of AI.
“Authentic leadership means resisting the urge to be everywhere, instantly. It means choosing real interactions
over
performative
ones. It means using AI to facilitate human connection, not replace it.”
- Micah Gaudet
Certified Master Composter Kelly Cisneros explains to Rolling Hills community members the ratio of carbon-rich materials (browns) and nitrogen-rich materials (greens) required for a healthy compost pile at a recent workshop.
Rolling Hills Addresses Its Rural and Equestrian Composting Needs
The City of Rolling Hills recently collaborated with the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) to host a workshop where residents experienced hands-on training from a Certified Master Composter. The residents learned about composting basics and its environmental benefits, as well as locally specific topics, such as whether composting horse manure or tainted hay is possible. Eager participants filled City Hall chambers for the event.
“Composting hasn’t traditionally been a staple in Rolling Hills, so it’s been inspiring to see residents come together to learn and collaborate with each other to these new skills to help the environment,” said Samantha Crew, a management analyst for the City of Rolling Hills, who worked with SBCCOG staff to organize the workshop.
Participants will receive two free 80-gallon compost bins and two stainless steel kitchen pails with odor-blocking charcoal filters to kick-start their home composting efforts.
CalRecycle funds the program for cities in its territory to support the implementation of organic waste management education. Initially, Rolling Hills hesitated to accept the grant due to limited resources to implement the program, but staffing assistance offered by the SBCCOG made it possible.
“The workshops mark a promising step toward greener waste practices—proving that even small communities can make a big environmental impact,” said Kim Fuentes, deputy executive director at the SBCCOG and lead for its Environmental Services Center. “We’re very pleased to help Rolling Hills create a program that benefits the community and the environment.
The city is planning one more workshop in October. Interested Rolling Hills residents may add their names to a workshop interest list at southbaycities.org/waste, enabling them to receive two free compost bins and kitchen pails. •
South Bay Watch is a quarterly bulletin by the South Bay Cities Council of Governments to inform local leaders of subregional progress and alert them to emerging issues.
Governing Board: Chair
Bernadette Suarez, Lawndale 1st Vice Chair
Bill Uphoff, Lomita 2nd Vice Chair
Ray Jackson, Hermosa Beach
Immediate Past Chair
Rodney Tanaka, Gardena
Members:
Carson, Los Angeles County, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lomita, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Torrance
SBCCOG Executive Director
Jacki Bacharach Legal Counsel
Michael Jenkins, Best Best & Krieger LLP Treasurer
Matthew Robinson, City Treasurer City of El Segundo Editor
Colleen Farrell, Senior Project Manager, Communications Contributors
Eleanor Murphy, Project Coordinator
Rosemary Lackow, Administrative Assistant Zoran Trifunovic, Project Coordinator Design
Vincent Rios Creative, Inc.
To subscribe to SBCCOG newsletters or view past editions, visit southbaycities.org/newsletter
To view a schedule of SBCCOG meetings, visit southbaycities.org/calendar.
Follow us: facebook.com/SBCCOG facebook.com/SBESC @SouthBayCCOG @SBESC @southbayccog
