2023/2024 Who we are The South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) is a joint powers authority of 16 cities and the county of Los Angeles that share the goal of maximizing the quality of life and productivity of the South Bay subregion of Los Angeles County.
The SBCCOG’s 2022 “Why I Love the South Bay” photo contest winner Raymond Fujii of Torrance captured sunset at the Redondo Beach Pier with this image titled “Beautiful Sunset and Birds.”
Working with South Bay cities to foster cooperation, collaboration and innovation... South Bay cities and the county maintain the qualities and characteristics that make them unique and independent, while coming together collectively to address issues of common interest for a greater good. Our members are motivated by the collective vision of what the SBCCOG can do for our communities through cooperation, collaboration and innovation.
Governance Overseen by a board of directors, the SBCCOG conducts business through committees and working groups made up of city and county elected officials, city and county staff, government partners and members of the community. These groups focus on issues that fall under our five programs:
1. Sustainable South Bay 2. Environmental Service Center 3. Technology 4. Social Welfare, Equity and Access 5. Advocacy
1. SUSTAINABLE SOUTH BAY Based on years of study of the land use and transportation patterns in the South Bay, the Sustainable South Bay (SSB) strategy provides guidance for land use and transportation options for areas such as the South Bay, which are not transit rich and therefore cannot rely on transit-oriented development. It focuses on neighborhood-oriented development and alternative mobility options--both public and private. It encompasses micromobility and the use of electric powered slowspeed modes. The SSB was prepared by SBCCOG staff with grant funding and adopted by the SBCCOG board of directors to provide a guide to South Bay cities as they develop and re-develop their communities. SAY HELLO TO THE “ROLLING TURTLE” As the result of the SSB, motorists will soon be seeing a lot of a blue and green “rolling turtles” around the South Bay.
TRANSPORTATION & LAND USE
The turtle will be featured on road signage for a new 243mile route of streets called The South Bay Local Travel Network (LTN). The LTN will safely support the growing local use of “micromobility.” The term is a mode of travel defined by use of zero-emission, slow speed vehicles, such as neighborhood electric vehicles (similar to golf carts), e-bikes, non-motorized pedal bikes, e-scooters and e-bikes. During the next few years the SBCCOG aims to have the first two corridors of the LTN operational in El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Gardena, Lawndale and Hawthorne.
CLIMATE ACTION & ADAPTATION
AREAS OF FOCUS 1. Electric Vehicle Adoption 2. Goods Movement 3. Housing 4. Local Travel Network 5. Measures R&M
6. Sustainable Neighborhood Strategy 7. Transportation Demand Management &Telework
SOUTH BAY MEASURE R HIGHWAY PROGRAM AND MEASURE M SUB REGIONAL PROGRAMS In partnership with LA Metro, Caltrans and South Bay jurisdictions we will continue to manage the expenditure of more than $906 million of funding available from Measure R and more than $1.9 billion available from Measure M over the next 40 years.
We have obtained more than $1.5 million to assist cities to develop local and sub-regional climate action plans with carbon emission inventories and reduction strategies focused on transportation/land use, energy efficiency, solid waste, urban greening and energy generation/storage. We have also developed a South Bay Adaptation Plan with a sub-regional vulnerability assessment. AREAS OF FOCUS SBCCOG 2022/2023 Board Chair and Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor Pro Tem John Cruikshank attends the dedication of the new City of Redondo Beach Transit Center. SBCCOG provided $7.75 million in Measure M Multi-Year Subregional Program funding for the project.
1. Adaptation 2. Climate Action Planning 3. Greenhouse Gas Inventories
2. ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES CENTER
Celebrating 20 years of service to the South Bay, the South Bay Environmental Services Center (SBESC) operates with our current partners Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN), Water Replenishment District, West Basin Municipal Water District, Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, LA County Metro and City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to provide energy efficiency, water conservation, shared mobility options (e.g. van pool and carpool), telecommute and traveler information, and recycling resources to cities, school districts, businesses and residents. AREAS OF FOCUS 1. Energy Efficiency 2. Environmentally Friendly Landscaping, Gardening and Pest Control 3. Green Business Assist Program 4. Renewables 5. Waste 6. Water Conservation
Delivered 10,000+ rain barrels to residents.
• Over 10 years, helping cities and school save 13,671,113 kWh of electricity and 90,456 gas therms • Providing information to the public at 100 community, employee and business events and presentations annually • Involving the community and extending our reach with SBCCOG volunteers • Facilitating trainings and workshops that assist cities to adopt energy and water efficient policies and practices
3. TECHNOLOGY
SOUTH BAY FIBER NETWORK Through the use of Metro Measure M funds, the SBCCOG has created a gigabyte municipal fiber optic network to serve the internet and broadband needs of the SBCCOG city members and other participating public agencies. For city governments, the South Bay Fiber Network (SBFN) provides high-speed, lowcost, secure and resilient broadband--a critical technology tool that has led to faster, more affordable internet for the day-to-day operations at city halls, but also to “smart cities” applications that will unlock economic development and innovations for the South Bay cities: 1. Improved traffic flow 2. Community broadband at parks 3. Online permitting 4. Real-time monitoring of city infrastructure
The SBFN is the 21st century infrastructure that will support these opportunities. Network service began in August 2020 and continues to grow. THE NEXT CHAPTER In 2023, the SBCCOG will use $498,949 in grant funding to analyze the existing South Bay small and micro-business broadband market, focusing on underserved areas, to better understand the need and demand for services within these communities and throughout the South Bay. Called the “Digital Equity Project,” the study will produce a “shovel-ready” plan for expanding parts of the South Bay Fiber network in underserved areas.
5. ADVOCACY
4. SOCIAL WELFARE, EQUITY & ACCESS
The SBCCOG monitors and coordinates responses and positions on legislation and regional plans that affect the South Bay and sponsors legislation when required. We facilitate meetings with our legislators and other state agencies as needed.
HOMELESSNESS The SBCCOG has a unique and important role in facilitating a regional approach with its member cities to address homelessness. The L.A. New Framework to End Homelessness focuses on three key pillars—1) mainstream government systems, 2) the rehousing system, and 3) partnerships with cities—each taking action to coordinate, prevent, connect, house, and stabilize people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. In aiming to increase participation of cities, opportunities for coinvestment and the ability to respond at a local level to community members’ greatest concerns are enhanced, while also leveraging cities’ unique capabilities to improve access to housing. The SBCCOG, funded by L.A. County since October 2017 through Measure H Homeless Innovation Funds, is facilitating better coordination between L.A. County, the South Bay cities and other agencies that serve the South Bay to address these issues.
With funding from the county, SBCCOG provided $145,000 in funding for project construction and start-up costs allocated through Measure H Homeless Innovation funds for the Tiny Home Village in Torrance. SBCCOG provided an additional $250,000 for outreach and mental health staff to supplement its operation.
Become an SBCCOG volunteer. Learn more: southbaycities.org/ volunteer/ To learn more about our programs visit southbaycities.org Visit us at: 2355 Crenshaw Blvd., #125, Torrance, CA 90501. 310-371-7222
SENIOR SERVICES The SBCCOG supports awareness and shares best practices among cities of various programs that serve the community’s older adults and promote an age-friendly South Bay. Specifically, these include identifying mobility, wellness, and housing strategies to improve the quality of life for senior adults.
Like us: SBCCOG: facebook.com/SBCCOG SBESC: facebook.com/SBESC Follow us: SBCCOG: @SouthBayCCOG SBESC: @SBESC