Stakeholder Program Boosts School Attendance
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Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, City Councilmember Alex Padilla,
Los Angeles Unified School District School board member David Tokofsky and Vulcan
Area Manager Jim Dean, along with students from Sun Valley Middle School.
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A rainy-season shuttle service for students at Roscoe, Camellia and Arminta Elementary Schools
was inaugurated in January 2001. The shuttle has so far operated daily, rain or shine, for two seasons; we hope to continue
it each winter until street flooding in the area is alleviated. We thank LAUSD School Board member
David Tokofsky and his field representatives, Jay Greenstein, O'Neal Spicer and Gennady Shtern, for expediting and
funding the shuttle. Flooded streets had been keeping a substantial number of school kids home on rainy days,
resulting in losses to the school district (in state attendance-based funding) and to the students (in valuable learning time).
A little research quickly led the stakeholders to conclude that, by recouping that state money, a shuttle service would
easily pay for itself.
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The service, of course, is only a stopgap measure against the flooding problems in Sun Valley.
But it exemplifies the potential of the stakeholders group to find permanent solutions. With all the concerned parties
at the table, the group was able to focus on a component of the larger problem, identify a solution, and quickly put it
in place. Most such interim solutions will become redundant and will be phased out as the long-term watershed plan is implemented.
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Flood Measure in Place at Sun Valley Middle School
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While the purpose of the stakeholders group is to develop permanent solutions to local flooding, we
recognize that there are related problems that require immediate solutions. One example is the impairment of school
access by coursing floodwaters. Rainy-season access problems have been a particular headache for parents, children
and teachers at Sun Valley Middle School. Flooding in the drop-off areas along Bakman Avenue has made it difficult or
impossible for kids to stay dry between car and classroom.
Due to the efforts of one stakeholder, however, this headache could be history. In November 2000, Vulcan Materials,
which mines sand and gravel in the area, constructed a semi-circular driveway at the school. This new driveway
allows cars to unload in a dry spot that's above and beyond the draining water.
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Acting Principal Laura Hale and Assistant Principal Manuel Diaz thank Vulcan Materials Area Manager, Jim Dean, for a
new driveway at Sun Valley Middle School. The work was part of the Stakeholder Group's ongoing effort to implement
immediate solutions to area flooding problems
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Although the need for the driveway had been discussed at stakeholder meetings for several months, it looked as
though nothing could be done before the start of the 2000-01 rainy season. Vulcan grabbed the ball and ran with it,
finishing the driveway in record time. All materials and labor were donated by Vulcan, so there was no cost to the
citizens or the school district. Thank you, Vulcan Materials!
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Sun Valley Press Conference
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School Board Member David Tokofsky and TreePeople founder Andy Lipkis, Councilmember Alex Padilla
and County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.
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It wasn't raining in Sun Valley but the media showed up anyway! A press conference to announce
the area's new school shuttle service and the new driveway at Sun Valley Middle School was held at the school on
Monday, January 22, 2001. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky provided background on flood-related issues in the
area and indicated his support for the environmentally sound solutions put forward by the Stakeholders Group.
He thanked group members, particularly City Councilmember Alex Padilla, for the cooperative spirit that led to
the rapid deployment of these temporary relief measures.
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Councilmember Padilla spoke of the importance of parental involvement in getting these improvements in place and
praised community members for not giving up. School Board Member David Tokofsky, whose office was the moving force
behind the new shuttle, made the key point that innovative solutions like these can turn a lose-lose situation
into a win-win one. Area schools were losing state funding based on attendance because flooded streets often kept
school kids home on rainy days. By getting those kids to school every day, the District will more than recoup the
cost of operating the shuttle.
Also speaking briefly at the event were Vulcan Area Manager Jim Dean, TreePeople President Andy Lipkis, Field
Representative Patricia Davenport (for Councilmember Joel Wachs), Camellia Elementary School Assistant Principal
Bruce Takeguma, and Sun Valley Middle School Principal Manuel Rangell.
Media presence at the conference included the Daily News, KMEX-TV and Channel 4 News.
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Consultant Team Signs On
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As manager for the Los Angeles River watershed at the County Department of Public Works, Vik
Bapna's duties include managing the Sun Valley Watershed Project. At the December 2001 stakeholder meeting,
Vik announced the hiring of a consultant team to prepare a Watershed Management Plan for Sun Valley. The team's
22-month contract calls for the development of a plan for solving the local flooding problem, while conserving
water, controlling pollution and protecting the groundwater.
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A few members of the consultant team along with County Public Works staff.
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In addition, the plan will suggest ways of simultaneously
increasing recreation opportunities, open space and wildlife habitat. Public understanding of the issues and
alternatives will be important to the success of whatever plan is ultimately adopted; an outreach and education
program is therefore a second crucial requirement of the contract. There will also be opportunities for public
comment as the project's Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is prepared.
Heading up the team is Montgomery Watson Harza, a worldwide leader in the field of environmental engineering.
WRC, Inc. and TetraTech, Inc. will use computer modeling to evaluate potential designs, and Takata Associates
will offer landscape architecture advice for pilot projects and for the overall plan.
TreePeople, a Los Angeles nonprofit group with experience in community organizing and environmental education,
will head the outreach and education portion of the project and assist with technical review. Durazo
Communications will help with outreach to the large Spanish-speaking population in the area.
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