Acknowledgments River Revitalization master Plan

Acknowledgments

The development of the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan is a historic The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ Gloria Molina, First District, and moment in the City of Los Angeles galvanized by a strong partnership of government, Zev Yaroslavsky, Third District, have executed the River revitalization goals outlined environmental and community groups, and residents. These people came together in the County’s Master Plan that was adopted in 1996. The County Department of with the vision to renew our historic River using this Plan to guide us for the next two Public Works and its Watershed Management Division have collaborated on the Plan decades. The Master Plan was spearheaded by the Ad Hoc Committee on the Los throughout its development. Angeles River led by Chair Councilmember Ed P. Reyes, Vice Chair Councilmember , and Councilmembers José Huizar, Tom LaBonge and Jan Perry, The passion of many environmental and community groups has been a driving force in and former Committee member, Councilmember . The Ad Hoc River the River restoration. These groups include: Alianza de los Pueblos del Río, Anahuak Committee, approved by Councilmember , focused on major opportunities, Youth Soccer Association, Audubon Center at Debs Park, Friends of Atwater Village, including environmental restoration, parks and trails, neighborhood revitalization, Friends of the Los Angeles River, Heal the Bay, Livable Places, Los Angeles Audubon economic development and civic pride. Society, Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council, Natural Resources Defense Council, North East Trees, The River Project, Santa Monica Mountains The Plan idea was received with strong enthusiasm by Mayor , Conservancy, TreePeople, The Trust for Public Land, and Parks for People. who prioritized the River when he became mayor in 2005. Mayor Villaraigosa, with the assistance of Deputy Mayor Nancy Sutley, has directed City departments to oversee the Tetra Tech, Inc., the environmental and engineering firm, served as the City’s lead main components of the project and has helped forge partnerships with leaders at the consultant in developing the Plan. The Plan’s consultant team, led by Ira Mark Artz, P.E. local, national and international levels to further the Plan’s objectives. Krista Kline, in has been extremely dedicated and has provided indispensable expertise in developing the Mayor’s office, has provided critical, ongoing support to the Plan’s development. the Plan. The team included international experts from eleven subconsultant firms: Civitas, Inc., Wenk Associates, Mia Lehrer + Associates, The Robert Group, GCG Rose The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is an invaluable partner in evaluating River projects & Kindel, Transportation & Land Use Collaborative of Southern (TLUC), Urban to improve environmental and water quality, and flood protection. Congressmember Partners, Asset Strategies, HNTB Architecture, Inc., Urban Semillas, and David Marquez. Lucille Roybal-Allard and Senator Barbara Boxer have fought for legislation and funding to achieve the Plan’s goals. The Plan would not have been possible without the assistance of key City staff, in particular Lupe Vela, Ad Hoc River Committee senior staff, who is on loan from the The Plan would not have been possible without the commitment from the Department of Bureau of Sanitation directed by Rita Robinson, and Jill Sourial, the First Council Water and Power, in particular General Manager Ron Deaton, who secured its funding, District’s Deputy on the River and Environment, who provided expertise and oversight. as well as Lillian Kawasaki, John Chen, and Imudiase Aimiuwu who monitored its Tom Rothmann and Claire Bowin, from the Department of City Planning, helped development. City Engineer Gary Lee Moore, P.E. and Deputy City Engineer Deborah lay the groundwork for the RIO concept. Ara Kasparian, Ph.D. and Renee Ellis at the Weintraub, A.I.A., from the Bureau of Engineering, have worked tirelessly to direct the Bureau of Engineering provided unwavering support throughout the effort, and Carol City through this master planning process from the very beginning. Board of Public Armstrong, Ph.D., Project Manager, provided exceptional commitment, guidance, and Works Commission President Cynthia Ruiz, along with the Board’s River liaison leadership. Commissioner Yolanda Fuentes, have provided instrumental guidance and support. The Department of City Planning, led by S. Gail Goldberg, provided ongoing staff support and advisement through its newly-established River Unit.

A  Los Angeles River Revitalization master Plan Acknowledgments

While it could never be possible to identify each and every person who has played a part in shaping the future of the Los Angeles River—efforts that have made this Revitalization Master Plan real today and possible for tomorrow—the following people are gratefully acknowledged:

The City of Los Angeles Office of Councilmember José Huizar, City Council District 14 Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor José Huizar, Councilmember Robin Kramer, Chief of Staff Amy E. Yeager, Senior Policy Advisor Nancy Sutley, Deputy Mayor for the Environment Christopher Espinosa, Associate Director, Neighborhood and Community Ex-Officio of Ad Hoc Committee: Services Diego Alvarez, Associate Director, Federal Issues Office of Councilmember Wendy Greuel, City Council District 2 Erin Walsh, Associate Director, State Issues Wendy Greuel, Councilmember Krista Kline, Housing, Planning, and Environmental Policy Analyst Christopher Olsen, Legislative Deputy

Los Angeles City Council Ad Hoc Committee on the Los Angeles River Department of Public Works, Board of Public Works Ed P. Reyes, Chair, Councilmember Cynthia M. Ruiz, President Eric Garcetti, Vice Chair, Council President David Sickler, Vice President Jan Perry, Councilmember Paula A. Daniels, Commissioner José Huizar, Councilmember Valerie Lynne Shaw, Commissioner Tom LaBonge, Councilmember Yolanda Fuentes, Commissioner

Office of Councilmember Ed P. Reyes, City Council District 1 Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering Ed P. Reyes, Councilmember Gary Lee Moore, P.E., City Engineer Jose Gardea, Chief of Staff Deborah Weintraub, A.I.A., Deputy City Engineer Lupe Vela, Senior Staff to the Ad Hoc Committee on the Los Angeles River Carol Armstrong, Ph.D., Project Manager Jill Sourial, Council Deputy Ara Kasparian, Ph.D., Environmental Manager Helen Campbell, Planning Assistant Renee Ellis, Landscape Architect Tony Perez, Communications Director Monica Valencia, Press Deputy Department of Water and Power H. David Nahai, President, Board of Water and Power Office of Councilmember Dennis Zine, City Council District 3 Edith Ramirez, Vice President, Board of Water and Power, and Chair, Los Dennis Zine, Councilmember Angeles River Committee Jonathan M. Brand, Chief Planning Deputy Mary Nichols, Commissioner and Member, Los Angeles River Committee Nick Patsaouras, Commissioner Forescee Hogan-Rowles, Commissioner Office of Councilmember Tom LaBonge, City Council District 4 Ron Deaton, General Manager Tom LaBonge, Councilmember Lillian Kawasaki, Assistant General Manager for Environmental Affairs and Renee Weitzer, Chief of Staff and Planning Economic Development Patricia Malone, Field Deputy John Chen, Director of Economic Development Thomas Erb, Director of Water Resources Office of Councilmember Jan Perry, City Council District 9 Bill Van Wagoner, Waterworks Engineer Jan Perry, Councilmember Imudiase Aimiuwu, Management Analyst II Jeff Catalano, Senior Legislative Deputy Maria Perez, Council Assistant Department of City Planning S. Gail Goldberg, Director of Planning Office of Councilmember Eric Garcetti, City Council District 13 Gordon Hamilton, Deputy Director Eric Garcetti, Council President Jane Blumenfeld, Principal City Planner Mitch O’Farrell, District Director of Constituent Services Marc Woersching, City Planner Alison Becker, Planning Director Thomas Rothmann, City Planner Claire J. Bowin, Planning Assistant

A  Acknowledgments Los Angeles River Revitalization master Plan

Project Partner Executive Committee Elected Officials Members County of Los Angeles First Supervisorial District, Honorable Gloria Molina City of Los Angeles Third Supervisorial District, Honorable Zev Yaroslavsky Office of the Mayor City Council Ad Hoc River Committee Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering State of California Department of Water and Power Office of the Honorable Richard Alarcon, State Senate, 20th District (2006) Department of City Planning Office of the Honorable Alex Padilla, State Senate, 20th District (2007) Office of the Honorable Jack Scott, State Senate, 21st District Office of the Honorable Gilbert Cedillos, State Senate, 22nd District County of Los Angeles Office of the Honorable Sheila Kuehl, State Senate, 23rd District Department of Public Works Office of the Honorable Kevin Murray, State Senate, 26th District (2006) Donald L. Wolfe, Director Office of the Honorable Mark Ridley Thomas, State Senate, 26th District (2007) Diego Cadena, Deputy Director Office of the Honorable Lloyd Levine, State Assembly, 40th District Mark Pestrella, Assistant Deputy Director Office of the Honorable Fran Pavley, State Assembly, 41st District (2006) Frank Kuo, Capital Projects Manager, Watershed Management Division Office of the Honorable Julia Brownley, State Assembly, 41st District (2007) Heather Speight, Project Manager, Watershed Management Division Office of the Honorable ,, State Assembly, 42nd District (2006) Office of the Honorable Mike Feuer, State Assembly 42nd District (2007) Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District Office of the Honorable Dario Frommer, State Assembly,,43rd District (2006) Colonel Alex Dornstauder, Commander and District Engineer Office of the Honorable , State Senate, 43rd District (2007) Brian Moore, Deputy District Engineer Office of the Honorable Jackie Goldberg, State Assembly, 45th District (2006) Ruth Villalobos, Chief Planning Division Office of the Honorable Kevin De Leon, State Assembly, 45th District (2007) Robert Koplin, Chief, Engineering Division Office of the Honorable Fabian Nunez, Speaker, State Assembly, 46th District Charles S. Dwyer, Chief, Operations Branch Joseph B. Evelyn, Chief, Hydraulics and Hydrology Branch Federal Government Alex C. Watt, Chief, Environmental Resources Branch Office of the Honorable Barbara Boxer, U.S. Senate Darrel Buxton, Project Manager Office of the Honorable Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Senate Catherine Shuman, Los Angeles River Project Planner Office of the Honorable Brad Sherman, U.S. House of Representatives, 27th District Office of the Honorable Howard L. Berman, U.S. House of Representatives, 38th District Office of the Honorable Adam Shiff, U.S. House of Representatives, 29th District Office of the Honorable Henry A. Waxman, U.S. House of Representatives, 30th District Office of the Honorable Xavier Becerra, U.S. House of Representatives, 31st District Office of the Honorable Diane E. Watson, U.S. House of Representatives, 33rd District Office of the Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard, U.S. House of Representatives, 34th District

A  Los Angeles River Revitalization master Plan Acknowledgments

Los Angeles River City Department Task force We are grateful to the following Task Force members and other contributors for their insights and technical assistance: Members and other contributors Zohra Akhter Ron Low Other Cities: Chair, the City Engineer Sam Alavi Marshall Lowe Dennis Eschen, City of Long Beach Mayor’s Office Candice Arnold Ron Maben Barbara Lazar, City of Burbank Council District 1 Reza Bagherzadeh Salvador Martinez John Pearson, City of Glendale Council District 4 Guillermo Barragan Carl Mills Council District 5 Melinda Barrett Anita Moore County of Los Angeles: Council District 9 Kirk Bishop Michelle Mowery Vik Bapna Council District 13 Rodolfo Bocanegra Michael Mullin Maria Lopez Council District 14 Lillian Burkeheim Joyce Neal Office of the City Attorney Stephanie Clements Steven Nikaido Board of Public Works U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Marsa Chan Okey Njoku Ted Masigat Bureau of Engineering Wenn Chyn Bruce Ortiz Rick Andre Bureau of Sanitation Anselmo Collins Mildred Owens Kerry Casey Bureau of Street Services Robert S. Cordobes II Fuh-Shing Pan Ed Demesa Chief Administrative Officer Victoria Cross Rafael Prieto Pete Garcia Chief Legislative Analyst Steve Davis Randy Price Art Jung Community Development Department Jerry Del Rosario Keith Pritsker Tiffany Kayama Community Redevelopment Agency Nishith Dhandha Mike Qualls Thomas Keeney Department of Building and Safety Jerry Diego Charles Rausch Robert Kwan Department of City Planning Neil Drucker David Reimen Joseph Lamb Department of Cultural Affairs Tonya Durrell Allyn Rifkin Ted Masigat Department of Recreation and Parks Pete Echeverria Dan Rios Pam Maxwell Department of Transportation Felicia Filer Luis Rodriguez Alan Nichols Environmental Affairs Department Ken Fong Martin Rothman Ken Raabe Housing Department Daryl Ford Jacquelyn Salazar Dan Sulzer Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Tim Fremaux Susan Shu Roland Tabije Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Dario Gomez Michael Shull Brian Tracy Los Angeles Police Department Sue Gorney Bradley Smith Rene Vermeeren Recreation and Parks Department Robert Gutierrez Ferralyn Sneed City of Burbank Daniel Hackney Don Spivack City of Glendale Adel Hagekhalil Paul Teensma City of Long Beach Winifred Harano Vitaly Troyan County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Binti Harvey Jenny Tsang U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Karl Horst Robert Vega Frank Hsu Frank Viramontes Cora Jackson-Fossett Monica Walters Elroy Johnson Amy Webb Wendy Johnson Chris Westhoff Uri Jimenez Judy Wilson Safa Kaddis Terri Winfield Pauline Kamiyama Jody Yoxsimer Mahmood Karimzadeh Shahram Kharaghani Regina Kirschenbaum John Koo Dave Lara Jennifer Lau Arvin Lopez

A  Acknowledgments Los Angeles River Revitalization master Plan

Los Angeles River Master Plan Advisory Los Angeles Master Plan Stakeholders and Committee Contributors Alicia Brown, Solano Canyon resident Alianza de los Pueblos del Rio Al Nodal, Director, Not a Cornfield, and Arts Consultant Irma Muñoz Belinda Faustinos, Rivers and Mountains Conservancy Alliance for a Livable LA Beth Steckler, Livable Places American Institute of Architects Bob Bates, Inner City Arts American Society of Civil Engineers Bruce Ackerman, Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley Carl Blum Bill Fain, Johnson Fain Partners American Society of Landscape Architects Chris Kroll, Coastal Conservancy Stephanie Landangren Christine Lee, Korean Culture Center Anahuak Youth Soccer Association Clara Irazabal, School of Policy, Planning, and Development, University of Raúl Macias Southern California Apollo Alliance Dilara Rodriquez, Transportation Consultant Elsa Barboza Diego Cardoso, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Arts Community Land Activism, Westlake Don Dickerson, Dickerson and Associates Arroyo Seco Foundation Dr. Tim Dagodag, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, California State Tim Brick University, Northridge Friends of Atwater Village Glen Dake, Silverlake Neighborhood Council Cesar Portillo James Rojas, Latino Urban Forum Netty Carr Joanne Kumamoto, Little Tokyo Business District Ann Lawson Joe Edmiston, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Sandra Caravella Kathleen Bullard, CH2MHill Luis Lopez Mark Pestrella, Watershed Division, County of Los Angeles, Public Works Audubon Society, Los Angeles Chapter Marybeth Vergara, Parks for People and the Trust for Public Land Garry George Matt Benjamin, Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition Audubon Center, North East Los Angeles Nicole Possert, Highland Park Heritage Trust Elva Yañez Pieter Severynen, North East Trees CARECEN Robert E. Brendza, BNSF Rail Angela Sanbrano Robert Scott, Civic Center Group and VICA Center for Law in the Public Interest/The City Project Ron Gastelum, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Robert García Suellen Cheng, El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument Central City Neighborhood Partners Shelley Backlar, Friends of the Los Angeles River Central City Association Tara Devine, Central City East Association Victor Franco, Jr. Trish Smith, The Nature Conservancy Clinica Msr. Oscar A. Romero Veda Ward, Leisure Studies and Recreation Department, California State Council District One Field Office University, Northridge Sonia Jimenez Natalie Reyes Matthew Hernandez Los Angeles River Master Plan Peer Review Coastal Conservancy Committee David Hayes Michael Banner, Urban Land Institute Christopher Kroll Michael Drennan, Brown and Caldwell Cypress Park and Glassell Park Community Design Ordinance Committee Phil Enquist, Skidmore Owings and Merrill Lynne Dwyer Arthur Golding, University of Southern California School of Architecture Helene Schpak Mary Margaret Jones, Hargreaves and Associates Alissa Smith Paul Rookwood, Wallace, Roberts & Todd California State Parks Ruth Coleman Ron Schafer Dianne Martinez Sean Woods

A  Los Angeles River Revitalization master Plan Acknowledgments

Collective Space, Macarthur Park Neighborhood Councils and Other Local Constituents High Schools: Department of Water and Power, Retired Diane Edwards, Echo Park Bishop Mora Salesian High School LeVal Lund Frank Wada, Lincoln Heights Cals Charter High School Economic Alliance of the Valley Edgar Garcia, Lincoln Heights Canoga High School El Centro del Pueblo, Echo Park Jennifer Gill, MacArthur Park Cathedral High School Elysian Valley United Glen Dake , Greater Silverlake Community Charter High School Steve Zimmer Michael Cortez, Canoga Park Compton Unified School District Albert Vargas George Magallanes, Boyle Heights Daily High School Cecilia Dominquez Joel Simon, Encino Eagle Rock High School Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians Walt Sweeney, Reseda Foshay Learning Center Rudy Ortega Jr. Tammy Flores, Sylmar Franklin High School Friends of the Los Angeles River Leonard Shaffer, Tarzana Grant High School Lewis McAdams John Popowich, Winnetka Holy Family High School Shelley Backlar Northeast Trees John Marshall High School Joe Linton Larry Smith La Salle High School Alex Ward Holly Harper Lincoln High School Gabrieleno/Tongva Band of Mission Indians of San Gabriel Carrie Sutkin Manuel Arts High School Heal the Bay San Fernando Valley Historical Society Pilgrim Day High School Mark Gold Midge Gisel Ramona Convent High School Meredith McCarthy Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission Reseda High School Lincoln Heights Pedestrian Study Jessica Hall Roosevelt High School Lauren Buckland Sierra Club Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council Marcia Hanscom Nancy Steele Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) Los Angeles Valley College, Wings Program Lane Barden Meredith Leonard Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project Wetlands Recovery Project Joan Hackeling Mary Loquvam Los Angeles River Water Master, Upper Region The River Project Los Angeles First Five Melanie Winter Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce TreePeople Ron Gastelum Andy Lipkis Los Angeles Conservation Corps Rebecca Drayse Bruce Saito Trust for Public Land Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Bob Reid Matt Benjamin Verde Coalition Los Angeles County Parks Department University of California at Los Angeles, Institute of the Environment Larry Hensley Stephanie Pincetl Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust University of California at Los Angeles Labor Center Los Angeles Downtown Arts District United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley Tim Keating Debi Schultze Los Angeles Trails Project University of California, Los Angeles-Institute of the Environment Mary Benson Mary Nichols Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority University of Southern California Barbara Romero Jennifer Wolch Mujeres de la Tierra John Wilson Irma Muñoz William C. Velásquez Institute National Hispanic Education Council Antonio Gonzales Salvador Ramirez Celia Brugman Azucena Natural Resources Defense Council Joel Reynolds Tim Grabiel

A  Acknowledgments Los Angeles River Revitalization master Plan

Consultant Team

Tetra Tech, Inc. Mia Lehrer + Associates Ira Mark Artz Mia Lehrer William Abadie David Fletcher Theresa Ahlgren Joshua Link John Bock Esther Marguiles David Broadfoot Andrea Martinez Steve Carter Alex Robinson Yen-Hsu Chen Cate Corbitt Urban Partners John Craig Dan Rosenfeld Kevin Doyle David Cotterman William Fullerton Rima Ghannam Al Groves Asset Strategies Bob Hall Judy Frank Derek Holmgren Cliff Jarman The Robert Group Chris Lee Chris Robert Tracy May Clarissa Filgioun Ric McCallan Mary Brooks Steve Parker Wendy Beatty Ridge Robinson Cindy Schad Patti Sexton GCG Rose & Kindel Randy Varney Adàn Ortega Mark Williams HNTB Civitas, Inc. Tony Gonzales Mark Johnson Scott Jordan Transportation and Land Use Collaborative Dick Farley Will Cipes Neotha Mierath Yuka Yoshida Urban Semillas Miguel Luna Wenk Associates Bill Wenk David Marquez and Associates Jane Kulik David Marquez Pam Cornelisse Jesse Clark Kristin Danford Michael Fortunato Perkins

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