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New SGV COG president details regional projects: grade separations, SB 1383 support, Measure M awards
Summary
Ed Reese, newly elected president of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, presented how the COG coordinates regional transportation, housing and wildfire planning and listed specific programs that have delivered funding and technical support to Duarte and other member cities.
Ed Reese, president of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, told the Duarte City Council on Aug. 26 that the COG unites 31 member cities and two county supervisorial districts to deliver regional projects in transportation, housing and sustainability and to pursue grant-funded technical support for cities.
The nut graf: the COGs regional approach leverages pooled resources to deliver large infrastructure projects and technical assistance that individual small cities could not complete alone; Duarte receives direct program support through the COGs regional activities.
Reese described three program areas as examples. First, the COGs construction authority has delivered major grade-separation projects and is expanding to highway, transit and active-transportation projects. Second, the COG supported local compliance with SB 1383 by helping cities triple business compliance rates and assisting food banks with refrigeration and equipment to accept rescued donations. Third, Measure M allocations directed about $36.5 million to 17 San Gabriel Valley agencies last year for transit and safety projects.
Reese also highlighted COG-led wildfire protection and recovery planning, funded by CAL FIRE grants, that will produce community wildfire-protection plans and make member cities eligible for state wildfire funding. He said the COG is producing a regional handbook of objective design standards for multifamily and mixed-use approvals and provided tailored planning support to four cities at no cost (contract value about $250,000).
Reese launched an "I Heart SGV" program to build regional civic pride and encouraged Duarte councilmembers to participate in committees; he said the COGs staff under Executive Director Marissa Kreider manages project delivery.
Ending: Councilmembers welcomed Reese and expressed interest in continued collaboration, including homelessness outreach and planning for upcoming regional events.
