----- Original Message -----
From: B Brand
To: Heart Park
Sent: Sunday, April 10, 2005 9:59 PM
Subject: Heart Park Update - April 2005

Hello Everyone,
 
We're moving forward!
When the State Coastal Conservancy came to Redondo a year ago to assist our humble little citizens' group with a presentation before the Planning Commission, they said 2 things had to happen before they could assist Redondo with any restoration efforts:
 
1.  The City had decide for itself what the zoning is in this area (our coastal zone).
2.  The City had to invite the Coastal Conservancy in to help with restoring this site.
 
After nothing happened on these two fronts for over a year, these two criteria have been addressed in less than a month since our victory on March 8th!
 
First, shortly after our victory Chris Cagle, the councilman in this district, spoke with Peter Brand, senior project manager at the Coastal Conservancy and invited them down to begin the process of looking into the Heart Park vision.  When a date and format is set, I'll let everyone know.
 
Then, last Tuesday night, or should I say Wednesday morning at 2 a.m. to be accurate, the council directed staff to begin the process of reinstating the old zoning which would allow for parkland on the AES site, as well as the Edison right of way.  See this link:
http://laserweb.redondo.org/weblink/index.asp?DocumentID=75468&FolderID=75425&SearchHandle=0&DocViewType=ShowImage&LeftPaneType=Hidden&dbid=0&page=1
Councilman Szerlip commented that they had heard the citizens 'loud and clear', and that they would be doing all they can to make the Heart Park vision happen.
 
Remember, AES assumed the clean-up costs and bought the 22 acre tank farm from Edison International for $4 million (the tanks in attached photo).  The clean-up costs were assumed to be $6 million.  So AES bought this polluted land, zoned for industrial uses, and assumed the clean-up costs for approximately $10 million.  That's right, 22 acres for $10 million.   
 
I mention this tank farm because it is nearly identical to the 20-acre tank farm in Huntington Beach purchased by the Coastal Conservancy from AES for $975,000 - and it too sits on a former wetland.  The tank farm in our coastal zone has not been used for at least 10 years, and it's purchase could be phase 1 in a phased approach to purchasing the entire site for public use.
 
We have to both raise the money to purchase this land, and incentivize AES to sell.  Neither will be easy without the other, but in the meantime, we can make it quite clear to AES that the surrounding communities, including Hermosa Beach, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes and Manhattan Beach will oppose re-powering their plant in the future.  There are 10,000 residents per square mile surrounding this plant, and it sits on top of a former wetland in an area (Santa Monica Bay) where over 90% of the wetlands have been destroyed.  Given the health and quality of life impacts, this is no longer a suitable site for a power plant.
 
As for raising the money, most of you have heard of, and some have joined, the new non-profit public benefit organization called the South Bay Parkland Conservancy.  Their mission "... dedicated to the restoration, preservation and public use of coastal land resources in the South Bay region" is tailored to making Heart Park a reality.  If you haven't joined yet, please consider it.  They need all the support they can get.
Regular membership is $25/year, Family $40 and Patron $250.

South Bay Parkland Conservancy
PO Box 7000-408
Redondo Beach, CA  90277

For some interesting reading on how the Coastal Conservancy is restoring open space and wetlands in Ormond Beach in Ventura - where they bought another 65 acre tank farm on a wetland - see this link:
http://www.coastalconservancy.ca.gov/coast&ocean/summer2002/pages/one.htm
 
On another note, for those of you who have not heard, the hand recount of the Mayoral race was completed on April 1.  Gerard Bisignano won the runoff position by one vote over Ellen Allan - 2359 to 2358 - and will face Mike Gin.  This should serve as a reminder to everyone to vote on May 17th.  There are still 2 candidates who have supported the Park from the very beginning, Jim Light for City Council in District 1, and Dave Wiggins for City Attorney. 
www.jimlight.net
www.davewiggins.net
 
Thanks for staying informed and reading this far!  Nothing is more valuable than YOU taking the time to learn what's happening in your community, and then passing it on to family and friends.
 
Bill Brand
310-374-4001