Supervisor sees conflict over coastal plan

JOHN LOESING/Acorn Newspapers LEADERSHIP-L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, third from left, with Calabasas Mayor Dennis Washburn, Chamber of Commerce Chairman Stephanie Warren and City Councilmember Jonathan Wolfson, following last week's speech to community leaders. Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky visited Calabasas last week to discuss the state of the county and provide an update for local residents on issues such as the upcoming plans for the coastal region and Santa Monica Mountains.

Yaroslavsky, who represents Calabasas, Agoura Hills and Westlake Village, said the county's financial future looks promising.

"The state of your county's finances is better today than it has been probably in 27 years," the supervisor said. "If there are funds there, we don't spend it on new programs that may close after one or two years. We invest it in what we think can sustain.

"This is the first time since I've been in public office that we can plan ahead," Yaroslavsky told his Chamber of Commerce audience. "If there is a project, say here in the city of Calabasas, you know you can count on the revenue that should be there a couple years down the line."

Yaroslavsky said the county is drafting a plan for developing the unincorporated areas of the Santa Monica Mountains, a plan that will need to be approved by the California Coastal Commission. Currently. Besides the commission, area development projects must receive approval from several city and county agencies.

Yaroslavsky expressed trepidation in working with the commission.

"They have their own very strong ideas of what our plan should look like," Yaroslavsky said. "They have very conservative views. . . In their eyes you can't build anywhere.

"I think we'll be in a battle with the Coastal Commission. I hope not, but I think we will," he said.

Sarah Christie, a commission spokesperson, agreed that her agency and the county sometimes butt heads.

"Generally speaking, it's always a challenging balance between the interest of local government and the statewide requirements of the Coastal Act," Christie said. "That's precisely why the law is set up that way. It requires the two entities to come together in a way that balances their desires for growth with the state law protecting resources. Neither entity can entirely control the outcome."

Yaroslavsky insists that the county regard all areas of the Santa Monica Mountains as "sensitive." He recognized that Calabasas residents treasure their open space.

"I used to say that in 50 years, that generation would appreciate this," Yaroslavsky said in reference to the attention paid to open space "But I think we can say, right here and now, that this generation appreciates this gateway to the national park."

Yaroslavsky also discussed the nagging issue of whether to bring a National Football League team to Los Angeles. But as renovation estimates for the L.A. Coliseum grew to about $900 million, the interest faded, Yaroslavsky said.

"The NFL wanted to do it, but as the price rose, they began to suffer from sticker shock. . . . And that's understandable. What the NFL is going to do depends on what the 33 owners want to do. . . It's going to come out of their pockets."

Yaroslavsky opposes the spending of taxpayer money to accommodate an NFL team.

Yaroslavsky said the economic benefits of having an L.A. team have been overstated. The stadium jobs it would create would be seasonal, the tax benefits would be minimal, and the NFL would receive all monies spent inside the stadium.

"I don't think the NFL needs us," Yaroslavsky said. "And we don't need them. If they started a team in Carson City, Nev. and drafted Reggie Bush, people in L.A. would watch the Carson City football team. I honestly don't think L.A. misses football."

Yaroslavsky closed his comments by thanking the Calabasas Chamber and the city for its support.

After serving almost 20 years on the Los Angeles City Council, Yaroslavsky was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in June 1994 and was reelected twice, most recently in March 2002.