Glendale receives SCAG sustainability award

The City of Glendale has received an Excellence Award for Sustainability from the Southern California Association of Governments for its Greener Glendale Plan for Community Activities.

Greener Glendale is a comprehensive climate action and sustainability plan that maps out how the city will meet greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets set by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) under Assembly Bill 32. Greener Glendale identifies specific actions in the areas of land use, transportation, urban design, environmental health, waste reduction, and energy and water conservation to meet the reduction targets of 8 percent by 2020 and 13 percent by 2035.

“Glendale is committed to smart growth and sustainability. We believe the Greener Glendale initiative gives us the tools to not just meet the state-mandated targets, but to make a real difference for our community,” said Glendale Council Member Laura Friedman, who also serves on the SCAG Energy and Environment Committee.

Glendale’s award was one of three presented on Thursday to Los Angeles County-based sustainability initiatives as part of SCAG’s 50th Anniversary Regional Conference & General Assembly. Also honored with an Excellence Award was the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) for its Broadway Dress Rehearsal Existing Conditions Report, which creates performance measures to assess the mobility and safety of Broadway from 2nd Street to 11th Street downtown. The report puts a particular emphasis on mobility and safety conditions for walking, bicycling and accessing transit.

Honored with an Achievement Award was the County of Los Angeles for its 2035 General Plan Update – the county’s first comprehensive plan update since 1980.

“Promoting sustainability is essential to preserving a quality of life we treasure in Southern California,” said Carl Morehouse, President of SCAG and a Ventura Council Member. “Projects such as Greener Glendale, the Broadway report and the comprehensive plan show how far we’ve come in terms environmental awareness and integrated planning.”

SCAG is the nation’s largest metropolitan planning organization, representing six counties, 191 cities and more than 18 million residents. This year, in addition to commemorating its 50th anniversary, the association is developing its 2016-2040 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy in collaboration with transportation authorities and stakeholders throughout the region.