A 20-member commission, convened in the wake of January’s devastating wildfires and aided by UCLA researchers, has called for the creation of two new government entities, including a permanent local authority to oversee rebuilding and lessen risk in future natural disasters.
The calls for establishment of a Resilient Rebuilding Authority with financing powers and a separate, taxpayer-funded Fire Control District, were among the 54 recommendations in the report, released June 20, of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire-Safe Recovery.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath formed the commission shortly after wildfires swept through Pacific Palisades and part of Malibu, in Horvath’s district, and Altadena to the east, wiping out thousands of homes as well as local businesses, schools and other community assets.
Made up of civic and business leaders and environmental and planning experts as well as people who lost homes or entire neighborhoods, the commission spent months studying ways not only to rebuild the decimated communities but also to strengthen the entire Los Angeles area against future disaster
UCLA took on a major role in the commission’s work by marshalling the research of legal, housing, environmental justice, finance and wildfire experts. UCLA’s team, which also interviewed many of those directly affected by the fires, was led by Megan Mullin of the Luskin Center for Innovation and the Luskin School of Public Affairs.
The university’s role was twofold, Mullin said during a gathering at the Gensler architectural and design offices in downtown Los Angeles to release and discuss the commission report. The first was to ensure the commission “had access to the best available research” on the wide range of questions they were facing.
The second, she added, was to “leverage UCLA’s real strength and experience with community engagement” by bringing fire survivors to the commission.
Those who commented on the report during a panel discussion following its release agreed that establishing a Resilient Rebuilding Authority was of utmost importance–and also politically challenging. As envisioned by the commission, the authority would have two divisions, one for the Palisades fire area and the other for Altadena. The authority would be financed with the property tax dollars from the affected areas, much like projects under the former Community Redevelopment Agency.
Establishing the authority would require action from the governor and state Legislature as well as cooperation from the city and county Commission Chair Matt Petersen said state Sen. Ben Allen is working with the commission to find ways to create the authority, if possible before the legislative session ends in August.
The Fire Control District, with the ability to levy taxes, would require even more time, since it would need approval from Los Angeles County voters.
Among the other recommendations are ways to help immediate recovery by expanding debris removal and soil testing; build resilience by updating building codes and supporting retrofits of surviving buildings; improve landscapes and wildlands by replanting burned areas and implementing fire-resilient urban and natural landscapes. Still other recommendations include upgrading water and wastewater infrastructure for safety and firefighting readiness and promoting all-electric construction and grid modernization.
In coming months, the commission will try to promote its recommendations, and UCLA will continue its actionable research to help ensure not only recovery from the latest fires but also the region’s long-term resilience in future natural disasters.
