Public matters: Bob Scott was just honored with the Fernando Award for Public Service, but his devotion to the San Fernando Valley and its denizens dates back decades.For more than three decades Bob Scott
He now has a coveted cov·et v. cov·et·ed, cov·et·ing, cov·ets v.tr. 1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy. 2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire. honor to show for it. Scott, director of the CivicCenter Group, which provides consulting and planning services primarily to nonprofit organizations Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. , was selected to receive the 2004 Fernando Award for public service November 7, after six previous nominations. Scott is the founding chairman and current vice chairman of the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , past president and six-year member of the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. City Planning city planning, process of planning for the improvement of urban centers in order to provide healthy and safe living conditions, efficient transport and communication, adequate public facilities, and aesthetic surroundings. Commission and past president of the United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley. He supported secession, despite his mayoral appointment on the planning commission Noun 1. planning commission - a commission delegated to propose plans for future activities and developments commission, committee - a special group delegated to consider some matter; "a committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours" - Milton Berle , but also played a key role in crafting a plan for neighborhood councils Neighborhood councils are governmental or non-governmental bodies composed of local people who handle neighborhood problems. They can be found in many cities throughout the world. . As part of the Alliance's Vision 20/20 plan for sustainable communities, Scott managed to convene a team of volunteer architects, developers and other experts in 2002 to craft an ambitious and detailed plan to virtually revamp re·vamp tr.v. re·vamped, re·vamp·ing, re·vamps 1. To patch up or restore; renovate. 2. To revise or reconstruct (a manuscript, for example). 3. To vamp (a shoe) anew. n. most of downtown Panorama City--a plan that has received positive support from the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. Scott was also a leading proponent of creating a separate U.S. Census reporting district for the Valley, which was recently approved by the city council and is now set to take effect for the next census in 2010. Finally, Scott is a staunch advocate of a regional approach to traffic mitigation ant housing issues that includes the Valley's bordering cities and says its time for planners and city officials to stop caving to community groups" concerns about short-term headaches and make "courageous decisions" for long-term reforms. Question: How did it feel to win the Fernando Award after so many years as a nominee? Answer: It was great. We've got a lot of very talented individuals in the Valley and many or most of the previous winners I know or knew and I'm very proud to be among them. Q: What do you suppose has driven you to offer up so much of your time to civic issues? Is it a family tradition? A: No, it's not a family tradition at all. I just see so much that needs to be done and I have a tendency to feel obliged o·blige v. o·bliged, o·blig·ing, o·blig·es v.tr. 1. To constrain by physical, legal, social, or moral means. 2. to do what I can. The biggest problem I have is I can't say 'no,' which means my to-do list is very, very long. Q: You sat on the planning commission for several years and you've voiced your criticisms of that panel's effectiveness along the way. Has that changed. A: No. I don't think any real progress has been made in 10 years. I don't think all of the numbers add up at the bottom. They don't have a clue about including neighboring neigh·bor n. 1. One who lives near or next to another. 2. A person, place, or thing adjacent to or located near another. 3. A fellow human. 4. Used as a form of familiar address. v. cities in the process, yet if you take a look at the Valley's traffic congestion The condition of a network when there is not enough bandwidth to support the current traffic load. congestion - When the offered load of a data communication path exceeds the capacity. you see that it is clearly being impacted by traffic coming in and out of those communities. They say they now want housing, but they don't really say how that's going to work. How can you address housing if you can't address transit issues? You can't increase the housing density without building up transit capacity on the 101. And I think some of the leaders who are pushing for more housing are the same people who oppose widening the 101. So they are just paying lip service lip service n. Verbal expression of agreement or allegiance, unsupported by real conviction or action; hypocritical respect: to the issues. Q: What is your opinion of the city's Community Redevelopment Agency since its new director, Robert "Bud" Ovrom took over? A: I'm very encouraged by Ovrom. He's been very active and willing to get out into the community. But there are unanswered questions about how the CRA See Community Reinvestment Act. really functions and if it can change. For too long it has tiptoed around the issues and let others dictate its decisions on development. That has to change and there are some signs, with the North Hollywood project, for example, now finally moving forward, that it's happening. But look how long it took to get that project off the ground. Q: You were involved in the formation of a blueprint for neighborhood councils. What's your view of the system now that it is materializing? A: They are a terrible disappointment. They are nothing like what we designed, I think some people are involved because they don't want the train to leave the station without them. But let's put it this way, I don't think they are going to be given anything we don't already have. I think there needs to be an amendment to charter reform to, at the very least, try to give the councils more power because under this system you have all of the negatives of a government body, but none of the real positives. Q: Has the permitting process improved any in your view since the opening of the Valley service area center and connected offices? A: I think in some cases, there is some improvement. But by creating these neighborhood service areas they are really just giving up a manager from downtown. That's not wrong, but it's not the same thing as creating a borough. Real boroughs that are armed with real funding and real decision making powers could do much more locally. Q: So you support the idea of a borough system? A: Yes. I think they are the only real way to create cities within cities, and let's face it, that's what we need here. Q: The Valley is now likely to soon benefit from having a separate census data district, which the Alliance and others pushed for. How will this help the area? A: The Valley will benefit because it will be viewed as a 'place' and we can be sliced and diced, measured and modified to know more about who we are and where we are going, which will impact how we function on all levels. The Valley is, if nothing else, a service area. So it only makes sense that the city, county and state governments should treat us that way as well. Q: The Alliance was formed 10 years ago to address economic rebuilding efforts after the Northridge earthquake The Northridge earthquake occurred on January 17, 1994 at 4:31 AM Pacific Standard Time in the city of Los Angeles, California. The earthquake had a "strong" moment magnitude of 6. . What is the Alliance's focus 10 years out? A: It's true. I think we've gone in two shifts. First, I think we were focused on post-earthquake, post aerospace and into repairing mode. And there were some unsuccessful efforts to bring that in line for a while. But we didn't have a meaningful economic (base) when we started out. Now we are at the ongoing operational stage and we know who we are and where we are going. Our focus centers on three strategic implementation plans or what we call SIPS: transportation infrastructure, land use and town centers, and education workforce development. Q: You supported Valley secession. Is it a dead issue now? If not, what would it take next time around to pass? A: No, it's not dead. What it's going to take next time is a change in the state laws to allow the Valley to vote autonomously on the issue. Snapshot Bob Scott Title: Director, CivicCenter Group Born: 1946, Van Nuys Education: La Salle La Salle, city (1990 pop. 9,717), La Salle co., N Ill., on the Illinois River; settled 1830, inc. 1852. It forms a tricity unit with Peru and Oglesby. Corn, wheat, and soybeans are grown, and cattle and hogs are raised. University, Chicago, LLB LLB abbr. Latin Legum Baccalaureus (Bachelor of Laws) LLB Bachelor of Laws [Latin Legum Baccalaureus] Noun 1. , 1980 Career Turning Point: "When I started working professionally in public policy and urban planning urban planning: see city planning. urban planning Programs pursued as a means of improving the urban environment and achieving certain social and economic objectives. ." Most Admired Person: Benjamin Franklin Personal: Single, one daughter, Olivia, 15 |
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