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Team Members

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THE LOS ANGELES RIVER REVITALIZATION MASTER PLAN TEAM

TEAM MEMBERS SUMMARY OF ROLE KEY CONTACT
City of Los Angeles Dept. of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering
  • Lead City Agency
  • Project Management
Gary Lee Moore
Deborah Weintraub
Carol Armstrong
City of Los Angeles Dept. of Water & Power
  • Project Funding and Oversight
Lillian Y. Kawasaki
John X. Chen
Los Angeles City Council Ad Hoc Committee on the Los Angeles River
  • Council Oversight
Lupe Vela
Tetra Tech Consultant Team
Tetra Tech, Inc.
  • Team Leader/Project Manager
  • Environmental Analysis
  • Engineering (LA River Hydraulics & Operation)
  • Watershed & Water Quality Modeling
  • Agency Liaison
Ira Mark Artz
Civitas, Inc.
  • Urban Design (Community Planning)
Mark Johnson
Wenk Associates
  • Urban Design (River Corridor Planning)
Bill Wenk
Mia Lehrer + Associates
  • Landscape, Recreation, and Open-Space Design
Mia Lehrer
HNTB Architecture, Inc.
  • Urban Design
Tony Gonzales
The Robert Group
  • Community Outreach
  • Master Planning support
  • EIR & EIS support
Chris Robert
GCG Rose & Kindel
  • Community Outreach
  • Governance support
  • Master Planning support
Adán Ortega
Transportation & Land Use Collaborative of Southern California (TLUC)
  • Community Outreach
  • Master Planning support
  • EIR & EIS support
Will Cipes
Urban Partners
  • Governance
  • Implementation
Dan Rosenfeld
Asset Strategies
  • Governance
  • Implementation
Judith Frank
Urban Semillas
  • Community Outreach
Miguel Luna
David Marquez
  • Community Outreach
David Marquez

BACKGROUND
Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Planning effort is a collaborative planning effort. The City’s Project Manager-the Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Engineering, will work closely with Tetra Tech, Inc., which in July 2005 was selected as the prime consultant. Disciplines represented on the Tetra Tech project team include urban design and planning, landscape architecture, master planning, governance alternatives, economic development, economic modeling, environmental analysis and community outreach.

LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL AD HOC COMMITTEE ON THE LOS ANGELES RIVER
In 2002, Councilmember Ed Reyes led efforts to establish the Los Angeles City Council Ad Hoc Committee on the Los Angeles River to function as a clearinghouse for River projects, to encourage community involvement in River improvements, and to help coordinate River-related projects within the City. Also serving on the Ad Hoc River Committee are Councilmembers Eric Garcetti, Wendy Greuel, Tom LaBonge and Jan Perry. One of the most exciting initiatives shepherded by the dedication of the Committee and its staff is the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan. Another timely and progressive ongoing effort in conjunction with the private sector is the Plastic Bag Industry Initiative, representing an effort to reduce trash in Los Angeles and in the River. The Committee also initiated voter-approved Proposition O, which is intended to address water quality within the City.

CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, BUREAU OF ENGINEERING
The Department of Public Works, the City's third largest Department, is responsible for construction, renovation, and the operation of City facilities and infrastructure. The Department builds the City’s streets, installs sewers, and constructs storm drains, as well as public buildings and service facilities.

The Bureau of Engineering, one of five Bureau’s within the Department, prepares preliminary and final designs of major public improvement projects. It is responsible for capital improvement projects for the City, including storm drainage, sewers, streets, and other civic infrastructure. The Bureau of Engineering also provides planning and design services, issues engineering permits, prepares construction cost estimates, and provides construction contract management. In addition to oversight of the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan, the Bureau of Engineering is responsible for many exciting and diverse projects citywide such as:

  • City Hall Seismic Renovation
  • Bridge Improvement Program
  • Van Nuys City Hall Renovation
  • City Park Design including Taylor Yard and Proposition “K” Projects
  • Design for Proposition “O” Clean Water and Beaches bond measure
  • Sustainable Design Implementation Program
  • 35 new public library branches
  • Police and Fire Facilities
  • Pico Garnier Block Improvement at El Pueblo

CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF WATER & POWER
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the largest municipal utility in the nation, was established more than 100 years ago to deliver reliable, safe water and electricity to almost 4 million residents and businesses in Los Angeles. The LADWP has always believed it is its duty to invest in the future of Los Angeles. In 2001, it formally established the Economic Development Group (EDG) which has implemented an array of programs with the underlying goals to retain, grow, and establish businesses in the City of Los Angeles. The LA River Revitalization Masater Plan is just one program funded with the assistance of LADWP.

TETRA TECH, INC.
Tetra Tech, headquartered in Pasadena, is the prime contractor for the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan. The firm is a leading provider of consulting, engineering, planning and technical services in the area of water resource management, infrastructure and communications. Tetra Tech’s representative projects include:

  • San Antonio Riverwalk Extension – San Antonio, TX
  • San Antonio River Improvements Master Planning & Economic Development Project – San Antonio, TX
  • Salton Sea Restoration Project EIS/EIR – Salton Sea, CA
  • Rio Saladao Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study – Phoenix, AZ
  • Memphis Riverfront Master Plan – Memphis, TN
  • Charles River Basin Master Plan – Boston, MA
  • Brush Creek Cultural Corridor – Kansas City, MO

CIVITAS, INC.
Civitas, Inc. is an urban design and landscape architecture firm that believes the improvement of communities depends on understanding local people, places and economic forces. Since its inception in 1984, Civitas has programmed, planned, designed and implemented a range of project types from riverfront development plans to urban parks, neighborhood/downtown master plans, transit-oriented design, urban campuses, and infill redevelopment projects. Representative projects include:

  • Central Platte Valley Riverfront (including Cuenavaca Park, Commons Park and Centennial Gardens) – Denver, CO
  • River Park and Balboa Park Redevelopment Plan – San Diego, CA
  • Memphis Riverfront Redevelopment Plan – Memphis, TN
  • Stapleton International Airport Redevelopment – Denver, CO
  • Atlantic Avenue Master Plan – Brooklyn, NY
  • St. Louis Centennial Greenway – St. Louis, MO

WENK ASSOCIATES, INC.
Wenk Associates brings a 23-year history related to urban waterways development and the restoration of multifunctional natural corridors, providing both community and habitat amenities. The firm’s projects represent a return to waterway multi-functionality – stabilizing stream channels and addressing flood control; improving water quality and safeguarding affected habitats, while providing artful, attractive space; allowing access to the river’s edge; and, enhancing continued economic development. Relevant projects include:

  • Greening of the Platte River – Denver, CO
  • Taylor Railyards/Los Angeles River Design Charrette – Los Angeles, CA
  • Menomonee River Valley Redevelopment and Stormwater Management – Milwaukee, WI
  • Heritage Park Neighborhood Redevelopment and Stream Restoration – Minneapolis, MN
  • Blue River Walkway and Stream Restoration – Breckenridge, CO
  • Downtown Creekfront – Denver, CO

MIA LEHRER + ASSOCIATES
Mia Lehrer + Associates (MLA) provides open space design and planning services, with a strong commitment to sustainability and the community design process. ML+A has created award-winning master plans for waterfronts, parks and open space throughout the region. Successful projects include:

  • Baldwin Hills Park Master Plan – Los Angeles, CA
  • Ballona Promenade Park – Playa Vista, CA
  • San Pedro Bridge to Breakwater Master Plan – Los Angeles, CA
  • Peck Park Canyon Master Plan – Los Angeles, CA

HNTB Architecture, Inc.
HNTB is a national architecture, engineering and planning firm with a 90-year history of shaping cities, and taking on the high profile projects that affect public life. HNTB has been practicing in the Los Angeles area for over 30 years, focusing on transportation, aviation, bridges, sports venues and urban design including waterfront redevelopment and downtown revitalization. Relevant projects completed nationwide include:

  • Comprehensive Master Planning – McKinney, TX
  • South Boston Waterfront Development – Boston, MA
  • Sixth Street Viaduct & Urban Redevelopment Program – Milwaukee, WI

THE ROBERT GROUP
The Robert Group (TRG) is a community outreach, public education and strategic communications firm based in the Glendale Narrows along the LA River. TRG has coordinated public engagement efforts on many Master Planning efforts and Environmental processes as well as on large infrastructure projects. Representative clients include:

  • Exposition Light Rail Transit project – Los Angeles, CA
  • San Pedro Bridge to Breakwater Master Plan – Los Angeles, CA
  • San Bernardino Downtown Revitalization Plan – San Bernardino, CA

ADAN ORTEGA, JR. / GCG ROSE & KINDEL
Adán Ortega brings highly qualified strategic management capabilities complimented by over 20 years of executive communications, local government and commercial operations experience. Relevant prior responsibilities have included:

  • Vice President for External Affairs, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
  • Chief Deputy Secretary of State, State of California
  • Assistant General Manager and Director of Public Affairs, West Basin Municipal Water District and Central Basin Municipal Water District, Carson, CA

TRANSPORTATION & LAND USE COLLABORATIVE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (TLUC)

TLUC brings outstanding facilitation capabilities to augment its community outreach, public education and planning related efforts. Incorporated as a 501c(3) non-profit corporation in 2003, TLUC provides multi-disciplinary services to both public and private sector clients. Relevant projects include:

  • City of South Gate General Plan Revision Public Participation – South Gate, CA
  • Azusa Civic Center Station Area plan Public Participation – Azusa, CA
  • Latino New Urbanism Public Conference and Symposia – CA

URBAN PARTNERS LLC
Urban Partners provides specialized expertise in urban entitlement processes, adaptive reuse of historic buildings, complex financial structures and alternative construction methods. The firm currently focuses on projects in core urban and high population growth areas, as well as major land developments requiring complex planning and entitlement strategies. Representative successful redevelopment projects are:

  • RiverPark Master Plan – Oxnard, CA
  • Caltrans District 7 Headquarters – Los Angeles, CA
  • Del Mar Station – Pasadena, CA

ASSET STRATEGIES
This firm specializes in strategic project management and transactional real estate issues for governmental and institutional clients. A major element of Asset Strategies’ work includes design management, feasibility analysis, project structuring, public/private economics, budgeting and financial controls. Representative clients include:

  • Los Angeles County Museum of Art – Los Angeles, CA
  • Los Angeles Unified School District – Los Angeles CA

URBAN SEMILLAS
This firm specializes in community reconnaissance and outreach, watershed-based and community-specific presentations, constituency building & stakeholder education, and event planning.  Miguel Luna, the firm’s owner, has previous working experience at these organizations:

  • The River Project / Tujunga Watershed Project
  • Heal the Bay

DAVID MARQUEZ
david Marquez has strong skills in public affairs, strategic communications, event planning, community and economic development, transportation and land use policy, and local and state government.  Previous responsibilities include:

  • Executive Director, Central City Neighborhood Partners
  • Chief Deputy Legislation and Policy for Councilmember Mike Hernandez (1st District), City of Los Angeles
  US Army Corps of Engineers   LA City LA Public Works Bureau of Engineering Los Angeles Department of Water and Power