What is a ‘Joint Power Authority’

The South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) is a joint powers authority of 16 cities and the County of Los Angeles that share the goal of maximizing the quality of life and productivity of our area.  They can also function on behalf of the cities they represent, without telling said city what they are doing.  Joint Powers Authority is an entity permitted under the laws of some states of the USA, whereby two or more public authorities (e.g. local governments, or utility or transport districts), not necessarily located in the same state, may jointly exercise any power common to all of them.

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SBCCOG cities pay annual dues, in order for the agency to take on environmental issues, on behalf of the cities they represent.   This organization is also controversial because some cities don’t seem to find the value in having the SBCCOG performing functions the city’s can do for themselves.

Most notably, Rolling Hills Estates threatened to withdraw from the entity back in 2013 but appears to have renewed.  Fierce battles in the City’s of Carson and Hermosa Beach over oil drilling have residents wondering why hasn’t SBCCOG aka South Bay Environmental Services Center, isn’t coming to their rescue?  It is taxpayers who are paying for SBCCOG to exist in the first place.

This is also the same group, tired of being short-changed by Metro, voted out SBCCOG executive director’s favorite Pam O’Connor in favor of Inglewood Mayor James Butts.

Insiders share with this author that the entity almost lost funding with the L.A. County Sanitation Districts and has soured their relationship with Metro over the Express Lanes maintenance fee.  Proceeds from the maintenance fee were due to be reinvested into roads surrounding the I-110 but the South Bay Service council supported the dismissal of the fee and subsequent related money.

Related agenda:  SOUTH BAY CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2013

How ironic a city who brands themselves as energy champions, also takes money from those harming the city’s they collect money from.  Ah, capitalism.

SBCCOG members are Carson, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Torrance, and the Harbor City/San Pedro communities of the City of Los Angeles, along with the County of Los Angeles District 2 and 4.