Request to Address Wildfire Coastal Debris Catastrophe
Passage deadline: June 2025
Passed by
- Bel Air-Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council
- Pacific Palisades Community Council (modified version)
- Venice Neighborhood Council (modified version)
- West LA-Sawtelle Neighborhood Council
Motion
“Whereas the recent devastating wildfires have left the LA streets and landscape covered with a multitude of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, hazardous materials, ash and fire debris;
“Whereas the recent heavy rainstorms have washed an enormous amount of this toxic material down to our coastline;
“Whereas the EPA and FEMA, against strong public opposition, have chosen to use the beach lots along our coast as sorting sites;
“Whereas our beaches are now covered with hazardous fire debris and black sludge;
“Whereas no significant water/beach testing information has been released to the public;
“____NC/CC, a member of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils, strongly urges that this environmental catastrophe be taken seriously, with an immediate plan to fund, test, share information, and protect our coastal environment and the millions of people who enjoy it, by City of Los Angeles, City of Santa Monica and Los Angeles County authorities with respective operational control of our beaches in the region, including Dockweiler State Beach, Venice Beach, Santa Monica Beach, Will Rogers State Beach and Topanga Beach.
“____ NC/CC further urges that one or more of our Councilmembers who represent WRAC member councils (Hutt, Park, Raman and/or Yaroslavsky) bring a resolution in Council immediately 1) to address this catastrophe on all beaches over which the City has operational control, and 2) to request that the City of Santa Monica and Los Angeles County, respectively, take further, immediate action to address the catastrophe on all beaches over which they have operational control in the region.”