Highlights:                                           

• BCR’s Proposed Culver City Polystyrene Ban Moves Forward!
• Culver City Poised to Take Other Key Ballona Steps
• BCR Honors Recently Retired Founding Board Members
• Wetlands Restoration Coalition Launches New Website
• Upcoming Watershed Events
• Other Ways To Learn and Help
• Pictured above: Girl Scouts address the Culver City Council on Dec. 12

BCR’S PROPOSED POLYSTYRENE BAN MOVES FORWARD
At a packed Culver City Council meeting on December 12th, several local Girl Scouts and student leaders from local schools were among the many young people who spoke persuasively in support of BCR’s proposed single-use polystyrene food container and cutlery ban!
And Culver City High’s BCR Club presented this short video.
Pictured left: Video excerpt with BCR Club’s David Dumas.
Many excellent speakers from the local and the environmental community then shared both personal experience and expertise in support of the ban. Representatives from the plastics and recycling industry, grocers association, and restaurants shared their concerns. For affected local businesses, the future ordinance will include a phase-in period, information on alternative products, and a hardship clause. To our knowledge, in all the 99 California cities and counties, the restaurants and stores have adapted and no one has gone out of business as a result of the ban. 
After extensive discussion, the city council directed staff to come back with a draft ordinance for a review and approval of first and second readings early next year!
Thanks to all for this very encouraging and important outcome!! For BCR, this includes our polystyrene ban subcommittee, led by Sandrine Cassidy, and our 20-member coalition, coordinated by Shea Cunningham.
BCR particularly appreciates the respect, careful listening, and good questions, comments, and support shown by Mayor Jim Clarke and the City Council members. Pictured: Excerpt from NBC4 video
For more details and quotes, here are just a few articles and posts in the media:
Culver City News, KPCC, NBC4, and LA Times.

CULVER CITY POISED TO TAKE OTHER KEY BALLONA STEPS
BCR looks forward to further discussion and implementation regarding these two important Culver City initiatives and more:

1. Mayor Jim Clarke’s Related Measures. Postponed from the December 12 city council meeting, these proposed items cover anti-litter enforcement, Ballona Creek litter removal; waste handling, recycling, and incentivizing; and the use of compostables. 
2. City Council Strategic Plan 2016-2021. Approved on November 24, this plan includes this welcome goal: “Enhance the restoration and utilization of Ballona Creek” as well as related objectives and steps.

BCR HONORS RECENTLY RETIRED FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS 
At its December 6th holiday celebration dinner, BCR honored and thanked Bobbi Gold and Gerald Sallus for their many years of excellent volunteer service. On behalf of the board and advisory council, President Emeritus Jim Lamm presented personalized framed certificates of appreciation to both Bobbi and Gerry.
Bobbi Gold – Founding Board Member, Secretary, Treasurer, Original Webmaster, Newsletter Editor, Advisory Council Member & More, 1994-2016. From our very earliest beginnings, Bobbi has been there to help lead, record our meetings, and more as we formed the La Ballona Creek Mural Committee, created the Postcards From Ballona Mural, evolved to La Ballona Creek Renaissance Program and non-profit status, creek cleanups, more murals, master plans, the Ballona Creek Watershed Task Force and its Watershed Management Plan and Ballona Creek Greenway Plan, educational activities, bike rides (She also served as Culver City’s Volunteer Bicycle Safety Coordinator!), PIE grant liaison, and more! Her original website and ever-improving and thorough newsletters really helped put us on the map and gain the respect of our peers in government and NGOs!
Gerry Sallus – Founding Board Member, “Legal Beagle”, Vice President, and Faithful Event Volunteer, 1998-2016.
Over the last 18 years, Gerry has been perhaps our most regular volunteer at BCR booths, mural events, and creek cleanups. He also helped with the plantings along Ocean Drive next to the pedestrian bridge, participated in project workshops, watershed meetings and symposia, BCR visioning and outreach, relations with West LA College, and more! As our unofficial “Legal Beagle’ (dubbed so by Lori Escalera), attorney Gerry also provided valuable opinions on contracts and legal questions and helped bring fellow attorney David Valdez to our board and advisory council!

WETLANDS RESTORATION COALITION LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
BCR is pleased to refer you to this new website:  http://wetlandsrestoration.org/.  Here are a few details from the Friends of Ballona Wetlands blog:
“In a unique collaborative effort, Friends of Ballona Wetlands, Heal the Bay, Surfrider Foundation, and Los Angeles Waterkeeper developed a comprehensive, scientific set of principles for wetland restoration projects in Southern California and beyond. Nine other organizations signed on in support of those guidelines. Since then, we have shared our principles with the California Coastal Commission, the California Fish and Game Commission, and elected officials, as well as to the public at our Meet the Wetlands event in July…
The website is a tool to advocate for the restoration of Southern California’s remaining wetlands. It describes the principles and cites examples of each principle in practice.” 
After the much-delayed 2017 release of the Ballona Wetlands restoration plans (draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report), BCR looks forward being part of a constructive dialog with all parties toward the best possible outcome. 

UPCOMING WATERSHED EVENTS
Watch in January for a new list of events. Meanwhile enjoy the holidays and a perhaps little time exploring Ballona Creek, the Ballona Wetlands, the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook State Recreation Area, the beach or outher outdoor areas. 

OTHER WAYS TO LEARN AND HELP
To learn more, check out our BCR video, website, and Facebook Page. After BCR’s summer-long news break, now watch for future monthly E-News updates on the above and these—volunteering, projects, wetlands restoration, local fossil fuel and plastic trash issues, Del Rey Pointe, Milton Green Street, education, biking, wallks, and more!
Pictured: A young osprey keeps watch over Ballona Creek. (from a photo by Blake Hottle)
If you’ve read this far, please join BCR through a membership donation to help us maintain and build on the positive momentum! To donate and to let us know how you might like to explore a small one-time or ongoing active BCR role, Click here!

Finally,  we sincerely thank you for your interest and participation! We look forward to hearing from you or seeing you at an upcoming event.  Join BCR in working together to connect creek and community for a Ballona Creek renaissance!  
BCR E-News Editor Jim Lamm