The Press Democrat – Wednesday, January 31, 1990

Time running out for local government

Peter Golis, Editorial Director

A year ago, common sense argued against creation of a North Bay transit agency.

At the time, Sonoma and Marin counties were in the midst of negotiations that offered hope for agreement on countywide plans and on a regional plan. And it was logical to give them time to finish the job.

Unfortunately, hope gave way to parochialism, dissension and stalemate. While negotiations continue, little progress has been made on county plans, much less on a regional plan.

“They’re pathetic,” says Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Quentin Kopp about the inability of city and county leaders to agree on transportation solutions. Kopp has on hold legislation to create a nine-member North Bay transit authority to control transportation expenditures in Marin and Sonoma counties.

Statewide, a growing number of observers are coming to the same conclusion about local government: When it comes to regional issues — transportation, wastewater, air pollution, housing — selfish local interests overwhelm efforts to achieve what’s best for the largest number of people.

There is no better example than Los Angeles. There, key state lawmakers this week proposed creation of a six-county transportation agency to begin to make sense of the crazy-quilt of life In the Southern California megalopolis.

But even with the manifest problems of Los Angeles, legislators predict the measure will face intense opposition from local government. “The problem’s going to be getting a lot of small government structures to give up some of their turf for the greater good,” said Los Angeles Democrat Richard Katz, chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee.

In the North Bay, the same turf wars stand in the way of solutions. Which is why criticism from Kopp should be read as a message that says: Time Is running out on local agencies. If they can’t do the job, the state Legislature will create an agency that can.

By coincidence, what could become a summit meeting on North Bay transportation convenes at 9 a.m. Friday at the Petaluma Community Center.

Key political leaders, business people, environmentalists and urban planners are among those scheduled to participate In the day-long Land Use and Traffic Reduction Conference sponsored by the North Bay Transportation Management Association. (Admission is $25; registration begins at 8:45 a.m.)

Of course, whether the conference becomes a summit meeting depends on the willingness of city and county officials from Marin and Sonoma to confront difficult issues: measures to promote transit and discourage single-occupant cars, support for housing developments near job sites, accepting the cost of transportation improvements.

The conference offers Sen. Kopp and the Legislature one more opportunity to judge whether Marin and Sonoma County officials are serious about overcoming local politics and solving regional problems.