Robert E. Fisher has a Master of Social Welfare Degree from UCLA, 1971, and is a former City of Los Angeles Legislative Analyst, and City, and sole local government rep to the California Coastal Commission 1974-79.
California is only State in the Union and the world to date to enact comprehensive coastal environmental advocacy protection legislation in 1976, which was based on the "Coastal Plan" that was submitted to the California Legislature as instructed by THE PEOPLE in PROPOSITION 20 of 1972.
The publisher, as the City's POINT MAN, attended all of the Coastal Commission's Adminstrative Rules , Regulations, and Guidelines meetings with minutes consisting of over 2,000 pages.
The publisher developed a working relationship with MEL LANE, the former CHAIRMAN OF THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION.
Also, the publisher was the only local government representative to attend all of the Coastal Commission meetings in port cities up and down the State, and he submitted comments and amendatory language, authored by the thirty five Los Angeles City Departments, Inter-Departmental Task Force, over a two year period.
FORMER MAYOR TOM BRADLEY'S City Departments' amendatory language played a major role in the ADOPTION of the State's regulatations and guidelines .
***For example, Donald C. Tillman's, the former City Engineer, wastewater amendatory language was ADOPTED in whole by the Coastal Commission, because the City Engineer is THE EXPERT in the field of waste water management.
The Airport Department, the City
Planning Department, the Building & Safety Department, the City Attorney's Office, the City Administrative Officer's office, the Department of Water Power, the Traffic Department, the Recreation and Parks Department, and the Port of Los Angeles via the California Port Association, (CAPA) consisting of the four Southern California ports of Hueneme, HOME OF THE U. S. NAVAL SEABEES, Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego, THE HOME OF THE U. S. NAVAL 6TH FLEET played significant roles in the ADOPTION of regulations in their respective fields.
One can say that the Los Angeles City Departments IN MANY RESPECTS WROTE the California Coastal Commission's regulations, and guidelines.
***It was the publisher that authored the City of Los Angeles, as the "COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT ISSUING AUTHORITY," as provided for in the California Coastal Act of 1976, WITHIN THE CITY BOUNDARIES, AS ADOPTED BY THE LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL because the ADOPTION OF A Local Coastal Plan Element would have been too expensive for a city the size of Los Angeles.
***Also, in 1977 the publisher was able to HAVE the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) receive a CATEGORY EXCLUSION by the California Coastal Commission of the NORTH RUNWAY from the COASTAL ZONE. This enabled LAX to have CONTINUED ACCESS TO THE NORTH RUNWAY FOR INCOMING AIRLINE FLIGHTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
***Additionally, the publisher along with Frank Eberhardt, City Planning Dept, and Jerry Montgomery, City Attorney's Office was able ON AUGUST 16, 1977, IN A MEETING OF THE OLD SOUTH COAST REGIONAL COASTAL COMMISSION IN THE TORRANCE CITY HALL, to get the LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX CONTINUED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, because the OLD SOUTH COAST REGIONAL COASTAL COMMISSION STAFF MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO HAVE THE CITY OF LONG BEACH PLACED UNDER SEVERE, WHAT AMOUNTED TO ILLEGAL, RESTRICTIVE ZONING ORDINANCES.
***Further, it was the publisher, in a meeting with Councilwoman PAT RUSSELL, MEL LANE, AND JOE BODOVITCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION, AND THE CITY TASK FORCE that was able to have the PARKING SPACES WIDENED, ALONG THE WATERFRONT, FROM THE INITIAL REGIONAL COASTAL COMMISSION STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.
***The publisher IN 1977, AS RECOMMENDED BY JIM WILLIAMS, LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE, in a meeting with former COUNCILWOMAN PAT RUSSELL, JOE PETRILLO OF THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL CONSERVANCY, AND THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES INTER- DEPARTMENTAL TASK FORCE ENABLED JOE PETRILLO TO PUT TOGETHER A FUNDING PACKGAGE TO REHABILITATE THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES OVER THE CANALS IN THE VENICE DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES CITY.
It was former COUNCILMEN LOUIS R. NOWELL, ARTHUR K. SNYDER, ERNANI BERNARDI, JOHN S. GIBSON,JR., AND ROBERT M. WILKINSON THAT PROVIDED THE LEADERSHIP AND THE STRATEGY THAT GUIDED THE PUBLISHER.
Also, it was KEN SPIKER, FORMER CHIEF LEGISLATIVE ANALYST, WAYNE KELLY, ASSISTANT CHIEF LEGISLATIVE ANALYST, JOHN BLACKHURT, SUPERVISING LEGISLATIVE ANALYST, AND CHARLES (CHUCK) GIBSON, SUPERVISING LEGISLATIVE ANALYST,
JIM WILLIAMS, A UCLA ALUMNUS, AND MICHAEL KARSCH , A CAL BERKLEY ALUMNUS, FRANK EBERHARDT, CITY PLANNING, AND LLOYD PAULSEN, CITY ENGINEERING THAT PROVIDED FRIENDSHIP AND MORAL SUPPORT AND HELPED TO TRAIN THE PUBLISHER.
It was the publisher that had the 105 page California Coastal Act of 1976 duplicated and passed out to 82 California independent city reps from up and down the State, who attended a meeting on a RAIN DRENCHED DAY sponsored by former Councilman Arthur K. Snyder in 1977.
Also, the publisher prepared written reports of the bi-monthly Coastal Commison meetings, and copied the Coastal Commision's OFFICIAL AGENDA for the NEXT MEETING, and dissememinated the reports and agendas to former Mayor Bradley, and the 15 member Los Angeles City Council.
Additionally, the publisher duplicated the 35 member Inter-departmental task comments and amendatory language and supplied them to entities, such as, Pacific Gas and Lighting, Southern California Gas Company, Southern California Edison, and the Greater Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce upon their requests.
Therefore, the publisher, became an EXPERT in the environmental advocacy field regarding coastal issues. This has enabled the publisher to comment on worldwide coastal and environmental advocacy issues highlighted in this website.
