Pavley Appointed to Coastal Commission

Agoura Hills City Councilwoman Fran Pavley has been named to the California Coastal Commission by the Senate Rules Committee, the committee announced Monday.

“Pavley has extensive experience in local government and environmental planning issues,” said state Sen. President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward). “She will undoubtedly serve California well.”

The 46-year-old Pavley, an environmentalist, has been a City Council member for 12 years. She was recommended for the commission post by Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and the League of California Cities, Los Angeles County Division. Pavley is president-elect of the division.

The Rules Committee also named former Assemblyman Rusty Areias, a Democrat from Monterey County to the commission.

The 12-member commission is responsible for upholding the California Coastal Act of 1976, which sets strict guidelines for coastal development and access. The commission has come under fire in recent years from critics, who say the board has strayed from its mandate.

It was rocked by scandal two years ago when a former commissioner, Mark L. Nathanson was convicted of soliciting about $1 million in bribes from property owners and Hollywood figures who had matters pending before the commission.

“It’s going to be a challenging time to be on the Coastal Commission, as local governments are faced with increasing pressure to approve projects that in previous years would not even have been considered,” said Pavley, a Democrat, who has a master’s degree in environmental planning.

“I think Californians can sleep better tonight knowing that Fran Pavley is on that commission, protecting the coastal environment and the public access to our beaches,” Yaroslavsky said.

“I think Fran will help return the Coastal Commission to its original charge, which is to protect the coast.”

Pavley has been a controversial figure in Agoura Hills. She and the four other City Council members were targeted in a recall attempt that fizzled after the recall group failed to turn in the required number of signatures.