WHEREAS, Ralph Fertig, a longtime bicycle advocate in Santa Barbara of such consistency, durability, and selflessness that his presence achieved an almost geologic aspect, passed away on July 18, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Fertig, a lynch-pin of bicycle activism in the Santa Barbara area and statewide, raised the profile of bicycling in Santa Barbara and was responsible for bringing the 1998 ProBike conference to Santa Barbara; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Fertig also served as the Regional Director of the California Association of Bicycling Organization (CABO) for the Central Coast for many years; and

WHEREAS, Quiet, unassuming, and absolutely dogged, Ralph Fertig made it his mission for more than 20 years to attend every transportation planning meeting to bear witness to the need for more space on the roads for bicycles; and

WHEREAS, To an uncommon extent, Ralph Fertig understood the complicated anatomy of transportation funding; he knew where the money was hidden, what it had been set aside for, and far better than most, he understood the rules and regulations guiding the expenditure of those funds; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Fertig was respectful, positive, and persistent and was the first local bicycle advocate to consistently assess and provide public comment on the needs of the bicycling community; and

WHEREAS, Peter Douglas, the former Executive Director of the California Coastal Commission, passed away during the night on Sunday, April 1, 2012, at his sister’s home in La Quinta, California at 69 years of age after a long battle with cancer; and

WHEREAS, Peter Douglas was the commission’s longest-serving executive director, a position he held from 1985 to 2011, inclusive. Prior to working for the commission, he served in the Legislature as an aide to then-Assembly Member Alan Siertoy (D-Beverly Hills), and as a committee consultant. During that time he was responsible for the drafting and passage of Proposition 20 (the Coastal Initiative) in 1972, as well as the California Coastal Act of 1976 which created the California Coastal Commission; and

WHEREAS, Over the decades, Peter Douglas’ name has become synonymous with coastal protection. His accomplishments are too numerous to list, but he played a part in creating, acquiring, or preserving many coastal parks and state beaches, campgrounds, trails, and overnight hostels, including Crystal Cove, Garrapata, Tollowa Dunes, Steep Ravine and Sea West State Parks, San Onofre and Doheney Beach State Campgrounds, the Monterey Bay Recreational Trail, the Avila Lighthouse Trail, the Point Buchon Trail, and many others; and

WHEREAS, Peter Douglas also worked to protect California’s ocean waters from offshore oil development and other industrial practices. During his 34-year tenure at the commission, Peter Douglas earned the love, respect, and loyalty of his staff, and inspired environmental advocates and stewards statewide and beyond. He will be forever remembered for his kind heart and unpredictable sense of humor; and

WHEREAS, Peter Douglas was the first recipient of the national Julius A. Stratton “Champion of the Coast” award for leadership in coastal management at Coastal Zone ‘95, an international, biennial symposium on coastal zone management. He provided technical assistance on coastal management issues to other countries and served on the China-United States panel on integrated coastal management and was a member of the first National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Science Advisory Board and served on the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Science and Policy for the Coastal Ocean; and

WHEREAS, In 2008, the Department of Transportation approached the California Coastal Commission with a plan to improve State Highway Route 101 in the Counties of Ventura and Santa Barbara. This ambitious proposal involved adding a carpool lane, bicycle lane, and a pedestrian undercrossing, and other safety and access improvements. Peter Douglas suggested changes to the project that involved a major redesign and, when all was said and done, the department proceeded with his suggestions; now, therefore, be it