The Antelope Valley Times

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Banks named Air Pollution Control Officer

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Bret Banks [contributed]
Bret Banks [contributed]
LANCASTER – The governing board of the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District has appointed Bret Banks Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) of the local regulatory air agency.

Banks — who will also serve as the AVAQMD’s executive director — will report directly to the governing board beginning Jan. 1, 2016.

Banks will be responsible for enforcing the district’s rules and regulations, enforcing the California Health and Safety Code, managing the district’s portion of state grant programs and running the district’s day-to-day operations.

His appointment was approved under the terms of an agreement with the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District to provide administrative and operations services to the AVAQMD.

The AVAQMD has contracted for services with the Victorville-based air district since its 1997 inception. Prior to the latest agreement – which was approved during Tuesday’s monthly board meeting and extends through June 30, 2021 – the MDAQMD’s air pollution control officer, Eldon Heaston, doubled as chief of the AVAQMD.

“Bret’s appointment as APCO insures optimum local control of the Antelope Valley’s air quality issues. His extensive experience interfacing with regulated industry and his passion for the local community will serve him well at the district’s helm,” Heaston stated.

Banks, who currently serves as the Deputy Director of Antelope Valley Operations, began his career with the AVAQMD in 2000 as Operations Manager. Prior to that, Banks worked as an environmental control specialist and supervisor for Lockheed Martin Skunkworks in Palmdale for more than 10 years. Banks was also previously employed as a technical specialist by Dionex Corporation and as an analytical chemist by Hewlett Packard Corporation.

Banks holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Microbiology from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and has completed coursework in Environmental Sciences from California State University, Northridge. He has lived in the Antelope Valley for more than 30 years with his wife Suzanne.

Prior to joining the AVAQMD, Banks chaired the Antelope Valley Board of Trade’s Air Quality Task Force, which was formed in 1991 to explore the feasibility of separating the Antelope Valley from the highly regulated South Coast AQMD. Banks also served on the AVAQMD’s Hearing Board, which makes determinations on permit appeals and variance petitions from local businesses, between 1997 and 1999.

[Information via news release from the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District.]

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24 comments for "Banks named Air Pollution Control Officer"

  1. Funny how with as much control rex has over every aspect of Lancaster’s government, the city keeps falling further behind.

    • So true. The more he does, the worse it gets. If they did a movie on Rex’s reign in Lancaster what would the title be?

      The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight?
      One Flew Over a Cuckoo’s Nest?
      Forrest Dump?
      Land of the Lost?
      The Land That Time (and Common Sense) Forgot?
      Misery?

      • Wow! You took all the good ones.

        Considering our local weather, how ’bout “Gone With The Wind” which could also apply to the hot air rex emits from his pie hole?

        “Psycho” The blvd is as vacant as the Bate’s Motel and the heads of the city council.

        “Titanic” sunk like a rock.

        “Gozilla” Picture rex stomping on Lancaster and blowing flames.

      • Electing him makes no difference he’s just a sucker puppet
        Can he stop the chemtrails????!wake up people

  2. Never fear. Our local paper will no doubt do some investigative journalism and connect the dots to expose this obvious conflict of interest.

    • I give this website a little credit in that regard, but as far as real papers go the Valley Press would never jeopardize their cut of the massive R Rex Parris advertising revenue stream by printing anything remotely critical of him or his administration. The guy could literally murder one of their reporters right in the newsroom and their editors would not bat an eye.

      • Kudos to the Antelope Valley Times for running stories and allowing people to post the sort of items that Rex would never allow published in his controlled media. One would hope that media outside of the area that is not beholden to Rex would come here and get the real scoop of what is happening in Shenanigancaster.

    • Everyone is afraid to expose King Rex. He’s probably involved with getting another Lancaster commissioner and minion Brett Banks getting appointed. He’s been trying to get rid of Banks’ predecessor Elton Heaston for a while because he approved the Palmdale power plant. That minion attorney of his also works for AVTA, AVAQMD and Ron Smith (Rosamond Community services Board). I’m telling you Rex’s minions are taking over this valley!

  3. Lancaster hired Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, the law firm she is a partner of. She has been Lancaster’s City Attorney since McKewen left. Watch any Lancaster City Council Meeting and you will see her there. Attend any AVTA and now AVAQMD meeting and she will be there.

    Here is an article where she is quoted as the Lancaster City Attorney.
    https://www.theavtimes.com/2014/08/27/lancaster-mulls-closing-metrolink-station-to-stop-outside-poaching-of-homeless-services/

    If what you say is true that she should not be in private practice and a City Attorney, then something is amiss here.

    • I’m not saying there’s an applicable law, but city attorney is a full time job. A big part of the job is SELECTING and SUPERVISING law firms that represent the city in various circumstances. Other than out and out corruption or just total lack of concern I can’t begin to think how a city would hire a city attorney who is also in private practice…and there is certainly no way that the city should then retain the law firm she works for.

      How does the city attorney select the best firm for a given circumstance if HER OWN FIRM is a candidate?

      How does the city attorney properly control a retained law firm if SHE ALSO WORKS FOR THEM?

      Only in Lancaster. Seriously.

  4. Another one of Rex’s puppet ‘chosen’. He is one of lancaster’s commission chair ‘chosen’ specifically by Rex and Marv to oppose Palmdale power plant. And another case of conflict of interest with Rex’s attorney Allison Burns appointed to AVAQMD. Wasn’t she advising Marv and Lancaster in their efforts to oppose the power plant?I guess Power Plant folks should get their attorneys ready. Sue the heck out of them for conflict of interest.

    • Yes, Minions Invasion. The Power Plant folks should sue the hell of them. It would cost them millions because they would lose. It would be fun to watch Rex’s head explode.

  6. I went to the AVAQMD website to read the press release and looked at the agenda for the meeting. It appears that they also voted to Approve a Professional Services agreement with Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth (SYCR) for services as Special Counsel to the Governing Board.

    Has anyone ever heard of that law firm before? A quick Google search revealed that it is the same law firm used by the city of Lancaster and its legal consul Allison Burns. It’s also the same law firm used by AVTA and its legal consul Allison Burns.

    Hmmmmm. Let’s see, what do we have here. One law firm now representing three entities, two of which are joint powers authorities with the city of Lancaster, the city of Palmdale and the county of Los Angeles.

    Couldn’t they have hired a different legal counsel? What is really going on?

    Think there’s a conflict of interest here. Anyone? Anyone? Buehler? Anyone? Anyone?

    • FWIW, that law firm specializes in defending public entities against litigation, and has a very strong reputation in that specialty. There aren’t a lot of choices out there for that, and they are good at the job.

      • FWIW is not controlled by R. Rex Parris and the Lancaster Political Machine. They have absolutely no chance of being legal counsel. This was an appointment by design to give Rex more control. Things are going to be very interesting.

        • Oh, I have no doubt that Bret Banks might be in Rex’s pocket. That law firm, on the other hand, could buy or sell Rex. They likely are not dancing to his tune.

          • Not only will Rex control Bret Banks, he will also control Allison Burns who is Lancaster’s city lawyer. She’s also the lawyer for AVTA and Rosamond Community Services.

            See a pattern here?

          • Sure. I just don’t think it extends to the law firm of SYC&R. Rex is a big evil fish in the little pond of Lancaster, but not EVERYONE the city deals with dances to his tune. Allison Burns works for her firm, not Rex, or any other agency they represent.

            Could that firm be overcharging for services? Possibly. Could they be kicking back to Rex for the opportunity? Possibly. Does Lancaster have anyone on staff looking out for such possibilities? No, because anyone who might challenge Rex that way has been long since purged.

            That’s the real problem with Lancaster, there is no one to stand against the corruption so it literally could be anywhere…but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is everywhere. But I actually think this lawfirm is too big to be bothered with some petty kickback scheme in Lancaster. That’s more localized to Rex and his cronies.

          • @Tim Scott:
            If you look at the agenda, you will see that Allison Burns is specifically names as the legal counsel. She is the Lancaster City Attorney. How can she provide objective advice to AVAQMD in a matter where some of the joint partners have conflicting views? How could she go against Lancaster if she is representing them?

            Were you around here for the power plant fiasco?

          • If she’s the city attorney of Lancaster there’s a bigger problem than that. She’s also listed as a shareholding partner in Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth. As far as I know someone holding the position of city attorney is not supposed to be in private practice at the same time.