TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: DIRECTOR OF PLANNING, BUILDING, AND CODE ENFORCEMENT
DATE: AUGUST 2, 2005
SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR THE CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND COASTAL PROTECTION BOND OF 2006 (SB 153)
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of support for the proposed Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks and Coastal Protection Bond of 2006.
BACKGROUND
Senate Bill (SB) 153, the Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006, is a $3.8 billion bond very similar to Proposition 40 (passed by the voters in 2002). The bill would place a resources bond on the 2006 ballot that contains funding provisions for State parks, conservancies, coast and ocean protection and other land, water and resource conservation programs. The most current version of the bill (as amended on July 11, 2005) allocates $150,000,000 to implement or establish NCCP’s. A copy of the most current version of the bill and the breakdown of allocated funding is attached. The funding in the bill for NCCP’s would be money that could be allocated to the City for completing the acquisitions associated with the City’s NCCP. As a result, the Mayor has requested that an item be placed on the Council’s agenda to consider formally supporting the passage of SB 153.
DISCUSSION
Senator Wes Chesbro, the Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, is the author of SB 153. The measure passed the State Senate in June is currently making its way through the Assembly. The City’s NCCP lobbyist, Joe Caves, has been working closely with the Senator’s office to move the bill through the Assembly. The goal is to have the bill on the Governor’s desk by the end of this year’s legislative session in September. The City’s lobbyist is also working to ensure that the measure will include the funding needed to ensure that the State Coastal Conservancy completes its contribution to our acquisition efforts. As things stand currently, passage of the bond measure is needed to fund a portion of the proposed Upper Filiorum (York Long Point Associates) acquisition.
If the Council agrees to support the bill, Staff will draft a "letter of support" for the Mayor’s signature. A sample "letter of support" is attached.
FISCAL IMPACT
There would be no fiscal impact by taking the recommended action.
CONCLUSION
Senate Bill (SB) 153, the Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006, is a $3.8 billion bond. The bill would place a resources bond on the 2006 ballot that, among other things, would allocate $150,000,000 to implement or establish NCCP’s. The funding in the bill for NCCP’s would be money that could be allocated to the City for completing the acquisitions associated with the City’s NCCP. As a result, Staff s recommending that the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of support for SB 153.
Respectfully submitted,
Joel Rojas
Director of Planning, Building,
and Code Enforcement
Reviewed by:
Les Evans
City Manager
Attachments:
SB 153 funding breakdown summary
SB 153 (most current version)
Sample "letter of support"