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RESOLUTION 7486
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
OPPOSING THE MERGER OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY CONSERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WITH THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION
WHEREAS, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and
Development Commission (BCDC) was created in 1965 in response to
strong community opinion to protect and assure the wise use of San
Francisco Bay, and was later given authority to protect the Suisun
Marsh, both natural resources with county, regional, state, and
national importance; and
WHEREAS, since its creation the BCDC has been widely
recognized, praised, and copied as an agency that has achieved its
twin mandates of balancing the conservation of the Bay's natural
resources with needed economic development; and
WHEREAS, the Governor's budget for fiscal year 1995-96,
released on January 10, 1995, proposes to abolish the BCDC at the
end of 1995 and transfer its staff and duties mainly to the
California Coastal Commission but also to the San Francisco Bay
Water Quality Control Board; and
WHEREAS, the BCDC has carried out its state -mandated
duties and responsibilities in an extremely cJst-effective,
equitable, and appropriate manner for many years; and
WHEREAS, eliminating the BCDC would undermine
environmental protection efforts around San Francisco Bay and the
Suisun Marsh, and also jeopardize the long term economic health of
the San Francisco Bay region; and
WHEREAS, eliminating the BCDC would greatly reduce local
representation in decisions affecting the Bay and Suisun Marshland
which would adversely affect Palo Alto and its citizens; and
WHEREAS, transferring the duties of the BCDC to the
California Coastal Commission would increase costs to permit
applicants and inconvenience concerned members of the public while
saving little, if any, state funds; and
WHEREAS, it is unwise to abolish or reorganize effective
state agencies without first completing a thorough and objective
study in consultation with regional, state, and national
stakeholders of how San Francisco Bay and Suisun Marsh can best be
managed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the
City of Palo Alto hereby urges Governor Wilson to withdraw the
proposal to merge the San Francisco Bay Conservation and
Development Commission with the California Coastal Commission
and/or the Regional Water Quality Control Board, requests the
Legislature not to approve any such measure, and asks Bay Area
legislators to resist strongly such a measure.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: March 6, 1995
AYES: ANDERSEN, FAZZINO, HUBER, MCCOWN, ROSENBAUM, SCHNEIDER,
SIMITIAN WHEELER
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT: KNISS
ATTES
APPROVED:
41.
Mayor