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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.1 Coalition to Save Our Delta CITY OF DUBLIN AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: January 12, 1987 s SUBJECT Written Communication from the Coalition to Save Our Delta =. EXHIBITS ATTACHED Letter to Mayor and Councilmembers dated December 9, 1986 from the Coalition to Save Our Delta; Sample Resolution RECOMMENDATION Consider request for support of the Save Our Delta organization FINANCIAL STATEMENT.: No direct costs; organization requests that City designate an individual to act as liaison and review the activities and progress of proposed legislation. DESCRIPTION The City Council has received correspondence from the Coalition to Save-. Our Delta. The letter is signed by Supervisors representing Contra Costa County, Yolo County, Solano County, San Joaquin County, Sacramento County and the Delta Advisory Planning Council. This group expresses an interest in 'pursuing legi lation which would address a financing program for the rehabilitation of levies within the Delta. The group has proposed a program which would be funded at $10 million per year. The existing program is being funded at $2 million per year. The proposal would require joint-funding between the State and local landowners or beneficiaries. The funding would be provided with 80% of the rehabilitation funds coming from the State and the remaining 20% coming from the local Delta landowners . -However, the proposed legislation also contains a finding that if it is determined that the State of California receives a greater than 80% benefit, - then the State ' s share should increase and the Delta landowners share would decrease to correspond to the level of benefit. The Coalition' s letter contains a summary of the legislation, a lis-t of participants, a sample petition, and a sample resolution. All of these items have been provided for your review and reference. Staff has revised the resolution to insert the appropriate language for a City of Dublin resolution if the City Council desires to adopt a resolution supporting the Delta Levy Rehabilitation Program. The resolution notes the high level of expenses required to respond to levy failures during the past 5 years. The focus- of the group ' s efforts is to encourage funding for levy rehabilitation, in order to avert serious damage costs in the future. Staff would recommend that the City Council consider the written communication and "direct Staff as appropriate. The sample resolution contains a designation for the liaison for this_ program. If the '-City Council desires to adopt the resolution, a designation will need to be made. If the Council feels that it is appropriate, the Assistant to the - City Manager may be designated as the liaison. The designation would require monitoring materials mailed by the Coalition and providing periodic updates . as requested by the City Council. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- COPIES TO: Coalition to Save Our Delta ITEM NO. Coalition to Save Our Delta s_ RECEIVED DEC 15186 December 9, 1986 Mayor and Council Members City of Dublin P.O. Box 2340 Dublin, CA 94560 Dear Friends of the Delta: This letter is to request your support of and participation in the Coalition to Save Our Delta. The sole purpose of the Coalition to Save Our Delta is to implement a long term comprehensive Delta levee rehabilitation and maintenance program. We are seeking State legislation to implement an interim Delta levee program pending a larger-scale, future Federally funded Delta levee program. The proposed legis- lation would amend the existing "Way Bill" from the existing $2 million per year appropriation to $10 million per year, and , other modifications. Attached is an outline of the concepts for the proposed - legislation. Senator Dan Boatwright has agreed to introduce legislation- in.--the upcoming session. Other Delta : legislators are expected to co-sponsor the bill. Attached is a partial list of participants and endorsers of the Coalition to Save Our Delta. The list is growing daily. Another part of the activity of the Coalition to Save Our Delta is a petition drive. Over 14,000 signatures have been gathered to show- broad-based support for a Delta levee pro- gram. Attached is a copy of the petition. We expect the petition drive will continue to the end of the year. Attached is a sample resolution which we would like you to adopt. Please send a copy of your adopted resolution to the Coalition to Save Our Delta, c/o Contra Costa County Community Development Department, 651 Pine Street, North Wing, 4th Floor, Martinez, CA 94553 . Please designate an individual c/o Committee for Water Policy Consensus • 1485 Enea Court; Suite 1353 • Concord, CA 94520 • (415) 682.6633 whom we can'-add to our mailing list to keep you up-to-date on the activities of the Coalition and the progress of the legislation." Thank you for your support. If you have -any questions, please contact Dave Okita of the Contra Costa County Community Development Department at 415/372-2071. Very truly yours, Supv. Sunhe Wright McPeak Supv. Tom Torlakson Contra Costa County Contra Costa County Supv. Richard Brann I Supv. Clark Cameron Solano County Yolo County Supv. Ev lyn Costa Supv. LTob ohnson San Joaquin County Sacramento County Robert D. Gromm, Chair Delta Advisory Planning Council DBOc1 L3 : frndsDlt.tll Attach November, 1986 SUMMARY OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION FOR DELTA LEVEE REHABILITATION PROGRAM The purpose of this legislation is to implement a program for long-term rehabilitation and maintenance of Delta levees. This will be an interim program leading to a future Federal program where all expenses in the interim program will be counted as part of the local share of the future Federal program. The entire legally defined Delta (as included in the Water Code) shall be eligible for this program. The program shall be funded at $10 million per year and is intended to amend the existing "Way Bill" program currently being funded at $2 million per year. As with the existing Way Bill, there shall be a split-of State and local costs for the program. This program amendment calls for the State to fund 80 percent and local agencies 20 percent after the first $2,000 per mile of levee. Local agencies will be required to fund the first $2,000 per mile. Funding shall come from the State General Fund or Tideland Oil Funds (it is acknowledged that Tideland Oil Funds are currently not available) . For the local share, landowners or other beneficiaries shall be respon- sible. Funds from the program can be advanced to local districts prior to construction. There shall be a special loan program for those districts unable to fund the local share. Costs for inspecting and surveying levees shall be counted as part of the local share. If it is determined that the State of California (meaning those other than Delta landowners) benefit greater_ than 80 percent, the legislation shall be adjusted to increase the State' s -'share and lower the local share. All Delta levee construction and 'rehabilitation funded by this program shall meet standards approved by -the Department of Water Resources and the State Reclamation Board. The State of California shall pursue the future Federal program with the Corps of Engineers with due diligence, and cooperate with the Corps of Engineers in developing studies and Federal legislation necessary to implement the program. DBOcl L1:DLTsum.tll : PARTICIPANTS and/orENDORSERS OF THE COALITION TO SAVE OUR DELTA (last revised November 13, 1986) Antioch Brentwood Cailf. Striped Bass Assoc. Central Delta Water Agency Central Valley Flood Control Assoc. Central Valley Project Water Users Assoc. Committee For Water Policy Consensus Contra Costa County Contra Costa Water District Delta Advisory Planning Council Delta Chambers Delta Water Users Assoc. East Bay Municipal Utility District Lodi Chamber of Commerce Marina and Recreation Assoc. Napa County Northern Calif. Marine Assoc. San Joaquin County San Joaquin Farm Bureau South Delta Water Agency Stockton ' SAVE 7HE' DELTA We, the undersigned, support a comprehensive, ongoing Delta levee rehabilitation and maintenance program. Delta levee failures are Increasing In spite of the increased maintenance efforts of local interests. Failure of Delta levees is expensive,endangers water supplies, water quality,and destroys agricultural,commercial,and recreational values of the Delta.The Delta Is of statewide Importance and merits federal,state,and local support In order to provide for an accelerated preventive maintenance program for Delta levees.We recognize that the Delta is a unique resource for a variety of reasons, Including: 40 percent of the runoff in California drains to the Delta, and 60 percent of the diverted water used in California passes through the Delta. - Delta levees provide vital protection for water quality and flood control. The Delta provides recreational opportunities and is important for fish and wildlife. The Delta supports agriculture and water-related commerce. The Delta contains highways, railroads,ship channels, pipelines, and power lines. We urge the State Legislature and the United States Congress to act aggressively to save the Delta through increased funding for an accelerated preventive maintenance program for Delta levees. (You doWt need to be a registered voter or a California resident In order to sign this petition.) Signature: Signature: Print name: Print name: Print address: Print address = Print city: Zip code: Print city: Zip code: Signature: Signature: - Print name: Print name: Print address: Print address Print city: Zip code: Print city: -Zip code: Signature: Signature: Print name: Print name: Print address: Print address Print city: Zip code: Print city:. Zip code: Signature: Signature:: - Print name: Print name: Print address: Print address Print city: Zip code: Print city: Zip code: Signature: Signature: Print name: Print name: Print address: Print address Print city: Zip code: Print city: Zip code: Sponsored by the Coalition to Save Our Delta•c/o Committee for Water Policy Consensus•1485 Enea Ct.,Suite 1353•Concord,CA 94520«141516826633 SAMPLE RESOLUTION SUBJECT: ) SUPPORTING COMPREHENSIVE DELTA LEVEE) REHABILITATION PROGRAM ) WHEREAS, 40 percent of the runoff in California drains to the Delta and 60 percent of the State's diverted water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses passes through the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, and maintaining the integrity of Delta levees is critical for maintaining water quality, water transport capability, and flood control; and WHEREAS, the Delta is important for recreational uses including boating, fishing, sight seeing, and hunting, and the Delta is an important habitat for fish and wildlife; and WHEREAS, the Delta is an important agricultural producing area for Califor- nia and supports extensive water-related commerce; and WHEREAS, the Delta contains highways, railways, ship channels, pipelines, and power lines; and WHEREAS, Delta levees are continuing to deteriorate despite increased maintenance efforts by local districts; and WHEREAS, for the period 1980 to 1985, Federal agencies paid $67 million, State agencies paid $29 million, and local agencies paid $5.8 million for emergency disaster relief in the Delta -- total cost (1980-85) = $101,800,000 or an average of $20,360,000 per year for emergency disaster relief in the Delta -- and many of these costs could have been avoided if an adequate program existed for ongoing maintenance and rehabilitation of Delta levees; and WHEREAS, existing programs for State funding of Delta levee maintenance of $2 million per year is inadequate; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1982 completed a draft feasi- bility study report for a comprehensive Delta levee rehabilitation program which is currently awaiting review; and WHEREAS, the Emergency Delta Task Force in 1983 recommended a comprehensive Delta levee rehabilitation program where all beneficiaries pay for compre- hensive Delta levee rehabilitation programs; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the (name of agency or organization) supports an accelerated, ongoing, comprehensive Delta levee rehabilitation program consistent with the Emergency Delta Task Force report where the beneficiaries pay for improvements; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that (name of agency or organization) supports an immediate State/local program of Delta levee maintenance to be credited toward a future Federal program which increases the amount of funds avail- able to rehabilitate and maintain Delta levees; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the (name of agency or organization) will work cooperatively with other agencies and organizations to implement a compre- hensive Delta levee .rehabilitation program which will save taxpayers money in the long term by providing a preventive maintenance program for levees rather than pouring millions into disaster relief; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that (name of agency or organization) designates as a liaison for this program. DBOcl 7oct86 -_ L2:sprtDLTA.t10 s` RESOLUTION NO. — 87 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN SUPPORTING COMPREHENSIVE DELTA LEVEE REHABILITATION PROGRAM WHEREAS, 40% of the runoff in California drains to the Delta and 60% of the State ' s diverted water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses passes through the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, and maintaining the integrity of Delta levees ;--is critical for maintaining water quality, water transport capability, and -flood control; and WHEREAS, the Delta is: important for recreational uses- including boating, fishing, sight seeing, and hunting, and the Delta is an important habitat for fish and wildlife; and WHEREAS, the Delta is. an important agricultural producing area for California and supports extensive water-related commerce; .and WHEREAS, the Delta contains highways, railways, ship -channels, pipelines, and power lines and WHEREAS, the Delta levees are continuing to deteriorate despite increased maintenance efforts by local districts; and - WHEREAS, for the period 1980 to 1985, Federal agencies paid $67 million, State agencies paid $29 million, and local agencies paid $5.8 million for emergency disaster relief in the Delta -- total cost (1980-85) $101, 800, 000 or an average of $20, 360, 000 per year for emergency disaster relief in the Delta -- and- many of these costs could have been avoided if an adequate program existed for ongoing maintenance and rehabilitation of Delta levees; and WHEREAS, existing programs for State funding of Delta levee maintenance of $2 million per year is inadequate; and WHEREAS, the U. S . Army Corps of Engineers in 1982 completed a draft feasibility study report for a comprehensive Delta levee rehabilitation program which is currently awaiting review; and WHEREAS, the Emergency Delta Task Force in 1983 recommended a comprehensive Delta levee rehabilitation program where all beneficiaries pay for comprehensive Delta levee rehabilitation programs . NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Dublin supports an accelerated, ongoing, comprehensive Delta levee rehabilitation program consistent with the Emergency Delta- Task Force report where the beneficiaries pay for improvements; and f -BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Dublin supports an immediate State/local program of Delta levee maintenance to be credited toward a future Federal program which increases the amount of funds. available to rehabilitate and maintain Delta levees; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Dublin will work cooperatively - with ,-other agencies and organizations to implement a comprehensive Delta levee rehabilitation program which will save taxpayers money in the long term .by providing a preventive maintenance program for levees rather than pouring millions into disaster relief; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City of Dublin designates as a liaison for this program. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 12th day of January, 1987, by the following vote: AYES: NOES: - ABSENT: Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk 2 -