R-9871
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City Council Meeting 6-24-03
Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER 9871 (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA URGING THE UNITED
STATES CONGRESS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE
MAINTENANCE AND PRESERVATION OF THE SANTA
MONICA MOUNTAINS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
WHEREAS, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is the world's
largest urban national park and contains 150,000 acres of the most culturally, historically
and naturally significant open space in the Santa Monica area, land that serves as a
spectacular backdrop to our City and is home to over 25 rare, threatened or endangered
species; and
WHEREAS, the Santa Monica Mountains are an important part of Santa Monica's
open space identity, and our City's adopted Open Space Element calls for strengthened
physical and visual access to the Santa Monica Mountains, which, besides recreational
opportunities, provide a visual frame of reference and are an important part of Santa
Monica's scenic character; and
WHEREAS, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area grew 880% from
2,500 to 22,000 acres between 1980 and 1999 and the number offull-time employees rose
from 17 to 74, but the adjusted real budget of the park grew by only 90%; and
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WHEREAS, there is currently a two year waiting list for local schools to participate
in the park's educational programs, more than a thousand archaeological sites of several
native American cultures lie unexamined by experts and unknown to visitors, and the Park
Service struggles to maintain the park's 200 miles of trails, which should be expanded to
meet the growing needs of Santa Monica residents; and
WHEREAS, a business plan analysis by Americans for National Parks of the Santa
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area's financial condition shows need for an
additional $6.1 million annually to adequately protect resources and ensure visitor safety,
without which plant and wildlife populations will continue to disappear, education programs
will be further reduced, and irreplaceable historic sites will continue to crumble; and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress has the responsibility to appropriate
sufficient funds to ensure that the National Park Service meets its mission "to conserve the
scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife;" and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress must also make up for previous funding
deficiencies and cumulative shortages in order to educate visitors, protect wildlife and
cultural and historic resources, and satisfy Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation
Area needs for park infrastructure repair and enhancement,
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS
SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Monica, in the interest of
residents' access to nature and the preservation of that access for generations to come,
calls upon the United States Congress to reserve past funding shortfalls and providec
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resources fully sufficient to maintain and preserve the Santa Monica Mountains National
Recreation Area.
SECTION 2. The City Clerk is hereby directed to convey this Resolution to
Representative Henry Waxman, to Senators Barbara Box and Dianne Feinstein, and to
other appropriate elected officials.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and
thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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MARSHA JONES OUTRIE
City Attorney V
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Adopted andaprxoved'" 24th dayp,June. ~.
I, Maria M. Stewart, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby
certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 9871 (CCS) was duly adopted at a
meeting of the Santa Monica City Council held on the 24th day of June, 2003, by
the following vote:
Ayes: Council members: Feinstein, Mayor Pro Tem McKeown, Genser,
Holbrook, O'Connor, Mayor Bloom
Noes: Council members: None
Abstain. Council members: None
Absent: Council members: Katz
ATTEST:
Beth