R-10154
f:\atty\muni\faws\mjm\stateparklandsreso.doc
City Council Meeting 7/11/06
Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER 10154 (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
REQUESTING THE FOOTHILUEASTERN TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR AGENCY
TO IMMEDIATELY AND PERMANENTLY WITHDRAW ITS PLANS TO CONSTRUCT
A TOLL ROAD THROUGH THE SAN ONOFRE STATE BEACH AND ACROSS THE
TRESTLES STATE SURF BEACH AND URGING THAT SANTA MONICA REFRAIN
FROM ACQUIRING ANY BONDS FOR, OR MAKING ANY FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS
IN, THE TOLL ROAD PROJECT
WHEREAS, California's first state park was established in 1864 with land granted
by President Abraham Lincoln, and the California state parks system was created in
1927 "to preserve outstanding natural, scenic, and cultural values, indigenous aquatic
and terrestrial fauna and flora, and the most significant examples of ecological regions
of California;" and
WHEREAS, from ancient redwoods to desert buttes, frorn Southern California's
iconic beaches to the opulence of Hearst Castle, the California state parks system
contains a diverse collection of historical, environrnental and recreational resources
second to none in the nation; and
WHEREAS, California state parks are the crown jewels of the state, designated
for the benefit of all California residents in order to irnprove our lives by providing
healthy outdoor and educational experiences; and
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WHEREAS, California state parks provide a significant economic benefit to the
people of California, generating, according to estimates from the Department of Parks
and Recreation, about 80 rnillion visitors from around the world who spend
approxirnately $2.6 billion directly with an additional $4 billion in indirect contributions;
and
WHEREAS, California state park lands are designated for their protection and
preservation on behalf of future generations and should not be warehoused for later
development in a manner inconsistent with state park purposes; and
WHEREAS, protection of state park lands is a matter of paramount statewide
concern which requires that these lands not become the least costly alternative for
major infrastructure projects deemed to be necessary for uses inconsistent with state
park purposes; and
WHEREAS, on November 18, 2005, the California State Park and Recreation
Commission ("Commission"), in a resolution entitled "Opposing a Proposed Toll Road
Alignment and Request for Action to Protect San Onofre State Beach," reaffirrned the
principle that state parks are "designated for their protection and preservation on behalf
of this and future generations and should not be used in a manner inconsistent with
state park purposes;" and
WHEREAS, the Commission (i) urged abandonment of the proposed toll road,
called the Foothill-South Toll Road, that would run "over four miles in length through the
heart of the nearly 1 ,200 acre [inland portion of] San Onofre State Beach" and (ii)
requested that the "Governor, in concert with the Attorney General's office, oppose any
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major transportation arterial through San Onofre State Beach using all appropriate
methods, including litigation if necessary, to defend this valuable and irreplaceable
public resource;" and
WHEREAS, the state park at San Onofre State Beach was set aside for the
people of California in 1971 by Governor Ronald Reagan who proclaimed that "one of
the greatest legacies we can leave to future generations is the heritage of our land, but
unless we can preserve and protect the unspoiled areas which God has given us, we
will have nothing to leave them" and has since become one of the top five most visited
state parks in California; and
WHEREAS, the taking of such park land by a toll road would destroy this unique
Southern California coastal unit of the state parks system, and set a dangerous
statewide precedent that might in the future be cited in justifying the destruction and
degradation of other state parks; and
WHEREAS, the Commission recognized that "viable alternative routes and traffic
improvements exist which do not depend upon San Onofre State Beach,"
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council endorses the Comrnission's Novernber 18, 2005,
resolution and urges the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency to immediately
and permanently withdraw its plans to construct a toll road with an alignment through
the state park at San Onofre and across the Trestles State Surf Beach.
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SECTION 2. All City Departments are hereby directed to refrain from acquiring
any bonds for, or making other financial investments in, the Foothill-South Toll Road on
the ground that the proposed road is not a sound environmental investrnent and is
inconsistent with California's compelling interest in protecting its state parks.
SECTION 3.The City Clerk is directed to communicate the contents of this
Resolution to the Commission, Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency, and the
offices of the Governor, California Resources Agency, California Departrnent of Parks
and Recreation, California Attorney General, State Treasurer and Department of
Transportation.
SECTION 4. 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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Adopted and approved this 11th day of July, 2006.
~-:~
Robert T. Holbrook, Mayor
I, Maria Stewart, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Resolution No. 10154 (CCS) was duly adopted at a rneeting of the Santa
Monica City Council held on the 11th day of July, 2006, by the following vote:
Ayes:
Council members:
Bloorn, Genser, Katz, McKeown,
Mayor Pro Tem Shriver, Mayor Holbrook
Noes:
Council rnernbers:
None
Abstain:
Council mernbers:
None
Absent:
Council members:
O'Connor
ATTEST:
~~\ ~ J-
Maria M. Stewart, Cit
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