AB 1000 would enact the Clean Coastal Waters and Rivers Bond Act of 1998 which would authorize the issuance of State general obligation bonds in the amount of $663,000,000. The purpose of the bonds would be for financing a program for (1) the planning, acquisition, development, restoration, enhancement, and protection of real property and related facilities, (2) for the implementation of programs, for the restoration, enhancement, and protection of coastal and riparian resources, and (3) for the prevention of pollution to coastal waters and rivers The bill would provide for the submission of the bond act to the voters at the general election to be held November 3, 1998.
History and Sponsorship: This bill is sponsored by the author. The last successful bond act that provided money for coastal acquisition and enhancement projects, Proposition 70, was passed in 1988.
This Bill: This bill would place a general obligation bond act on the ballot for the general election to be held on November 3, 1998. The act would allocate $663 million in bond funds, including, an appropriation of $335 million in bond funds to the State Coastal Conservancy including:
· $35 million for planning, acquisition, restoration, enhancement and development along the Los Angeles River and its tributaries.
· $20 million for development of the continuous statewide coastal trail.
· $15 million for the development of the San Francisco Bay trail.
· $45 million for urban waterfront restoration and development.
· $75 million for acquisition and improvement of shoreline access and recreational facilities.
· $10 million for planning and projects to assist the environmentally sound expansion of Maritime facilities in the ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Diego.
· $20 million for San Diego wetlands and for endangered species and Natural Community Conservation.
· $20 million for preservation of agricultural lands in coastal areas. The act also allocates bond funds for pollution prevention and polluted runoff treatment including:
· $20 million to the California Environmental Protection Agency for pollution prevention projects.
· $80 million to the State Water Resources Control Board for projects to clean up polluted storm waters.
· $40 million to the State Water Resources Control Board for improving sewage treatment plants.
Discussion: Historically, state bonds have provided the Coastal Conservancy and other land conservation and parkland agencies with the funding for land acquisition and restoration projects. The Conservancy has depleted the bond act funds appropriated to it from the last successful bond act in 1988. This bond would provide the public funds necessary to protect the environmental quality and economic viability of coastal waters and rivers.
Staff understands that the author may amend the bill to include $15 million in bond act fund for grants to local governments and private property owners for implementation of watershed management tools and best management practices to help reduce polluted runoff.
This bill would have no fiscal impacts on the Commission.
Staff recommends that the Commission SUPPORT AB 1000. (Adopted 4/10/97)
For more information contact Jeff Stump, Legislative Coordinator, at (916) 445-6067.
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