From Barbara Denny:
I attended the Coronado City Council meeting on Tuesday, December 18th at 3 pm at Coronado City Hall located at 1825 Strand Way.
There was a second public reading for the adoption of an ordinance amending the city municipal code Title 61 (Storm Water Runoff System Management and Discharge Control) including Chapter 61.04 (Storm Water Sewer System), Chapter 61.08 (Discharge Regulations and Requirements), Chapter 61.10 (Standard Urban Storm Water Mitigation Plan), and Chapter 61.12 (Inspection and Enforcement), to comply with the requirements of the Regional Water Control Board (RWQCB) order number R9-2007-0001, issued January 24, 2007. As this matter brought Coronado into compliance with the RWQCB order, there was no public discussion.
The Coronado City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 3 pm in Council Chambers at the south end of City Hall located at 1825 Strand Way, Coronado, CA 92118.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Save Trestles Update
The Susan Davis amendment made it past the rockiest part of conference committee and is on its way to a full vote by both the House and Senate; and to eventually be signed by President Bush. The House is voting today and the Senate to follow. We firmly believe it will be passed and signed. Once it is officially passed, we will capitalize on the victory!!
from Stefanie Sekich
from Stefanie Sekich
Monday, December 10, 2007
SD City Council Votes to Pursue Pt. Loma Waiver
On Tuesday, November 20, the San Diego City Council agreed by a 7-1
vote to apply for a waiver that would permit the city to continue
dumping sewage into the Pacific Ocean at a level that doesn't meet
federal standards. The Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant releases 170
million gallons of the region's treated sewage into the Pacific Ocean
each day. But it doesn't filter out a federally required amount of
waste before piping it 4.5 miles offshore.
vote to apply for a waiver that would permit the city to continue
dumping sewage into the Pacific Ocean at a level that doesn't meet
federal standards. The Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant releases 170
million gallons of the region's treated sewage into the Pacific Ocean
each day. But it doesn't filter out a federally required amount of
waste before piping it 4.5 miles offshore.
Update on the Beach Protection Act
The Beach Protection Act has seen both some movement and changes in the House of Representatives. On October 31rst, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, chaired by Representative Oberstar of Minnesota, approved amendments to the Act (HR2537). Changes from the initially proposed bill include:
· Authorization level of $40 million
· States are encouraged, but not obligated to perform source-tracking studies
· The EPA will publish criteria for use of rapid testing methods,now defined as giving results in less than 6hrs, at heavily used beaches
· Immediate posting of beaches
· EPA will conduct a study to determine the most equitable distribution of beach act grants to states, and
· EPA will publish a list of pathogen and pathogen indicators in coastal recreational waters after the water quality criteria are revised and published.
The Beach Protection Act, as amended, currently has 39 cosponsors and may soon be released to the full House floor for consideration and vote. Both Representatives Pallone (NJ) and Bishop (NY) who initially introduced the bill are supportive of the new amendments. In the Senate, S.1506, is still in Committee and has not picked up any cosponsors yet.
If you haven't already participated in Surfrider's Action Alert, please send an email to your Congressional leaders asking them to support the Beach Protection Act.
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/beachact_2007
· Authorization level of $40 million
· States are encouraged, but not obligated to perform source-tracking studies
· The EPA will publish criteria for use of rapid testing methods,now defined as giving results in less than 6hrs, at heavily used beaches
· Immediate posting of beaches
· EPA will conduct a study to determine the most equitable distribution of beach act grants to states, and
· EPA will publish a list of pathogen and pathogen indicators in coastal recreational waters after the water quality criteria are revised and published.
The Beach Protection Act, as amended, currently has 39 cosponsors and may soon be released to the full House floor for consideration and vote. Both Representatives Pallone (NJ) and Bishop (NY) who initially introduced the bill are supportive of the new amendments. In the Senate, S.1506, is still in Committee and has not picked up any cosponsors yet.
If you haven't already participated in Surfrider's Action Alert, please send an email to your Congressional leaders asking them to support the Beach Protection Act.
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/beachact_2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
Water Re-Use Moves Forward in San Diego
The San Diego City Council has voted to overturn Mayor Jerry Sanders' veto of a wastewater recycling program by a vote of 5-3. Councilmen Kevin Faulconer, Tony Young and Brian Maienschein were opposed.
A one-year pilot program will start in July to study the use of recycled wastewater to supplement San Diego's drinking water supply. Water re-use is already being used successfully in many places in the U.S., including Orange County.
This vote was an important step forward in solving water source issues in San Diego, which is facing curtailments from the Colorado River and Sacramento River Delta sources.
Our next step is helping to educate the public about the safety of using recycled waterwater.
A one-year pilot program will start in July to study the use of recycled wastewater to supplement San Diego's drinking water supply. Water re-use is already being used successfully in many places in the U.S., including Orange County.
This vote was an important step forward in solving water source issues in San Diego, which is facing curtailments from the Colorado River and Sacramento River Delta sources.
Our next step is helping to educate the public about the safety of using recycled waterwater.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Encinitas City Council Forms Environmental Advisory Committee
The Encinitas City Council has decided to form an Environmental Advisory Committee. This was the result of work by GreEncinitas to push the council to begin implementing the Blue Ribbon Environmental Committee Report recommendations (from 2002). The City has issued an RFP for an environmental consultant to guide the committee and is currently in the selection process. The committee itself will be formed early 2008.
from Elizabeth Taylor
from Elizabeth Taylor
Carlsbad City Monitor Report
The Carlsbad City Council met on Tuesday, November 13th and approved the Ponto Beachfront Village Vision Plan EIR. Surfrider had earlier submitted written comments to the City and had spoken previously at the Planning Commission when the EIR was considered. The written and verbal comments focused on two main issues with the EIR.
1. Urged the City to use its executive and budgetary powers to purchase a portion of the Southern Parcel. The parcel is valuable as an open space. It provides a vista point for the public to observe the lagoon and check the surf. It provides habitat for birds and other endangered species. It provides a natural buffer to protect wildlife and the adjacent lagoon.
2. The need for a left turn lane with signal at the intersection of Carlsbad Blvd. and Avenida Encinas for the safety and convenience of northbound traffic attempting to get to Ponto Beach.
After presentations from City Staff and consultants, 17 people from the public spoke. Representatives from both Surfrider and Sierra Club both asked the City to purchase a portion of the Southern Parcel for public use. The City Council voted to approve the EIR as written, but supported the recommendation of the Planning Commission to extend the 45-foot set-back from the lagoon to a 75-foot set-back.
No other items to report.
from Dawn Guendert
1. Urged the City to use its executive and budgetary powers to purchase a portion of the Southern Parcel. The parcel is valuable as an open space. It provides a vista point for the public to observe the lagoon and check the surf. It provides habitat for birds and other endangered species. It provides a natural buffer to protect wildlife and the adjacent lagoon.
2. The need for a left turn lane with signal at the intersection of Carlsbad Blvd. and Avenida Encinas for the safety and convenience of northbound traffic attempting to get to Ponto Beach.
After presentations from City Staff and consultants, 17 people from the public spoke. Representatives from both Surfrider and Sierra Club both asked the City to purchase a portion of the Southern Parcel for public use. The City Council voted to approve the EIR as written, but supported the recommendation of the Planning Commission to extend the 45-foot set-back from the lagoon to a 75-foot set-back.
No other items to report.
from Dawn Guendert
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
La Jolla Seals Lose at Supreme Court
On November 28, 2007, the Supreme Court of California denied the City of San Diego ’s petition for review in the seals’ case. The City’s petition was among the hundreds of cases reviewed and denied. The San Diego City Attorney is setting up meetings with interested parties to discuss the fate of the seals.
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