AGENDA
ITEM
11 CITY OF CALEXICO
CALEXICO
Colores Can Ma-
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: March 15, 2023
Mayor and City Council
PREPARED BY: Raul Ureña, Mayor
SUBJECT: Approval of Letter in Support of Senate Bill 583 (Padilla): Salton Sea Conservancy
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Recommendation:
Mayor Ureña requests Council consideration on approval of letter in support of Senate Bill 583 (Padilla): Salton Sea Conservancy.
Background:
SB 583, as introduced by Senator Padilla - Salton Sea Conservancy. Existing law authorizes various conservancies to acquire, manage, direct the management of, and conserve lands in the state. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation to establish the Salton Sea Conservancy within the Natural Resources Agency to undertake various activities related to the Salton Sea region.
Discussion & Analysis:
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation to establish the Salton Sea Conservancy within the Natural Resources Agency to undertake various activities related to the Salton Sea region and the substance of the measure will be developed in consultation and coordination with local stakeholders. As Mayor, I request the Council's consideration and support of SB 583 as it represents the first steps in conversations with the local community about what governance structure is most effective and through this process, we can ensure the state is meeting AGENDA its commitment to the Salton Sea and the people of the region. ITEM Fiscal Impact:
None.
Coordinated With:
None.
Attachment(s):
1. Draft Letter in Support of SB 583.
2. Email dated March 9, 2023, from the Office of State Senator Stephen C. Padilla, 18th District.
3. SB 583 Fact Sheet.
4. Senate Bill No. 583 Language.
2 City of Calexico
CALIFOR
608 HEBER AVENUE CALEXICO, CA 92231 (760) 768-2110
COu
March 15, 2023
The Honorable Steve Padilla
1021 O Street, Suite 6640
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Senate Bill 583 (Padilla): Salton Sea Conservancy
Dear Senator Padilla,
On behalf of the City of Calexico, I am pleased to offer our strong support of SB 583, which would establish the Salton Sea Conservancy within the California Natural Resources Agency.
The City of Calexico, as a municipality, is currently in the process of implementing projects to mitigate the pollution of the New River Water Flow leading to the Salton Sea.
Efforts include the construction of a trash screen, diversion structure, and pump-back system to replace the polluted water in the river channel that flows adjacent to City neighborhoods with clean, treated wastewater from the Calexico Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). These efforts are expected to reduce the number of contaminants reaching the Salton Sea.
The Salton Sea is one of the most environmentally and economically disadvantaged regions in California. Once a popular tourist destination, the Salton Sea is now an environmental catastrophe with a salinity level 60% higher than seawater. Few fish species can survive which has greatly reduced the bird population. The sea evaporating has also exposed the lakebed which contains toxic elements including arsenic which becomes airborne and pollutes the environment. The Salton Sea is in dire need of management and environmental solutions which have damaged the local wildlife and residents' health.
The ecological decline of the Sea has grown exponentially, and with it, so have the negative impacts on the surrounding communities. These include air quality concerns for residents in a region suffering from the highest childhood asthma hospitalization rate in the state. Funding and implementation have presented challenges, and questions remain about the long-term strategy around the Sea. By creating a Salton Sea Conservancy, California can expedite the construction of new habitat and dust suppression projects while centering the needs of local communities.
For these reasons, SB 583 (Padilla) would further the City of Calexico's goal of improving the respiratory health of residents across the County and our City. It is for these reasons that we are proud to support SB 583 (Padilla) and encourage your "aye" vote when it is heard in committee.
Best regards,
CITY OF CALEXICO
Raul Ureña
Mayor
Esperanza Colio
From: Renteria, Mario <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, March 9, 2023 4:07 PM
To: Esperanza Colio; Raul Urena
Subject: SB 583 Salton Sea Conservancy Letter of Support request Attachments: SB 583 Fact Sheet.pdf; SB 583 Language.pdf; SB 583 Letter of Support Template.docx Good afternoon. Senator Steve Padilla recently introduced SB 583 which states the intent of the legislature to create a Salton Sea Conservancy and the substance of the measure will be developed in consultation and coordination with local stakeholders. It represents the first steps in conversations with the local community about what governance structure is most effective. Through this process, we can ensure the state is meeting its commitment to the Sea and the people of the region.
We are reaching out to ask for your support on this important bill which we feel will have a positive impact on our district, constituents, and all Californians.
I have attached more information regarding this bill including a template letter, fact sheet, and language. We are looking to get Letters of Support submitted quickly for this bill so we are respectfully requesting a letter as soon as possible.
Thank you for consideration in this matter and please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
SENATE Mario Renteria
District Representative
SEA Office of State Senator Stephen C. Padilla, 18th District Office: 760-335-3442 | Mobile: 760-679-3654
COMMITTEES
1021 O STREET. SUITE 6640 BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #4 ON
SACRAMENTO. CA 95814 STATE ADMINISTRATION AND
TEL 1916) 651-4018 California State Senate GENERAL GOVERNMENT FAX 1916: 651-4918 CHAIR
CHULA VISTA DISTRICT OFFICE SENATOR
MEMBER
303 H STREET. SUITE 200
CHULA VISTA. CA 91910 STEPHEN C. PADILLA AGRICULTURE
TEL (619) 409-7690
EIGHTEENTH SENATE DISTRICT BUDGET
EL CENTRO DISTRICT OFFICE GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
1224 STATE STREET. SUITE D
EL CENTRO. CA 92243 HOUSING
TEL (760) 335-3442 NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER
SET
SENATOR PADILLA@SENATE CA GOV
SB 583 - Salton Sea Conservancy
The Salton Sea, located in Riverside and Imperial counties, is California's largest lake. In the 1950s and '60s, the Sea was considered a resort destination, "The Miracle in the Desert," attracting the likes of the Beach Boys President Eisenhower, Frank Sinatra, among others. Now, the Sea is an ecological and public health crisis because it is highly saline (50% saltier than the Pacific Ocean) and gradually shrinking. This is because the Sea is a terminal lake with no outlet into the ocean, it has no natural inflows and the only way water can depart is through evaporation, leaving behind dust, salt, and other particles. The Lakebed is filled with toxins such as lead, DDT, and chromium, and the evaporating lake leads to more of the toxic lakebed being exposed.
SB 583 states the intent of the legislature to create a Salton Sea Conservancy and the substance of the measure will be developed in consultation and coordination with local stakeholders. It represents the first steps in conversations with the local community about what governance structure is most effective. Through this process, we can ensure the state is meeting its commitment to the Sea and the people of the region The population surrounding the Salton Sea is a predominantly Latino, agricultural community and an Indigenous population who have lived there for a millennium. Most reside in Imperial County, one of the poorest counties in kids have been diagnosed with asthma by doctors.
In 2018, to address the growing problems around the Sea, the state create the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP). The SSMP released its 10-year plan, the John J. Benoit Salton Sea Restoration Act, otherwise known as the Salton Sea 10-Year Plan, to signal its commitment to undertake restoration efforts at the Sea. Since then, the state has sought to fully implement the 10-Year Plan.
The ecological decline of the Sea has grown exponentially, and with it, so have the negative impacts on the surrounding communities. These include air quality concerns for residents in a region suffering from the highest childhood asthma hospitalization rate in the state. Funding and implementation have presented challenges, and questions remain about the long-term strategy around the Sea. By creating a Salton Sea Conservancy, California can expedite the construction of new habitat and dust suppression projects while centering the needs of local communities.
Staff Contact
Name: Emily Zhou
Title: Legislative Aide
Email: [email protected]
Capitol Office: (916) 651 - 4018
SENATE BILL No. 583
Introduced by Senator Padilla
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Garcia)
February 15, 2023
An act relating to conservancies.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 583, as introduced, Padilla. Salton Sea Conservancy.
Existing law authorizes various conservancies to acquire, manage, direct the management of, and conserve lands in the state.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation to establish the Salton Sea Conservancy within the Natural Resources Agency to undertake various activities related to the Salton Sea region.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:
State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact 2 subsequent legislation to establish the Salton Sea Conservancy 3 within the Natural Resources Agency to undertake various activities 4 related to the Salton Sea region.
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