The South Bay area, including the City of Coronado, has seen increasing levels of water pollution and beach closures from cross-border water pollution. These conditions threaten the health and safety of residents and visitors, our local ecosystems and the economic vitality of the region.
At the City Council’s April 15, 2025, meeting, City Council adopted a Resolution Declaring a Local Emergency due to pervasive impacts from cross-border water pollution.
ANALYSIS
Under State law, a declaration of local emergency must be considered every sixty days and the governing body take action to either extend or terminate the local emergency. The City Council is requested to discuss and take action. A Resolution to Extend the Emergency Declaration has been prepared and is attached.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
ALTERNATIVE
The City Council may choose to terminate the emergency declaration or provide other direction.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
Not applicable.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution 2025-33
Submitted By: City Manager's Office / Tina Friend
Item 8.d
June 03, 2025 City of Coronado Page 271
Attachment 1
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-33
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF CORONADO, CALIFORNIA, EXTENDING A
DECLARATION OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY
RELATING TO IMPACTS FROM CROSS BORDER
WATER POLLUTION
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 8630 and Coronado Municipal Code Chapter 2.50 empowers the City Council to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency; and
WHEREAS, The Coronado City Council adopted a Resolution to Declare a Local Emergency on March 4, 2025, and subsequently adopted an additional 60-day extension due to the ongoing impacts on April 15, 2025; and
WHEREAS, The Emergency Declaration is set to expire on June 14, 2025, unless further extended by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, cross border flows of untreated wastewater from the Tijuana River and the inoperative San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant constitute an environmental catastrophe and through this pollution of ocean waters, adversely impacts the lives of residents and visitors in the City of Coronado; and
WHEREAS, impaired water quality leads to conditions unhealthy for the safety of persons, property and the environment; and
WHEREAS, pollution from cross-border flows are impacting the region’s community health, economy and ecosystems, and the ongoing closures of South Bay beaches, including Coronado beaches, limits coastal access; and
WHEREAS, the flow of contaminants and untreated wastewater continues to escalate due to inadequate wastewater infrastructure in the City of Tijuana and lack of sufficient operation and maintenance of existing infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the cities of Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, San Diego, the County of San Diego and the San Diego Port District have declared a state of local emergency, and the County of San Diego has issued a public health emergency for the Tijuana River Valley; and WHEREAS, the environmental degradation from cross-border water pollution constitutes an economic and public health threat that is beyond the control of local resources, services, Item 8.d
June 03, 2025 City of Coronado Page 272
Attachment 1
personnel equipment and facilities, and warrants this declaration of a local emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Coronado as follows:
1. That the above recitations are true.
2. A local emergency exists in the City of Coronado.
3. The City Manager, Mayor and Councilmembers are authorized to work with local, State, Federal and Mexican authorities to improve conditions in the Tijuana River Valley and greater wastewater infrastructure systems to improve water quality conditions.
4. The proclamation of existence of a local emergency shall be deemed to continue to exist until its termination is proclaimed by the City Council of the City of Coronado, and it shall be terminated at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant. The Council shall review this emergency at least once every sixty days.
PASSED, ADOPTED, AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Coronado, California, at a regular meeting thereof this third day of June 2025 by the following vote to wit:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
APPROVED:
JOHN D. DUNCAN, Mayor of the
City of Coronado, California
ATTEST:
KELSEA HOLIAN, City Clerk of the
City of Coronado, California
Item 8.d
June 03, 2025 City of Coronado Page 273