HomeMy WebLinkAbout95-037 CC ResolutionRESOLUTION NO. 95-37
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING
AM'ENDMENTS TO THE FEDERAL ENDANGERED
SPECIES ACT
WHEREAS, reauthorization of the Federal Endangered Species Act (hereinafter, the
Act) is pending before the Congress of the United States of America; and,
WHEREAS, the Act as currently constituted, implemented and administered has
resulted in significant impacts on local governments, jobs, housing availability and costs,
essential public services, and the overall quality of life and private property in those areas
and communities affected by threatened and endangered species and their habitat; and,
WHEREAS, amending the Act can resolve and rectify many of these problems while
simultaneously providing adequate safeguards to ensure conservation of the Nation's
threatened and endangered wildlife resources; and,
WHEREAS, amendments to the Act have been identified and endorsed by the
Western Riverside Council of Governments, of which the City Council of the City of
Temecula is a member, to provide for human needs and a sound economy while also
providing for the long-term survival of rare, threatened and endangered species;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of
Temecula, California does hereby endorse and support amendments to the federal
Endangered Species Act which are consistent with the following principles:
Section 1. LISTING DECISIONS The existing requirements for the use of "best
scientific and commercial data available" and "substantial scientific or commercial
information" upon which to make listing decisions. More extensive information and a higher
factual and scientific threshold should be required to support the listing process. This should
also include an improved and expanded scientific peer review process, and standards for the
content of citizen listing petitions.
Section 2. FUNDING The federal and state governments should fund a fair-share
contribution of conservation planning and mitigation. Financial assistance should be
provided to local governments to assist in the development and implementation of
conservation efforts; such as matching funds, funding for debt service, greater use of Land
and Water Conservation Fund monies, loan guarantees, income or capital gains tax credit,
and similar measures.
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Section 3. ECONOMIC IMPACT Listing decisions currently do not include
consideration of the economic actions, conditions and costs necessary for the conservation
and recovery of a species. Economic cost considerations should be included in listing
decisions, and economics infused throughout the process. This is not necessarily to say that
economics should outweigh species protection, but rather that the law should give more
consideration to the economic affects and costs associated with the listing and recovery of a
species.
Section 4. PUBLIC LANDS Maximum use of public lands for conservation of
threatened and endangered species. The use of public lands should be the first priority for
the purposes of meeting the habitat and conservation needs of the ESA.
Section 5. SPECIES VS. HABITAT There is concern over the individual, species-
by-species approach to listing and conservation. A broader, multiple-species habitat
conservation approach is favorable. Language which recognizes the value of comprehensive
multi-species planning and conservation should be included in the ESA.
Section 6. ABUSE OF ADMINISTRATIVE DISCRETION The ESA must establish
clear guidelines and standards for the type and extent of biological and other information
needed or required by the USFWS for habitat conservation plans, recovery plans, and the
like, to avoid unwarranted pressure for more information and studies from federal staff.
There should be no 'moving targets'; criteria should be established up front in the process.
Section 7. AGREEMENT ON APPROVED PLANS Once a multi-species
conservation plan is approved, it should be accepted as meeting all local obligations for the
area covered and any new species subsequently listed should not require additional action if
that species is adequately covered by the previously approved plan. Mitigation of new
species subsequently listed will be the sole responsibility of the federal government.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED, by the City Council of the City of
Temecula at a regular meeting held on the 1 lth day of April, 1995.
ATTEST:
[SEAL] ,~-~7. _. _-~.,~?
Ju e S~.r.~., City Clerl~, CMC
R~aos\95-37 2
STATE OF CALIFORNIA)
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE)ss
CITY OF TEMECULA)
I, June S. Greek, City Clerk of the City of Temecula, California, do hereby certify that
Resolution No. 95-37 was duly and regularly adopted by the City Council of the City of
Temecula at a regular meeting thereof held on the 11th day of April, 1995, by the following
vote:
AYES: 5
COUNCILMEMBERS:
Lindemans, Mufioz, Parks,
Roberts, Stone
NOES: 0
COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None
Greek, City Clerk, CMC
Resos\95-37 3