BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 606|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 606
Author: Williams (D) and Gorell (R), et al.
Amended: 9/11/13 in Senate
Vote: 27 - Urgency
PRIOR VOTES NOT RELEVANT
SUBJECT : Hueneme Beach shoreline protection
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill appropriates $1 million from the Safe
Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal
Protection Bond Fund (Prop 12) for emergency measures permitted
by the Coastal Commission (Commission) to prevent severe
infrastructure damage to streets and property located along the
Hueneme Beach caused by beach erosion and flooding.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1.Establishes Prop 12, a special fund available upon
appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of parks and
resources improvement. Prop 12 makes moneys available to the
State Coastal Conservancy for specified and related purposes,
including, but not limited to, the acquisition, enhancement,
restoration, protection, and development of coastal resources,
beaches, waterfronts, and public accessways, as specified.
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2.Provides, pursuant to Prop 12, $2.1 billion to protect land
around lakes, rivers, and streams and the coast to improve
water quality and ensure clean drinking water; to protect
forests and plant trees to improve air quality; to preserve
open space and farmland threatened by unplanned development;
to protect wildlife habitats; and to repair and improve the
safety of state and neighborhood parks.
This bill:
1.Makes the following findings and declarations:
A. Funds are needed immediately for the City of Port
Hueneme to implement emergency measures to prevent
significant damage caused by severe erosion at Hueneme
Beach to public infrastructure, public roads that include a
route identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
as feeding into a tsunami evacuation route, and community
areas.
B. These funds are also needed to prevent down coast
negative impacts to the Ormond Beach Wetlands, a sensitive
and ecologically important public resource, to ensure that
the environmental quality of this unique estuary is
protected.
C. Given the sizeable waste that remains at the Halaco
Superfund Site, these funds are also critically needed to
prevent downshore erosion.
1.Appropriates $1 million from Prop 12 to the State Coastal
Conservancy for a grant to the City of Port Hueneme. Requires
the funding to be allocated for emergency measures to prevent
severe infrastructure damage to streets and property located
along the Hueneme Beach caused by beach erosion and flooding.
Requires this appropriation to only be used for erosion
control projects for which a permit has been approved by the
Commission.
2.Contains an urgency clause and explains that it is necessary
for this measure to take effect immediately to provide the
necessary funding as soon as possible to implement emergency
measures designed to prevent severe infrastructure damage to
public infrastructure, public roads, and community areas
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threatened by flooding as a result of severe erosion along
Hueneme Beach in the City of Port Hueneme.
Background
The City of Port Hueneme is in dire need of emergency funding
from the state to implement immediate measures to prevent severe
erosion from damaging public infrastructure, including a road
identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as feeding
into a tsunami evacuation route. There are also concerns about
down shore threats to the Ormond Beach Wetlands and the waste
piles at the Halaco Superfund Site, if the erosion is allowed to
extend further down the coast. This erosion problem was
originally created by the construction of the deep-water Port of
Hueneme many years ago. While federal cuts over the previous
decade have contributed to the problem, the situation has been
exacerbated by the fact that the City is also experiencing an
especially severe erosion event this year similar to one that
last occurred two decades ago.
The Commission has been using an incremental approach for any
erosion control projects undertaken by the City. The City can
only apply for an emergency permit when the erosion reaches a
new stretch of roadway, authorizing work for only that segment.
In the last two months, the Commission has approved two
emergency permits for the City of Port Hueneme for emergency
mitigation. The City has expended $500,000 or 3% of its general
fund for this work, and anticipates that it will need additional
permits from the Commission as the erosion reaches new sections
of roadway. Funding is needed immediately before winter storms
take their toll.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to Assembly Appropriations Committee:
Potential increased expenditures of $1 million from
Proposition 12.
Minor administrative costs to the Coastal Conservancy, the
Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Commission.
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SUPPORT : (Verified 9/12/13)
Congresswoman Julia Brownley, 26th District, California
City of Port Hueneme
Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long, Third District
RM:nl 9/12/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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