BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 436
Author: Jackson (D), et al.
Amended: 9/11/13
Vote: 27 - Urgency
PRIOR SENATE VOTES NOT RELEVANT
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Not available
SUBJECT : Port 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. Requires
that should the Commission require work at Hueneme Beach that is
not eligible for Prop 12 funding, the Harbors and Watercraft
Revolving Fund (HWRF) provide funding.
Assembly Amendments delete the prior version of this bill
relating to notices under the California Environmental Quality
Act and instead provide funding from various sources for the
City of Port Hueneme to implement emergency measures to prevent
damage caused by erosion at Hueneme Beach.
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ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1.Establishes Prop 12, a special fund available upon
appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of parks and
resources improvement. Makes moneys available to the Coastal
Conservancy (Conversancy) 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.
2.Establishes the HWRF, a special fund available upon
appropriation by Legislature, for purposes, among other
things, of the operation and maintenance of units of the state
park system that have boating-related activities.
3.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
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Superfund Site, these funds are also critically needed to
prevent downshore erosion.
1.Appropriates $1 million from Prop 12 to the 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.Requires, if the Commission requires a project that is not
eligible for funding under Prop 12, $1million to be allocated
by either loan or grant from the HWRF for a grant or loan to
the City of Port Hueneme. Requires the funding to be available
for emergency measures to prevent severe infrastructure damage
to streets and property located along 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.
3.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
threatened by flooding as a result of severe erosion along
Hueneme Beach in the City of Port Hueneme.
4.Specifies that this bill only becomes effective if AB 606
(Williams) is enacted; on or before January 1, 2014.
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
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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.
Potential increased expenditures of $1 million or more from
the Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund by increasing
funding eligibility.
Minor administrative costs to the Conservancy, the Department
of Parks and Recreation, and the Commission.
SUPPORT : (Verified 9/11/13)
Congresswoman Julia Brownley, 26th District, California
City of Port Hueneme
Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long, Third District
OPPOSITION : (Verified 9/11/13)
Recreational Boaters of California
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RM:nl 9/12/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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