Amended in Assembly June 17, 2014

Senate Joint Resolution No. 20

Introduced by Senator Leno

March 19, 2014

Senate Joint Resolution No. 20—Relative to Safeguard Our Coast Day.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SJR 20, as amended, Leno. Safeguard Our Coast Day.

This measure would recognize the 50th anniversary of the state’s leadership and innovation in coastal planning and management and would proclaim February 16, 2015, and each 3rd Monday of February thereafter, as “Safeguard Our Coast Day.”

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, California’s coastal waters, waterfronts, wetlands,
harbors, estuaries, bays, ports, marinas, riparian areas, beaches,
and agricultural resources are important environmental and
economic resources of the state; and

WHEREAS, The coastal economy contributes $96 billion
annually to the state; and

WHEREAS, Eighty percent of California’s 38 million residents
live and work within 30 miles of the state’s coastline; and

WHEREAS, California ports, fisheries, coastal tourism, and
other economically productive uses of the ocean and coastline
support jobs for Californians and promote foreign trade; and

WHEREAS, Coastal agriculture contributes substantially to the
food supply and is a vital part of the state’s economy; and

WHEREAS, The ecological value of healthy coastal wetlands
and other endangered habitats for the fish and wildlife of California
is immense; and

WHEREAS, The California coast supports numerous
educational, scientific, and research activities; and

WHEREAS, The California coast offers cultural value and scenic
resources for public enjoyment and recreation that contribute to
the health and well-being of California residents and visitors from
around the world; and

WHEREAS, The increasing and competing demands upon
coastal lands and waters occasioned by population growth and
economic development have resulted in adverse changes to fragile
ecological systems and decreased open space for public recreation;
and

WHEREAS, An innovative strategy for protecting and enhancing
the coast and managing conflicts between development and coastal
resource protection has been in effect on a regional scale since
1965 in the San Francisco Bay area and for the entire California
coast since 1972; and

WHEREAS, The National Coastal Zone Management Program
was authorized by the federal Coastal Zone Management Act of
1972 (CZMA) (16 U.S.C. Section 1451 and following) to balance
economic development with the need to preserve, protect, enhance,
and restore the nation’s coastal resources; and

WHEREAS, The CZMA promotes coordination between the
federal government and the states by encouraging coastal states
to prepare coastal management programs that guide both state and
federal activities affecting the coast; and

WHEREAS, California’s coastal management program is
implemented by various entities within the Natural Resources
Agency, begin insert including end insert the San Francisco Bay Conservation and
Development Commission, the California Coastal Commission,
begin delete the California Ocean Science Trust, end delete and the State Coastal
Conservancy, working together and in partnership with the Ocean
Protection Council, begin insert the Ocean Science Trust, end insert the State Lands
Commission, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and other begin delete state
agencies end delete begin insert public agencies and nonprofit organizations end insert to carry out
CZMA goals; and

WHEREAS, The San Francisco Bay Conservation and
Development Commission, established by the McAteer-Petris Act
(Title 7.2 (commencing with Section 66600) of the Government
Code) in 1965, plans and regulates activities in and around the San
Francisco Bay and the Suisun Marsh; and

WHEREAS, The California Coastal Commission, established
by voter initiative in 1972 and on a permanent basis by the
Legislature in 1976, cooperates with local governments to manage
the conservation and orderly development of coastal resources
through a comprehensive planning and regulatory program; and

WHEREAS, The State Coastal Conservancy, established by the
Legislature in 1976, complements the work of the two permitting
agencies by employing nonregulatory, entrepreneurial techniques
and collaboration to implement projects to preserve, protect, and
restore public access, natural resources, urban waterfronts, and
agricultural lands along the Pacific coast and the San Francisco
Bay shoreline and its adjacent counties; and

WHEREAS, These three coastal management agencies, along
with other departments of the Natural Resources Agency, are
demonstrating leadership in the field of adaptation to climate
change and sea level rise, which are increasingly threatening
California’s coast and economy; and

WHEREAS, The state’s coastal management agencies
collaborate, innovate, and work on behalf of all Californians to
safeguard our coast; and

WHEREAS, Public participation is vital to the success of
California’s coastal management programs; and

WHEREAS, Protection of coastal resources from the effects of
sea level rise can provide valuable public benefits including, but
not limited to, flood protection; improved water quality; habitat
for fish, shellfish, and wildlife; recreational opportunities; enhanced
quality of life; and increased economic opportunities and property
values; and

WHEREAS, The state has a responsibility to manage and
conserve the public trust in coastal and ocean ecosystems as well
as the quality of life in coastal communities for the benefit of
current and future generations; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature recognizes the 50th
anniversary of the state’s leadership and innovation in enhancing
our coast, our economy, and our lives through coastal planning
and management, and supports the state’s role in the enhancement
and protection of coastal and ocean resources in cooperation with
the federal government; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature hereby proclaims February 16,
2015, and each third Monday of February thereafter as “Safeguard
Our Coast Day”; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.