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Home My WebLink AboutCC AG PKT 2012-05-14 #A SEA (' 'eti��'y AGENDA STAFF REPORT f DATE: May 14, 2012 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Jill R. Ingram, City Manager SUBJECT: OPPOSING THE ELIMINATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BOATING AND WATERWAYS SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Mayor Levitt requests that the City Council consider submitting a letter to Governor Brown, Jr. and the Little Hoover Commission, stating the City Council's strong opposition to the proposed elimination of the Department of Boating and Waterways. BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS: Recreational Boaters of California (RBOC) is urging the public to speak up in opposition to Governor Brown's proposal to eliminate the State Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating) and reconstitute the department as a division within the Department of Parks and Recreation. Boating and Waterways has responsibilities that are especially important to the Seal Beach community; it provides accountability, transparency, and leadership regarding the collection and use of boater-derived taxes and fees. It awards grants to local agencies to remove abandoned boats blighting our waterways; it provides funding to train Seal Beach lifeguards in boating operation, marine firefighting, and personal watercraft classes. Eliminating Cal Boating would not help resolve the state's fiscal problems, and would jeopardize programs and services which the boating community has determined to be essential and is willing to finance. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no environmental impact related to this item. LEGAL ANALYSIS: There is no legal analysis required for this item. Agenda Item A FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact. RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council submit a letter to Governor Brown, Jr. and the Little Hoover Commission, strongly opposing the proposed elimination of the Department of Boating and Waterways. NOTED AND APPROVED: . Ingram, City Mater Prepared by: Patrick Gallegos, Administrative Manager Attachments: A. Letter to Governor Brown, Jr. B. Letter to the Little Hoover Commission Page 2 r ,i,,,+,,,, ` F .4r R,F �;.: ,4...,h a ' ' `t .,,}',:4-,%,,,,,,, f a 1., t r e'' SERI-r -t, .� T _+i+ �i d ',! a h z,: , r t b .4 p6 `_.-_ .. t _ r jA i ¢ a you i` ` i T n r,i� ® I , .. 1 rt� t �� o 7 -1Q Z# t �, + h P + V 11LI IEIH" Y 4 SLAI BaCH * , , ; t ,a . , .. � � . ,L 7 ' 'ri -6?1 1 -S 7, lb Sr ' t ti: ". � ;,V r :k it; . 4{ , l't:A ( ..#B } ' rt' _ .v. .. . .:. a• 7 : •� ;+.•. - 'y 't'r.k• •F.•'..- t° 3-∎• '4:,. K,r R'.: ,'-: ti':,,,';:;: :v,.: ....; 9., o�_, +'i. . ->, „r-.! ,"SC47.k'"AVZ W -i`.. ,s;,,F'-:+i S'ri.rc ti °��' ey..,r .ys ';e , .: s ` '•{' •. . .'y i�: ^ = w'� .ri•..' <�.rr•,�- 'ts.I:5-:‘P.1411. r' h,� X :. le: ; }.r• :eI i,°. . i^. i. .'wf,-:i.F � .,� n. _�•'."' J''PI' . . :. c.,•...t . ^_ •May 14, 2012 • The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Governor State of California State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 ELIMINATION OF DEPARTMENT OF BOATING AND WATERWAYS — OPPOSED Dear Governor Brown: We strongly oppose your proposal to eliminate the Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating) and 're-constitute the department as a division within the Department of Parks and Recreation. Eliminating Cal Boating has already been soundly rejected four times, when it was proposed by Governor Pete Wilson in 1992 and 1996, and it was proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2003 and 2009. The reasons Cal Boating must continue remain just as vital today: Cal Boating provides accountability, transparency and leadership regarding the collection and use of boater-derived taxes and fees, and the best use of these funds for programs that benefit boating. Eliminating Cal Boating would not save a single General Fund dollar. The department is funded by boater fuel tax dollars, registration fees, and interest payments on infrastructure loans. Eliminating the department would not help resolve the current budget crisis. Cal boating creates jobs through loans and grants of boater fund for boating infrastructure throughout the state that ensures boater access waterways. This state's more than 3 million boating enthusiasts must have a department with a Director whose primary focus is boating. Cal Boating has a compact organizational structure and administers boating programs in a timely and non-bureaucratic manner. Its statutory charter is directly boating-related. While we understand the importance of finding savings during these difficult times, eliminating Cal Boating would not help resolve the state's fiscal problems, and would jeopardize programs and services which the boating community has determined to be essential and is willing to finance. We urge you to withdraw your proposal to eliminate the Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating). Sincerely, Mayor Michael P. Levitt Council Member Gordon A. Shanks Mayor Pro Tern Gary A. Miller Council Member David W. Sloan • Council Member Ellery A. Deaton Cc: Congressman Dana Rohrabacher Senator Tom Harman Jill R. Ingram, City Manager Quinn M. Barrow, City Attorney Joe Bailey, Marine Safety Chief ( ( i, ,-,•4.+ n i "��t ..,i,,,,,,,:,-$,:::,:..::,,,,,,,„;4;','„,t ,i -'�-4,'+ 4k :,. 4 ',.2‘4 r i.{ +,r 55,. d :"� ..r , r i g *. #t qt '-, ., +k r x',A :y 0 ., •, r ,.. '13 :T !` r t r s _.±1(,B yZ r J r �. t �t"� i 4 J .5. s x J..J i s .�� .1, t}-Qv '-5,'-t.t 5��'n'��._yy s. 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'4: .- May 14, 2012 Little Hoover Commission 925 L Street, Suite 805 Sacramento, CA 95814 • • ELIMINATION OF DEPARTMENT OF BOATING AND WATERWAYS — OPPOSED Dear Little Hoover Commission: We strongly oppose your proposal to eliminate the Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating) and re-constitute the department as a division within the Department of Parks and Recreation. Eliminating Cal Boating has already been soundly rejected four times, when it was proposed by Governor Pete Wilson in 1992 and 1996, and it was proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2003 and 2009. The reasons Cal Boating must continue remain just as vital today: • Cal Boating provides accountability, transparency and leadership regarding the collection and use of boater-derived taxes and fees, and the best use of these funds for programs that benefit boating. Eliminating Cal Boating would not save a single General Fund dollar. The department is funded by boater fuel tax dollars, registration fees, and interest payments on infrastructure loans. Eliminating the department would not help resolve the current budget crisis. Cal boating creates jobs through loans and grants of boater fund for boating infrastructure throughout the state that ensures boater access waterways. This state's more than 3 million boating enthusiasts must have a department with a Director whose primary focus is boating. Cal Boating has a compact organizational structure and administers boating programs in a timely and non-bureaucratic manner. Its statutory charter is directly boating-related. While we understand the importance of finding savings during these difficult times, eliminating Cal Boating would not help resolve the state's fiscal problems, and would jeopardize programs and services which the boating community has determined to be essential and is willing to finance. We urge you to withdraw your proposal to eliminate the Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating). Sincerely, Mayor Michael P. Levitt Council Member Gordon A. Shanks Mayor Pro Tern Gary A. Miller Council Member David W. Sloan Council Member Ellery A. Deaton Cc: Congressman Dana Rohrabacher Senator Tom Harman Jill R. Ingram, City Manager Quinn M. Barrow, City Attorney Joe Bailey, Marine Safety Chief