HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem MAGENDA REPORT
DATE: May 14, 2001
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: John B. Bahorski, City Manager
SUBJECT: AB 639 (Nakano)
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
That Council support AB 639 legislation which will assist in reducing the impacts of
urban stormwater runoff and authorize Mayor's signature on comment letter.
BACKGROUND:
California's coastline suffers from serious urban stormwater pollution problems. Each
year, there are over one trillion gallons of untreated urban runoff deposited directly into
the Pacific Ocean via storm drains.
Seal Beach is situated downstream of the San Gabriel River and has been directly
impacted by urban stormwater runoff. Improving ocean water quality has become a
priority issue with this community and supporting AB 639 will help towards that goal of
solving local water quality problems. The California Coastal Coalition, of which Seal
Beach is a member city, has also requested our support for this legislation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize Mayor's signature on letter supporting AB 639.
Supporting Documents
A) Letter of Support for AB 639
B) Test of AB 639
Agenda Item LL
May 15, 2001
Assemblymember George Nakano
State Capitol, Room 2148
Sacramento, California 95814
RE: Assembly Bill 639: SUPPORT
Dear Assemblymember Nakano
The City of Seal Beach strongly supports Assembly Bill 639 (Nakano), which will be heard in
the Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic materials. AB 639 will address
the issue of urban stormwater runoff that has become a priority environmental issue for our
community, both in terms of the risks to the health of our beachgoers and the fiscal health of
coastal communities.
Seal Beach is a small coastal community in Orange County that suffers from a serious urban
stormwater runoff pollution problem. The San Gabriel River Basin covers over 900 sq. mi. of
land within Los Angeles and Orange counties and the river empties runoff directly into our ocean
waters. Seal Beach has been subject to beach closures four times within six months in the year
2000 due to "unhealthy" ocean water quality.
Assembly Bill 639 responds to the urgent problem that urban stormwater runoff poses to our
ocean waters and to human health. This bill will direct the State Water Resources Board to
select three beaches with the highest closure rate to participate in a pilot program. Under this
pilot program, various best management practices will be implemented to aid in determine the
most appropriate way to manage and mitigate urban stormwater runoff.
Our ocean water quality will continue to be impacted by urban stormwater runoff unless action is
taken to mitigate this growing concern. AB 639 is a positive step in reducing the amount of
pollution in our coastal waters and Seal Beach fully encourages its adoption.
Sincerely, _
Patricia E. Campbell
Mayor, City of Seal Beach
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL l6, 2001
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE - 2001 -02 REGULAR SESSION
ASSEMBLY BILL No. 639
Introduced by Assembly Member Nakano
February 22, 2001
An
act to add Section 13194.10 to the Water Code, relating to water.
LeGISLATNE COUNSEUS DIGEST
AB 639, as amended, Nakano. Storm water discharges.
Under existing law, storm water discharges are regulated by the State
Water Resources Control Board and the California regional water
quality control boards under the national pollutant discharge
elimination system ( NPDES) permit program. Existing law requires
regional boards to undertake reasonable efforts to identify storm water
discharges that have not obtained coverage under an appropriate
NPDES permit.
This bill would
prevision require the board to select 3 beaches with high closure rates
for participation in a pilot program pursuant to which best management
practices would be required to be adopted for reducing the levels of
contamination to which those beaches are subjectedfrom the discharge
Of storm water from storm drain outlets. The bill would require the
board to monitor contamination on those beaches resulting from the
discharge ofstorm waterfor one year and to prepare a prescribed report
on or before January 1, 2004. The bill would make related findings and
declarations.
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AB 639
—2—
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: ere yes.
State - mandated local program: no.
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The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
impose the penalties deseribed in gubdivis on (a) of Seetiem.
1339933.
SECTION]. The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
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-3— AB 639
(a) Urban runoff is an immediate and potentially harmful
Problem in the state, and southern California has among the
nation's worst urban runoff problems.
(b) Storm drains empty unfrhered urban runoff directly into the
ocean, causing an unprecedented amount ofpollution off the coast
of CaWornta.
(c) More than one trillion gallons ofrunoffare released into the
ocean from Yentum to the Mexican border, which spreads out
nearly 26 miles from the coastline.
(d) It is imperative that the issue of urban runoff be addressed
immediately to prevent further contamination of water resources
in California.
SEC. 2. Section 13194.10is added to the Water Code, to read..
13194.10. (a) The board shall select three beaches with high
closure rates for participation in a pilot program pursuant to
which best management practices shall be adopted for reducing
the levels of contamination to which those beaches are subjected
from the discharge of storm water from storm drain outlets.
(b) Commencing with the institution of the pilot program, the
board shall monitor contamination on those beaches resulting
from the discharge ofstorm waterfor a period of one year.
(c) On or before January 1, 2004, the board shall submit the
results and findings of the pilot program, along with
recommendations for further action concerning runoff along the
coast of California, to the Legislature and the Governor.
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