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Home My WebLink AboutOuter Continental Shelf - OCS - Local Government CoordinatioCouncil/Agency Meeting Held: t? Deferred/Continued to: ❑ Approved ❑ Conditionally Approved ❑ Denied Council Meeting Date: 06-19-95 City Clerk's Sign ture Department ID Number: 95-100 CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION SUBMITTED TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SUBMITTED BY: MICHAEL T. UBERUAGA, City Administra Zd LAMA _— PREPARED BY: RICHARD BARNARD, Deputy City Administrator SUBJECT: Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Local Government Coordination Program Statement of Issue, Funding Source, Recommended Action, Alternative Action, Analysis, Environmental Status, Statement of Issue: The city has received a.request from the City of Newport Beach to financially participate with other coastal cities and counties in a lobbying effort to have Congress add, for the fourteenth year, a oil drilling ban in the coastal waters of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Funding Source: $2,000. from account AA-AD-102-593 Recommended Action: Authorize the expenditure of $2,000 to support lobbying counties for the continuation of a ban on oil drilling in the Continental Shelf (OCS). E. Alternative Action(s): efforts by coastal cities and coastal waters of the Outer 1. Not to financially participate in the OCS Local Government Coordination Program. REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION MEETING DATE: 06-19-95 DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER: 95-100 Analysis: The city of Huntington Beach has been opposed to the expansion of off -shore drilling in Federal waters off the coast of California since the early 1980's. The city had been a financial participant in the OCS Local Government Coordination Program for many years, which was administered by the County of Santa Cruz. At that time, Richard Charter was the Coalition's lobbyist in Washington D.C. and worked closely with Congress on behalf of the Coalition. This effort was successful in influencing Congress, for the last 10 years to have included in the Department of Interior's annual budget, a ban on oil drilling in the coastal waters of the Outer Continental Self. Over the last ten years, the Coalition monitored this important issue, and in recent years as the moratorium has been routinely extended, the coalition's funding and lobbying efforts has diminished, based on need. According to Newport Beach, it is critical that the coalition be immediately re-established to retain a lobbyist in Washington D.C. and a coordinator in California to fight off efforts in Congress to lift the ban and open the OCS to leases which would allow a resumption of oil drilling in coastal waters. The City of Newport Beach has recently informed us that the Chair of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, Ralph Regula (R-Ohio), and the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Bob Livingston (R-Louisiana), support offshore oil drilling. After meeting with a small group of representatives from California cities and counties, the City of Newport Beach proceeded to employ the services of two companies to assist local governments with the drilling ban issue. The Ferguson Company, a Washington D.C. based lobbying firm, will work with local governments and the Congress on the oil ban issue. On the west coast, The Center for Marine Conservation, will work to coordinate media contacts and produce written materials and information exchange. In order to sustain this effort between now and the adoption of the Federal Budget (September -October 1995), the city of Newport Beach is estimating the cost to be between $20,000 - $25,000. The City of Newport Beach is requesting each participating city to contribute $2,000 and each participating county contribute $2,500 to sustain this lobbying effort. Environmental Status: Not applicable Attachment(s): 1. Letter from Newport Beach City Manager, Dated May 30, 1995 2. Invoice for $2,000 3. List of cities and counties who have been requested to 0012414.01 -2- 06/07/96 12:56 PM V . J 1 . 177.7 7!' 1 J V. 1 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH May 30, 1995 Via FAX Mr. Michael Uberuaga, City Admistrator City of Huntington Reach P.O. Box 190 Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Dear Mike: Your assistance Is urgently needed to prevent the termination by Congress of a fourteen year ban of offshore drilling. For the past fourteen years Congress has added the drilling ban to the interior Department's annual budget; however, this Regula (R-Ohlo), and the Chair ear the Chair of the House i ofethe Hrior ouse Appropriaiations tions Committee, Bob Livingston (R-Louisiana), support offshore drilling. It will take a major effort In California and Washington to move the new leaders in Congress to extend the moratorium another year. Over the last ten years as many as twenty cities and ten counties participated in a coalition to monitor this Important issue, and in recent years as the moratorium has been routinely extended the coalition's funding and lobbying has diminished based on need. However, It Is critical that our coalition be Immediately re-established to retain a lobbyist In Washington and a coordinator In California. A few weeks ago a small group of representatives from California cities and counties met to discuss this Issue. Our City volunteered to Immediately retain a lobbyist In Washington to begin making contacts and developing a legislative strategy. The first report from The Ferguson Company dated May 17th is attached for your information and It confirms our need to get organized quickly before the Appropriations Comm.ttee begins meeting In mid to late June. On the West Coast, the Center for Marine Conservation has agreed to coordinate media contacts, the production of written materials and information exchange. The Director in the Pacific Region Is Warner Chabot. (415) 391- 6204. I've attached an Initial place of written information prepared by the Center for Marine Conservation for your Information and use. Now, what you can do. We will need an estimated $20,000 - $25,000 to sustain lobbying and coordination efforts on the West and Bast coasts between now City Hall • 3300 Newport Boulevard • Newport Beach, California 92663-3884 it -. 1 _� . ii i ii-c,.A : ]i 1 v Oi.177,, 7r-L, .2- and the adoption of the Federal Budget. We are asking each County to contribute $2,500 and each City $2,000 by sending a check made payable to the "City of Newport - In Trust for OCS" as soon as possible. Our City will act as treasurer for this effort and coordinate contracts with The Ferguson Company and the Center for Marine Conservation. Any funds which aren't used this year on this legislative effort will be retained and used next year or returned to each contributor on a pro rate basis depending on the legislative need. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office at your convenience at (714) 644-3000. Sincerely, A J, M h City Manager rR:II'1 l I I Y PIHNHUtK a5.s1.1775 a1:14 P. 3 INVOICE May 30, 1995 Contribution to the OCS Local Government Coordination Program, administered by the City of Newport Beach for consulting services Please make checks payable to: City of Newport Beach In Trust for OCS Attn: City Manager's Office 3300 Newport Boulevard Newport Beach, CA 02663 TOTAL $2,000 $2,000 i,=••-?1-55 071:09AM Y03 CITIES AND COUNTIES REQUESTED TO FINANCIALLY PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT COORDINATION PROGRAM CITY Avalon Arcata Capitola Dana Point Del Mar Half Moon Bay Huntington Beach Laguna Beach Manhattan Beach Marina Oceanside Pacific Grove Rancho Palos Verdes Redondo Beach San Clemente San Diego Santa Barbara Santa Cruz Santa Maria Santa Monica Torrance COUNTY Marin Mendocino Monterey San Francisco San Luis Obispo k San Mateo Santa Barbara Santa Cruz Sonoma