Res 97-011RESOLUTION NO. 97- 011
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF POWAY
EXPRESSING ITS SUPPORT FOR A 150-ACRE
LAGOON RESTORATION PROJECT AT THE
SAN DIEGUITO LAGOON
WHEREAS, the City of Poway is a member of the San Dieguito River Valley Regional
Open Space Park Joint Powers Authority ("JPA") and supports the goals and objectives of the
JPA as set forth in the Joint Powers Agreement executed by the City; and
WHEREAS, the City of Poway understands that a 150-acre lagoon restoration project is
proposed for the San Dieguito Lagoon located in the western end of the San Dieguito River
Valley and within the boundaries of the JPA's area of interest as set forth in the Joint Powers
Agreement and is to be funded by Southern California Edison ("SCE") and its owner/partners in
the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station ("SONGS") in partial satisfaction of California
Coastal Commission required mitigation for SONGS, Units 2 and 3 impacts to the fishery, all as
set forth in more detail in the 1991 Coastal Permit issued for the project and in the related files at
the JPA and at the Commission; and
WHEREAS, the San Dieguito Lagoon has long been recognized as an environmental
habitat and wetland asset on a local, regional, and statewide basis; and
WHEREAS, since the mm of the century, the Lagoon has become gravely degraded as
the result of human activities, including the upstream damming of the river, the construction of a
railroad trestle and coast highway across the Lagoon's mouth to the ocean, the construction of
1-5, the construction of the fairgrounds, and other human development and activities which have
constrained and constricted the Lagoon and its tidal connection to the ocean to the point where
much of the Lagoon's once vibrant habitat has been lost; and
WHEREAS, restoration of the Lagoon is a key goal of the JPA supported and endorsed
by this City; and
WHEREAS, it is understood that there are some interests who have indicated they would
like to relocate the SONGS mitigation currently proposed for San Dieguito, either totally or
partially, away fi:om San Dieguito to another site not in North County;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
The foregoing recitals are true and correct.
Resolution 9%011
Page 2
2. Support for Restoration
The City of Poway supports implementation of the full 150-acre wetland restoration
as currently called for by the 1991 Coastal Permit with San Dieguito as the primary
designated site and opposes relocation of any portion of the proposed restoration to
another site, in sum because:
The JPA and SCE have each already acquired extensive land in the San
Diegnito Lagoon for purposes of, and in reliance on, the anticipated San
Dieguito restoration, and there would be substantial public detriment and loss of
public (and in the case of SCE and the other SONGS partners, ratepayer)
moneys already invested in the acquisition of these lands and already invested in
the numerous other studies, environmental reviews, and design work conducted
to date on a San Dieguito project if the project does not go forward at San
Dieguito.
Bo
The JPA, representing its City members and the County, and the residents,
ratepayers, and taxpayers thereof with respect to park and open space planning
in the river valley, has entered into Memoranda of Agreement ("MOA's") with
SCE and has developed working relationships with a myriad of other agencies
and owners having jurisdiction and owning property in the river valley all in
reliance on SCE's commitment to a San Dieguito project and all for the purpose
of implementing the restoration project at San Dieguito, and a San Dieguito
restoration has substantial momentum as well as agency, landowner, and public
support, and is well down the road to implementation having been actively
under study since 1991.
Co
While it is recognized that a final decision as to the precise design and scope of
the restoration at San Dieguito cannot be made at this time, and no commitment
to any specific project can be made until the CEQA and NEPA processes are
completed (with the JPA as lead agency under CEQA and the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service as lead agency under NEPA), all preliminary indications are
that a 150-acre restoration project at San Dieguito can be designed and
implemented in a reasonable and cost effective manner.
Do
Implementation of the restoration project at San Dieguito will serve as the
centerpiece of the western end of the river valley and will serve as a catalyst
encouraging other public agencies and private owners to participate in
expanding the restoration effort, hopefully, one day achieving the ultimate
vision of a fully restored and functioning wetlands and uplands providing
Resolution 97-011
Page 3
important habitat, open space, public access, recreational, scientific, fisheries,
and other benefits to the region. Because of its unique location, the SCE
150-acre San Dieguito project is expected to generate a synergy resulting in
much greater ultimate public benefit.
San Dieguito is uniquely suited to the 150-acre restoration because of the
existence of the JPA and the public agency/private parmerships and related
institutional arrangements established by the JPA specifically to carry out the
restoration project at this location.
San Dieguito is the closest lagoon system to SONGS that can accommodate the
type and scope of restoration proposed, and it is appropriate that mitigation for
SONGS be provided as close as possible to SONGS.
San Dieguito Lagoon is uniquely suited for the restoration in that all, or nearly
all, of the needed property is already in public ownership. The Lagoon is in
need of restoration and can be successfully restored, i.e., while portions are
degraded it can be restored by known technology.
San Dieguito is close to large population centers that will benefit from the
recreational and open space aspects of the project and is close to educational and
scientific institutions that can benefit from the restoration as an educational and
scientific resource.
SCE and its SONGS partners made a "deal" in 1991 when they accepted the
Coastal Pemfit calling for a San Dieguito project. The JPA and other public and
private parties have relied in good faith on that commitment and SCE and its
partners should honor that commitment with equal good faith.
3. Coastal Commission Proceedings
The City of Poway understands that the San Dieguito 150-acre restoration is
under consideration by the California Coastal Commission incident to a permit
amendment request filed by SCE and its SONGS partners. The City of Poway
further understands and does not oppose the possible revision and modification
of some of the conditions of approval of the SCE mitigation project set forth in
the 1991 permit as the Commission deems appropriate, provided that the scope
of the project and the permit remains firm in requiring a 150-acre restoration
effort at the San Dieguito Lagoon.
Resolution 97- 011
Page 4
Approval of this resolution is subject to the understanding that: 1) in the event
that for any reason the project at San Dieguito is finally determined by the
Coastal Commission to be infeasible that the project nevertheless will go
forward somewhere in San Diego County; and 2) any funds currently allocated
to San Dieguito not spent at San Dieguito will be allocated to other projects in
San Diego County consistent with previous Coastal Commission actions in
1991 and 1992.
PASSED, ADOPTED, AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Poway at a
regular meeting thereof this 25th day of February, 1997.
Don Higginson, Mayor ~ ~
ATTEST:
Marjo~_~Wahlsten, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
) S$o
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO )
I, Marjorie K. Wahlsten, City Clerk of the City of Poway do hereby certify, under the
penalty of perjury, that the foregoing Resolution 97- 011 , was duly adopted by the Poway
City Council at a meeting of said City Council held on the 25th day of February, 1997, and that it
was so adopted by the following vote:
AYES: CAFAGNA, EMERY, REXFORD, HIGGINSON
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: GOLDBY
ahlsten, City Clerk