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Consider Adoption of Resolution Supporting the Free and Safe Passage of Whales, Sea Turtles, and Other Marine Animals in Alameda’s Coastal Waters and the State of California’s Vision Zero Target of Zero Mortality for Whales and Sea Turtles. (Councilmember Herrera Spencer)
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COUNCIL REFERRAL FORM
The Council can take any of the following actions:
1) Take no action.
2) Refer the matter to staff to schedule as a future City Council agenda item. Concurrence that staff time will be devoted to the item does not signify approval.
3) Take dispositive action only on time sensitive legislative matters if sufficiently noticed such that the public and Council have been provided sufficient information by the published agenda, and no formal published notice of a public hearing is required.
Name of Councilmember(s) requesting referral: Trish Herrera Spencer
Date of submission to City Clerk (must be submitted before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the Council meeting requested): September 30, 2024
Council Meeting date: October 15, 2024
Brief description of the subject to be printed on the agenda, sufficient to inform the City Council and public of the nature of the referral:
Request City Council take dispositive action to approve the proposed, "RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA SUPPORTING THE FREE AND SAFE PASSAGE OF WHALES, SEA TURTLES, AND OTHER MARINE ANIMALS IN ALAMEDA’S COASTAL WATERS AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA’S VISION ZERO TARGET OF ZERO MORTALITY FOR WHALES AND SEA TURTLES."
The proposed Resolution was submitted by Ben Grundy, of the Center for Biological Diversity. See attached correspondence. It is similar to a resolution approved by the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco in 2014, with additional language regarding Alameda's efforts to protect marine animals and coastal waters. It is critical that cities such as Alameda take such action in alignment with the California Ocean Protection Council which approved the Strategic Plan to Protect California’s Coast and Ocean which includes a target of zero mortality (Vision Zero) for whales and sea turtles.
Thank you for your consideration.
The City Council approved a Strategic Plan on November 21, 2023, which established the following 5 priorities:
A. Enhance Community Safety & Services
B. Build Resilience to Climate Change & Water Level Rise
C. Invest in Transportation, Infrastructure, Economic Opportunities & Historic Resources
D. House All Alamedans & End Homelessness
E. Practice Fiscal Responsible, Equitable & Inclusive Governance
If applicable, briefly describe which Council priority the subject falls under and how it relates:
B. Build Resilience to Climate Change & Water Level Rise. This resolution goes to protecting whales, sea turtles and other marine animals and preventing extinction, in their natural environment.