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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RES 07-14 RESOLUTION NO. 07-14 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, OPPOSING THE SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT'S EMISSION GROWTH MANAGEMENT CONTROL MEASURE The City Council of the City of Tustin does hereby resolve as follows: WHEREAS, improving air quality and reducing emissions is a top priority for the City, community leaders, and Southern California stakeholders; and WHEREAS, California homeownership rates among the lowest in the nation (California is 1.6 million homeowners below the national average and the median price of a home is $555,290) which prevents many working families from achieving the economic and society benefits homeownership provides; and WHEREAS, quality community planning and long-term job creation is best achieved at the local level through citizen participation and a land use process that is managed by City and County government leaders who are elected by and accountable to the voters; and WHEREAS, local city council representatives and members of county boards of supervisors already have in place effective tools including, but not limited to, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in order to ensure that all new housing, retail, and commercial production are efficient and well constructed; and WHEREAS, it is scientifically proven that the major source of air pollution is through mobile sources (buses, trains, planes, ships, cars, and trucks); and WHEREAS, technological innovations have resulted in the development of some of the most energy efficient homes, cars, and other amenities that can dramatically reduce air pollution if they are utilized by current and future residents; and WHEREAS, despite well-intended goals, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) proposed Emission Growth Management Control Measure, which includes an undefined, unlimited, and unaccountable new tax is a step backward; and WHEREAS, the proposal overrides city and county planning efforts by enacting a new tax on housing without any specific plan regarding how dollars will be used or requirement to ensure that the tax plan produces results; and Resolution No. 07-14 Page 1 of 3 WHEREAS, there is nothing in the proposal that addresses the primary source of pollution-mobile sources-and there is no assurance that the fees paid from local jurisdictions will be used in the local jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, there is no limitation on the size or scope of the fee, which threatens local governments who are responsible for funding public safety, transportation improvements, health care services, parks and recreation activities, and other vital public services; and WHEREAS, the fee proposal harms local redevelopment efforts and discourages investment in disadvantaged communities; and WHEREAS, the fee proposal penalizes citizens seeking to invest in the most energy-efficient housing options and also makes California's housing affordability crisis even worse than it is today; and WHEREAS, an alternative proposed by the Quality Planning Coalition presents a better and specific plan that can achieve the region's air quality goals, strengthen the community planning process and encourage the development of and utilization of the most energy-efficient housing, transportation, and community development strategies without the new and limitless fee; and WHEREAS, the City believes that the best approach to achieving the region's air quality goal is through an enhanced use of the existing CEQA air quality impact review process; an aggressive public outreach effort promoting a toolbox of available cost- effective clean air components for all new development; and an incentive-based approach to promote utilization of the most energy-efficient housing, transportation, and other environmentally friendly activities; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Tustin officially opposes the .South Coast Air Quality Management District's Proposed Emission Growth Management Control Measure and encourages the SCAQMD to work collaboratively with the Quality Planning Coalition and local government leaders throughout the region to help improve air quality without negatively impacting community planning, local government revenues, and ongoing efforts to improve homeownership. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Tustin City Council, held on the 15th day of January, 2007. Resolution No. 07-14 Page 2 of 3 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS CITY OF TUSTIN ) I, Pamela Stoker, City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Tustin, California, do hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City Council of the City of Tustin is five; that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 07-14 was duly th passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Tustin City Council, held on the 15day of January, 2007, by the following vote: Resolution No. 07-14 Page 3 of 3