HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 6110 RESOLUTION NO. 6110
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
OPPOSING THE DESIGNATION OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER
WITHIN THE 82 SQUARE MILE FLOOD PLAIN AREA IN SOUTHEAST
LOS ANGELES COUNTY AS AN AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVER
WHEREAS, President Clinton has announced the American Heritage Rivers Initiative
and will designate 10 American Heritage Rivers in early 1998; and
WHEREAS, members of Congress and others have expressed concern about the
impact of the American Heritage Rivers Initiative; and
WHEREAS, the basic purpose of the Initiative is to coordinate federal services with
local communities to assist with conservation and economic development opportunities
but provides no new sources of financial assistance; and
WHEREAS, the adopted Los Angeles River Master Plan has already identified
opportunities for environmental enhancement and other opportunities within fully
developed communities along the Los Angeles River; and
WHEREAS, flood protection in the 82 square mile flood plain area in southeast Los
Angeles County has yet to be restored since the system was found to provide
inadequate levels of flood protection in 1989; and
WHEREAS, failure to restore flood protection in timely manner will continue to risk the
lives and safety of over 500,000 people residing in the flood plain and hundreds-of
thousands more working there and risk damages of$2.25 billion from a 100 year flood
event; and
WHEREAS, the failure to restore flood protection in a timely manner exposes property
owners to mandated flood insurance costing $131 million annually, and threatens the
economic viability of the subregion with the possible loss of$31 billion in economic
activity and 120,000 jobs during implementation of flood control improvements; and
WHEREAS, the designation of the Los Angeles River within the flood plain could have
a significant impact on the funding and schedule for restoring adequate flood protection;
and
WHEREAS, failure to maintain adequate progress on restoring flood protection
threatens the eligibility of communities for Flood Restoration Zone designation which
would provide relief from onerous National Flood Insurance Program requirements; and
RESOLUTION NO. 6110
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WHEREAS, any nomination of the L.A. River that includes the lower reaches within the
flood plain will not meet the criteria for selecting rivers for designation as developed by
the Administration, including broad community support, local/regional partnerships, and
measurable results; and
WHEREAS, it is neither desirable nor necessary, to designate the entire Los Angeles
River an American Heritage River; and
WHEREAS, the City of Downey supports the concept of American Heritage River
designation in the upper reaches of the Los Angeles River where adequate flood
protection exist.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Downey opposes the designation of
the Los Angeles River within the flood plain area in southeast Los Angeles County as
an American Heritage River until flood protection has been restored.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 28th day of October , 1997.
Mayor , B� BARA J. ILEY
ATTEST:
111 / /
4FCterk , JUDITH E. MC DONNELL
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council of the City of Downey thereof held on the 28th day of
October 1997, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: 5 Council Members McCarth y, McCaughan, Lawrence, Brazelton, Riley
NOES: 0 Council Members None
ABSENT: 0 Council Members None
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Clerk , JUDI H E. MC DONNELL
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