DATE: December 18, 2018
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Director of Development Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Resolution to Protect Our Ocean and Coast from Offshore Drilling, Exploration, and Fracking
End
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the City Council adopts a resolution to oppose President Trump’s decision to allow and expand offshore drilling on the California coast (Attachment II). Adopting a resolution would include the City of Hayward among the 150 communities throughout the Pacific and Atlantic coasts that have already passed similar resolutions.
SUMMARY
The Development Services Department is requesting that the City Council adopts a resolution to oppose President Trump’s recent plan to open waters off the coast of California to oil and gas exploration and seabed leasing. The plan follows an executive order (E.O. 13795) that implements an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy. This would end a historic precedent that has protected the Pacific coast for over 30 years.
In early August, the Center for Biological Diversity contacted the City of Hayward and requested that the City voice support for California’s coastline and oppose President Trump’s plan. At the time, 50 west coast cities and counties had passed resolutions to oppose the plan. Currently, the number has grown to 75, including Alameda County, Berkeley, Contra Costa County, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco and many more.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I Staff Report
Attachment II Resolution