HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11232010 - C.30RECOMMENDATION(S):
SUPPORT Senator Feinstein's bill, S. 3927, that establishes a National Heritage Area for
the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and its companion bill in the House, H.R. 6329,
introduced by Congressman John Garamendi, as recommended by Supervisor Mary N.
Piepho.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The legislation would authorize $10,000,000 ($1,000,000 in any fiscal year) to the Delta
Protection Commission to implement the National Heritage Area (NHA), with up to 50
percent federal cost-share for improvement projects.
BACKGROUND:
The legislation, S. 3927, would establish the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National
Heritage Area to protect and promote the cultural, historical, and natural assets of the
region. The legislation would authorize $10,000,000 ($1,000,000 in any fiscal year) to the
Delta Protection Commission to implement the National Heritage Area (NHA), with up to
50 percent federal cost-share for improvement projects. Private property owners and tribes
are explicitly protected in the
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 11/23/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Lara DeLaney,
925-335-1097
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: November 23, 2010
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
C.30
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Supervisor Mary N. Piepho
Date:November 23, 2010
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Support Position on Senator Feinstein's National Heritage Area Bill, S. 3927
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
legislation and capable of opting out of any recommendations. State water procurement
policy is not within the mission statement of the National Heritage Area.
Attached is the bill language for S. 3927 with the changes requested by the Delta
Protection Commission and members of the Delta Counties Coalition, in addition to a few
more changes to the funding language that were required by the House Authorizing
Committee (Chairman Nick Rahall) to make the bill more consistent with other NHA’s
around the country.
Senator Feinstein is trying to include this legislation in any spending Omnibus that passes
this session. If none passes, the legislation will likely be reintroduced in January in the
new session. This language has also been shared with Congressman Garamendi’s staff.
Staff assumes that the House bill, H.R. 6329, will be amended to achieve consistency
with S. 3927.
On July 13, 2010, the Board of Supervisors took a position to "Support in Concept" the
development of a bill that would establish a National Heritage Area for the Delta. The
Board also recognized the local outreach efforts to engage stakeholders in the
development of the bill. Contra Costa County has indicated its support for federal
assistance for the Delta at a scale and magnitude comparable to the ongoing national
efforts to restore the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, and the Everglades. The Delta is just
as vital and important to our national interests as these other important regions of the
country. The designation of the Delta as a National Heritage Area with associated
funding constitutes a possible first step toward this goal.
The Delta counties have expressed their concern about the local match requirement in the
bill (the federal share "shall not be more than 50 percent"). However, the language in the
bill does provide for the non-Federal share being in the form of "in-kind contributions of
goods or services."
The boundaries of the Heritage Area for the Contra Costa County area include the land
designated as part of the Delta "Primary Zone," as defined in state statute, as well as the
Delta located in the areas of Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley, Brentwood, Bethel Island and
the Agricultural Core which have been historically associated with the Delta landscape.
Please see the attached map for additional information.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the County does not support this bill, it is likely that Senator Feinstein would withdraw
her support of the bill and an NHA would not be created for the Delta at this time.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
None.
ATTACHMENTS
S. 3927 Delta National Heritage Area
Delta NHA Proposed Boundary