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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09081992 - S.3 S. 3 Contra Costa �.,,... .... �:F County �ST,j C •"fN� TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: SUPERVISOR TOM TORLAKSON DATE: September 3 , 1992 SUBJECT: ASSESSMENT DISTRICT FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE AVON TO STOCKTON PORTION OF THE JOHN F. BALDWIN SHIP CHANNEL SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS Authorize the Chair to sign a letter to the Stockton Port District declaring interest in pursuing County involvement for - the establishment of assessments within the County and/or the. assumption of local responsibility for Channel Maintenance of the lower reach (Avon to New York Slough) portion of the Baldwin Ship Channel. FISCAL IMPACT None. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS The Baldwin Ship Channel Project, authorized in. 1965, provided for ship channel deepening operations from San Francisco to Stockton. The Stockton portion (Avon to Stockton) , was completed in 1987. The Stockton Port District assumed the local sponsorship role for this portion of the project. In June of 1992, the Stockton Port District declared their intention to form an assessment district to acquire funding for dredge disposal operations. Public hearings on establishment of the assessment district, how assessments will take place, and review of the engineering report commenced on Jule 20, 1992 and has been continued through August 3, to September 14, 1992 . CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) : ACTION OF BOARD ON September 8 . 1992 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER X IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the above recommendation is APPROVED; and the issue of the . County :becomming a more. involved. sponsor .:of the project , along with the examination of the issue of a County or a regional Contra Costa Port Authority. is REFERRED to the Water Committee . VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT I . V TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: Roberta Goulart, CDD ATTESTED September .8. 1992 cc: CAO PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF bounty Counsel THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS County Auditor AN COUNT ADMINISTRATOR Public Works Department Community Development Department BY a , DEPUTY v -- Industry located within Contra Costa County has been included in the proposed assessment district. Industry is very unhappy with the assessment district proposal and as a result, several companies have hired legal representation, and filed a protest. Staff initial review of assessment district formation and the engineering report detailing proposed assessments have found cause for industry concern in this regard. Among other concerns, assessments of Contra Costa industry seem unduly high, areas such as the Sacramento Port have not been included, and it appears there is little environmental review of these activities as may be required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) . Other assessment methodologies may more appropriately reflect industry's monetary percentage of responsibility for channel maintenance. Industrial ship channel users, (Gaylord Container, Domtar, USS Posco, Diablo Service, Dow, PG&E, Wickland Oil and Tosco) , have approached the County, indicating their concerns as well as their wish to pursue a more appropriate assessment of industry by this County, rather than receiving a tax assessment from San Joaquin County. Industry has also requested that Contra Costa County pursue local sponsorship for this portion of the ship channel. There has been some verbal indication that the Stockton Port District will agree to a transfer of responsibility, but no documentation has been received to verify this. As a hearing has been scheduled by the Port District for September 14 , 1992, at which time assessment district formation and levying of assessments will be addressed, it would be appropriate for a letter from the County to be part of the record indicating willingness to explore potential for the County to assume some responsibility in this regard. RG:gms C:wp51\sh\stock.bo