HomeMy WebLinkAbout6715 - Opposition of Offshore Drilling OperationsTLW °.1ec
3/7/68
RESOLUTION N0, 6715
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
NEWPORT BEACH DECLARING ITS OPPOSITION TO OFFSHORE
DRILLING OPERATIONS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF OIL OR
GAS AND FURTHER DECIARING A POLICY OF PRESERVATION
AND PROTECTION OF THE TIDELANDS AREA OF NEWPORT
BEACH FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES
WHEREAS, the City of Newport Beach is the grantee in
trust of considerable areas of tide and submerged lands which
were conveyed to the City by three statutory grants from the
Legislature, occurring in 1919, 1927 and 1929; and
WHEREAS, the tide and submerged lands granted to the
City comprise all of the ocean beaches within the city limits
and the area known as Lower Newport Bay; and
WHEREAS, Newport Bay is primarily used for recrea-
tional boating with over 8000 vessels presently being accommo-
dated on a permanent basis and is also a home port for a signif-
icant commercial and sport fishing industry; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature has declared that it is the
public policy of the State of California to promote the conser-
vation and use of the natural resources of this State for the
purposes of health and recreation; and
WHEREAS, the City Charter of the City of Newport Beach
expressly prohibits the drilling for, exploration, production or
refining of oil, gas or other hydrocarbon substances within the
limits of the City of Newport Beach; and
WHEREAS, Article 49 Chapter 3, Part 2,,Division 6, of
the Public Resources Code, governs oil and gas leases on tide
and submerged lands and beds of navigable rivers and lakes, and
as amended in 1955 is more commonly known as the Cunningham -
Shell Act; and
lml� WHEREAS, the Cunningham -Shell Act provides that the
tide and submerged lands that may be leased by the State are
those extending from the northerly city limits of the City of
Newport Beach, Orange County, to the northerly boundary of the
State of California; and further provides in Section 6878 of the
Public Resources Code that no city to which the State has granted
tidelands shall enter any lease for the extraction of oil or gas
from such tidelands located in any area enumerated in Section
6871.2 nor from those tidelands located in the area from the north-
erly city limits of the City of Newport Beach to the southerly
boundary of the State of California until the State Lands Commis-
sion has made certain findings in accordance with the provisions
of Section 6872 or Section 6872.1; and
WHEREAS, legislation has been introduced in the State
Legislature on different occasions which would have the effect
of repealing those provisions of the Cunningham -Shell Act which
create oil drilling sanctuaries off the coast of the City of
I.
Newport Beach and furthermore would eliminate the control over
tide and submerged lands presently vested in the State Lands Com-
mission; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the best interests
of the City of Newport Beach and the State of California will be
served by excluding all operations for the extraction of oil from
the tide and submerged lands off the shore of the City of Newport
Beach and by further developing and conserving those natural
resources for health and recreational purposes;
NOW, THEREFORE,, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council
declares that the policy of the City of Newport Beach is to pre-
serve and protect the recreational facilities along the tidelands
of the Pacific Coast for the use and enjoyment of the public.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is also the policy of
the City of Newport Beach, in consideration of the City Charter,
that no drilling for, exploration, production or refining of oil,
gas or other hydrocarbons shall be permitted off the shore of
'T the City of Newport Beach.
2.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council declares
that it is unalterably opposed to the repeal of any provision of
the Public Resources Code relating to oil and gas leases on tide
and submerged lands which would have-the effect of allowing off-
. shore drilling for oil and gas in the legislatively recognized
sanctuary areas presently existing in the tidelands of the City
of Newport Beach or which would have the effect of eliminating
the requirement of prior approval by the State Lands Commission
of any leases made or proposed to be made by a grantee of tide-
lands.
ADOPTED this 11th day of March, 1968.
Mayor
ATTEST-
/ i., - .
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3.
- :,
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE )
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH )
I, LAURA LAGIOS, City Clerk of the City of Newport Beach, California,
do hereby certify that according to the records of the City of Newport Beach
filed and maintained in my office, the foregoing Resolution No. 6715 was
duly and regularly adopted, passed, and approved by the City Council of the
City of Newport Beach, California, at a regular meeting of said City Council
held at the regular meeting place thereof, on the 11th day of March 1968,
by the following vote, to wit:
AYES, COUNCILMEN: Rogers, Marshall, Gruber, Cook,
NOES, COUNCILMEN:
ABSENT, COUNCILMEN:
Dated this 12th day of
Forgit, Shelton
None
Parsons
March 1968.
City Clerk and Ex- Officio C k of the
City Council, City of Newpo t Beach,
State of California