HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso - CC - 011-2002RESOLUTION NO. 11-2002
SUPPORT FOR STATE LEGISLATION
TO FIX THE BAY AREA REGIONAL WATER SYSTEM
AND PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS FROM CATASTROPHIC WATER OUTAGES
WHEREAS, the City of Burlingame and its citizens depend on the Bay Area regional water
system operated by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) for all of their water
supply; and
WHEREAS, the 70 -year-old Bay Area regional water system is subject to catastrophic
damage in the event of an earthquake on the San Andreas, Calaveras or Hayward faults, which could
expose our residents and other Bay Area communities, including San Francisco, to the loss of water
for up to 60 days and to unacceptable health, safety and economic risks; and
WHEREAS, the SFPUC has delayed for several years approving a multi -billion dollar
construction program to fix the regional water system and has not acted to obtain financing to pay
for the necessary work; and
WHEREAS, even if the SFPUC raises the required financing, it has not demonstrated an
ability to manage and complete a construction program which will be ten times larger than any
construction program for the water system that it has undertaken; and
WHEREAS, the City of Burlingame believes the legislative approaches of state lawmakers
in Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties at this time contain the types of incentives,
oversight, and action at the state level, which are needed to ensure that the Bay Area water system
is fixed as soon as possible, without calling for a change in the system's ownership; and
WHEREAS, these legislative approaches address other concerns of Bay Area communities
with the regional water system, including the need to secure back-up supplies for drought -years
protection, equitable distribution of available water in the event of a catastrophe, and a commitment
to deliver water meeting federal and state drinking water standards; and
WHEREAS, the City. of Burlingame is prepared to pay its fair share of the cost to fix the
system.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Burlingame
supports these state legislative approaches and urges the Legislature and the Governor to approve
legislation, which contains incentives, oversight and actions at the state level to ensure that the Bay
Area regional water system is fixed without further delay.
Mayor
I, Ann T. Musso, City Clerk of the City of Burlingame, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Resolution was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 20th
day of February , 2002, and was adopted thereafter by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BAYLOCK, COFFEY, GALLIGAN, JANNEY, O'MAHONY
NOES: COUNCILMEM 3ERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
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Ci'4 Clerk