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HomeMy WebLinkAbout- - CA Jobs Initiative Attachment A - 7/6/2010RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF COSTA SUPPORTING THE INITIATIVE CITY COUNCIL OF THE MESA, CALIFORNIA, CALIFORNIA JOBS Attachment A THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: WHEREAS, California's economy is still suffering from a severe economic recession with an unemployment rate of more than 12% with more than two million out of work; and WHEREAS, local governments are facing budget deficits and potential spending cuts as a result of reduced revenues due to the recession; and WHEREAS, California's global warming law (AB 32) would impose significant additional costs on California cities and counties, specifically, up to 60% increase in electricity rates, increased natural gas costs and increased transportation fuel costs; and WHEREAS, AB 32 would also burden many local governments with a new state -mandated fee on some local facilities such as waste -treatment plants, landfills, co -generation facilities and other operations totaling several billion dollars; and WHEREAS, the increased costs resulting from AB 32 would reduce economic activity and result in more than one million lost jobs; and WHEREAS the California Air Resources Board and others have determined that AB 32's higher energy costs and job losses will disproportionately impact low- income families and small businesses; and WHEREAS, the reduced economic activity resulting from AB 32 would reduce revenues to local governments and the state which could equal between $2.2 billion to $5.8 billion per year; and WHEREAS, according to the California Air Resources Board and other experts, the greenhouse gas emission reductions from AB 32 would have no measurable impact on global warming; and WHEREAS, the California Jobs Initiative would temporarily suspend AB 32 until such time as the economy recovers, specifically when the unemployment rate returns to 5.5% for four consecutive quarters; and WHEREAS, the California Jobs Initiative would be a prudent strategy for local governments to avoid higher costs and reduced revenues so that they would have more resources to dedicate for delivering vital public services; and WHEREAS, according to the independent Legislative Analyst, "During the likely suspension of AB 32, state administrative costs to develop and enforce regulations pursuant to AB 32 would be reduced significantly. We estimate that the resulting state administrative cost savings and ultimately lower fees -could be in the low tens of millions of dollars annually;" and WHEREAS, according to the independent Legislative Analyst, "The suspension of the proposed cap -and -trade regulations could result in lower energy prices for consumers, including state and local government agencies that are large consumers of energy, than would be the case if AB 32 regulations were allowed to take effect. These lower energy prices, in turn, also would have positive economic impacts on the state;" and WHEREAS, the California Jobs Initiative does not have any impact on existing environmental laws in California. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Costa Mesa endorses the California Jobs Initiative to temporarily suspend implementation of AB 32 (The Global Warming Solutions Act). �d•Y•9210_101IX-119141a121sinew, ATTEST: City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa APPROVED AS TO FORM City Attorney STATE OF CALIFORNIA) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss CITY OF COSTA MESA ) day of July, 2010. Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa I, JULIE FOLCIK, City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa, hereby certify that the above and foregoing Resolution No. was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the day of July, 2010, by the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the City of Costa Mesa this day of 12010. City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa