2011/10/25 City Council Resolution 2011-100RESOLUTION NO. 2011-100
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
SUPPORTING HR 192 (WOOLSEY)
THE GULF OF THE FARALLONES AND CORDELL BANK NATIONAL MARINE
SANCTUARIES BOUNDARY MODIFICATION AND PROTECTION ACT
WHEREAS, February 8, 2005, the City Council of the City of Rohnert Park adopted Resolution
No. 2005 -32 supporting HR 5352 (Woolsey), the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National
Marine Sanctuaries Boundary Modification and Protection Act; and
WHEREAS, the City has been asked to support the expansion of the protected boundy area (HR
192); and
. WHEREAS, HR 192 would adjust the boundary of our two existing sanctuaries north and
westward to protect the Sonoma and southern Mendocino Coast's natural beauty and significant bio-
diversity. This adjustment will take the sanctuaries into deeper water making it more difficult to extract
oil from the ocean floor; and
WHEREAS, the National Marine Sanctuaries are only designated in areas that have special
biological significance. The Sonoma Coast is one of the most biologically productive regions in the
world. These waters will protect the California Upwelling Ecosystem, one of only four major coastal
upwelling systems on our planet, the only such system in the U.S., comprising only 1 percent of the
ocean but producing 20 percent of the world's fish, critical passages for endangered salmon and
steelhead, essential haulouts for seals and sea lions, and prolific nurseries for hundreds, perhaps
thousands, of aquatic species; and
WHEREAS, HR 192 does not add any additional regulations to fishing. That will be left to the
State of California, which has jurisdiction in state waters, and to the Pacific Fisheries Management
Council, which already has federal jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, by protecting the Sonoma and southern Mendocino coast and estuaries, HR 192
will protect the Bodega Marine Laboratory investment in marine research, jobs that are dependent on a
tourist economy, and sports fishing. And, because the Bill will protect fish habitat, it will protect the
livelihoods of commercial fishermen.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Rohnert Park
supports the passage of HR 192 legislation that will preserve our Sonoma County coastal and estuary
properties.
DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED this 25th day of October, 2011.
0 TTR CT•
CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
Mayor
AHANOTU: AYE CALLINAN: ABSENT MACKENZIE: AYE STAFFORD: AYE BELFORTE: AYE
AYES: (4) NOES: (0) ABSENT: (1) ABSTAIN: (0)