HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1985/01/15 Item 10 OUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT
- - 10
Item
Meeting Date 1/15/85
ITEM TITLE: Resolution //p00/In support of a second entrance to San Diego Harbor
SUBMITTED BY: Community Development Director A (4/5ths Vote: YES NO X )
REVIEWED BY: City Manager9
At the December 1 workshop, the City Council asked that consideration and priority be
given to restudy the feasibility of a second harbor entrance to San Diego Bay. For
almost 50 years this has been subject to discussion and has never really taken hold.
At the present time the Corps of Engineers is close to releasing a report that is
negative and will close the issue permanently. As we are aware, in their appearance
here in November, the Corps stated they will withhold the release of the aforementioned
report if a new study is undertaken.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Council adopt the resolution which endorses the revival of
studies relative to the feasibility of a second entrance to San Diego Bay.
BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: Not applicable.
DISCUSSION:
The potential beneficiaries of a second harbor entrance are the Port District, the
military, and South Bay cities. The degree of benefit, however, has never been fully
discussed or ascertained. The Corps' study was lacking in many areas because it did
not recognize the potential for usage of the bay by commercial/non-military interest.
It is apparent that with or without military use, an opening in the southern portion
of the bay would shorten the amount of time it takes South Bav boating interests to
reach the ocean by an hour or more.
Presently, all cities of the Unified Port District are considering the petitioning of
the Port and the Corps to revive this issue. The Chambers of Commerce of the member
cities, including Chula Vista, took a similar action last week (see Exhibit A) . In
discussing this issue with the Corps of Engineers and others, it is apparent that the
following must take place if the issue is going to be restudied.
1. Inform the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of the support of cities within the
Unified Port District for a restudy of a second entrance and therefore request
that their own study on the subject not be released.
2. Under the aegis of the Port District, perform an economic study to determine
the cost benefit ratio for commercial and recreational benefits . In addition,
review the military need, the cost benefit, and the possibility of pro rating
the benefit with commercial/Port District interest.
RA-4 (Rev. 1/80)
Page 2, Item 10
Meeting Date 1/15/85
3. Obtain the support of San Diego County's Congressional delegation with respect
to a restudy; withholding the current Corps of Engineers' report; and, support
for a new study that would include the Department of Defense rethinking their
position on military usage.
A restudy of the second harbor entrance issue should provide for various sources of
financing such an undertaking. The previous proposals all hinged on the need for a
second entrance by the Department of Defense. There may be some middle ground, how-
ever, whereby the Port District and the Department of Defense can share the costs. A
new study should take this into consideration.
Another concern is the possible environmental consequences relative to the construction
of a second entrance. Issues range from beach erosion along the Silver Strand and
Coronado, water quality, and biological changes cuased by a second entrance within the
South Bay. Another subject of vital interest to Coronado in particular concerns free
access via a bridge or a tube over or under the new entrance. While these items are
not resolved, the purpose of the resolution is to revive the issue of a second entrance
to the bay rather than to dismiss the matter in its entirety as the Corps of Engineers
is ready to do at any moment.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Not applicable at this time.
PGD:as
by City Cr 1 of
Chu a Vista, Ca iaria
Dated /--(5 S
�O�