HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Reso 2015-16 RESOLUTION 2015-16
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CATHEDRAL CITY, SUPPORTING THE CALIFORNIA DESERT
CONSERVATION AND RECREATION ACT 2015
WHEREAS, Senator Dianne Feinstein has introduced the California Desert
Conservation and Recreation Act 2015 that certain unique, undeveloped, ecologically
and geologically significant, culturally important, and scenic areas of public land within
the California Desert Conservation Area are preserved as wilderness, wild and scenic
rivers, national monuments, and National Park and Preserve additions; and
WHEREAS, the Mojave National Preserve and BLM administered wilderness
and natural areas in the high desert are an important component of our community's
historic, cultural, economic, and social identity, and generate substantial economic
benefit for surrounding area businesses through local employment; tax revenues; visitor
spending on meals, lodging, and supplies; and
WHEREAS, national monuments, national park and wilderness designation has
been shown to increase tourism and attract new residents, thereby generating
substantial economic benefits for nearby communities through local employment and
tax revenue; and
WHEREAS, the proposed designation will contribute to our region's superior
desert and mountain vistas, air quality, water quality, peaceful soundscapes, and dark
night skies; and
WHEREAS, protected public lands will provide local residents and visitors with
opportunities for many recreational activities including hiking, horseback riding, rock
climbing, photography, camping, off-roading, wildlife viewing, scientific research, and
nature study; and
WHEREAS, protecting wild places and national park lands would ensure that
future generations can enjoy them tomorrow as we do today; and
WHEREAS, preserving these areas would protect landscapes that encompass
steep mountains, winding canyons, free flowing rivers, and rugged desert landscapes,
including the proposed Sand to Snow and Mojave Trails National Monument; the
proposed Golden Valley, Kingston Range, Indian Pass, Palo Verde wilderness
additions; the Great Falls Basin, Avawatz Mountains, Soda Mountains, Buzzards Peak,
Milpitas Wash wilderness area;, additions to Joshua Tree National Park; the Castle
Mountains addition to the Mojave National Preserve; wilderness additions to Death
Valley National Park; the Amargosa, Deep Creek, Whitewater, and Surprise Canyon
wild and scenic rivers; the Flat Top Mesa and Black Buttes Area of Critical
Environmental Concern; and the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Cathedral City endorses
and supports the designation of wilderness, the designation of wild and scenic rivers,
the National Park and Preserve wilderness additions within the California Desert
Conservation Area, and the Sand to Snow National Monument and the Mojave Trails
National Monument.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council
of the City of Cathedral City held on this 25th day of March 2015, by the following vote:
Ayes: Cit,knO 'Mcrnbevs Ccomm,1e. and LCap1cw+n )[nc Oy Pict)Tenn
Noes: 0 —
Absent: — C bane rne- v' be
Abstain: g)
Stan Henry, M. •r
ATTEST: - -,
Gary F. Howell, City CIA
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
/
Charles R. Green, City Attorney