HUNTINGTON BEACH : Mayor’s Wetlands Proposal Defeated

Despite pleas from several environmentalists who urged the city to take a strong stand on protecting wetlands, the City Council this week voted 3 to 2 to defeat Mayor Peter M. Green’s proposal protesting suggested changes in the federal law that defines wetlands.

At issue is a current Bush Administration proposal that would make it harder for land to be classified as wetlands and thus come under governmental protection.

The Amigos de Bolsa Chica, an environmental group of which the mayor is an active supporter, has denounced the proposed federal changes. The group has said that much of the existing wetlands, including some in Huntington Beach, might not be protected if the proposed federal changes are approved.

The mayor on Monday night urged the City Council to pass a resolution opposing the move. “The proposed changes to the method of delineating wetlands would pose a major threat to the protection of wetlands and their associated fish and wildlife resources within the city,” Green said.

Some environmentalists in the council audience on Monday night also urged the council to pass Green’s resolution.

Dave Sullivan, president of Huntington Beach Tomorrow, and Victor Leipzig, a city planning commissioner, were among speakers who criticized the federal proposal and urged the council to support Green’s action.

Robert London Moore Jr., an attorney, and Councilman Don MacAllister both spoke against the mayor’s proposal. Moore said the federal proposal would not harm Huntington Beach wetlands. He said the new rules would bring an end to “absurd” designations of some land that is not really wetlands.

MacAllister said he worried about “confiscation of current property owners’ rights” in how the government now deals with wetlands. “As we move forward on more and more of these laws, what we’re doing is taking away more and more property rights and ownership,” MacAllister said.

MacAllister and Councilmen Jack Kelly and Earle Robitaille voted against Green’s motion. Only Green and Councilwoman Linda Moulton-Patterson supported the move to protest the proposed federal action. Councilwoman Grace Winchell and Councilman Jim Silva were absent.