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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11935I 2 RESOLUTION NO. 11,935 3 A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS WATER'S 4 WATERSHED PROTECTION PLAN AND THE MAINTENANCE OF 5 HIGH QUALITY DRINKING WATER IN CENTRAL ARKANSAS; TO 6 SUPPORT THE PROTECTION OF LAKE MAUMELLE FOR 7 DRINKING WATER IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE PUBLIC 8 HEALTH AND WELFARE; AND IN OPPOSITION TO SB 230, THE 9 SO- CALLED "WATER QUALITY PROTECTION ACT OF 2005" 10 WHICH WOULD LIMIT THE ABILITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS 11 WATER TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC DRINKING WATER; AND FOR 12 OTHER PURPOSES. 13 14 1 WHEREAS, Senate Bill 230, entitled the "Water Quality Protection Act of 2005" 15 has been passed by the Arkansas Senate and sent to the Arkansas House of 16 Representatives; and 17 WHEREAS, SB 230 would restrict the ability of Central Arkansas Water (CAW) 18 to take the most appropriate steps to prevent pollution of Lake Maumelle drinking 19 water; and 20 WHEREAS, Lake Maumelle is the primary drinking water source for Central 21 Arkansas and provides some of the highest - quality drinking water at a low price; and 22 WHEREAS, the CAW Watershed Protection Plan seeks to prohibit land - 23 development on land near the intakes, where the utility first takes water for treatment, 24 which comprises less than 2% of total lands in the Watershed, and [PAGE 1 OF 3] Resolution To Oppose SB 230 I WHEREAS, studies as early as the 1980's have shown that Lake Maumelle is 2 vulnerable to pollution and runoff from surrounding land in its watershed, including 3 erosion, soil disturbance, wastewater, pesticides, fertilizers, chemicals, runoff from 4 rooftops, waterborne pathogens, and bacteria; and 5 WHEREAS, SB 230 puts land - development ahead of insuring future drinking 6 water quality for the citizens of Central Arkansas and the greater public interest; and 7 WHEREAS, SB 230 discounts the authority of a governing body to take action 8 designed to protect all the citizens under its care; and 9 WHEREAS, SB 230 discourages regional growth for other utilities who may need 10 to do so to comply with unfunded federal mandates on water quality. 11 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 12 OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS: 13 Section 1. The City opposes Senate Bill 230. 14 Section 2. SB 230, entitled "The Water Quality Protection Act of 2005 ", makes 15 possible an adverse impact on the vulnerable watershed surrounding Lake Maumelle, 16 the primary drinking water source for Central Arkansas. 17 Section 3. The City Manager is directed to take such action necessary to notify 18 the legislature of this opposition and to coordinate with like minded municipalities, 19 counties, and organizations to oppose the enactment into law of SB 230 at the 20 legislature. 21 Section 4. Severability. In the event any title, section, paragraph, item, sentence, 22 clause, phrase, or word of this resolution is declared or adjudged to be invalid or 23 unconstitutional, such declaration or adjudication shall not affect the remaining 24 portions of the resolution which shall remain in full force and effect as if the portion so 25 declared or adjudged invalid or unconstitutional was not originally a part of the 26 resolution. [PAGE 2 OF 3] Resolution To Oppose SB 230 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Section 5. Repealer. All ordinances and resolutions inconsistent with this resolution are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency. ADOPTED: March 1, 2005 ATTEST: Na y Woo ,City Clerk APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM: Thomas M. Carpenter, Citj/Attorney H H H H H H H H H H H H Resolution To Oppose SIB 230 APPROVED: !%,Iailey, %_�� � � Mayor [PAGE 3 OF 3]