Central Coast News KION/KCBASanta Cruz City Leaders Want Voters to Decide on Desalination

SANTA CRUZ, Calif- Two city leaders say they are going to introduce an ordanince at the February 28 council meeting that would make it manadatory for voters to decide on a desalination facility.

Santa Cruz Mayor Don Lane and Santa Cruz City Councilmember David Terrazas released the following statement:

There is strong community consensus that the voters should have the opportunity to make the call on how Santa Cruz will address our need for long-term drought protection and the protection of our coastal aquifers. And the community should weigh in on, how we will meet State/Federal mandates to protect endangered fish species with a likely reduced draw of water from local streams.

A flawed ballot measure has been put forward by desal opponents which does not offer a timely opportunity for democratic decision-making to address our community's water needs.

Unfortunately, that measure unintentionally would create an expensive delay in community decision making and would lead to greater uncertainty in our water planning process.

This new ordinance, should it pass at the February 28, 2012 City Council meeting, would provide a simpler and more straightforward way to ensure a democratic decision about water and desalination.