City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a Resolution urging Plains Exploration and
Production Company (PXP) to voluntarily abide by the terms of the Los Angeles
County moratorium on the drilling of new oil wells or the deepening of existing oil
wells, which moratorium expired on June 26, 2008.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
On June 27, 2006, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (the “County”)
adopted an Interim Ordinance for an initial period of 45 days, which temporarily
placed additional development standards and restrictions on the drilling of new oil
wells or deepening of existing oil wells on property zoned A-2 (Heavy Agricultural) or
M-1½ (Limited Heavy Manufacturing) in the Baldwin Hills Zoned District, which
includes the Inglewood Oil Field operated by PXP. On August 8, 2006, the Interim
Ordinance was extended for another ten months and 15 days, until June 26, 2007,
and extended for a second time on May 29, 2007 for an additional 12 months until
June 26, 2008. This second extension of the Interim Ordinance included a
moratorium on the drilling of new oil wells or the deepening of existing oil wells (the
“Moratorium”), in order to give the County sufficient time to complete a thorough
environmental analysis of the oil field activities in the Baldwin Hills area and to
develop permanent oil field regulations. The Moratorium expired on June 26, 2008,
prior to the County completing its environmental review process or developing any
permanent oil field regulations. The County’s Draft Environmental Impact Report
(DEIR) for the Baldwin Hills Community Standards District (CSD) relating to the
Meeting Date: 07/07/08 Item Number:A-1
AGENDA ITEM: Adoption of a Resolution Urging Plains Exploration and
Production Company to Voluntarily Abide by the Terms of the Expired Los
Angeles County Moratorium on the Drilling of New Oil Wells or the Deepening of
Existing Oil Wells.
Contact Person/Dept.: Heather
Baker/City Attorney
Phone Number: (310) 253-5660
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: Master E-Mail Notification List (07/02/08); Greater Baldwin Hills
Alliance
Department Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (06/26/08)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (06/26/08)
Fiscal Impact Review:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (07/02/08)
City Manager Approval:
Jerry Fulwood (07/02/08) City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
Inglewood Oil Field was released on June 19, 2008. The environmental review
process for this CSD, including adoption of any regulations, could take at least
another five months to complete.
On June 23, 2008, a representative of the Greater Baldwin Hills Alliance (GBHA),
Ken Kutcher, presented to the City Council a list of twelve items that GBHA requests
the City Council consider in relation to the DEIR and CSD. One of the items
requested by GBHA is City Council’s adoption of a resolution urging PXP to
voluntarily abide by the terms of the expired Moratorium on the drilling of new oil
wells and the deepening of existing oil wells until such time as the County has
adopted its permanent oil field regulations and those regulations have become
effective.
The City Council directed staff to bring back the requested resolution for
consideration. The proposed Resolution is attached.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
There is no fiscal impact from the Council’s consideration or adoption of the
Resolution.
ATTACHMENTS:
Proposed Resolution
MOTIONS:
That the City Council:
Adopt a Resolution urging Plains Exploration and Production Company to
voluntarily abide by the terms of the Los Angeles County moratorium on the
drilling of new oil wells and the deepening of existing oil wells, which moratorium
expired on June 26, 2008.
07/07/08
Adoption of a Resolution Urging Plains Exploration and
Production Company to Voluntarily Abide by the Terms of the
Expired Los Angeles County Moratorium on the Drilling of
New Oil Wells or the Deepening of Existing Oil Wells.
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA ITEM:
ATTACHMENTS
Pages
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A-r-r-A-a-ttl-mor 1_
RESOLUTION NO. 2008-R
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA, URGING PLAINS
EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION COMPANY TO
VOLUNTARILY ABIDE BY THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
MORATORIUM ON THE DRILLING OF NEW OIL WELLS AND
DEEPENING OF EXISTING OIL WELLS, WHICH EXPIRED
ON JUNE 26, 2008.
WHEREAS, on June 27, 2006, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
(the "County") adopted Interim Ordinance No. 2006-0050U for an initial period of 45 days,
which temporarily placed additional development standards and restrictions on the drilling of
new oil wells or deepening of existing oil wells on property zoned A-2 (Heavy Agricultural) or
M-1
1/2
(Limited Heavy Manufacturing) in the Baldwin Hills Zoned District, which includes the
Inglewood Oil Field operated by Plains Exploration and Production Company ("PXP"); and
WHEREAS, on August 8, 2006, Interim Ordinance No. 2006-0050U was
subsequently extended by Interim Ordinance No. 2006-0064U for another ten months and 15
days, until June 26, 2007; and
WHEREAS, on May 29, 2007, the Interim Ordinance was extended a second
time by Interim Ordinance No. 2007-0064U, which Interim Ordinance included a moratorium
on the drilling of new oil wells or deepening of existing oil wells (the "Moratorium") for a period
of one year until June 26, 2008, in order to give the County sufficient time to complete a
thorough environmental analysis of the oil field activities in the Baldwin Hills area and to
develop permanent oil field regulations; and
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WHEREAS, the Moratorium expired on June 26, 2008, prior to the County
completing its environmental review process or developing any permanent oil field regulation:
and
WHEREAS, state law prevents the County from adopting any further extension
of the Moratorium; and
WHEREAS, PXP intends to drill more than 1000 new wells over the next 20
years; and
WHEREAS, in the interest of the public's health, safety and welfare, PXP shoulc
wait to drill any new wells or deepen any existing wells until such time as the County has
adopted its permanent oil field regulations and those regulations have become effective.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Culver City, California,
DOES RESOLVE as follows:
The City Council hereby urges PXP to voluntarily abide by the terms of the
expired Moratorium until such time as the County has adopted its permanent oil field
regulations and those regulations have become effective.
APPROVED and ADOPTED this day of 2008.
D. SCOTT MALSIN, MAYOR
City of Culver City, California
ATTEST: APPRie 0 D O 1700 F
dilLi.210 4 , —
MARTIN R. COLE, City Clerk ROL A. SCHWA:, City Attorney
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