HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RES 83-108RESOLUTION NO. 83-108
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING, THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A COACHELLA VALLEY FRINGE-
TOED LIZARD RESERVE AND RECOMMENDING
POLICIES TO ASSURE PRESERVATION OF IT'S CRITICAL
HABITAT.
WHEREAS, the Palm Desert City Council finds that the desert environment and
the City of Palm Desert are developing at a rapid yet orderly rate; and
WHEREAS, this continued orderly development adds to the availability of dwelling
places, recreation, job opportunities and the general social, cultural and economic well-
being of the residents of Palm Desert; and
WHEREAS, the future fiscal stability and well-being of the City of Palm Desert
and the Coachella Valley is dependent upon the continuation of this orderly development;
and
WHEREAS, the continuation of this development has placed in imminent danger of
extinction the Coachella Valley Fringe-'Toed Lizard, a species listed as threatened by the
Endangered Species Act; and
WHEREAS, the presence of the Fringe-Toed Lizard in areas of future potential
development has threatened to curtail the continued orderly development of the City of
Palm Desert; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Desert believes that it is necessary to protect the
threatened species; and
WHEREAS, the most viable solution to the preservation and protection of the
� endangered species is the creation of a land reserve to assure the perpetuation of the
Fringe-Toed Lizard and other threatened desert wildlife; and
~ WHEREAS, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has identified an eighteen
and a half-square smile site as Fringe-Toed Lizard critical habitat area, which is the most
appropriate location of a potential land reserve; and
WHEREAS, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has accepted as an
environmental mitigation measure to permit development in non-critical habitat areas,
the exchange of non-critical habitat for critical habitat; and
WHEREAS, for this solution to be viable the integrity of the critical habitat area
must be assured; and
WHEREAS, the land designated as critical habitat area is under the jurisdiction of
Riverside County; and
WHEREAS, presently the County of Riverside permits agricultura! activity in this
critical habitat area thus destroying its future availability as land reserve for the Fringe-
Toed Lizard; and
WHEREAS, piecemeal efforts in acquiring the critical habitat area will be
ineffective.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Palm
Desert, that:
1. The County of Riverside be urged to prohibit any activities that would
destroy or endanger the designated Fringe-Toed Lizard critical habitat,
including agriculture.
2. All other public agencies refrain from any activity in the critical habitat
area until it is determined that those activities will not have or lead to
degradation of ihe critical habitat.
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