RES NO. 2019-12 RELATED TO PROTECTION OF SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCASRESOLUTION NO. 2019-12
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of Bainbridge Island,
Washington, affirming the importance of the Southern
Resident orca whales to the identity and values of Bainbridge
Island and the broader Salish Sea region; urging the
Washington State Legislature to approve and fund the
Governor's Orca Emergency Response package in full;
encouraging the Governor's Orca Task Force to make
additional bold recommendations in 2019; declaring June to
be Orca Awareness Month; and reaffirming the City's
commitment to protecting critical salmon and forage fish
habitat, reducing toxic pollution, and taking other actions to
help recover endangered orcas.
WHEREAS, the Southern Resident orca whales are an essential part of our
Pacific Northwest identity, an iconic species, and an indicator of the health of the Puget
Sound, and it is the City of Bainbridge Island's desire that future generations in our
community are able to witness their majesty; and
WHEREAS, the Southern Resident orcas are endangered, are at their smallest
population size in 30 years, are showing signs of starvation, and are struggling to birth
and raise healthy calves; and
WHEREAS, the extinction of the Southern Resident orcas is unacceptable and
would be a devastating blow to our local community, regional culture and economy, and
to the broader ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, the major threats facing the Southern Resident orcas are: a lack of
their principal food source, Chinook salmon, including as a result of the degradation of
salmon and forage fish habitat; noise and disturbance from ships, small boats, and even
non -motorized vessels, all of which affect their ability to echolocate, communicate, and
forage; pollutants and chemicals of emerging concern, which are inhibiting orcas' ability
to raise healthy young orcas; and the potential for a devastating oil spill, which could
wipe out some or all of the Southern Resident orca population; and
WHEREAS, the Governor has proposed an Orca Emergency Response package
based on Southern Resident Orca Task Force recommendations, addressing these key
threats; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bainbridge Island recognizes that the need for action is
urgent and supports the enactment of policies that can address the critical threats facing
the Southern Resident orcas; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bainbridge Island Comprehensive Plan includes a policy
of undertaking appropriate, adequate, and timely actions to protect and recover state
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priority species, species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, and local
species of concern and their habitats located within the City to 1) avoid local extirpation
of such species from the lands or fresh waters or nearshore of the City and 2) contribute
to the protection and recovery of such species throughout the greater region in
cooperation with federal, state, and other local agencies.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAINBRIDGE
ISLAND DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City of Bainbridge Island strongly encourages Washington state
legislators to approve the following legislation currently under consideration, and to
allocate full funding for these and other Orca Emergency Response measures in line with
the Governor's budget request:
a. HB 1580 and SB 5577: Reducing vessel noise and disturbance so the orcas
have an easier time finding prey.
b. HB 1194 and SB 5135: Reducing toxic pollution to clean up our waters and
improve survival rates for orca calves.
C. HB 1579 and SB 5580: Protecting salmon and forage fish habitat by clarifying
and expanding the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife's
enforcement capacity over shoreline armoring permits under the Hydraulic
Code.
d. HB 1578 and SB 5578: Reducing threats to southern resident killer whales by
improving the safety of oil transportation, including by requiring some oil
tankers and articulated tug barges to be under the escort of a tug.
Section 2. The City of Bainbridge Island urges the Governor's Orca Task Force to
consider additional bold actions that could further advance orca recovery, including
reducing the human harvest of Chinook salmon to increase food available to the Southern
Resident orcas while respecting tribal treaty rights.
Section 3. The City of Bainbridge Island will consider and seek to minimize
impacts on Southern Resident orcas, Chinook salmon, and forage fish when making
decisions about stormwater management and shoreline development.
Section 4. The City of Bainbridge Island will declare the month of June to be
Orca Awareness Month as the Governor has declared it to be statewide in past years and
will encourage local events to raise awareness about the Southern Resident orcas and
ways in which Bainbridge Islanders can take action to improve conditions necessary for
orca survival.
Section 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately after its passage.
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PASSED by the City Council this 12th day of February, 2019.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 12th day of February, 2019.
By:
Kol Medina, Mayor
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATE:
By:
Christine Brown, CMC, City Clerk
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: February 6, 2019
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: February 12, 2019
RESOLUTION NO. 2019-12
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