Clean Beaches Fee May Come to a Halt

Los Angeles County supervisors may axe a proposed county clean water fee in light of public opposition over the measure that would pay to reduce stormwater pollution.

The Clean Water, Clean Beaches measure proposed, would increase L.A. County resident’s property tax bills by about $54 for the typical homeowner and possibly thousands of dollars for some commercial property owners.

Supervisors Don Knabe announced on Monday that because the measure is poorly written and places the burden on property owners rather than everyone to pay for clean water programs, he and Supervisor Gloria Molina will introduce a motion on Tuesday at the regularly scheduled Board of Supervisors meeting to scrap the proposition.

“Currently the measure does not have the full support of our cities or the public and should not be moved forward at this time. We understand that this issue of water quality cannot be ignored, and we must continue to look for ways to refine and improve this proposal,” Knabe said in a statement. 

The parcel tax would raise about $275 million for the county that would be used to control the discharge of pollutants into the ocean. In fiscal year 2010-2011, the county spent an estimated $340 million to comply with water quality regulations.

The county's Department of Public Works Director Gail Farber has warned that  county waterways are choked with trash, infection-causing bacteria, toxic chemicals, lead, copper and other metals, oil and grease.

The city of Santa Monica already assesses two parcel fees annually on all property owners, generating about $3.9 million a year to improve water quality, maintain storm drains and meet federal and state Clean Water Act regulations.

SEE ALSO: How Clean Were Santa Monica Beaches This Summer?

The hearing will take place Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the Board Hearing Room at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, located at 500 West Temple St. in Los Angeles.

Opposition or support for the measure can be voiced at the meeting or by downloading a copy of the official protest form and emailing it to WQFI.Info@dpw.lacounty.gov.