Ventura Port District: aquaculture plots: federal waters.

Existing law provides for the formation of port districts, with specified powers and duties, for the purpose of aiding or developing navigation, commerce, or fishing. Existing law authorizes a port district to do any work or make any improvement within or without the territorial limits of the port district that will aid in the development or the improvement of navigation or commerce to or within the port district. Under the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, a city or district may only provide new or extended services by contract or agreement outside of its jurisdictional boundary if it requests and receives written approval, as provided, from the local agency formation commission in the county in which the extension of service is proposed. This bill would, notwithstanding the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, authorize the Ventura Port District, to the extent permitted by federal law, to construct, maintain, operate, lease, and grant permits to others for the installation, maintenance, and operation of aquaculture plots in federal waters off the coast of the County of Ventura, as prescribed, in order to aid in the development or improvement of navigation or commerce to the port district. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Ventura. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.