Commissioners discussed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) new offshore leasing proposal and an open public comment period with a January 23 deadline.

A commissioner noted the federal administration has proposed new offshore drilling across California, and said Encinitas adopted an ordinance opposing offshore drilling in 2018. Another commissioner reported advice from outside groups that the 2018 ordinance may not satisfy the format or legal requirements for the current BOEM comment process, so the city should consider submitting a new or updated comment or resolution specific to this plan. Staff recommended coordinating with the assistant city manager who manages the city’s legislative program and advised commissioners to contact council members or the mayor individually to request that the council place a letter or resolution on the Jan. 21 council meeting agenda to meet the Jan. 23 comment window.

Staff said direction to prepare a letter or updated resolution would need to come from the city council; the commission cannot unilaterally submit an official city comment. Commissioners discussed outreach to the public and advocacy groups (Surfrider, Oceana) to encourage individual comments on the BOEM site before the deadline.

No formal motion or city comment was adopted by the commission at this meeting; staff suggested continuing coordination with the assistant city manager and identified the city council as the decision point for any official submission.