The City Council finds as follows.
(A) Certain species of fish, wildlife and plants have been rendered extinct as a consequence of man’s activities.
(B) Other species of fish, wildlife and plants are in danger of, or threatened with, extinction because their habitats are threatened with destruction, adverse modification or severe curtailment, or because of over exploitation, disease, predation or other factors.
(C) These species of fish, wildlife and plants are of ecological, educational, historical, recreational, esthetic, economic and scientific value and the conservation, protection and enhancement of these species and their habitat is of statewide concern.
(D) The preservation of threatened and endangered species is an important city and regional concern which requires the cooperation of cities, counties, the State of California, the United States and the owners of property affected by the threatened or endangered species.
(E) The preservation of threatened and endangered species is a benefit to all the citizens of the city.
(F) The state legislature has found and declared that it is the policy of the state to conserve, protect, restore and enhance any endangered species or any threatened species and its habitat and that it is the intent of the legislature, consistent with conserving the species, to acquire lands for habitat for these species.
(G) The Congress of the United States has found and declared that:
(1) Various species of fish, wildlife and plants in the United States have been rendered extinct as a consequence of economic growth and development;
(2) Other species of fish, wildlife and plants have been so depleted in numbers that they are in danger of or threatened with extinction;
(3) These species of fish, wildlife and plants are of esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational and scientific value to the nation and its people;
(4) Encouraging the states and other interested parties, through federal financial assistance and a system of incentives, to develop and maintain conservation programs which meet national and international standards is a key to meeting the nation’s international commitments and to better safeguarding, for the benefit of all citizens, the nation’s heritage in fish, wildlife and plants.
(`78 Code, § 16.29.010.) (Ord. 1977 § 1 (part), 1990.)