SACRAMENTO –The Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife passed AB 1898 authored by Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, to bring state infrastructure dollars to the City of St. Helena to help finance its flood protection project.

AB 1898 now passes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for further review.

“I’m absolutely committed to getting the resources our community needs to protect life and property from flooding,” said Evans.  “This bill will bring us approximately $16 million in state infrastructure bond funding to help finance St. Helena’s flood project.”

Bert Johansson, St. Helena City Manager, joined Evans in the Capitol to testify before the committee.

“Major floods in 1986, 1995, 1997 and 2005 have cost our community over $95.6 million in property damages,” said Johansson.  “The 2005 New Year’s Eve flood would have caused St. Helena $45 million in damage had the rains continued for another half hour.  We need to complete this project.”

Introduced at the request of St. Helena and co-authored by Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa), Assembly Bill (AB) 1898 will provide state certification of the Napa River Flood Protection and Estuary Restoration Project, which the city has crafted in partnership with federal, state and local authorities since 1998.  The project design is now completed and federally authorized.  The state certification provided by AB 1898 will establish eligibility for a state cost-share percentage, ranging 50 to 70 percent of project costs, that will be paid as subvention dollars.

“Our infrastructure bonds provide a large pool of money for flood protection,” added Evans.  “This bill ensures that St. Helena gets its fair share.”

In November 2006, the voters of California passed Propositions 84 and 1E.  Both provide subvention funds to help build local flood projects.  Proposition 84 provides $180 million and Proposition 1E provides $500 million for such purposes.

Further information about AB 1898 is available online at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.