HomeMy WebLinkAboutEQCB Min 2008-01-30
CITY OF SEAL BEACH
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Environmental Quality Control Board
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Minutes of January 30, 2008
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7 Chairperson Voce called the meeting of the Environmental Quality Control Board
8 (EQCB) to order at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30, 2008. The meeting was held
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9 in City Council Chambers and began with the Salute to the Flag.
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I Roll Call
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13 Present: Chairperson Voce, Members Barton and Vineyard
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15 Also
16 Present: Department of Development Services
17 Lee Whittenberg, Director of Development Services
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19 Absent: Members Hurley and Neal.
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21 Mr. Whittenberg requested a motion to excuse Members Hurley and Neal from tonight’s
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24 MOTION by Barton; SECOND by Vineyard to excuse Members Hurley and Neal from
25 the Environmental Quality Control Board meeting of January 30, 2008.
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MOTION CARRIED: 3 – 0 – 2
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AYES: Voce, Barton, and Vineyard
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NOES: None
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ABSENT: Hurley and Neal
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II Approval of Agenda
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34 MOTION by Vineyard; SECOND by Baton to approve the Agenda as presented.
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MOTION CARRIED: 3 – 0 – 2
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AYES: Voce, Barton, and Vineyard
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NOES: None
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ABSENT: Hurley and Neal
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III Oral Communications
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43 None.
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These Minutes were transcribed from an audiotape of the meeting.
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City of Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
Meeting Minutes of January 30, 2008
IV Consent Calendar
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3 1. Receive and File - Letter from City of Seal Beach to Los Cerritos Wetlands
4 Authority Re: City of Seal Beach Support – Acquisition of the “Hellman”
5 Property, Dated November 2, 2007.
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7 2. Receive and File - Letter from City of Seal Beach to California Air Resources
8 Board Re: Adoption of Proposed Regulations to Reduce Emissions from
9 Diesel Auxiliary Engines on Ocean-Going Vessels While at Berth at a
10 California Port Dated November 5, 2007.
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12 3. Receive and File - Memorandum Re: Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station –
13 Installation Restoration Program – Status Report Re: RAB Project Update
14 Dated November 5, 2007.
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16 4. Receive and File - Memorandum Re: Status Re: Seaport Marina Project, Long
17 Beach, Dated November 5, 2007.
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19 5. Receive and File - Staff Report Re: Technical Support Document For The
20 Derivation of Noncancer Reference Exposure Levels Dated November 9,
21 2007.
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23 6. Receive and File - Memorandum Re: Seaport Marina Hotel Development
24 Status, Dated December 10, 2007.
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26 7. Receive and File - Memorandum Re: Update Regarding the “Regional
27 Transportation Plan” and the “Regional Comprehensive Plan” documents
28 being prepared by the Southern California Association of Governments.
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30 8. Receive and File - Memorandum Re: Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station –
31 Installation Restoration Program – Status Report Re: RAB Project Update
32 Dated January 3, 2008.
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34 9. Receive and File - Memorandum Re: Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station –
35 Installation Restoration Program – Status Report Re: RAB Project Update
36 Dated January 16, 2008.
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38 10. Receive and File - Staff Report Re: Information on California’s Water Crisis,
39 Dated January 30, 2008.
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41 11. Receive and File - Staff Report Re: Health Risk Assessment – BNSF Railway
42 Watson Rail Yard, Dated January 30, 2008.
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44 12. Receive and File - Staff Report Re: West-Wide Energy Corridor
45 Programmatic EIS, Dated January 30, 2008.
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Meeting Minutes of January 30, 2008
1 13. Receive and File - Staff Report Re: Final 2007 Air Quality Management Plan
2 Information, Dated January 30, 2008.
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4 14. Receive and File - Staff Report Re: 2007 State Implementation Plan For The
5 South Coast Air Basin Information Dated January 30, 2008.
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7 MOTION by Vineyard; SECOND by Barton to approve the Consent Calendar as
8 presented.
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MOTION CARRIED: 3 – 0 – 2
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AYES: Voce, Barton, and Vineyard
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NOES: None
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ABSENT: Hurley and Neal
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V Scheduled Matters
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17 15. Approval of Minutes – October 24, 2007.
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Recommendation:
19 Approve Minutes subject to any corrections determined
20 appropriate.
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22 MOTION by Barton; SECOND by Vineyard to approve the Meeting Minutes of October
23 24, 2007 as presented.
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MOTION CARRIED: 3 – 0 – 2
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AYES: Voce, Barton, and Vineyard
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NOES: None
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ABSENT: Hurley and Neal
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30 16. Consideration of Recommendation to City Council to Endorse the United
31 States’ Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement.
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Recommendation
33 : Consider request by the Orange County Interfaith
34 Coalition for the Environment to endorse the United States’ Mayors’ Climate
35 Protection Agreement. The Commission may determine to forward a
36 recommendation to the City Council concerning this request or receive and
37 file this matter. Receive and file Staff Report.
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39 Staff Report
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41 Mr. Whittenberg indicated that City Council (CC) has received this information but has
42 not provided direction to Staff regarding proceeding in any form at this time. He stated
43 that the EQCB could consider forwarding this report to CC with any recommendations.
44 He noted that members of the Orange County Interfaith Coalition for the Environment
45 (OCICE) are present tonight to provide information in support of this proposal.
(Staff
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Report is on file for inspection in the Planning Department.)
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Meeting Minutes of January 30, 2008
1 Public Comments
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3 Sheri Loveland of the OCICE stated that she would be happy to respond to questions
4 regarding the information provided to the Board on this proposal. She noted that the
5 OCICE understands that many of these proposals will require substantial funding to
6 implement and changes would take place over a period of years. She noted that the
7 OCICE has a website for access by all interested parties and then commented on how
8 local governments could contribute to reducing environmental pollution.
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10 Chairperson Voce stated that he approves of this agreement. He said that it is also very
11 important that diesel trucks used within cities run cleaner, as the older trucks are not as
12 efficient at reducing diesel emissions. He also noted that tankers delivering gas at
13 service station should not be left idling while the delivery is completed. He emphasized
14 that breathing diesel fumes can be very harmful and residents in Seal Beach are subject
15 not only to fumes from the Port of Long Beach but also from diesel vehicles traveling
16 along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). He added that in addition to this there is also a
17 high usage of fireplaces during the winter months. He recommended emphasizing the
18 cumulative nature of this impact upon the community as well as upon the surrounding
19 wetlands wildlife. He pondered whether restrictions regarding environmental pollutants
20 could be included in the Municipal Code, providing the City with the ability to enforce
21 environmental standards. He explained that he had taken part in establishing the Trees
22 Committee, as planting more trees provides more shade, and trees help remove carbon
23 dioxide from the air and release oxygen. Chairperson Voce then stated that gas
24 powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers should be banned, as both release a lot of
25 fumes. He also stated that more homeowners should use xeri scaping to help eliminate
26 the need for these machines and to help cut down on water usage, but this would be
27 difficult to accomplish. He recommended approval and called for a motion to
28 recommend that CC also approve this agreement. He asked Ms. Loveland if this would
29 be appropriate. Ms. Loveland stated that the OCICE has visited all cities within Orange
30 County and so far seven city councils have approved the agreement. Mr. Whittenberg
31 suggested that the Board recommend approval as presented and also that CC consider
32 developing guidelines for other standards as a separate document over and above what
33 appears in the agreement. Ms. Lovelace stated that the OCICE would be happy to be
34 of assistance and would provide any information the Board might need.
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36 Member Vineyard recommended that the Board delete any direct reference to “global
37 warming,” as this is a controversial issue in itself. Chairperson Voce asked if Member
38 Vineyard did not accept this as factual, to which Member Vineyard responded that he is
39 not taking a position on this. Chairperson Voce stated that this is a definite fact, to
40 which Member Vineyard countered, that since Chairperson Voce is not a scientist, he is
41 simply stating his opinion. Chairperson Voce then explained his position on this issue
42 stating that global warming has been mathematically proven.
43 MOTION by Barton to approve the United States’ Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement
44 as presented and recommend that City Council endorse this request. Receive and file
45 Staff Report.
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1 Motion fails for lack of a second. Member Barton rescinded her motion.
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3 Member Barton stated that although all of the recommendations are good, she
4 questioned how they are to be enforced. Mr. Whittenberg stated that assuming CC
5 were to direct Staff to proceed, these questions would have to be researched and would
6 require that the CC adopt ordinances to facilitate enforcement. He noted that many
7 people believe there are still questions to be resolved regarding “greenhouse gas,” and
8 CC will determine whether they wish to proceed further, but he believes it will probably
9 be set aside for the time being. Chairperson Voce noted that there may not be the
10 votes necessary for approval tonight, so he suggested continuing this item to the next
11 scheduled meeting.
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13 Member Vineyard referred to Page 2 of the Staff Report and recommended that the
14 term “global warning” be removed. Mr. Whittenberg noted that the agreement text
15 refers to “climate disruption” in several places, and suggested using this term or “climate
16 protection” instead of “global warming.” Member Vineyard stated that this would be fine.
17 Chairperson Voce suggested using “atmospheric changing pollutants.” Member Barton
18 recommended using “climate protection.” Member Vineyard then posited that climate
19 itself does not create pollutants. Member Barton asked for a recommendation from
20 Member Vineyard. He suggested using “Conduct a baseline inventory of pollutants.”
21 Chairperson Voce stated that the text “atmospheric pollutants” should be used.
22 Member Vineyard noted that vehicles are not atmospheric. Mr. Whittenberg noted that
23 the climate protection agreement is aimed toward climate impacting issues, and not
24 groundwater or soil contamination. Member Vineyard stated that the recommendations
25 in the document talk about more than atmosphere and climate. Mr. Whittenberg stated
26 that the recommendations as listed are all in relation to the climate.
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28 MOTION by Vineyard; SECOND by Barton to approve the United States’ Mayors’
29 Climate Protection Agreement as amended and recommend that City Council endorse
30 this request. Receive and file Staff Report.
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MOTION CARRIED: 3 – 0 – 2
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AYES: Voce, Barton, and Vineyard
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NOES: None
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ABSENT: Hurley and Neal
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37 17. Approval of Comment Letters Re: Draft 2008 Regional Transportation
38 Plan and the 2008 Regional Transportation Plan Draft Program EIR.
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Recommendation
40 : Authorize Chairman to sign comment letters
41 regarding the Draft 2008 Regional Transportation Plan (2008 RTP) and
42 the Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (Draft PEIR), with any
43 revisions determined appropriate. Instruct Staff to forward staff report and
44 comment letters to the City Council for final consideration and execution of
45 comment letters. Forward comment letters to Planning Commission for
46 information upon execution by the Mayor and EQCB Chairman.
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Meeting Minutes of January 30, 2008
1 Staff Report
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3 Mr. Whittenberg stated that approximately every three years the Southern California
4 Association of Governments (SCAG) must prepare a Regional Transportation Plan
5 (RTP) to maintain conformity between transportation planning and air quality
6 requirements so that local jurisdictions, transportation commissions, and CalTrans
7 remain eligible for state funds for transportation projects. He indicated that these
8 projects must be designed to help maintain the air quality standards as established by
9 federal and state regulations for the Southern California Air Basin. He explained that all
10 cities in Orange County participate in the Orange County Council of Governments
11 (OCCOG) with an advisory committee that is made up primarily of planning and public
12 works directors from throughout the county. He noted that participation on this
13 committee helps cities better understand impacts to their communities and
14 representatives of SCAG can provide presentations that focus on Orange County. He
15 noted that the RTP describes several major improvement projects that will impact the
16 City of Seal Beach, and Staff has provided comments related to concerns over specific
17 aspects of the projects as described in the EIR documents. He noted that Staff has
18 created comment letters for both the RTP and the RTP Draft Environmental Impact
19 Report (DEIR). He noted that Member Hurley had provided minor corrections to the
20 punctuation. He explained that the RTP consists of a Baseline Project (BP) and a
21 Policy Growth Forecast (PGF), with the BP based on population projections to the year
22 2035. He stated that these projections are compiled by the Center for Demographic
23 Research for all OC cities which have provided detailed information based on
24 projections for population changes within their communities and this data is presented in
25 the Orange County Projections (OCP) 2006 report. Mr. Whittenberg then explained that
26 as part of making the transportation system more efficient and to reduce air quality
27 impacts, the RTP has created the PGF, which concentrates development along existing
28 transportation and mass transit corridors for cities with density greater than that for
29 which they had planned. He noted that in the comment letter Staff made a few
30 corrections to the projections for employment and development of homes within Seal
31 Beach. He continued by stating that the EIR contains similar mitigation measures to
32 those presented in the Regional Comprehensive Plan (RCP), which presents a long-
33 term growth scenario for land use in OC through the year 2025, and also includes a lot
34 of the same ideas presented in the PGF. He indicated that Staff has noted that some of
35 the EIR “mitigation measures” are not related to transportation, and has requested that
36 SCAG work with their consultants to do more detailed air quality measurements along
37 the I-405 Freeway to help make projections on future truck traffic and impacts from
38 diesel particulate matter. He asked the Board for remarks noting that these should be
39 confined to the comment letters.
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41 Member Barton stated that aside from the affect of pollutants on the elderly population,
42 young school-age children and other sensitive populations should also be included in
43 the comments. Mr. Whittenberg stated that this could be included in the comment letter
44 for the EIR.
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Meeting Minutes of January 30, 2008
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MOTION by Vineyard; SECOND by Barton to authorize Chairperson to sign comment
letters regarding the Draft 2008 Regional Transportation Plan (2008 RTP) and the Draft
Program Environmental Impact Report (Draft PEIR), as amended. Instruct Staff to
forward staff report and comment letters to the City Council for final consideration and
execution of comment letters. Forward comment letters to Planning Commission for
information upon execution by the Mayor and EQCB Chairman.
MOTION CARRIED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
3-0-2
Voce, Barton, and Vineyard
None
Hurley and Neal
VI Staff Concerns
Mr. Whittenberg indicated that the public heari:1g before the Planning Commission for
the Seal Beach Townhomes Project is scheduled for February 6,2008, at 7:30 p.m.
He then stated that recently the Building Department has received several requests for
permits to install solar panels on homes, Kohl's Department Store has also submitted
plans for installation of solar panels, and the Hellman Ranch staff is considering
installing a solar energy source on a 6-acre field to provide energy for its well sites.
VII Board Concerns
Member Vineyard suggested that when the agenda contains only Consent Calendar
items, or numerous items, that they be distributed to the Board throughout the month,
and not the week before a scheduled meeting, and the meeting could then be
cancelled. Mr. Whittenberg noted that this could be done, particularly when there are
no action items on the agenda.
VIII Adjournment
Chairperson Voce adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m. to the next scheduled meeting in
February 2008.
Respectfully Submitted,
~AA~
Carmen Alvarez, Executive Secretary
Department of Development Services
The Board on March 26, 2008, approved the Minutes of the Environmental Quality
Control Board of Wednesday, January 30, 2008. G.r
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