HomeMy WebLinkAboutEQCB Min 2006-04-26
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1CITY OF SEAL BEACH
Environmental Quality Control Board
Minutes of April 26, 2006
Chairperson Voce called the Environmental Quality Control Board (EQCB) meeting to
order at 6:33 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2006. The meeting was held in City Council
Chambers and began with the Salute to the Flag.
Roll Call
Present: Chairperson Voce, Members Barton, Hurley, and Vineyard
Also
Present: Department of Development Services
Lee Whittenberg, Director
Absent: Member Neal
Mr. Whittenberg noted that he has not heard from Member Neal, so he recommended
excusing her absence tonight should she not show by the end of the meeting. So
ordered by Chairperson Voce.
II Approval of Agenda
Member Hurley noted that Item 2 (Approval of Minutes of January 25, 2006) was
previously approved at the EQCB meeting of March 15, 2006. He requested that this
item be removed from the agenda.
MOTION by Hurley; SECOND by Barton to approve the Agenda as amended.
MOTION CARRIED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
4-0-1
Voce, Barton, Hurley, and Vineyard
None
Neal
III Oral Communications
None.
1 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 April 26, 2006
IV Consent Calendar
1. RECEIVE AND FILE: Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station - Installation
Restoration Program - Status Report Re: RAB Project Update, Dated April 13,
2006.
MOTION by Hurley; SECOND by Vineyard to approve the Consent Calendar as
presented.
MOTION CARRIED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
4-0-1
Voce, Barton, Hurley, and Vineyard
None
Neal
V Scheduled Matters
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - March 1,2006
Recommendation:
appropriate.
Approve Minutes with any corrections deemed
Member Hurley noted corrections to the minutes as follows:
Page 3, Line 24
Should read, "with no additional revisions, . . ."
Page 4, Line 2
Should read, "with no additional revisions, . . ."
Page 4, Line 24
Should read, "Mr. Whittenberg reported that at the City Council
meeting of Monday, February 27, 2006, . . ."
Member Hurley abstained from voting on this item, as he was absent from the meeting
of March 1, 2006.
MOTION by Hurley; SECOND by Vineyard to approve the Meeting Minutes of March 1,
2006 as amended.
MOTION CARRIED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
3-0-1-1
Voce, Barton, and Vineyard
None
Neal
Hurley
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City of Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
Meeting Minutes of April 26, 2006
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - March 15,2006
Recommendation:
appropriate.
Approve Minutes with any corrections deemed
Member Hurley noted corrections to the minutes as follows:
Page 2, Line 10 & 26
Include Member Neal's name in the vote.
MOTION by Hurley; SECOND by Barton to approve the Meeting Minutes of March 15,
2006 as amended.
MOTION CARRIED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
4-0-1
Voce, Barton, Hurley, and Vineyard
None
Neal
5. Approval Of Comment Letter - "Draft Record Of Decision/Remedial Action Plan
(ROD/RAP) - Installation Restoration Program Site 70 - Naval Weapons
Station," and "Proposed Plan/Draft Remedial Action Plan - Installation
Restoration Program - Site 70 - Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach."
Recommendation: Instruct Chairman to sign proposed Comment Letter with
any revisions determined appropriate, and instruct staff to forward to Planning
Commission and City Council for information purposes. Receive and File
Staff Report.
Mr. Whittenberg stated that the EQCB has been dealing with reports on Site 70 for
approximately 10-12 years, and the Naval Weapons Station (NWS) is now determining
the final remediation actions. He indicated that once adopted by the Navy, this
document would formalize the approved remediation program and begin the process of
getting the budget at the federal level set up to undertake the remediation as proposed.
He said that the alternative proposed by the Navy is one that the EQCB and City
Council have previously gone on written record as supporting. He stated that after
reviewing this document Staff saw nothing that raised any questions, so the draft
comment letter basically states that the City supports the proposed action.
Member Barton referred to Page 2, Paragraph 2, Line 3 of the Staff Report under
Overview of Selected Remedv, and asked who would be responsible for paying the
$18.8 million cost. Mr. Whittenberg stated that the federal government would be
responsible for the expense.
Member Hurley stated that apparently this plume is not moving very fast. Mr.
Whittenberg confirmed that it is moving very slowly.
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City of Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
Meeting Minutes of April 26, 2006
Chairperson Voce noted that at the signature his title should read "Chairman" rather
than "Vice-Chairman."
MOTION by Vineyard; SECOND by Barton to authorize Chairman to sign the response
letter, with no additional revisions, and instruct staff to forward to the City Council for
information purposes. Receive and File Staff Report.
MOTION CARRIED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
4-0-1
Voce, Barton, Hurley, and Vineyard
None
Neal
VI Staff Concerns
None.
VII Board Concerns
Member Hurley noted that the next regular meeting date would be May 24, 2006, rather
than May 31, 2006 as reflected on the agenda.
He then stated that he was pleased to notice in the RAB report provided tonight that the
Navy followed the recommendation of the Board in delaying work on Site 40 until
August 2006, when the nesting season for the burrowing owl is over. He noted that this
was an important contribution by the EQCB.
Member Hurley referred to a memorandum that accompanied the March 15, 2006,
agenda, listing an Overview of Upcoming Projects for Review by EQCB, and asked why
no discretionary action for the Village at Rossmoor Center is required. He then read
from Page 237, Paragraph 15369, Ministerial, of the 2006 CEQA Guidelines and
contended that if buildings are being demolished and new construction erected, he does
not see how this project could be ministerial. He said that the Board needs to know how
the City plans to mitigate construction dust and noise impacts of this project, and
whether the City's noise policy would be completely applied. Mr. Whittenberg stated
that in order for Staff to respond to these questions, this would have to be an agendized
matter. He suggested including this information on the next agenda. Member Hurley
then noted that he is also concerned with construction dust and noise impacts
considering what the City has failed to do in connection with the 400 Marina Drive
project.
Member Hurley then asked if the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the
Open Space Opportunities Plan has been completed. Mr. Whittenberg reported that it
is still in the process of being drafted. He indicated that he would provide an updated
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City of Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
Meeting Minutes of April 26, 2006
schedule for the Overview of Upcoming Projects for Review by EQCB at the next
meeting.
Member Hurley then inquired about the San Gabriel River Bikeway Improvement
Project. Mr. Whittenberg stated that work on this project has been delayed due to the
need to address other, more pressing issue, but an update will be provided as indicated
for the previously-noted items. Member Hurley asked why the March 7, 2006 memo
was not provided to the EQCB. Mr. Whittenberg explained that this was an internal
Staff memo and not a public document; however, when the public document is ready, it
will be provided to the Board. He explained that there are some very specific provisions
on internal documents regarding drafts of reports. Member Hurley requested an update
at the next meeting, and Mr. Whittenberg indicated that this would be a part of the
updated Overview of Upcoming Projects for Review by EQCB.
Member Hurley then requested that the minutes show that his neighbor had provided
transportation for him to tonight's meeting, as his usual driver, Member Neal was absent
tonight, and he was unable to reach his alternate driver, Member Vineyard.
Chairperson Voce stated that some time ago the Board had reviewed the issue of
mechanical leaf blowers, and the City has printed a brochure, in both English and
Spanish, on leaf blowers and how to use them. He said that recently he has noticed
that leaf blowers are being used when roofs are being replaced, and doing this causes
the dissemination of roof dust, which is very toxic. He suggested that the Board agenda
for the next meeting include a recommendation for banning the use of mechanical leaf
blowers for this purpose. He indicated that a vacuum should be used for removing roof
dust. Member Hurley asked the Director of Development Services whether information
from the Building and Engineering/Public Works Departments would be helpful in
addressing this issue. Mr. Whittenberg stated that this is the first time he has heard
about this type of activity, but it would certainly be appropriate to place it on the next
meeting agenda. He noted that currently there is nothing in the City Code prohibiting
this, but Staff can check with other cities and with the South Coast Air Quality
Management District (AQMD) to see if they have an existing regulation that deals with
this issue, and include this on the Board agenda for Mayor June. Member Baton asked
about gardeners using leaf blowers. Chairperson Voce stated that he has tried to get
them banned altogether, but City Staff member, Bob Eagle, did not want the landscape
crew to lose the ability to use the leaf blowers on the greenbelt. He said that the Board
then came up with guidelines on how to use leaf blowers in Seal Beach, which does
help minimize the impacts. Member Barton agreed that anything blowing in the
atmosphere is awful for everyone, but the problem she sees is with enforcing
preventative measures. Mr. Whittenberg added that he is aware that Bob Eagle does
periodically schedule meetings to review these guidelines with the landscape
contractors in town. He said he would check with Mr. Eagle to see when this was last
done.
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City of Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
Meeting Minutes of April 26, 2006
VIII Adjournment
Chairperson Voce adjourned the meeting at 7:06 p.m. to the regular meeting of May 24,
2006.
Respectfully Submitted,
~~~~
Carmen Alvarez, Executive Secretary
Department of Development Services
The Board on May 24, 2006, approvedJbe Minutes of the Environmental Quality Control
Board of Wednesday, April 26, 2006. ~.
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