HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 - Supporting Gypsum Canyon Veterans' CemeteryQ �EwPpRT
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<,FORN'P City Council Staff Report
September 14, 2021
Agenda Item No. 10
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Grace K. Leung, City Manager - 949-644-3001,
gleung@newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Tara Finnigan, Deputy City Manager,
tfinnigan@newportbeachca.gov
PHONE: 949-644-3035
TITLE: Resolution No. 2021-82: Supporting Gypsum Canyon Veterans'
Cemetery
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At its August 24, 2021 meeting, the City Council unanimously voted, via a straw poll, in
favor of staff bringing forward a resolution for the Council's consideration that would
express its support for the development of a veterans' cemetery at Gypsum Canyon in
Anaheim Hills.
RECOMMENDATION:
a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because
this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly;
and
b) Adopt Resolution No. 2021-82, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Newport
Beach, California, Supporting Gypsum Canyon Veterans' Cemetery.
DISCUSSION:
For a number of years, Orange County veterans and public officials have sought
consensus on a site to develop a cemetery to honor the men and women who have served
our country and provide for them a local burial location. Recent efforts to site the cemetery
at the former Marine Corps Air Station EI Toro in the City of Irvine have been
unsuccessful.
In July of this year, the Orange County Board of Supervisors (Board) passed a resolution
to convey its endorsement of a veterans' cemetery on county -owned land located in
Gypsum Canyon, near the intersection of the 241 toll road and the 91 freeway, in Anaheim
Hills. The Board also unanimously supported allocating $20 million in County of Orange
general fund money toward the project. Anaheim officials have also publicly expressed
support for siting the cemetery at the Gypsum Canyon location.
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Resolution No. 2021-82: Supporting Gypsum Canyon Veterans' Cemetery
September 14, 2021
Page 2
At the request of Newport Beach City Council Member Kevin Muldoon, at its August 24,
2021 meeting, the City Council considered placing an item on a future Council agenda
that, if adopted, would express its support for a veterans' cemetery in Gypsum Canyon.
The City Council unanimously voted, via a straw poll, in favor of staff bringing forward a
resolution for the Council's consideration.
If adopted, Resolution No. 2021-82 (Attachment), would convey that the City Council
supports locating the veterans' cemetery on the county -owned land in Gypsum Canyon
and supports state and federal legislation that facilitates its development.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this project exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section [insert exemption section number
(short description of section)] of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations,
Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential to have a significant effect on the
environment.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment — Resolution No. 2021-82
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ATTACHMENT A
RESOLUTION NO. 2021- 82
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING
GYPSUM CANYON VETERANS' CEMETERY
WHEREAS, it is estimated that 200,000 military veterans reside in Orange
County;
WHEREAS, the veterans that served our nation deserve a final resting place of
honor and serenity;
WHEREAS, efforts to site a veterans' cemetery in the City of Irvine at the closed
Marine Corps Air Station, EI Toro have not been successful;
WHEREAS, in 2018, the County of Orange designated 280 -acres at the 241 Toll
Road and Gypsum Canyon Road ("Gypsum Canyon") in Anaheim Hills for a veterans
and separate civilian cemetery;
WHEREAS, a coalition of 130 Orange County veterans' groups are united in a
regional effort to finally build a suitable resting place for the fallen at Gypsum Canyon;
and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously support a
veterans' cemetery at Gypsum Canyon.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach resolves as
follows:
Section 1: The City Council does hereby join with the Orange County
veterans' community and Board of Supervisors in support of a Veterans' Cemetery at
Gypsum Canyon in Anaheim Hills.
Section 2: The City Council does hereby support state and federal legislation
that facilitates the development of the Orange County Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum
Canyon in Anaheim Hills.
Section 3: The recitals provided in this resolution are true and correct and are
incorporated into the operative part of this resolution.
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Resolution No. 2021 -
Page 2 of 2
Section 4: if any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this
resolution is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall
not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this resolution. The
City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this resolution, and each
section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any
one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid
or unconstitutional.
Section 5: The City Council finds the adoption of this resolution is not subject
to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2)
(the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change
in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section
15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6,
Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the
environment, directly or indirectly.
Section 6: This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by
the City Council, and the City Clerk shall certify the vote adopting the resolution.
ADOPTED this 14th day of September, 2021,
Brad Avery
Mayor
ATTEST:
Leilani I. Brown
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Cl ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
C�
Aa on C. Harp
City Attorney
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