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Home My WebLink About2005-02-28_EQAC_AgendaDATE /TIME: LOCATION Roll Call CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AGENDA Monday, February 28, 2005 7:00 p.m. Police Department Auditorium 870 Santa Barbara Drive 1. Minutes of January 10, 2005 (minutes attached) 2. Discussion of procedures for review of environmental documents 3. Report from Membership Subcommittee 4. Report from EQAC Representative to GPUC 5. Report from EQAC Members on GPAC 6. Economic Development Committee (EDC) Representative's Report 7. Council Member Reports 8. Report from staff on current projects 10=9171C.T • 171711La'ii1:� 10. Future Agenda Items 11. Adjournment NEXT MEETING DATE: March 21, 2005 'Attachments can be found on the City's website http: / /www.city.newport- beach.ca.us, once there, click on City Council, then scroll to and click on Agendas and Minutes then scroll to and click on Environmental Quality Affairs. If attachment is not on the web page, it is also available in the City of Newport Beach Planning Department, 3300 Newport Boulevard, Building C, 2o6 Floor. CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE DRAFT Minutes 1 -10 -05 Minutes of the Environmental Quality Affairs Citizens Advisory Committee held at the City of Newport Beach Police Department Auditorium, 870 Santa Barbara Drive, on January 10, 2005. Members Present Cris Trapp, Acting Chairperson Steven Rosansky, Council Member Richard Nichols, Council Member Mike Browning Brent Cooper Kristine Adams Kenneth Drellishak Barbara Thibault Staff Present Sharon Wood, Assistant Members not Laura Dietz - E Tom Hyans — Merritt Van.Sa Jennifer Winn` 1'.� ',Minutes of Carol Hoffman Phillip Lugar J lowski ier Welsh Sandra-Haskell - Excused Gus Chabre Barry Allen Thomas Eastmond ng to order at 7:05 pm Motion: Ray Halgwski to approve minutes Seconded: Phillip Lugar Motion passes unanimously 2. Subcommittee report and discussion of comments on Draft EIR for Newport Lexus project, 3901, 3931, 3961 MacArthur Blvd. and 848, 888 Dove Street The Committee discussed the subcommittee report and amendments to the comments. Motion: Phillip Lugar to approve DEIR as amended Seconded: Kenneth Drellishak Motion passes unanimously 3. Subcommittee report and discussion of comments on Draft EIR for Replacement of Newport Trunk Sewer and Force Mains, Orange County Sanitation District The Committee discussed the subcommittee report and amendments to the comments. Motion: Cristopher Welsh to approve DEIR as amended Seconded: Dolores Otting Motion passes unanimously 0, 2005. \ \�,\ 4. Report from EQAC Representative to GPUC Sharon Wood reported on the meeting of Jan 5. Report from EQAC Members on GP Phillip Lugar reported that there was no 6. Economic Development Cor Carol Hoffman reported that 7. Council Member Reports Council MembernNichdls rep <7 8. /Repo' rt from st \current Report study of Buck Gully run -off. projects — None 9. Public Comment `, None 10. Future Ageend/ Items -None 11. Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm EQAC DRAFT Minutes of 1 -10 -05 Page 2 Mayor Steven Bromberg Mayor Pro Tem Don Webb Council Members Leslie J. Daigle John Heffernan Richard A. Nichols Tod W. Ridgeway Steven Rosansky CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH OFFICE OF THE MAYOR January 12, 2005 Mr. Jim lierberg, P.E., Engineering Manager c/o Angie Anderson Orange County Sanitation District 10544 Ellis Avenue Fountain Valley, CA 92705 VIA FACSIMILE Comments on DEIR for the Replacement of Newport Trunk Sewer and Force Mains Dear Mr. Elcrberg: Thank you for the opportunity to provide these comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the above - captioned Project, as well as your courtesy in presenting the Project to the Newport Beach Environmental Quality Affairs Committee (EQAC), and allowing the City to submit comments after your deadline to allow for review by EQAC and the City Council. As you may know, EQAC reviews and prepares comments on DEERS for the City Council's consideration. The comments in this letter are based on review of the DEIR by EQAC and City staff, and were approved by the City Council on January 11, 2005. Section 3.2 Biological Resources The proposed Project Alternative 2 would use the existing utility easement, which, according to the DEIR, "is assumed to be outside of thejurisdictional wetland area." Alternative 2C would allow the proposed Project to proceed without the impacts to land use and traffic that would result from the Alternative t alignment. Section 3.4 Geoloty and Soils Section 3.4.1 contains detailed descriptions of the seismology and local geology in the proposed Project area. It emphasizes that these sewer mains will be installed in an area which is seismically active (Newport- Inglewood Fault Zone) and subject to liquefaction, subsidence and landslides. Specifically, "Landslides and Spreading" City Hall • 3300 Newport Boulevard • Post Office Box 1765 Newport Beach California 92658 -3915 e www.ci ty.newport-beach.ca. Lis Mr. Jim Herberg, P.E. Orange County Sanitation District January 12, 2005 Page 2 defines the "cliffs at the edge of the utility road and oil field as seismic landslide hazard areas." The City urges the District to take these conditions into consideration in the final design of the pipeline, and follow recognized industry standards. Table 2 -1 shows the need to remove 44,510 cubic yards of material due to Alternative 2C trenching and tunneling. Some of this material is coming from areas near old sewer mains and old oil fields and may be contaminated and in need of special handling. This should be addressed in the Final EIR. Section 3.6 Hvdroloi4y and Water Quality Impact 3.6 -4 states that "the operation of the sewer could result in sewage spills." The DEIR further states that the Project is being proposed to minimize the potential for sewage spills; however, the DEIR does not provide any specific measures to that end. The Final EIR should discuss the measures being proposed to ensure that the existing sewer lines will not be breached or damaged during construction, creating a serious spill, particularly within the SAR Marsh. Section 3.8 Noise The DE1R states that the proposed Project would increase sewage pumping capacity from 240 to 480 million gallons per day. The Final EIR should address the issue of operational noise associated with this increase in capacity, including the increases in continuous noise due to doubled now rates and doubled pump capacity after Project completion. Section 3.10 Traffic Mitigation Measure M-3.7-2 regarding the rerouting ofbicycle traffic on West Coast Highway is not realistic. Coast Highway is a major regional bicycle facility with hundreds of cyclists using it on peak days. Even on winter weekdays, groups of cyclists travel this road including during peak traffic periods. It is the City's experience that these cyclists will not divert to the proposed alternate route, but will occupy one of the 10' lanes, resulting in substantial traffic congestion and increased risk of collisions between vehicles and bicycles as well as between vehicles making last minute lane changes to avoid slower moving cyclists. Mitigation Measure M- 3.10 -1 states that "(d)irt haul operations occurring during the peak summer months shall not occur during peak AM or PM periods (6:00 -9:00 AM and 3:00 -6:00 PM.)." The Final EIR should clarify "sununer months" to be consistent with City of Newport Beach Department of Public Works definition, to J f Mr. An Herberg, P.E. Orange County Sanitation District Jmmary 12, 2005 Page 3 insure a minimum of conflict with peak PCH usage. Chapter 4 Project Alternatives The District's preferred alternative is Alternative 2C; however, the text on Page 4 -10 is not complete in its discussion of this alternative. It appears that part of the text is missing. Conclusion The City of Newport Beach commends the District for the thoroughness of this DEER, especially the analysis of a range of alternatives. The City supports the District's preferred alternative, Alternative 2C, because it will have the least impacts with respect to land use and traffic issues to residents and businesses in West Newport. Thank you again for the opportunity to participate in the review of this project. If You have questions about the City's comments, please contact Assistant City Manager Sharon Wood at 949 - 644 -3222. Sincerely, 1'�/ (even BrombergY� Mayor