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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-10-17_EQUAC_AgendaCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AGENDA DATEITIME: Monday, October 17, 2011 7:00 p.m. LOCATION: Police Department Auditorium 870 Santa Barbara Drive This committee is subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act. Among other things, the Brown Act requires that the Committee's agenda be posted at least 72 hours in advance of each meeting and that the public be allowed to comment on agenda items before the Committee and items not on the agenda but are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Committee. The Committee may limit public comments to a reasonable amount of time, generally either three (3) or five (5) minutes per person. It is the intention of the City of Newport Beach to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all respects. If, as an attendee or a participant at this meeting, you will need special assistance beyond what is normally provided, the City of Newport Beach will attempt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner. Please contact Leilani Brown, City Clerk, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting to inform us of your particular needs and to determine if accommodation is feasible (949- 644 -3005 or Ibrown @newportbeachca.gov). 1. Call to Order 3. Approval of September 19, 2011 Minutes (attached) 4. Selection of a Vice Chair 5. Public Comments 6. Proposed EQAC comments on the Newport Banning Ranch Draft Environmental Impact Report 7. Future Agenda Items a. EQAC vacancies and the recommendation of candidates for City Council consideration 8. Adjournment NEXT MEETING DATE: November 21, 2011 `Attachments can be found on the City's website http: / /www.newportbeachca.gov. Once there, 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 Community Development Department, Planning Division, 3300 Newport Boulevard, Building C, 2n' Floor. Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Environmental Quality Affairs Committee regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection in the Planning Division located at 3300 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, CA 92663 during normal business hours. wPO�r Nancy Gardner, Mayor Pro Tem F4 �; CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH E ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (`g1IF09 Kevin Nolen DRAFT MINUTES September 19, 2011 The Environmental Quality Affairs Committee held at the City of Newport Beach Police Department Auditorium, 870 Santa Barbara Drive, on Monday, September 19, 2011. Members Present: X Nancy Gardner, Mayor Pro Tem X Laura Meier E Rush Hill, Council Member A Kevin Nolen E Debra Stevens, Chair X Joan Penfil E Michael Alti A Ed Reno X Bruce Asper X Nick Roussos X Laura Curran X Timothy Stoaks X Kathy Harrison E Barbara Thibault A I Sandra Haskell X Merritt Van Sant X Kimberly Jameson X Kevin Kell E Vincent Lepore X Charles McKenna Staff Representatives: Guests: In the absence of a chair and vice chair, the Committee voted to have Bruce Asper to serve as Chair Pro Tem. Chair Pro Tem Asper called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm 1. Introductions Mayor Pro Tem Garner requested that the Committee to take public comments now to allow a group of students to make a presentation. Darrel Ferguson of the Surfrider Foundation called for the City to ban single -use plastic bags. Mayor Pro Tem Gardner pledged to bring the matter to the attention of the City Council to determine if this is something the Council would want EQAC to look into. Dan Purcell, Steve Ray, Patrick Soriano, X Patrick J. Alford, Planning Manager Robert Brower, Ann O'Flynn, Sharon Boles, Darrel Ferguson In the absence of a chair and vice chair, the Committee voted to have Bruce Asper to serve as Chair Pro Tem. Chair Pro Tem Asper called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm 1. Introductions Mayor Pro Tem Garner requested that the Committee to take public comments now to allow a group of students to make a presentation. Darrel Ferguson of the Surfrider Foundation called for the City to ban single -use plastic bags. Mayor Pro Tem Gardner pledged to bring the matter to the attention of the City Council to determine if this is something the Council would want EQAC to look into. Environmental Quality Affairs Committee Meeting Minutes September 19, 2011 2. Minutes of September 20, 2010 Chair Pro Tern Asper tabled this item due to the length of time that has passed. 3. Overview of the proposed Newport Banning Ranch Project Planning Manager Patrick Alford gave a PowerPoint presentation on the project and the draft environmental impact report (DEIR) public review and comment process. He then answered questions from the Committee. Jim Mosher commented on the availability of the DEIR and the need for full disclosure ofinterests. Richard Robertson inquired about traffic impacts. Chair Pro Tern Asper stated that this was not the appropriate time for that discussion. Dan Purcell asked if the dates of meetings of the Subcommittee would be posted on the City Calendar. Mr. Alford replied that this something that could be discussed with the next agenda item. 4. Selection of a subcommittee to review and comment on the Newport Banning Ranch Draft Environmental Impact Report Mr. Alford summarized Chair Stevens Subcommittee assignments for the review of the DEIR. Several Committee members expressed an interest in also reviewing and commenting on the DEIR. There was a general discussion of how the majority of Committee members could participate without violating the Brown Act. The Committee indicated that they would like continue their past practice of allowing all interested members to submit comments to the Chair, who would then compile them and present them the Committee as a whole at public meeting. Jim Mosher asked if the public be allowed to review the comments submitted to the Chair. It was the consensus of the Committee that the comments needed to be collated d by the Chair before they are made available to the public The Committee had a general discussion on the DEIR section assignments. Steve Ray asked how the public can contact Committee members and Dan Purcell wanted it clarified that there would not be a subcommittee. The Committee had a general discussion on receiving communications from the public prior to October 17, 2011 meeting. Mike Mohler, project applicant, stated that they did not intend to contact that Committee, but requested that any contact by others be disclosed. Chair Pro Tern asked the Committee to vote on the issue. Environmental Quality Affairs Committee Meeting Minutes September 19, 2011 A motion was made by Committee Member Penfil, seconded by Committee Member Roussos for the Committee to vote on whether EQAC members should be contacted by members of the public. Motion approved 10 ayes and 1 noes. A motion was made by Committee Member Meier, seconded by Committee Member Roussos to 1) each DEIR section be assigned to at least one EQAC member; 2) that public comments will be directed to the Chair and not to individual members. Motion approved 8 ayes and 3 noes. Dorothy Kraus invited EQAC members to view Newport Banning Ranch from her home in Newport Crest. 5. Public Comments Steve Ray clarified that his earlier question was on the proper procedure for submitting comments. He stated that the Banning Ranch Conservancy would be submitting information to the Chair. Chair Pro Tern Asper stated that it was not the appropriate time to go over that information now. Dan Purcell commented on the future of EQAC, given the absences and the number of vacancies. Mayor Pro Tern Gardner commented that the turnout at the prior meeting did bring the future of EQAC into question, but she indicated that she is now more optimistic. 6. Future Agenda Items Mr. Alford stated that the selection of a vice chair needed to be addressed at a future meeting. Mayor Pro Tern called for a straw vote on whether EQAC was interested in investigating a plastic bag ban. There was a show of hands in the affirmative. 7. Adjournment Chair Pro Tern Asper adjourned the meeting at 8:40 pm to the next regularly scheduled meeting of October 17, 2011.