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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-09-19_EQUAC_Approved MinutesMINUTES 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 �EWPO °� �; CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH E ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Cq LIFOR�,P Kevin Nolen 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 Sandra Haskell X Merritt Van Sant X Kimberly Jameson X Kevin Kelly E Vincent Le ore 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 of interests. 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; additional members of EQAC were assigned across sections to increase the amount of comments on the DEIR; 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.