HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-26_EQUAC_AgendaCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE
DATE /TIME: Monday, January 26, 2009
7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Police Department Auditorium
870 Santa Barbara Drive
Roll Call
1. Minutes of December 15, 2008 (attachment)
2. Report on leaf blower regulation research, and discussion of possible next steps
(attachment)
3. Task Force on Green Development Representatives' Report
a. Building Code amendments
b. Other
4. Report from Membership Subcommittee, and Committee recommendations to City Council
on appointments to fill vacancies Community Association and Environmental Expertise
categories
5. Coastal /Bay Water Quality Committee Representatives' Report
6. Economic Development Committee Representative's Report
7. Report from Staff on Current Projects
1 M1117R.T • u�2T' 1"IT -T' m
9. Future Agenda Items
10. Adjournment
NEXT MEETING DATE: February 23, 2009
*Attachments can be found on the City's website htto: / /www.city.newport- beach.ca.us. 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 Planning Department, 3300 Newport Boulevard, Building C, 2n,
Floor.
�EWPO
Nancy Gardner, Council Member
9
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
F
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
C91FOR�,P
Laura Curran
DRAFT MINUTES 12 -15 -08
Draft minutes of the Environmental Quality Affairs Committee held at the City of Newport
Beach City Council Chambers, 3300 Newport Boulevard, on Monday, December 15, 2008.
Members Present:
X
Nancy Gardner, Council Member
X
Barbara Thibault
X
Michael Henn, Council Member
Laura Curran
X
Kenneth Drellishak, Chair
X
Robert Rush
X
Kimberly Jameson
X
Sandra Haskell
Kevin Kelly
X
Arlene Greer
E
Michael Pascale
X
Barry Allen
X
Michael Smith
X
Kristine Adams
X
Timothy Stoaks
Laura Dietz
X
Joan Penfil
X
Bruce Asper
Ray Halowski
X
Merritt Van Sant
X
Michael Alti
Staff Representatives:
Guests:
X
Sharon Wood, Assistant City Manager
Philip Bettencourt
Barry Eaton
Robert Hawkins
Dolores Ottin
Chairperson Ken Drellishak called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. and introduced visitors.
1. Minutes of November 17, 2008
Arlene Greer moved to approve the minutes of November 17, 2008, with the following
correction: Sandra Haskell made the motion to approve the minutes of September 15, 2008.
Sandra Haskell seconded the motion.
Motion passed unanimously
2. Discussion of 2009 meeting schedule
Due to the Martin Luther King and Presidents Day holidays, the January meeting was
rescheduled to January 26, and the February meeting was rescheduled to February 23.
3. Task Force on Green Development Representative's Report
Council member Gardner stated that the Task Force would like to report progress on Building
Code amendments at the January 26, 2009 meeting.
4. Coastal /Bay Water Quality Committee Representative's Report
None
5. Economic Development Committee Representative's Report
Chairperson Drellishak reported that EDC received a report from utility companies on
incentives to reduce consumption and lower costs in November. The December meeting was
cancelled.
6. Report from Staff on Current Projects
Sharon Wood reported on the status of Marina Park, City Hall, Sunset Ridge Park, AERIE
and the Westcliff Medical Arts building projects, all of which will have EIRs.
��11171C.T • uKTl.�iii.?
Philip Bettencourt reported on the volunteer effort to clear weeds from the Army Corps of
Engineers mitigation area near the Santa Ana River, which is a least tern nesting area.
Barry Eaton commented expressed his interest in EQAC reviewing more mitigated negative
declarations, and urged EQAC to review the environmental document for the updated Zoning
Code when it is available.
Robert Hawkins agreed with Mr. Eaton. He noted that comment periods for MNDs are short,
but it may be possible for EQAC to submit comments after the deadline and have them
considered by the Planning Commission and City Council. He commented that EQAC
continues to do a good job.
Sharon Wood reviewed the procedures for MND review provided in the EQAC Resolution,
and reminded the Committee that notices of the availability of all environmental documents
are provided via the City's e- select alert system. She noted that it is difficult for staff to
respond to comments that are submitted after the deadline in time for Planning Commission
and City Council hearings.
8. Future Agenda Items
January 26
• Report on Building Code amendments from Task Force on Green Development
• Report on leaf blower regulation research
February 23
• Appointment of Marina Park subcommittee
12. Adjournment
Chair Drellishak adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.
EQAC - Leaf Blower Notes
State of CA
no ban
Cities in CA
few with bans, several with ordinances
Concerns (Quality of Life / Health):
noise pollution
air pollution (dust, other debris, exhaust emissions)
Advantages:
1. leaf blowers have replaced use of brooms, hoses, rakes: T productivity, thus T profitability
2. efficient: less time per job site (reduced labor costs); true for private sector and municipalities
3. can clean other surfaces (non - hardscape) that brooms, hoses, rakes cannot; eg: rock, gravel,
bark, mulch
Some Proposed Options:
1. status quo
2. incentivized phase -out plans: retire older blowers, incorporate rebate program for purchase of new
blowers
3. create ordinances with guidelines for and /or restrictions on:
a. acceptable use (days, times, distances, number used simultaneously, etc)
b. methods of operation
c. feasible enforcement
Alternatives to gas- powered leaf blowers:
1. electrical - powered units are not as loud and produce no exhaust
a. requires plug -in, which limits portability, thus 1 efficiency
b. extension cord poses hazardous risks to operators (pools, spas, garden ponds, irrigation
systems)
c. requires use of generator in lieu of plugging into AC outlets at job sites (recall Santa
Monica example given by Council Member Nancy Gardener):
i. results in 2 sources of noise
ii. replacing 1 source of emissions with another
2. water hose
a. not environmentally sound: waste of a natural resource
b. T urban runoff
c. T consumption of water = T utility expense
3. broom
a. safe and eco- friendly, but inefficient compared with yield realized with blowers
4. rake
a. safe and eco- friendly, but inefficient compared with yield realized with blowers