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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-09-30_Agenda_Packet_EQAC 1�EWPO�v CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Aor °�: '\j ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Civic Center Community Room - 100 Civic Center Drive September 30, 2014- 6:30 PM Committee Members: Joshua Olazabal Nancy Gardner, Council Member(Chair) Debbie Stevens Tony Petros, Council Member Josh Yocam Tyler Gentry Kimberly Jameson Scott Kohan Staff Members: Charles McKenna Patrick Alford, Planning Manager I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES APPROVAL OF MINUTES Summary: Approval of August 28, 2014 meeting minutes Recommended Action:Approve August 28, 2014 minutes (attached) IV. CURRENT BUSINESS A. Environmental Quality Objectives Summary: Review of draft EQAC-recom mended environmental quality objectives. Recommended Action: Review draft objectives; revise, if necessary; direct staff to prepare a recommendation to the City Council. V. COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION OR REPORT (NON-DISCUSSION ITEM) VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS Public comments are invited on agenda and non-agenda items generally considered to be within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Committee. Speakers must limit comments to (3) minutes. Before speaking, we invite, but do not require, you to state your name for the record. The Committee has the discretion to extend or shorten the speakers' time limit on agenda or non-agenda items, provided the time limit adjustment is applied equally to all speakers. As a courtesy, please turn cell phones off or set them in silent mode VII. NEXT MEETING Next Meeting Date: Thursday, October 30, 2014, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. VIII. ADJOURNMENT 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 seventy-two (72) hours in advance of each regular 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 three (3)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. If requested, this agenda will be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with a disability, as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132), and the federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation thereof. Please contact the City Clerk's Office at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting to inform us of your particular needs and to determine if accommodation is feasible at(949)644-3005 or cityclerk@newportbeachca.gov. 1 4-WPC) NEWPORT BEACH U qt- rosr ITEM TITLE: APPROVAL OF MINUTES ITEM SUMMARY: Summary: Approval of August 28, 2014 meeting minutes RECOMMENDED Recommended Action: Approve August 28, 2014 minutes (attached) ACTION: ATTACHMENTS: Description August 28, 2014, Draft EQAC Minutes City of Newport Beach Environmental Quality Affairs Committee Minutes Date: August 28, 2014 Location: Newport Beach Civic Center— 100 Civic Center Drive Civic Center Community Room Members Nancy Gardner (Chair), Tyler Gentry, Kimberly Jameson, Scott Present: Kohan, Debbie Stevens, Josh Yocam Members Absent: Council Member Tony Petros and Charles McKenna Staff: Patrick Alford, Planning Program Manager Public: Jim Mosher 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at approximately 6:30 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Council Member Petros and Mr. McKenna were absent. After introductions, Chair Gardner announced the resignation of Joshua Olazabal and requested that interested persons apply. Mr. Alford added that the City Clerk had already begun the application process. Ms. Jameson arrived at approximately 6:43 p.m. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the June 26, 2014, meeting were approved as amended. 4. CURRENT BUSINESS A. Environmental Quality Objectives Chair Gardner stated that the goal was to develop a set of objectives to improve the environmental quality of the City. She added that the objectives could be short-term (for the upcoming year) or long-term. She suggested moving forward with the Land Use Element Amendment sustainability provisions, should the ballot measure fail. Ms. Stevens spoke of the continuing need for environmental oversight. She mentioned environmental impact reports (EIRs) for large-scale projects, such as Newport Banning Ranch and the Land Use Element. EQAC August 28, 2014 Minutes Page 2 The Committee then proceeded to "brainstorm" objective proposals. Chair Gardner brought up the subject of green alleys. The Committee discussed free parking for electric cars, solar carports, and coordinating with non-governmental agencies to encourage sustainability practices. Ms. Jameson spoke on the need of citizen oversight of the CEQA process and suggested that the Committee needed "teeth" to carry out that role. A discussion ensued on the history of the Committee's role in reviewing EIRs. The consensus of the Committee was that their role was less technical and more of providing a voice for ordinary citizens. Chair Gardner acknowledged the Committee's desire to have the City Council reconsider EQAC's role in the review of EIRs. Chair Gardner brought up the popularity of the Laguna Beach trolley and suggested investigating something similar for the Peninsula. A discussion ensued on coordinating with UCI and/or private bus charter companies to provide alternative transportation. The Committee turned to energy issues, beginning with Mr. McKenna's email commenting on excessive commercial lighting. Mr. Gentry brought up preserving and repurposing remaining open space areas. Mr. Kohan brought up the subject of water quality. He stated that the City's infrastructure was lacking and inefficient (e.g., meter reading and leak detection). Mr. Yocam brought up the issue of construction noise, suggesting that the threshold be raised. Ms. Jameson spoke about party noise and suggested facilitating cooperation between rental residents, rental agencies, and the police. Ms. Stevens suggested addressing noise issues by establishing the City's own CEQA thresholds. Chair Gardner brought up the plastic bag ban. Ms. Stevens suggested that the issue may be resolved at the state level. Chair Gardner informed the Committee that she would work with staff to draft a set of proposals based on these discussions and bring them back to the Committee at the next meeting. Mr. Mosher pointed out that the Council never said that EQAC cannot review EIRs. On lighting, he also suggested using the International Dark Skies Society as a resource. On noise, he suggested addressing traffic noise through the use of rubberized roads. Ms. Stevens commented that the Committee should have commented on the John Wayne Airport Settlement Agreement Extension EIR and outside agency EIRs in general. EQAC August 28, 2014 Minutes Page 3 Mr. Kohan suggested that alternative transportation, such as the Bike Park N Ride and shuttle, would help reduce traffic noise. Ms. Jameson reiterated that the Committee should not only recommend good ideas, but should provide a public forum for the community. Ms. Stevens suggested exploring funding opportunities for initiatives like the shuttle. Mr. Yocam suggested the development of "Newport-specific" CEQA thresholds. Ms. Stevens suggested that the Committee look to other cities that have already done this to assist with standardizing CEQA analyses. 5. COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION OR REPORT (NON- DISCUSSION ITEM) None. 6. PUBLIC COMMENTS None. 7. NEXT MEETING Tuesday, September 30, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. 8. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:48 p.m. Nancy Gardner, Chair 4-WPC) NEWPORT BEACH U qt- ros�r ITEM TITLE: Environmental Quality Objectives ITEM SUMMARY: Summary: Review of draft EQAC-recom mended environmental quality objectives. RECOMMENDED Recommended Action: Review draft objectives; revise, if necessary; direct staff ACTION: to prepare a recommendation to the City Council. ATTACHMENTS: Description EQAC Proposals EQAC PROPOSALS Next to safety, quality of life is the number one concern of Newport Beach residents. One role of the Environmental Quality Affairs Committee (EQAC) is to make recommendations to the City Council on environmental quality policies, programs and regulations. EQAC recommends that the City Council direct the Committee to investigate and report back on the following initiatives to improve and/or maintain the quality of life in our City: TRANSPORTATION Traffic is a major concern. Finding ways to reduce congestion is an important goal. In addition to the Bicycle Master Plan,the following are suggested: 1. Have the City coordinate with outside organizations (e.g. UCI and OCTD) that provide important transportation alternatives and have the City consider providing funding to augment existing services in the City. 2. Explore the possibility of tram service, focusing on weekends and summers, similar to that in Laguna Beach, on the Peninsula and in Corona del Mar. In conjunction with this, identify the location of a parking hub and consider a parking structure sufficient to accommodate a significant number of cars. 3. Encourage bike sharing services. 4. Encourage private charter transportation companies currently providing "cocktail tours" to expand to include daytime beach transport. ENERGY The City is currently pursuing an Energy Action Plan (EAP)to become a more sustainable community and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. A valuable addition to that plan is to reach out to businesses, encouraging them to minimize after-hours lighting as much as possible and to eliminate spillover, particularly in areas abutting open space and habitat. OPEN SPACE 1. Protect and enhance remaining open space areas in the City. 2. Be alert to opportunities with repurposing even very small areas into green opportunities. 1 INFRASTRUCTURE The City has a plan in place to update its infrastructure. In view of the drought, the replacement of water meters with state-of-the-art models can save water as well as man hours. NOISE Whether from construction, cars, airplanes or parties, noise is one of the major irritants mentioned in quality-of-life concerns. 1. Review the noise standards and consider lowering the threshold for violations. 2. Work with residents to develop improved methods of dealing with residential "party" noise. CEQA OVERSIGHT It is the opinion of the Committee that having citizen oversight on environmental impact reports (EIRs) is important as these documents focus on the impacts of a particular project on the City. The average resident is unlikely to review such a document, either because he or she is unaware of the document or intimidated by it,yet it is the residents that will bear the brunt to the project's impacts. 1. Continue to have EQAC review EIRs on major City projects. 2. Have EQAC review EIRs on projects outside the City that may impact the City. 3. Have EQAC develop Newport-centric CEQA thresholds of significance. 2 g 4-WPC) NEWPORT BEACH U qt- ros�r ITEM TITLE: Next Meeting Date: Thursday, October 30, 2014, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.