HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1975/01/14 Item 05
AGENDA ITEM N0. [ 5 ]
CHULA VISTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING oF: January 14, 1975
ITEM TITLE: Resolution - Adopting revisions to the Environmental Review Policy to
implement AB 1575 and subsequent amendments to the California
Administrative Code
INITIATED BY: Director of Planning
RAf'K(;R(li1NTl
Last year the State Legislature passed and the Governor subsequently signed into
law an amendment to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requiring that
EIR's contain a discussion of methods to mitigate inefficient and unnecessary
consumption of energy. To implement this law the Secretary for Resources, as
part of the annual review of the CEQA guidelines, drafted, held hearing on, and
subsequently adopted various amendments to the guidelines. The revisions are of
two basic types: 1) Additions to implement the energy conservation requirements of
AB 1575; and 2) various amendments to update and clarify the guidelines.
These amendments were adopted by the Secretary on December 26, 1974 with an
effective date of January 7, 1975. Public agencies are given a 90 day period to
bring their implementing procedures into conformity relative to the general amend-
ments, however, because of a deadline imposed by AB 1575 the revisions relative to
energy conservation became effective on January 7, 1975.
Due to the lack of any significant time to review the proposed energy amendments,
the Environmental Review Committee, on January 2, 1975, made the following recom-
mendations to implement AB 1575 on an interim basis:
1) Add a new Section 5.5 to the Environmental Review Policy (attached) requiring
the review of measures to reduce energy consumption and prevent wasteful,
inefficient or unnecessary consumption of energy. This section is taken
verbatim from the State Guidelines.
2) Adopt new Initial Study Application and Evaluation forms (attached) which
(continued on sup lemental age)
ATTACHED: Resolution [X ] Ordinance ~ ] A~reement [ ] Plat [ ]
See EXHIBITS [X] No. 1-2
Financial Statement:
Commission-Board Recommendation:
on an interim basis AB 1575.
2) Strike Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of
application and evaluation forms
as part of the new procedures.
Department Head Recommendation:
1) Add a new Section 5.5 to the Environmental Review Policy, as attached, to implement
City Manager Recommendation:
Concur
the Environmental Review Policy and adopt the new
to provide full evaluation prior to final adoption
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AGENDA ITEM N0: s
Supplemental Page No. 2
include energy consumption evaluation. These will be substituted for the
existing Sec. 5.1 and 5.2 of the Environmental Review Policy.
During the 90 day period the policy on energy conservation will be evaluated and
any necessary or desirable modifications will be recommended to the Council
prior to the April 1, 1975 deadline for general policy revision.
The revised Initial Study Application and Evaluation forms are the result of
another year's experience in the Environmental Review Procedure. The forms have
been reviewed on an informal basis by other agencies, several consultants and indiv-
iduals. Adopting the new forms on an interim basis will not only permit gaining
experience in working with them in a realistic situation, but also will provide
an opportunity for wider comment. Any additional revisions will be incorporated
into the new policy prior to its adoption by Council.
The estimated schedule for the preparation of the new procedures is as follows:
February 1, 1975
February 1 to
March 1, 1975
March 1 to
March 13, 1975
March 13, 1975
Issuance of draft procedures by the Environmental
Review Committee
Review of draft procedures by Commissioners, consultants,
other agencies and individuals
Preparation of final procedures
Environmental Review Committee formulates recommendations
to the Council on new procedures
March 25, 1975 Consideration of new procedures by the City Council