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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 1972/10/11 MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA Held Wednesday October 11, 1972 An adjourned regular meeting of the City Council of Chula Vista, California, was held on the above date beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the Council Conference Room, Civic Center, 276 Fourth Avenue, with the following Councilmen present: Councilmen Hobel, Hamilton, Hyde Egdahl Absent: Councilman Scott Also present: City Manager Thomson, Acting City Attorney Blick, Acting Director of Planning Williams MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE Acting Director of Planning Williams briefly DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME TO discussed the present concept of the Bayfront DISCUSS BAYFRONT PLAN Study, adding that there is a desire on the part of the City to preserve the marsh, but the question is whether this marshland can be "cut out" of the zoning. Bruce Eliason, Environmental Services Mr. Eliason discussed those aspects of the Supervisor, State Department of Fish marsh of concern to the Department of Fish and Game and Game--in particular, the bird life associated with it. Ronald Hein, Field Supervisor Mr. Hein spoke on the wildlife of the marsh- Wildlife Management, State lands and the viability of the marsh for this Department of Fish and Game wildlife. He indicated the optimum for the marshlands would be maintenance of the natural resources as they are now, with con- sideration given to rehabilitation. Mr. Hein also discussed the development of areas in proximity to the marsh and the proposed deep water channel and its effect on the eco- system as it now exists. He added that beaches and parks attracting a great deal of people could be as detrimental to the marsh- lands as that of high-density residential development. Funding Discussion ensued on how the objective-- rehabilitation--could be accomplished and possible State, local and Federal participa- tion in preservation of the marshlands. Reference was made to the letter from the Department of the Interior requesting an indication of the City's willingness to co- operate in a preservation program. Councilman Hyde expressed his opinion that the State Department of Fish and Game should move in the direction of getting financial assistance (for instance, matching funds). Mr. Hein referred to the sources of their funds (horse-race funds, license plate funds, etcO and the personnel with which they have to work as being quite limited. He suggested that the City contact the City of Palo Alto for ideas that may have been brought out in their baylands program. National Steel and Shipbuilding Mayor Hamilton asked the representatives from Company's Proposal the Fish and Game Department if they had given thought to the proposal by National Steel and Shipbuilding Company. Mr. Hein indicated that the Department has not taken a position on this proposal. Discussion ensued on the City's interest in having a marina in this area. Mr. Eliason stated that more information must be compiled before the Department of Fish and Game could present an evaluation of the second entrance to the bay and its development. He stressed that there is a need for a master development plan for the bay. Acting Director of Planning Mr. Williams discussed the possible configu- Williams rations of a marina and the fact that it is predicated on a second entrance to the bay. Mr. Eliason commented on the concepts and alternatives presented at this meeting and the possibilities they present. Mayor Hamilton indicated his desire that all the environmental agencies get together and provide input as to the future of the marsh- lands. REPORT ON M~DATE OF In a report to the City Council, Acting City ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Attorney Blick described the California STATEMENTS Supreme Court's decision relative to the Friends of Mammoth case. Basically, the ruling requires a city to write an environ- mental impact statement for every permit, conditional use permit, lease or other entitlement granted by the city wherein the project has a significant effect on the environment. He added that this statement must be in written form prior to a decision by the Council and the public must be afforded the opportunity to provide input. Mr. Blick commented that the City Council, with the assistance of the staff, is going to have to (1) establish a means for deter- mining what is "trivial,"as far as impact, and what is "non-trivial," and (2) determine what should be the content of the environmental impact statement. Urgency of establishing He commented that determinations on minor guidelines projects (as to whether they are trivial or non-trivial) are being made and waivers are being issued to those in the "gray" area. He stressed the importance, however, of getting guidelines down on paper as soon as possible. Departmental input City Manager Thomson remarked that he will be meeting with the Acting Director of Planning and that he has had input from other depart- ments on departmental positions relative to restrictions and what would warrant a waiver. He added we are going to have to outline the scope of this and develop a system. Mr. Thomson commented that a preliminary control statement on an administrative basis, subject to Council alterations, has been established. Possible assistance of Acting City Attorney Blick stated that it is Attorney General quite possible that the Attorney General will lend assistance in establishing guidelines. Mr. Blick added that a group of attorneys has indicated the desire to form a committee to discuss guidelines and waiver agreements, but the City has a responsibility to create an interim set of guidelines. -2-- Mayor Hamilton stated that he believes staff should proceed, with haste, to develop and coordinate guidelines, implementation and backing needed to accomplish what the Court has required of the City. Backlog of unissued permits Acting Director of Planning Williams referred to the backlog of things on which issuance of permits has been held up. After a brief discussion of the requirement of an environmental impact statement for franchises, Acting City Attorney Blick indi- cated that an impact statement might be required of a new franchise such as Mission Cable TV. Acting Director of Planning Williams remarked that the requirement for environmental impact statements might be broadened to include the Local Agency Formation Commission. City Manager Thomson commented that a schedule of projects will be sent to the City Council soon. Kathryn Moore Mrs. Moore stated that she has received a list 1134 Tobias of guidelines published by the federal govern- ment from a consultant for filing of environ- mental impact statements and that she has been aware for quite some time that these kind of statements would eventually be required. Complexity of Court's decision Acting City Attorney Blick commented that the Court's decision is indeed an extreme extension of the law and quite complex and far-reaching. Councilman Hobel added that it is not only complex, but costly as well. Mignon Sherer Mrs. Sherer indicated she represents the Lesser San Diego County environmental group, "Lesser San Diego County." She believes the first criterion put on judging environmental impact statements sould be the question, "Will this development with 'X' number of cars permit us to meet the 1975 air quality standards." Mayor Hamilton commented that we do not know what changes will be made between now and 1975, and judgments must be made on what we know now. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m. to the meeting of October 24, 1972 at 7:00 p.m. Deputy CiX~ Clerk