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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC MIN 1997/03/24CORRECTED MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED REGULAR MEETING Resource Conservation Commission Chula Vista, California 6:30 r.M. Conference Room #1 Mondav March 10 1997 Public Services Building CALL MEETING TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: Meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M. by Vice- Chair Marquez. City Staff Environmental Review Coordinator Doug Reid called roll. Present: Commissioners Marquez, Hall, McAlister, and Yamada. It was MSUC (Mazquez/Hall) to excuse Commissioner Burrascano who is attending a public meeting as a representative of a committee which she chairs; vote 4-0, motion carried. It was also MSUC (Mazquez/Hall) to excuse Commissioner Thomas who is ill; vote 4-0, motion carried. Also present: Michael Meacham, Conservation Coordinator. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: There was not a quorum present from the January 20, 1997 meeting to approve the minutes. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None [Commissioner Fisher arrived at 6:42 P.M.] NEW BUSINESS: Michael Meacham updated the RCC on the National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES). He explained the program which educates the public on the reduction of pollutants and other household hazazdous waste materials which may enter storm drains and impact local watershed. The program is in conjunction with other existing grant programs which provide public information. After the brief explanation and discussion, it was MSUC (McAlister/Mazquez) to support the transfer of fund from the NPDES fund to the City Conservation Coordinator to establish new activities to complement the existing programs spent for public education; vote 5-0, motion carried. 2. Application for used oil recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Grant: Michael Meacham reported that Chula Vista currently has 19 drop-off centers for oil recycling, although its minimum requirement is only two. The City is making more of these centers available for public convenience. The grant would provide funds to develop and implement a regional plan for used oil recycling and other household hazardous waste. It was MSUC (Yamada/Hall) to recommend to Council to submit the application of Used Oil Block Grant; vote 5-0, motion carried. Review of Negative Declazation IS-97-07, Broadway Texaco - Following a review and brief discussion of the significant but mitigable impacts from the project, it was MSUC (Fisher/Yamada) to accept the mitigated negative declaration; vote 5-0, motion carried. 4. Review of Negative Declaration IS-97-14, Hilltop Terrace -Commissioner Hall strongly Resource Conservation Commission Page 2 suggested the City consider sealing entrances to culverts for safety reasons. She was concerned about the danger of children playing in the culverts and also the possibility of transients using the culverts as shelters. After discussion of the negative impacts, it was moved and seconded (Yamada/McAlister) to accept the negative declaration; vote -ayes 3, nos 2 (Mazquez, Fisher); motion failed. Commissioner Fisher felt that anything built on top of a flood control channel is unsafe and that the maintenance and upkeep of the culvert is an extra expense to the City. Fisher felt that the clean-up and development upstream would cause too much of a problem in the flood channel and he was opposed to businesses locating on top of a water culvert. 5. Staff advised RCC to be thinking of names to submit for Environmentalist of the Yeaz. STAFF REPORT: Doug Reid reported that the 1997-1998 budget will be discussed at the next meeting. He also reported that the last of the historical site signs have been ordered and that this cost will show a reduction in the next year's budget. COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS: Commissioner Hall asked about groundbreaking of Otay Ranch. Mr. Reid stated that Village Developers are the new owners of SPA I. The Otay Ranch project will be included in the next agenda for an updated report. Ms. Hall also asked about the Citrons business development on Broadway and was advised that this is under the Community Development's area. Commissioner Fisher reminded staff that he and Commissioner Mazquez had requested a copy of the letter Staff had sent to Council regarding the wildlife refuge document. Commissioner Marquez noted that the members of the RCC were disappointed with the Redevelopment Agency's decision to approve the swap meet on L Street without considering all the negative votes against it from various City committees. Members of the RCC were reminded to submit their statements of economic interest. Ms. Marquez noticed that the sign in the parking lot entrance to Rice Canyon mentions it is an Oak Preserve. This sign is inappropriate as there are no oak trees in Rice Canyon and she asked that the sign either be removed or corrected. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned by Vice-Chair Marquez at 7:55 r.t.-t. Respectfully submitted, EXPRESS SECRETARIAL SERVICES L , ~i ~ --.,v(si~ r C.l ~~ ~~ C~L~.~'/ Barbara Taylor CORRECTED MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED REGULAR MEETING Resource Conservation Commission Chula Vista, California 6:30 P.M. Conference Room #1 Mondav January 20 1997 Public Services Building CALL MEETING TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: Meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M. by Chair Burrascano. City Staff Environmental Review Coordinator Doug Reid called roll. Present: Commissioners Burrascano, Mazquez, McAlister, Thomas, and Yamada. It was MSUC (Mazque7JThomas) to excuse Commissioner Hall who was ill; vote 5-0, motion carved. Commissioner Fisher arrived at 6:38 P.M. Also present: Michael Meacham, Conservation Coordinator; Bazbaza Bamberger, Environmental Resource Manager; and Susan Hervey, Chairperson of the Transportation Committee. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: It was MSUC (Thomas/Burrascano) to approve the minutes of the meeting of November 11, 1996, with one correction on page 2, pazagraph 1, 5th sentence: This would not be applicable to spas and existing pools; vote 6-0, motion carried. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Review of Council Referral on comments from the RCC: Michael Meacham gave a brief overview of the solid waste management issues. He stated that the goal of the program is for 50% diversion. Mr. Meacham stated that the City does not have the right to require school districts to meet the same local conditions. Ms. Mazquez asked if cazdboazd bins could be included at the major shopping malls. She also asked if Price Costco can be encouraged to not distribute their goods in cardboard boxes which end up all over the city. Mr. Meacham stated this source recycling is already being implemented. Ms. Thomas and Mr. Fisher suggested major new businesses provide a plan for solid waste disposal and recycling. Mr. Meacham stated the City already requires this. Ms. Thomas expressed concern that Rohr should be made responsible for the cleanup of its own waste; Ms. Bamberger stated this is County HAZMAT. It was announced that mixed paper, empty aerosols, paint cans, and empty oil filters have been added to the curbside recycling with its regulaz pickup beginning in February. Also, another mixed paper drop-off bin was added at Vons. 2. Discussion and recommendation regarding C-O Report, Barbara Bamberger and Susan Hervey, Transportation Committee: Chair Burrascano asked why the report did not try to incorporate easy changes. Ms. Hervey presented some criteria for developing the COZ program. One criterion was that it address issues in which the City has control over; the international traffic problem was not subject to the same criteria and therefore was not included in the analysis. Ms. Marquez expressed that she would hope for a more aggressive plan. For example, she felt that reducing the number of required pazking spaces Resource Conservation Commission Page 2 available for businesses was not likely to reduce COZ but rather increase it while people seazch longer for parking. She did not feel many issues were adequately addressed, and that they were based on initiatives and rewazds rather than mandates. Currently, the plan calls for more transit neaz commercial azeas. Commissioner Thomas favored option #16 to emphasize traffic signal upgrades to reduce carbon dioxide, eliminate option #10, and substitute it with the recommendation to increase community and institutional environmental education. Commissioner Fisher noted there were adequate parking lots behind buildings on Third Avenue. Ms. Bamberger stated that the traffic signal upgrade is aheady planned to be automated. The red lights will be replaced with new high efficient LED which requires no energy. Ms. Bamberger explained the Greenstar program, now part of the permit process, was created for builders to meet a higher level of standazd beyond Title 24 requirement measures. It defined a list of items for energy efficiency that, when implemented into new homes, would allow the builders to receive benefits and reduction in cost of building permits. They would also receive "points" toward a "green star." Commissioner Thomas suggested the report should focus more on harmful methane gasses. Ms. Bamberger stated most of that was found in the landfill and is currently being covered. There are no noticeable amounts located within Chula Vista proper, but it is in San Diego. Commissioners Mazquez and Thomas questioned the emissions coming from production of energy from the SDG&E plant and the amount coming from boats. It was explained that these emissions from boats were insignificant, however, the study focused mostly on autos and emissions from SDG&E plant were not addressed. Commissioner Thomas asked how much was being emitted from Brown Field. Again, although helicopters and trucks are causing the emission problems, the City has no jurisdiction or control in that area and it made no negotiations with other jurisdictions. The motion was made (Thomas/McAlister) to support the COZ proposal with the following revisions: greater emphasis and priority on #16, the traffic signal realignment; substitute the item #10 action measure with an increased awazeness in the educational and community institutions; give full support to the Greenstaz Program; priority be given in reduction o£carbon dioxide emissions; and compliance with the COZ plan be incorporated into the environmental analysis; Vote: 4 ayes, 1 no (Mazquez), 1 abstain (Fisher); motion carried. Fisher abstained as he was absent from any prior discussion. Marquez felt that the plan should take a more aggessive form of solving emission problems and was dissatisfied with the solutions presented. A second motion was made (McAlister/Yamada) that the COZ plan further address the issue of international contributions and that the City support legislation to reduce these impacts; and the plan address increased efficiency and availability of public transportation to the community; Vote: 6-0, motion carried. Resource Conservation Commission Page 3 Review of Negative Declaration IS-9?-06, Kentucky Fried Chicken: After a very brief discussion, a motion was made (Fisher/Yamada) to accept the negative declazation; vote 5 ayes, 1 no (Thomas felt a problem already exists with the pazking as is and wanted to limit use of the existing building); motion carried. 4. Review of Negative Declaration IS-97-10, Humphreys Mortuary: After review of the project, it was MSUC (Fisher/McAlister) to accept the negative declazation; vote 6-0, motion carried. STAFF REPORT: The MSCP will be reviewed at the February 10 meeting. The RCC was not able to comment on the wildlife refuge project as the document was not delivered on time. CHAIItMAN'S COMMENTS: None. COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS: Marquez reported volunteers aze meeting for the Giant Reed eradication project on the Sweetwater River. They meet the second Sunday of the month at the driving range. Marquez and Fisher noted they did not receive the wildlife refuge document and requested to see the City's letter to Council. Thomas commented that not enough data were included in that report. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned by Chair Burrascano at 8:40 P.M. Respectfully submitted, EXPRESS SECRETARIAL SERVICES r i` Barbara Taylor ~ (Corrected minutes approved 3/24/9'n