HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC MIN 1997/01/20MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED REGULAR MEETING
Resource Conservation Commission
Chula Vista, California
6:30 P.M. Conference Room #1
Monday, November 11, 1996 Public Services Building
CALL MEETING TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: Meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.tvl. by Chair
Burrascano. City Staff Environmental Review Coordinator Doug Reid called roll. Present:
Commissioners Burrascano, Hall, Marquez, McAlister, Thomas, and Yamada. A motion was
made (Thomas/Yamada) to excuse Commissioner Fisher to attend a funeral; vote 6-0, motion
carried.
Also present: Bazbaza Bamberger, Environmental Resource Manager.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: It was MSUC (Mazquez/Hall) to approve the minutes of the
meeting of October 21, 1996, with the following corrections:
• Page 1, 2nd paragraph under No. 3: "Many concerns were expressed on the clearing and
removal of native plants ...The RCC felt strongly that there should be some mitigation
measures required because of the impacts to wetland vegetation."
• The last pazagraph should read: " ...deny approval of this project as a negative declazation
due to the fact that mitigation is needed to wetland impacts ... "
• Page 2, 6th bullet: "...Commissioner Marquez was concerned about the number of
Gnatcatchers and Cactus Wrens located along the northern portion of the south pazcel that
would be impacted."
• Page 3, 3rd bullet: "Marquez questioned survival of cactus wren ... "
• Last bullet: " ...however, if the City Council finds that it must approve an SR125 project,
that they recommend Alternative #6 ... "
• Page 4, last paragraph should be corrected to Commissioner Thomas rather than Marquez.
Vote 6-q motion carried.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None.
NEW BUSINESS:
Bazbaza Bamberger, Environmental Resource Manager, showed slides on the COZ
Reduction Plan. Commissioner Mazquez commented that it was not a very aggressive plan
that the City might implement. Ms. Bamberger stated that although it was not strong, the
plan was recognized as one of the best in the U. S. She pointed out that page 211 shows the
items that were pulled out of the plan. Most of the input was from regional participation.
A request was made to include a recommendation that bikes be allowed on the trolley. A
question was asked about emissions included in the data from vehicles which enter from
Mexico. It was explained that the vehicles determined to only be passing through Chula
Vista were removed from the equations so it wouldn't be considered in the data.
Resource Conservation Commission Page 2
The analysis included information on what city residents and businesses consume and data
was analyzed to deal with ways to eliminate COZ emissions. Alternate fuels such as
natural gas and electricity was examined and the use of methanol was omitted from the
study. The plan reviewed ways to encourage more pedestrian use and more landscaping
around businesses to accommodate foot traffic. Discussion was held on the solar pool
heaters or covers which would be required on new pools. (This would not be applicable to
spas and existing pools would not be retrofitted). A question was asked whether this plan
was geared toward the public's behavior. The plan was not behavior-oriented, however,
places like the TeleCenters do provide a place to go to avoid commuting and the bike lane
measures will encourage more bike paths. Clarification was made on natural gas as a fuel
vs. methane which is produced unnaturally and is considered very harmful.
Other comments were that the city adopt a pollution prevention policy and also develop a
web page on the Internet. Ms. Bamberger requested that commissioners submit any other
comments and questions and she will incorporate them into her report to Council.
2. Bazbaza Bamberger explained her role as the Environmental Resource Manager. One of
her azeas of concern is the use of toxic materials and pesticides on city lands and parks.
She is implementing a purchasing policy with public works, maintenance, and the
purchasing department to eliminate the purchase of supplies containing toxic materials
(i.e., oil-based paints, ammonia). She is also involved in the planning of the San Diego
Bay, Ecotourism, South Bay Wildlife Refuge, and Community Development.
3. Review of Negative Declaration - IS-97-03, South Bay Market Place. The RCC discussed
the negative impacts and felt that further mitigation was necessary in this project: There
were inadequate health and safety measures taken (use of portable toilets and no running
water on the premises), excess traffic for an azea that is already below level of service, the
open pazking area lent itself to possible crime, and another swap meet was already located
about two miles north. of this azea. It was further felt that as this area is a gateway into
Chula Vista, the market place would serve as an unsightly introduction into the city. It
was MSUC (Hall/McAlister) to recommend denial of the mitigated negative declaration;
vote 6-0, motion carried.
4. Planning Commission agenda:
a. Conditional Use Permit PCC-97-12; item withdrawn from agenda, no action by
RCC.
b. SUPS-96-06 -request for conditional use permit at 2400 Falvre Street; item
continued, no action by RCC.
c. SUPS-96-08 -operate open air market at 690 "L" Street; no further action by RCC.
d. PCS-96-06 -Vista Del Mar; no action by RCC.
STAFF REPORT: None.
Resource Conservation Commission Pa e 3
COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS: Reminder ofBoards & Commissions Banquet on
November 21, 1996.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned by Chair Burrascano at 8:51 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
EXPRESS SECRETARIAT, SERVICES
Barbara Ta for C~
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