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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC MIN 199611/11MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED REGULAR MEETING Resource Conservation Commission Chula Vista, California 6:30 P.M. Conference Room #1 Monday, October 21, 1996 Public Services Building CALL MEETING TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: Meeting was called to order at 6:32 P.M. by Vice- Chair Mazquez. City Staff Environmental Review Coordinator Doug Reid called roll. Present: Commissioners Hall, Mazquez, Thomas, Yamada, and new member, Bob McAlister. Commissioners Burrascano and Fisher arrived late. Also present: Nina and John Rojas, representing the Chula Vista Historical Society. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Moved to the end of the meeting when all members aze present. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: John Rojas presented a new book sponsored by the Chula Vista Historical Society, entitled South Bay Monogatari, by Donald Estes. NEW BUSINESS: [Burrascano arrived at 6:37 P.M. ] Bob McAlister was introduced and welcomed as a new member to the RCC. 2. Review of Negative Declaration for IS-96-23, Vista Del Mar: Doug Reid showed map and briefly described the project, which had no major concerns. [Fisher arrived at 6:52 P.tvt.] After a very brief discussion, it was moved and seconded (MazquezlYamada) to approve the negative declaration; vote 6-0-1 (Fisher abstained as he just arrived); motion carried. 3. Review of Negative Declaration for IS-97-02, Telegraph Canyon Improvements: There was concern about the closeness of the groundwater to storage drainage. It was explained that there is not enough rain to warrant concern. Some wells aze located at the San Diego Country Club for imgation but there is no contact with drinking water. Many concerns were expressed on the clearing and removal ofnon-native plants to put concrete in the channel. It was noted that this is the only wetlands azea left in Chula Vista and should be preserved. The RCC felt strongly that there should be some mitigation measures taken because of the impact by removal of natural vegetation. Further, the RCC believes this project should be reclassified to a mitigated negative declazation. It was MSUC (Burrascano/Hall) to deny approval of this project as a negative declaration due to the amount of mitigation needed for wetland preservation and that it does not qualify as a negative declazation; vote 7-0, motion carried. Resource Conservation Commission Page 2 4. Discussion of Valley Fever Ordinance - In review of the City's dust control ordinance, it is noted that it pertains only to dust from construction; also, CalTrans has its own standards. The RCC requests this be referred to the city engineering department through the city manager's office to draft an amendment pertaining to higher dust control standards for valley fever and other dust-related conditions. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: It was moved and seconded (Mazquez/Yamada) to approve the minutes of the meeting of September 9, 1996, with the following corrections: • Correct spelling and company name of Betty De Honey of Tetra Tech. • Page 2, pazagraph 3 should read: Biological impacts were not evaluated to the same level of detail for each alternative. They looked to the MSCP for preservation of multispecies with the concurrence of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife. • Paragraph 4, the first sentence should read: Commissioner Hall asked whether denser development was asked for to keep 166 acres preserved on the north for connectivity to the south. • Pazagraph 6, second sentence should read: "He added that biologists have potentially found Silky Pocket Mice ... " • Page 3, last sentence of the first pazagraph is corrected to read: "Mr. Howard stated that the intersections leading to SR125 at various points are still below LOS C and SR125 does not bring any kind of improvement to these intersections. • Pazagraph 5, beginning with the third sentence, the correction is: "Commissioner Mazquez was concerned that the number of Gnatcatchers and Cactus Wrens located along the northern portion of the south parcel would be impacted. As they focused on habitat acreage on parcels and didn't look at individual numbers, she stated that the north alternative will reduce Cactus Wrens down from thirteen pairs to seven. Any other alternative could impact up to 36 pairs of Cactus Wrens. Commissioner Mazquez noted that data is not updated into these tables." The rest of the paragraph remains the same. Vote 6-0-1, (McAlister abstained as he was not yet a member); motion carried. STAFF REPORT: Doug Reid gave the staff report prior to Yamada having to leave the meeting. Mr. Reid handed out information from Michael Meacham about the Yard Waste Program changes. The meeting dates were discussed for the rest of the calendaz year. There will only be two meetings left: November 11 and December 9, 1996. [Yamada was excused at 5:00 P.tvt.] The approval of the minutes was continued. It was moved and seconded (FisherBurrascano) to approve the minutes of the meeting of September 30, 1996, with the following corrections: • Page 1, No. 3 should read, " ...Notice of Preparation were not answered directly ..." • No. 4 is corrected as follows: "Concerned about the complaints made against the MSCP on the amount of money spent on the Nature Interpretive Center, and that others would be too costly to maintain as part of the MSCP... "Also add to the end of the paragraph: Resource Conservation Commission Page 3 Thomas felt the importance of having a site for the community for educational purposes and that these centers could be funded sepazately by grants." • No. 5: delete the words "but did not receive." • No. 6: correct first sentence: "On page 4-3-79, there is an error in the data because Chula Vista has more than 17 acres of Maritime Succulent Scrub..." • Page 2, No. 12, replace with: "Marquez questioned survival of cactus within the regional plan. Page 4-3-23 shows cactus wren is adequately conserved but she did not see where Maritime Succulent Scrub was being preserved. • No. 13, insert into the first sentence: "...leave Poggi Canyon as on the Otay SPA I Plan previously approved by the RCC or put significant ... " • No. 14, first sentence should read: "Asked what would happen if Otay Ranch were broken down into smaller projects, would it change the significant preserve levels?" • Page 3, No. 17: "Concern about the Quino Checkerspot Butterfiy which was recently found on Otay Mountain." • No. 19, Change the Srst sentence to read: "Ambrosia pumila (San Diego ambrosia) should not be a covered species; it is being proposed for endangered." Delete the rest of the paragraph. • No. 20 is replaced with: "Burrascano questioned the procedure of analysis for uncovered species outside the preserve." • No. 26, the last sentence should read, "She doesn't believe it should qualify as biological open space because it doesn't connect to anything." • No. 28, delete the second, third, and fourth sentences; the last sentence should read, "If azeas in Bonita aze annexed to Chula Vista, will the same County regulations regarding horses apply to these lots as they exist?" • Page 4, under Commissioner's Comments: "In a recent issue of the Star News, it erroneously reported the RCC's recommendation of the No Project Alternative of SR125 EIIt/EIS; however, if the City Council finds that it must approve an SR125 project, that they approve Alternative #6, including quantitative air and water quality monitoring (Brown Field Modified/ Otay Ranch/EastLake/ Proctor Valley Road West, Conduit Road, Conduit Road West)." Vote: 5-0-1 (McAlister abstained as he was not a member); motion carried. CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS: Chair Burrascano thanked the Council for appointing a new member to the RCC. She also commented that after approval of the San Miguel Ranch project, she had found impacts to other species not previously disclosed in the subsequent E]R. COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS: Commissioner Thomas shazed a Star News article, that the EPA noted there were inadequate studies on the SR125 freeway and that further studies were needed. Commissioner Marquez added that the EPA raised the same issues as the RCC, including lack of disclosure of the impact to the Sweetwater Reservoir and the impact on water quality. They also recommend the No Project Alternative. Resource Conservation Commission Page 4 Commissioner Fisher stated that there is a lazge case of oil in the scrub at the Terra Nova and H Street open space area. He expressed further concern with the water quality and clean-up in the potential redevelopment azea at the J Street Marina. He suggested erecting a bridge or open channel along the Silver Strand to allow outflow and to create movement of water. Commissioner Marquez asked if the Nature Interpretive Center is being Snanced from the general fund. Mr. Reid said that it was, but it is supposed to come from either the Mid-Bayfront or Rohr, and it didn't come from the Redevelopment Agency. She suggested the water cleanup efforts be considered in conjunction with other projects. This item will be added to a future agenda for discussion. Commissioner Mazquez also requested that the following be brought to the attention of the Council members and the Planning and Land Use Department: The County is in the process of clearing 21 acres of Arundo donax (Giant Reed) along the Sweetwater River west of Willow Street. They aze using probation crews for the majority of the work at minimal costs to the taxpayers. By clearing this invasive non-native plant species and other weeds, a major cause of flooding in the azea is being eliminated and highly flammable vegetation is being removed. Native riparian and wetland plant species are expected to naturally replace the Giant Reed greatly enhancing the wildlife habitat. In addition and possibly of greatest interest to the Council, the County is receiving mitigation credits from the Army Corps of Engineers for wetland creation that will be able to be used on future projects. This approach is well preferable to buying mitigation on an acre-by-acre basis and is an example of how proactive planning can result in a safer, healthier environment while saving time and money on future wetland mitigation. Commissioner Mazquez further recommends the City of Chula Vista look into the feasibility of this approach. Commissioner Mazquez commented on the carbon dioxide mitigation and to check into synchronizing stoplights within Chula Vista for more efficient traffic flow. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned by Chair Burrascano at 8:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, EXPRESS SECRETARIAL SERVICES i > ~~_,~'{,-, G: G1. rye -y;_c~G:._ Bazbaza Taylor