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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC MIN 2004/02/16MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION February 16, 2004 Ken Lee Building Conference Room 430 "F" Street MEETING CALLED TO ORDER by Chair Teresa Thomas at 4:02 p.m. ROLL CALL/MOTION TO EXCUSE MSC (Thomas/Reid) to excuse Commissioner Pamela Bensoussan. Vote: (5-0-0-1) with Means absent. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Teresa Thomas, Vice-Chair Doug Reid, Commissioners Stanley Jasek, Juan Diaz, John Chavez and Tracy Means (4:05) STAFF PRESENT: Marilyn Ponseggi, Environmental Review Coordinator Paul Hellman, Environmental Projects Manager Michael Meacham, Director of Conservation & Environmental Services Lynn France, Conservation Coordinator Willie Gaters, Environmental Resource Manager Dawn Beintema, Chief Learning Officer Linda Bond, Recording Secretary APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 20, November 17 and December 1, 2003 October 20, 2003 Minutes MSC (Jasek/Reid) to approve the minutes of October 20, 2003. Vote: (5-0-0-2) with Means and Bensoussan absent. November 17, 2003 Minutes Chair Thomas requested that the following sentence be added to Item #2 of the minutes under 'Commission Comments': "In response to an inquiry concerning the Sister Cities monument at the Civic Center, Jack Griffin stated that the plans included that the Sister Cities monument will be highlighted." Ms. Marilyn Ponseggi (Environmental Review Coordinator) suggested that a tentative action be taken to amend the minutes pending Linda Bond (Recording Secretary) going back and verifying that it actually was discussed on the tape. Tentative Motion MSC (Thomas/Jasek) to amend the minutes regarding Jack Griffin's response to an inquiry concerning the Sister Cities monument at the Civic Center pending verification of RCC Minutes - 2 - February 16 2004 the actual discussion that occurred by the Recording Secretary. Vote: (5-0-1-1) with Means abstaining and Bensoussan absent. MC (Thomas) to approve the overall minutes. There was no second. Vote: (5-0-1-1) with Means abstaining and Bensoussan absent. December 1, 2003 Minutes MSC (Jasek/Reid) to approve the minutes of December 1, 2003 with the following correction: Page 3, last line: "...and the Beard of Border Power Projects." Vote: (5-0-1-1) with Means abstaining and Bensoussan absent. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. OLD BUSINESS 1. Proposed Revisions to the Environmental Review Procedures of the City of Chula Vista Ms. Ponseggi stated that two faxed letters had been received from the Environmental Health Coalition and South Bay Forum requesting that the RCC continue their discussion of this item due to their interest in providing input on this issue and their inability to attend this meeting. She stated that this item is on the City Council agenda for the 24~h of February. The RCC is a recommending body, so these organizations would have ample opportunity to provide input to the Council before they take action on it. She asked the RCC to consider taking action, one way or another, so that the item could move on to City Council. She stated that staff was prepared to give a presentation, but that she wanted the RCC to be aware of the requests for a continuance prior to the commencement of the presentation. Commission Comments Chair Thomas indicated that, since it is a matter on the agenda now, staff could give a presentation, the RCC could discuss the item, and that at that point, they could either take action or continue the item. Ms. Ponseggi responded in the affirmative. Commissioner Chavez viewed part of his Commission duties as representing the community as well as cooperating with staff. There are two community groups who have asked, as a matter of courtesy, to continue this item largely because today is a holiday. He was not opposed to staff making their presentation tonight, but he would not vote for approval because he would like to hear community input first. Vice-Chair Reid expressed concern about holding public meetings on President's Day, since it is a holiday for most people and, therefore, they think the City is closed. Ms. Ponseggi stated that is a policy decision set by the City Council. On days that the City is open, public meetings are held. In the future, when the RCC meeting calendar is presented, the Commissioners can let staff know ahead of time if there are any days they do not wish to meet. RCC Minutes - 3 - February 16 2004 Commissioner Jasek asked what would happen if the RCC did not vote on the item tonight. Ms. Ponseggi stated that it would have to be pulled from the City Council agenda and postponed. Commissioner Jasek suggested that, if the RCC is going to honor the request of these two groups to not vote on it, then the RCC should not talk about it tonight because they want to be present for the discussion. MSC (Chavez/Jasek) to continue the item until March 1, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. Vote: (6- 0-0-1)with Bensoussan absent. Mr. Paul Hellman (Environmental Projects Manager) handed out a flowchart of the EIR process that will be discussed at the next meeting. Chair Thomas asked that all the information handed out be sent to Commissioner Bensoussan. NEW BUSINESS 2. Solid Waste Diversion Goal Progress Mr. Michael Meacham (Director of Conservation & Environmental Services) reported that, in 1989, the RCC did an extensive review of the Source Reduction and Recycling Element. It is part of a State law called 'The California Waste Management Act', which requires every city and State to diverse 50% of their annual waste from landfills. The City of Chula Vista has achieved that, the second highest in San Diego County at 54%. Mr. Meacham presented the following: • State Mandate o Divert 25% of Annual Waste from Landfills by 1995 o Divert 50% by 2000 • Residential Services • 2001 Impact Program Changes • Quality Programs o Businesses and Multi-family Generators Chair Thomas wanted to make sure that the businesses going into the Auto Park have a specific integrated waste management plan. Ms. Lynn France (Conservation Coordinator) stated that she could send Chair Thomas, for her review, the "Recycling and Solid 6f'asre Mmiagemenr Plan Guide" that is for all the businesses so they can understand what the requirements are and how to develop that plan. Mr. Meacham continued his presentation. • Commercial Recycling Incentives • Next Steps for this Calendar Year o More commercial recycling education o Workshops for specific generator types o Awards/recognition programs o More notices of violations for commercial generators RCC Minutes - 4 - February 16, 2004 o Create livable wage jobs Mr. Willie Gaters (Environmental Resource Manager) handed out a SDG&E seminar notice regarding 'How to Manage Your Business Energy Cosrs' to be held on March 12, 2004. 3. Meeting Procedures Training Ms. Dawn Beintema (Chief Learning Officer) stated that she would be discussing ways in which the RCC could have more effective meetings. Because the time Commissioners devote is voluntary, staff wants to make sure that Commissioners feel that the time they give is time well spent. Each Commissioner is chosen because of their skills, ideas and experience, and that each one should be given an equal opportunity to participate. Ms. Beintema strongly encouraged the Commissioners to attend one of the Boards and Commissions Workshops on February 25 or 26, 2004 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Ms. Ponseggi indicated that three Commissioners had already RSVPed. Those who had not should call the City Clerk's Office. Ms. Beintema continued her presentation, focusing on methods for conducting productive meetings. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COORDINATOR COMMENTS Ms. Ponseggi indicated that, when the RCC considered the verbatim portion of the September 15, 2003 minutes, changes were made. She asked the City Attorney's Office to clarify verbatim minutes. The City Attorney's Office stated that, when verbatim minutes are prepared, they cannot be changed. The City Attorney's Office has advised staff to put the September 15, 2003 minutes back on the agenda, and that those areas of the minutes that a Commissioner feels is not accurately portrayed, the Commissioner will need to listen to the tape. If at that time, a Commissioner feels that what is stated on the tape is not accurately reflected in the verbatim minutes, then the Commissioner may bring up that specific item for correction. Ms. Ponseggi announced that, on March 1, 2004, a Bayfront Master Plan CAC meeting will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. CHAIR COMMENTS Chair Thomas stated that there were three items that the RCC requested and had not received The PowerPoint presentation of the Traffic Workshop from Mr. AI-Agha. Ms. Ponseggi stated that she would get that to the Commissioners. • A copy of the final report for Historic Preservation. Mr. Hellman indicated that it is tentatively on the agenda for next Monday's General Plan Update Subcommittee meeting. If it remains on the agenda, it will be included in the packets. • That the power plant issue be put back on the agenda for a future meeting. Chair Thomas believed the intent of Commissioner Chavez was to get a succinct and informative expert. Ms. Ponseggi responded that there were two reasons why it could RCC Minutes - 5 - February 16 2004 not be placed on an agenda: 1) At this point, there is not a power plant project that staff can bring to the RCC for discussion. There are a variety of different options being studied, but a proposal has not come forward yet. 2) The City of Chula Vista, through the City Council, has committed to participate in the planning process with the Port District and that the appropriate place, at this point, for the RCC to be involved is through that process. After a lengthy discussion, the following vote was taken: MSC (Chavez/Reid) to have the RCC schedule within the next 30 days a workshop on the topic of environmental issues associated with power plants on the Bayfront, generically, and City staff may or may not choose to present what non-profit or profit public interest groups are willing to present. Vote: (6-0-0-1) with Bensoussan absent. 4. Selection of Environmentalist of the Year and Historic Preservationist of the Year Awards MSC (Jasek/Thomas) to nominate Pamela Bensoussan as Historic Preservationist of the Year and Michael Meacham as Environmentalist of the Year. Vote: (6-0-0-1) with Bensoussan absent. Commissioner Means left the meeting at 6:21 p.m. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Thomas adjourned the meeting at 6:25 p.m. to a regular meeting on Monday, March 1, 2004, at 6:00 p.m. in the Ken Lee Building Conference Room, 430 "F" Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Prepared by: -ter ~ 3' .i'~r_- :.-~cJ ~ ~a : ~, Linda ond, Recording Secretary (J: \P lann i n g\RCC\2004\RCC021604 M ins. doc)