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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6335 RESOLUTION NO. 6335 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES SECTION OF THE ARCADIA GENERAL PLAN TO INCLUDE WATERSHED AND STORM WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS AND POLICIES PURSUANT TO STATE REGULATIONS WHEREAS, the Development Services Department and Public Works Services Department initiated General Plan Change 02-005 amending the Environmental Resources Section of the Arcadia General Plan to include watershed and storm water quality and quantity management considerations and polices in the General Plan; and WHEREAS, on December 10, 2002, a public hearing was held before the Planning Commission on said matter at which time all interested persons were given full opportunity to be heard and to present evidence; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission voted 5 to 0 to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 1683 recommending to the City Council amendments to the Environmental Resources Section of the General Plan pursuant to State requirements; and WHEREAS, on January 7, 2003, the City Council held a public hearing on said General Plan Change; and WHEREAS, as part of the record of this hearing, the City Council reviewed and considered: 1. All staff reports and related attachments and exhibits submitted by the Community Development Division of the Development Services Department to the City Council; 2. The record of the Planning Commission hearing regarding General Plan Amendment GP 02-005; 3. All information and material and documentation presented as part of the public testimony at the Planning Commission public hearing on December 10, 2002, including the staff report; and -1- 6335 WHEREAS, the above recitals are hereby incorporated as part of the findings set forth below. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The factual data submitted by the Development Services Department in the attached report are true and correct. Section 2. The City Council finds: 1. State regulations require that all cities include watershed and storm water quality and quantity management considerations and polices in their general plan. The amendments set forth in Exhibit A to the Environmental Resources Section of the Arcadia General Plan are reasonable and appropriate and meet the State regulations; and 2. The most recent permit, issued in December 2001 by Order No. 01-182 of the State of California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region, requires that each local agency amend, revise or update its general plan to add policies for storm water and urban runoff quality and quantity management; and 3. The approval of the proposed amendments to the General Plan will not be detrimental to the public health or welfare, or injurious to the property or improvements in any zone or vicinity. 4. The approval of the proposed amendments to the General Plan will not have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment and the proposed amendments are, therefore, categorically exempt from CEQA per Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(2) of the local ~EQA Guidelines. Section 3. For the foregoing reasons, the City Council approves the amendments to the Environmental Resources Section of the Arcadia General Plan as set forth in Exhibit A Section 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution. -2- 6335 Passed, approved and adopted this 7th day of January, 2003 ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: ~p/~ Stephen P. Deitsch City Attorney -3- 6335 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS: CITY OF ARCADIA ) I, JUNE D. ALFORD, City Clerk of the City of Arcadia, hereby certifies that the foregoing Resolution No. 6335 was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Arcadia, signed by the Mayor and attested to by the City Clerk at a regular meeting of said Council held on the 7th day of January, 2003 and that said Resolution was adopted by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Councilmember Chang, Kovacic, Segal, Wuo and Marshall NOES: None ABSENT: None J f Arcadia 4 6335 " ~"mPe.& iff'# .. ~;:.'ff'{;; ~,.....L,;.I., -,~ ..... .., '..... ..,.>. . ARCADIA, """"" -, "'I'IlV' ... <~~'.-; '..,:,.'!y '~_Il!.!:!.!~/ 4.0 Environmental Resources INTRODUCTION To enSl/re General Plan CO/lSistel1cy, notes sllch as ,his one will be provided where issues contained in the Environmental ChapTer are also discussed ill other pans ~rlhe Gel/eml Plan The availability of a clean, well-managed environment is an important factor in the desirabilitv of a community. As development of Arcadia has ncared build out the role of environmental management in Arcadia has been changing. Arcadia's primary environmental concerns are no longer related to balancing preservation of significant environmental features with the need for urban residential and commercial development; today's environmental concerns center on the need to wisely manage the ongoing use of resources. Environmental Resources Issue Areas Air Quality: l\faximizillg the qUQli~v C!.f the air within the City through the attainment of Stare and Federal air quality SIandards. Bitlwgical ResOltrce.f: Preserving Ihe biological habitats of sensitive, [/lrealened andlor endangered plalJt Gnd animal species. IVater Resow.ces: Reducing lhe llse oj: Gnd the future need for. wafer resources, ~\liJreral Resources: Ensun"/Ig thar any fi/ture mineral extnrcn'on processes are conducted in such a way (l.'j to millimize adverse impacts on the ell\'il'Onmem, Ope" Space: Idem~ficatioll and presen'att"oll of open spelce lands within Arcadia Cul1ural Resources: Preservation of Arcadia's cullllral and hist01;C resources for fittU1'e generations. Ellerg)' Resmuces: Reducing the use and depletion of non-renewable energy resources through the use of altemate fuels and energy reductt"?" programs. Solid Waste ~\laJrage",ellt: Reducing Arcadia's input into the regional 'waste stream and instilling community participan'oll in source reduction wul recycling. The environmental issues that Arcadia faces are not unique within the Southern California region. Many issues require regional or statewide action. Air quality and the long-ternl availability of adequate water supplies, for example, cannot be resolved by individual communities acting on their own. The primary responsibility for managing air quality and water supply lies with Statc and regional agencies. However, local agencies, such as the City of Arcadia, have the responsibility to assist these agencies in appropriately managing environmental resources through their local land use planning authority. LEGAL AUTHORITY The Environmental Resources chapter contains policies relating to _ eight major topics: Air Quality, Biological Resources, Water Resources and ConservatioIJ,,' Minerals Resources, Cultural Resources and Natural Open Space. All of these topics, with the exception of SlOrm Water and Air Quality {which is considered to be an optional ARC4DIA GENERAL PLAN 4-1 Seplember 3, 1996 - (Rev.) element) are required by the State to be discussed in the Conservation Element of the General Plan. Under State Law (Government Code Section 65302[d]), the City IS required to include a Conservation Element: for the conservation, development and utilization of natural resources including water and its hydraulic force, forests, soils. rivers and other waters, harbors, fisheries. wildlife. minerals. and other natural resources. " . . Under State rtgulation. INPDES Permit No. C\SOO--IOOL Order No. OI-I~2 Section D. 12-a) all cities arc required to: "mcllfde CI ri"a{c!/'shed (md storrH WaleI' (//1011/)' (/nJ quoml!)' manugem!!11I cOl1s"lerO!IOI1.) (fnd policC\' . in lhdr gelleral plan. Table I-A Index to the Location of State Mandated General Plan Issues Within the Arcadia General Plan included within the Introduction section of the General Plan provides an index reference to State General Plan requirements and indicates the section of the Arcadia General Plan under which each State requirement is fulfilled. GENERAL PLAN APPROACH ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES GOALS It is the goal of the City of Arcadia to: . achieve air quality that is conducive to good health and enjovment of the area's climatc, and to assist in attaining Fcderal and State air quality standards; and . ensure the retention and proper stewardship of biologicaL energy, water, mineral and cultural resources located within the Cit\'. AIR QUALITY Issues Arcadia is located within the South Coast Air Basin (Basin). which includes Los Angeles and Orange Counties, as well as portions of Riverside and San Bemadino Counties. Although air qual it\' within the region has improved in the last several years, local air quality measurements conducted from 1990 through 1994 show that ozone levels containue to exceed both the State and Federal air qualit)' standards during portions of the year and State stanfards for particulate matter (PM 10) have been exceeded approximately 46 percent of the time in fivc years of data. Although the City of Arcadia is committed to contributing to air quality improvements, the Cit\' is limited in the types of programs and policies that it can implement to achievc any substantial air quality benefits. Local air quality problems are largely the result of pollutants emitted upwind of Arcadia. In addition, Arcadia's air pollutant emissions are a minuscule portion of the total air pollution problem. (continued on next page) ... ; " ARCADIA GENERAL PLAN 4-2 Septemba 3. ] 996 - (Re)'.) 4.0 Environmental Resources ~. >!ttt...i:lt:' ......'-::--.::;;:~~; ~..'''' ~jj ,".. "1 -"""II) .~!I;.'" .-.. ..,..;:..'. A1!~jmA '"'-" .-....,,~ P" .- "''-'-' , "/ ~C'"~<.:::, .~<,~. ~'~~Out.!?....... General Plan Approach Since Arcadia is dependent on local water resources, the City recognizes the importance of the existing water resource system and will continue to take a comprehensive approach to the preservation of water resources within the planning area through a combination of land use controls, water conservation and urban runoff management. The City will fulfill its responsibility for the management of water resources within the planning area through implementation of NPDES requirements and the following concepts. Coordinate General Plan Build Out with Available Water Supplies As part of establishing a "build out" population for the Arcadia General Plan planning area, the City has defined the water supplies that can reasonably be made available to support new development in the foreseeable future. Land uses and intensities reflected on the General Plan land use map will result in a level of water consumption that is consistent with the availability of water supplies. Future development projects will be analyzed for their effect on long-term water availability to' ensure that adequate water supplies will continue to be available to support existing uses within Arcadia. Storm water and Urban Runoff Management /s,\"ucs Arcadia is located I\"ithin the Los Angeles River Watershed. Iyhich drains storm water and urban runoff from approximately S3:2 square miles of land. The City. of Arcadia is a co-permittee with the County of Los Angeles aud S4 other municipalities in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, which regulates the quality of. storm water and urban runoff discharges to the Municipal separate storm wattr system (MS4) The effect of pollutants in storm ,,'ater and urban runoff can be significant. lu the shOJ1 term. litter and other pollutants carried by dle water during a rain eveIll. may be deposited on streets aud side,\"alks, creating unnecessary backups of water on City streets. Pollut:lllts dlat make their way into the waterways and subsequently 10 the ocean. create a hazard to biological resources. threatening and eudangering plan and animal species. General PIIIII Approach Storm water and urban runoff management reduces the impact of polllllants on the urban landscape. recreational areas and open spaces. Unmanagcd storm water and urban nInoff can cam' litter and pollutants into \\atef\\"aYs_ and subsequentlY' the ocean. causing environmental hamL reduction of water quality, and reduces the int~grity of natural drainage systems and water bodies. Careful planning and proper managemenJ.' of storm water and urban runoff "ill help create a community that is aestheticallv appeal.ing. as well as protecting the environment. ARCADIA GENERAL PLAN 4-12 Sepl2mber3,1996-(Rel'.) Protect and Improve Area Water Quality Water quality concerns will be integrated into storm water management planning, ensuring that designs for urban runoff pollutant management are part of the overall planning and approval processes for new development proposals. Mitigation for pollutant and sediment loading will include concepts of slowing water flows to enhance percolation and other filtering Best Management Practices, allowing them to work in harmony with the area's topography. Balanced with the need to provide adequate flood control, the Citv recognizes its responsibility to protect the quality of groundwater from the harmful effects of storm water runoff. The City will, therefore, fulfill its water quality responsibilities as a "co- permittee" under the Federal Clean Water Act, as amended, and implement the provisions of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) by defining and requiring that "Best Management Practices" (BMP) be employed to improve the quality of stonn water runoff from the storm drain system and City roadways. The City of Arcadia will also continue to monitor emerging technologies and techniques of minimizing water quality impacts from stonn water runoff and require the implementation of new BMPs as they are devised. ,. ARCADIA GENERAL PUN 4-12A September 3. 1996 - (Rei''; 4.0 Environmental Resources ~./~ i '-:::-.:::;;:-~: ~,,'lP -.l>;" ....'.~.i ~l .Jl~ ' .-- ..,..,.. ._A_Bc;~mA. . -i ""'Ij.p~.r ~~;~:,~ -~~Q~:Y WATER RESOURCES ER-31 Ensure fulfillment of the City's responsibilities relative to the requirements of the County's NPDES permitting and implementing programs. ER-32 lvlinimize, to the maximum extent practicable. the impacts of storm ",lter and urban runoff on the biology. water qualit\. and integrity of natural drainage systems and water bodies. ER-33 Maximize to the extent praclicable. the percentage of pervious sudilCts to allo,,' percolation of storm water into thc ground. ER-34 ivlinimize to Ihe extent practicable. the amounl of slol1n water directed to impervious surfaces. and to the municipal separate S1Ol1n Iyater system. ER-35 Reqnire all new del'e!opment and redel'elopmcnt projects to haye storm wala pollution prevention systems in place. including maximizing landscaped areas and providing areas lor storm water storage and sedimentation. ER-36 Require ne" dcyclopment projects to include permanent eontrols to reduce storm "ateI' pollutant loads from development sites including parking lots to the maximum extent practieabk ER-37 Continue to implement the City's Water Conservation Plan contained in the Arcadia Municipal Code. ER-38 Facilitate public understanding of the need for water conservation by distributing water conservation information to the public as appropriate. ER-39 Maintain contingency plans for continuing water services in the event of large- scale emergencies. ER-40 Protect existing' groundwater recharge capacities within formal recharge facilities, as well as within proposed development sites where such development could have a negative effect on groundwater recharge. ER -41 Ensure that proposed development projects avoid degradation of groundwater quality. ER-42 Encourage the installation of efficient irrigation systems (e.g., drip irrigi'-tion, soil moisture sensors and automatic irrigation systems) which minimize runoff and evaporation and maximize the water that will reach the plant roots. ARCADIA GENERAL PLAN 4-24 September 3, 1996-(Rev..) MINERAL RESOURCES ER.43 Monitor current regulations regarding the e,,-1raction of minerals for changes that would impact the General Plan study area, and modify City policies and/or ordinances to reflect new regulations. ER-44 Ensure protection of adjacent land uses from potential hazards related to existing and past mining and drilling activities. ER-45 In making land use decisions involving areas which have been designated pursuant to the California Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) as having minerals of regional significance, balance mineral values against alternative land uses in consideration of the importance of these minerals to their market region as a whole, and not just their importance to Arcadia. ER-46 Require that potential environmental effects as dust, noise and eroSIOn of quarrying sand and gravel are minimized to the maximum feasible extent. ,. ARCADIA GENERAL PLAN 4-24A September 3, 1996-(Rrn',!