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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 84940 0 RESOLUTION NO. 8494 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA CERTIFYING THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN UNDERGROUND WATER RESERVOIR AT PIONEER PARK THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Azusa does hereby find, determine and declare as follows: A. The Light and Water Department of the City of Azusa has proposed the construction of a 3,000,000 gallon reservoir beneath Pioneer Park at the intersection of Dalton and Sierra Madre Avenues in the City of Azusa (hereinafter "Project"). B. A Draft Environmental Impact Report ("DEIR") for the Project was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970, Public Resources Code Section 21000 et sec. ("CEQA") and the CEQA Guidelines. Following public comment on the DEIR, a Final Environmental Impact Report ("FEIR") for the Project was also prepared in accordance with the provisions of CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines. C. The FEIR for the Project was presented to the City Council of the City of Azusa and the City Council has fully reviewed and carefully considered the FEIR, including but not limited to all comments on the DEIR and the responses thereto. SECTION 2. The FEIR for the Project has identified the following significant effects, but in response to each significant effect so identified, the Project has been altered to avoid or substantially lessen the effect as set forth in the FEIR and as summarized below: A. Land Use. The short-term visual impact to the park environment and temporary interruption in usage of Pioneer Park as a recreational facility will result during grading and construction phases of the proposed Project. As revegetation and replacement of restroom and playground facilities will restore the park to its original recreational use, no long-term significant impacts are anticipated. B. Air Quality. Project construction will result in short-term fugitive dust and fuel emissions. The Project has been changed or altered to 0 0 avoid or substantially lessen the potential effects on air quality by requiring the following: 1. Maintaining equipment engines in proper tune for regulatory emission controls; 2. Applying water or other soil stabilizers to reduce dust emission by up to 50%; 3. Phasing and scheduling construction activities to avoid high ozone days; and 4. Discontinuing construction during second -stage smog alerts. 5. Comply with SCAQMD rules and regulations as more fully described on page 22 of the FEIR. C. Earth Resources. 1. Topography. Short-term alteration of the southwest quadrant of the park during grading and construction will occur, and temporary removal of vegetation in that area will occur as a result of the Project. The park, however, will be restored to existing topographic contours and, following construction activities, the park will be revegetated with trees, shrubs and grass. In addition, installation of pipelines and street rights-of-way will temporarily alter existing land form. Existing grades along major roadways however, will remain unchanged following pipeline installation. Geology. Short-term disturbance of soils along roadways will result during installation of pipelines for the Project. This impact will not alter soil stability, and roadways shall be restored following pipeline installation. Seismicity. The site of the Project will Fe subject to seismic shaking. Conformance with the design standards and regulations of the Uniform Building Code, as implemented by the City of Azusa, and the geologic investigation recommendations as more fully described in Section 3.3 of the FEIR, will mitigate the impact of a seismic event. Slope Stability. The proposed Project would not adversely affect the slope stability or geological substructure in the vicinity of the Project site, nor would the tendency of landslides in the -2- fjn/RES3712 0 0 area increase with implementation of the Project. As the reservoir will be underground, it is significantly protected from potential landslide hazards. Significant impacts as a result of small landslides from the above foothills is not anticipated. D. Water Resources. The proposed Project will be subject to localized flooding along the foothills from intense rainstorms. To control flooding and provide adequate drainage, the Los Angeles County Flood Control District maintains numerous flood control structures in the canyons above Azusa; a major catch basin for water channeled through Beatty Canyon prevents major flooding; a major County storm drain beneath Sierra Madre Avenue, extending 2,500 feet east of Dalton Avenue, provides conveyance of local water run off into storm drain facilities, and Beatty Debris Basin at the east end of the storm drain impedes the spread of storm -derived sediment/debris beyond the foothills. To insure adequate subsurface drainage, a gravel surrounded perforated pipe should be constructed as more fully described in Section 3.4 of the FEIR. A significant beneficial impact from Project implementation will be the additional storage capacity provided by the reservoir for ground water needs to accommodate the City's increased water demands and additional storage capacity for fire protection. E. Noise. The proposed Project will result in short-term accoustical impacts to nearby residences from construction activities. These impacts can be mitigated by limiting construction activities to week days from the hours of 7:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. in compliance with the County of Los Angeles and City of Azusa's noise ordinance. In addition, the use and proper maintenance of noise reducing devices on construction equipment will minimize related noise. Long-term noise impacts will be associated with operation of the booster pump station. To mitigate this impact, the construction of a noise attenuation wall around the booster pump station will reduce operation related noise tc ambient levels. F. Biological Resources. Project implementation would result in the removal of six to eight eucalyptus trees, shrubbery and grass. To mitigate the impact upon the vegetation, following construction -3- fjn/RES3712 and top soil replacement, revegetation will commence with the planting of shrubbery and grass atop the reservoir and along the park perimeter. The planting of fifteen foot eucalyptus trees along the perimeter of the Project site where feasible, will restore the visual appeal of the park. No significant impacts to wildlife are anticipated with implementation of the Project. G. Traffic. Although pipeline construction will pose a short-term inconvenience to nearby residents along Dalton Avenue, because Dalton Avenue is accessible from other nearby roads and is lightly traveled, the short-term construction work in the street is not considered a significant impact. Upon construction completion, operation and maintenance of the reservoir are not anticipated to increase traffic or generate any traffic circulation problems. To mitigate traffic impacts, any construction traffic routing shall be submitted to the City and approved prior to issuance of grading and/or building permits, and efforts should be made to maintain open one lane on Dalton Avenue to access traffic during the construction phase. H. Cultural Resources. The proposed site has a low potential for archeological or paleontological resources. Should cultural resources be discovered, an archeologist shall be consulted to assess the find and recommend mitigation measures prior to continuation of work. I. Energy Resources. The proposed Project will generate a moderate demand for electricity in operation of the booster pump station. To mitigate the potential effects upon energy resources, energy conservation measures, such as low profile, pad -mounted transformers and high efficiency saving booster pumps will be utilized for operation of the booster pump station. In addition, the proposed Project shall conform to all regulatory conservation requirements for energy and the City may impose additional requirements during Project review. J. Public Services. The proposed Project will have no adverse impacts on existing fire protection services. Implementation of the Project would have a significant beneficial impact upon fire protection to the City due to an increase in water storage capacity and the distribution of -4- fin/RES3712 J 0 water. K. Population and Housing. The City's population Projections indicate that the City of Azusa will experience an increase in growth in the next fifteen years. It appears that the City is experiencing a consistent growth rate which is inceasing the demand for new housing. The report indicates that water consumption has also been increasing. Implementation of the proposed Project will not, in itself, accommodate any large developments without improvements to the current water supply storage and distribution facilities. The Project will, however, serve existing water needs and additional water demands anticipated by the existing population in the next ten years by increasing water storage capacity and improving pressure zone distribution. New growth should be monitored by the City to insure that it is consistent with the present zoning, land use policies and urban -low density nature of the community, as established by the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance. SECTION 3. The City Council finds that the mitigating changes which will be incorporated into the Project as discussed above will avoid or substantially lessen most of these significant effects identified in the final EIR. However, specific economic, social, and other considerations, set out specifically hereinafter, make it unfeasible to avoid or substantially lessen through the use Of mitigation measures or Project alternatives the significant effects of air quality, land use, earth resources (seismicity), water resources (flooding), noise, and energy consumption identified in the final EIR. Therefore, the City Council finds that these significant effects and/or adverse impacts are unavoidable for the reasons set forth below: The City Council finds that the benefits of the Project will outweigh the adverse environmental effects which have been found to be unavoidable. Based on this finding, the rationale for which is set out below for each unavoidable environmental effect, the City Council finds that the effects acceptable.The unavoidable s ollowingsets vforth ethe lanalyticalrbases for the statutory findings: A. Land Use. Construction of the Project will result in short-term visual impact on the park environment and temporary interruption in usage of the Park as a recreational facility. The City Council finds that this effect is unavoidable. The City Council also finds that the following benefits will result from the proposed Project: fjn/RES3712 -5- 0 0 (1) Accommodate growth that is permitted by existing zoning and the City's General Plan; (2) Improve and provide necessary water supply storage and service to accommodate water needs of the existing population, public services, and structures; (3) Diversification of the City's water supply source by providing necessary additional reservoir capacity to satisfy Projected storage deficits; (4) Serve additional water demands anticipated by the existing population in the next 10 years by increasing water storage capacity and improving distribution in the City's water pressure zones. The City Council has balanced the Project benefits against the unavoidable adverse risks and/or impacts and finds that the unavoidable environmental impacts are acceptable because the Project benefits outweigh the unavoidable environmental impacts relating to land use. B. Air Quality. Project construction will cause short- term fugitive dust and fuel emissions which will contribute to the degradation of air quality. The City Council finds that this effect is unavoidable. The City Council also finds that the following benefits will result from the proposed Project: (1) Accommodate growth that is permitted by existing zoning and the City's General Plan; (2) Improve and provide necessary water supply storage and service to accommodate water needs of the existing population, public services, and structures; (3) Diversification of the City's water supply source by providing necessary additional reservoir capacity to satisfy Projected storage deficits; (4) Serve additional water demands anticipated by the existing population in the next 10 years by increasing water storage capacity and improving distribution in the City's water pressure zones. The City Council has balanced the Project benefits against the unavoidable adverse risks and/or impacts and finds that the unavoidable -6- fjn/RES3712 0 0 environmental impacts are acceptable because the Project benefits outweigh the unavoidable environmental impacts relating to air quality. C. Earth Resources (Seismicity). The Project site is subject to shaking it the event of seismic activity in the area. The City Council finds that this effect is unavoidable. The City Council also finds that the following benefits will result from the Proposed Project: (1) Accommodate growth that is permitted by existing zoning and the City's General Plan; (2) Improve and provide necessary water supply storage and service to accommodate water needs of the existing population, public services, and structures; (3) Diversification of the City's water supply source by providing necessary additional reservoir capacity to satisfy Projected storage deficits; (4) Serve additional water demands anticipated by the existing population in the next 10 years by increasing water storage capacity and improving distribution in the City's water pressure zones. The City Council has balanced the Project benefits against the unavoidable adverse risks and/or impacts and finds that the unavoidable environmental impacts are acceptable because the Project benefits outweigh the unavoidable environmental risks relating to seismicity. D. Water Resources (Flooding). The Project will be subject to occasional localized flooding in the event of intense rainstorms. The City Council finds that this effect is unavoidable. The City Council also finds that the following benefits will result from the proposed Project: (1) Accommodate growth that is permitted by existing zoning and the City's General Plan; (2) Improve and provide necessary water supply storage and service to accommodate water needs of the existing population, public services, and structures; (3) Diversification of the City's water supply source by providing necessary additional reservoir capacity to satisfy Projected storage deficits; fjn/RES3712 -7 0 0 (4) Serve additional water demands anticipated by the existing population in the next 10 years by increasing water storage capacity and improving distribution in the City's water pressure zones. The City Council has balanced the Project benefits against the unavoidable adverse risks and/or impacts and finds that the unavoidable environmental impacts are acceptable because the Project benefits outweigh the unavoidable environmental risks relating to flooding. E. Noise. The Project will result in short-term accoustical impacts due to construction activities. The City Council finds that this effect is unavoidable. The City Council also finds that the following benefits will result from the proposed Project: (1) Accommodate growth that is permitted by existing zoning and the City's General Plan; (2) Improve and provide necessary water supply storage and service to accommodate water needs of the existing population, public services, and structures; (3) Diversification of the City's water supply source by providing necessary additional reservoir capacity to satisfy Projected storage deficits; (4) Serve additional water demands anticipated by the existing population in the next 10 years by increasing water storage capacity and improving distribution in the City's water pressure zones. The City Council has balanced the Project benefits against the unavoidable adverse risks and/or impacts and finds that the unavoidable environmental impacts are acceptable because the Project benefits outweigh the unavoidable environmental impacts relating to noise. F. Energy Resources. The Project will result in moderate increase electricity consumption due to operation of the booster pump station for the reservoir. The City Council finds that this effect is unavoidable. The City Council also finds that the following benefits will result from the proposed Project: -8- fjn/RES3712 W (1) Accommodate growth that is permitted by existing zoning and the City's General Plan; (2) Improve and provide necessary water supply storage and service to accommodate water needs of the existing population, public services, and structures; (3) Diversification of the City's water supply source by providing necessary additional reservoir capacity to satisfy Projected storage deficits; (4) Serve additional water demands anticipated by the existing population in the next 10 years by increasing water storage capacity and improving distribution in the City's water pressure zones. The City Council has balanced the Project benefits against the unavoidable adverse risks and/or impacts and finds that the unavoidable environmental impacts are acceptable because the Project benefits outweigh the unavoidable environmental impacts relating to energy resources. SECTION 4. In view of the foregoing, the City Council hereby certifies that the FEIR for the Project has been completed in accordance with the provisions of CEQA and applicable state and local guidelines. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to file a Notice of Determination as required pursuant to CEQA. The City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this Resolution. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 1st day of August 1988 MAYOR -9- fjn/RES3712 0 J I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Azusa at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 1st day of August 1988, by the following vote of the Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS STEMRICH, NARANJOr LATTAr MOSES AVILA. NON] -10- fjn/RES3712