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R-8864 e e RESOLUTION NUMBER 8864 (City Council Series) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA MAKING FINDINGS NECESSARY TO APPROVE THE SAFETY ELEMENT WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica adopted its existing Public Safety Element in July, 1975; and WHEREAS, the city of Santa Monica adopted its existing seismic Safety Element in December, 1975; and WHEREAS, in 1986, the state of California adopted Government Code Section 65302(g) WhlCh requires that each local government maintain a comprehensive Safety Element, combining the formerly required Public Safety and Seismic Safety Elements, that addresses a variety of natural and human-related hazards and contains goals and policies aimed at reducing the risks associated with these hazards; and WHEREAS, in 1991 the City of Santa Monica began preparation of a Safety Element of the General Plan in accordance with the requirements of Government Section 65302(g)j and WHEREAS, a Draft Safety Element was produced that satisfied the requirements of Government Code section 65302(g)i and - 1 - It e WHEREAS, the public health, safety and welfare is promoted through the policies of the Safety Element which aim to reduce the risks associated with natural and human-related hazards; and WHEREAS, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared in July, 1994 in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and the City of Santa Monica CEQA Guidelines; and WHEREAS, the Final EIR determined there are no significant impacts from adopting the Safety Element after mitigation; and WHEREAS, the Final EIR determined there are beneficial long- term safety-related impacts from adopting the Safety Element in the areas of Earth Resources, Flooding/Inundation, Risk of Upset, Land Use, Housing, Population, Transportation, Utilities, Public Services, and Cultural Resourcesi and WHEREAS, the city council has reviewed and considered the contents of the Final EIR in its decision-making process; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission recommended adoption of the Safety Element on November 16, 1994; - 2 - e e NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The city Council finds that the Final EIR for the Safety Element identifies potential short-term adverse environmental impacts that are offset by beneflcial long-term environmental impacts in the areas of Earth Resources, Flooding/Inundation, Risk of Upset, Land Use, Housing, Population, Transportation, utilities, Public Services, and Cultural Resources. SECTION 2. The city Council finds that the project is consistent with the other elements of the City's General Plan. SECTION 3. The Final EIR determined that without mitigation the proposed project could result in potential short- term significant adverse impacts on Earth Resources. Consistent with Article VI, Section 12 of the City CEQA Guidelines and Section 15091 of the State CEQA Guidelines, the city finds that the following mitigation measures have been required in the proj ect which will avoid or substantially lessen the potential short-term significant environmental effects identified with respect to Earth Resources: ( 1) The city will require compliance with applicable City and other regulations for projects on and around unstable and/or steep hillsides to ensure that construction activities are - 3 - e e performed in a safe manner. These measures will mitigate or avoid potential short-term significant environmental impacts on Earth Resources and thus mitigate or avoid the potential significant environmental effects identified in the Final EIR, Section 5.1. SECTION 4. The Final EIR determined that without mitigation the proposed project could result in potential significant adverse impacts on Flooding/Inundation. Consistent with Article VI, section 12 of the city CEQA Guidelines and section 15091 of the state CEQA Guidelines, the city finds that the following mitigation measures have been required in the proj ect which will avoid or substantially lessen the potential significant environmental effects identified with respect to Flooding/Inundation: (1) The city will contact and encourage the appropriate seismological agencies or institutions to conduct studies to assess the potential impacts from undersea earthquake activities within Santa Monica Bay. (2) The city will consult and cooperate with appropriate state agencies to work to allev1ate any unusual or extensive erosion of beach sand. - 4 - e e These measures will mitigate or avoid potential significant environmental impacts on Flooding/Inundation and thus mitigate or avoid the potential significant environmental effects identified in the Final EIR, section 5.2. SECTION 5. The Final EIR identified potential significant adverse impacts in the discussion of Risks of Upset/Human Health. However, all impacts with respect to Risk of Upset/Human Health are beneficial or are mitigated by implementation of the programs in the Safety Element that address disaster response and long-range planning related to hazardous materials. Therefore, the City finds that no changes or additional mitigation measures are required in the project to avoid or substantially lessen significant environmental effects identified with respect to Risk of Upset/Human Health, section 5.3 of the Final EIR. SECTION 6. The Final EIR determined that without mitigation the proposed project could result in potential short- term significant adverse lmpacts on Land Use. consistent with Article VI, section 12 of the City CEQA Guidelines and section 15091 of the State CEQA Guidelines, the city finds that the following mitigation measures have been required in the project which will avoid or substantlally lessen the potential short-term significant environmental effects identified with respect to Land Use: - 5 - e e (1) The City will minimize both short-term and long-term impacts to existing land uses from Safety Element programs by assessing, in an annual report to city Council, those existing land uses at risk from Safety Element programs and those efforts necessary to minimize significant environmental impacts. These measures will mitigate or avoid potential significant environmental impacts on Land Uses and thus mitigate or avoid the potential significant environmental effects identified in the Final EIR, section 5.4. SECTION 7. The Final EIR determined that without mitigation the proposed project could result in potential short- term significant adverse impacts on Housing. consistent with Article VI, section 12 of the City CEQA Guidelines and Section 15091 of the state CEQA Guidelines, the city finds that the following mitigation measures have been required in the project which will avoid or substantially lessen the potential short-term significant environmental effects identified with respect to Housing: ( 1) The city will preserve existing housing units to the greatest degree possible during the implementation of Safety Element programs. city staff will assess, in an annual report to city Council, those existing housing units not already covered by relocation programs and thus at risk from safety Element programs. - 6 - e e The report will also address those efforts necessary to minimize significant environmental impacts through the preservation of housing units or through assistance in providing replacement housing for occupants. These measures will mitigate or avoid potential significant environmental impacts on Housing and thus mitigate or avoid the potential significant environmental effects identified in the Final EIR, Section 5.5. SECTION 8. The Final EIR determined that without mitigation the proposed project could result in potential short- term significant adverse impacts on Population. Consistent with Article VI, section 12 of the city CEQA Guidelines and Section 15091 of the state CEQA Guidelines, the City finds that the fOllowing mitigation measures have been required ln the proj ect which will avoid or substantially lessen the potential short-term significant environmental effects identified with respect to Population: ( 1) The city staff wlll assist local residents and business owners that would be impacted by programs of the Safety Element in finding suitable replacement housing or workplaces within the City in order to minimize potential short-term adverse impacts. city staff should assess, in an annual report to City Council, those requests for assistance and the results of - 7 - e e relocation or other assistance provided. These measures will mitigate or avoid potential short-term significant environmental impacts on Population and thus mitigate or avoid the potential significant environmental effects identified in the Final EIR, Section 5.6. SECTION 9. The Final EIR determined that without mitigation the proposed project could result in potential short- term significant adverse impacts on Rights-of-Way. Consistent with Article VI, section 12 of the city CEQA Guidelines and section 15091 of the state CEQA Guidelines, the City finds that the following mitigation measures have been required in the proj ect which will avoid or substantially lessen the potential short-term significant environmental effects identified with respect to Rights-of-Way: (1 ) The Environmental and Public Works Management Department staff will develop a master plan for remediation/ improvements to City-owned utility lines which traverse identified hazard zones. (2) Remediation/improvement acti vi ties will be scheduled to coincide with planned street and other right-Of-way improvement projects so as to minimize construction-related impacts on rights- of-way. - 8 - e e (3) The impacts of acquisition of additional rights-of- way (where necessary) will be appropriately assessed and mit1gated during project review by the city. These measures will mitigate or avoid potential short-term significant environmental impacts on Rights-of-Way and thus mitigate or avoid the potential significant environmental effects identified in the Final EIR, Section 5.7. SECTION 10. The Final EIR determined that without mitigation the proposed project could result in potential short- term significant adverse impacts on Transportation. Consistent with Article VI, section 12 of the City CEQA Guidelines and section 15091 of the State CEQA Guidelines, the city finds that the following mitigation measures have been required in the proj ect which will avoid or substantially lessen the potential short-term significant environmental effects identified with respect to Transportation: (1) The City will minimize traffic-related impacts from the implementation of Safety Element programs by scheduling construction activities during off-peak hours or weekends and by properly posting traffic signage. (2) All construction projects will be subject to City development review and construction permit processes. - 9 - e e These measures will mitigate or avoid potential short-term significant environmental impacts on Transportation and thus mitigate or avoid the potential significant environmental effects identified in the Final EIR, Section 5.8. SECTION 11. The Final EIR determined that without mitigation the proposed project could result in potential short- term significant adverse impacts on utilities. consistent with Article VI, section 12 of the City CEQA Guidelines and section 15091 of the state CEQA Guidelines, the city finds that the following mitigation measures have been required in the proJect which will avoid or substantially lessen the potential short-term significant environmental effects identified with respect to utilities: (1) The City will schedule major utility relocation or reconstruction projects to minimize disturbances to local resldents and businesses and to preclude the curtailment of multiple major services concurrently unless there are safety, logistic or economic considerations. These measures will mitigate or avoid potential short-term significant environmental impacts on utilities and thus mitigate or avoid the potential significant environmental effects identified in the Final EIR, Section 5.9. - 10 - e e SECTION 12. The Final EIR identified potential significant adverse impacts in the discussion of Public Services. However, all impacts with respect to Public Services are beneficial or are mitigated by implementation of the programs in the Safety Element which address public safety concerns regarding fire protection and disaster preparedness. Therefore, the city finds that no changes or additional mitigation measures are required in the project to avoid or substantially lessen significant environmental effects identified with respect to Public Services, section 5.10 of the Final EIR. SECTION 13. The Final EIR determined that without mitigation the proposed project could result in potential significant adverse impacts on Fiscal Resources. Consistent with Article VI, section 12 of the city CEQA Guidelines and section 15091 of the state CEQA Guidelines, the city finds that the following mitigation measures have been required in the proj ect which will avoid or substantially lessen the potential significant environmental effects identified with respect to Fiscal Resources: (1) city staff will prepare a list of Safety Element projects for review by the City Council during each fiscal year including capital and on-going maintenance projects. The City will utilize alternative funding sources as available to finance Safety Element projects to minimize impacts on City financial resources. - 11 - e e These measures will mitigate or avoid potential significant environmental impacts on Fiscal Resources and thus mitigate or avoid the potential significant environmental effects identified in the Final EIR, section 5.11. SECTION 14. The Final ErR identified potential significant adverse impacts in the discussion of Cultural Resources. However, all impacts with respect to Cultural Resources are beneficial or are mitigated by implementation of the programs in the Safety Element which address the mitigation of hazards of unreinforced masonry buildings, including historic structures. Therefore, the city finds that no changes or additional mitigation measures are required ln the project to avoid or substantially lessen significant environmental effects identified with respect to Public Services, section 5.12 of the Final EIR. SECTION 15. The Final EIR determined that without mitigation the proposed project could result in potential significant adverse impacts on Aesthetics. Consistent with Article VI, Section 12 of the City CEQA Guidelines and section 15091 of the state CEQA Guidelines, the City finds that the following mitigation measures have been required in the project which will avoid or substantially lessen the potential significant environmental effects identified with respect to Aesthetlcs: (1) The city will maintain the overall visual integrity - 12 - e e and characteristics of the Palisades bluffs area to the extent feasible during implementation of Safety Element programs should major changes to cliff faces or prominent visual features be proposed. City staff shall undertake a public process prior to the start of any such work outlining the nature of proposed changes. (2) The city will consider, during development review, any aesthetic changes or impacts that result from Safety Element programs that occur within designated scenic corridors. These measures will mitigate or avoid potential significant environmental impacts on Aesthetics and thus mitigate or avoid the potential significant environmental effects identifled in the Final EIR, Section 5.13. SECTION 16. The Final EIR determined that without mitigation the proposed project could result in potent1al short- term significant adverse lmpacts on Neighborhood Effects. Consistent with Article VI, section 12 of the city CEQA Guidelines and Section 15091 of the State CEQA Guidelines, the City finds that the following mitigation measures have been required in the project which will avoid or substantially lessen the potential short-term significant environmental effects identified with respect to Neighborhood Effects: (1) The City will hold a hearing before the City council - 13 - It e to take testimony prior to initiating work on any City-wide program that has the potential to remove or disturb any significant neighborhood landmarks or other resources. For actions or programs which could have a direct negative effect on neighborhoods or portions of neighborhoods, city staff will prepare a staff report detailing potential impacts. A Neighborhood Advisory Committee may be convened by the City council to work with city staff on the implementation of Safety Element programs should significant impacts occur. These measures will mitigate or avoid potential significant environmental impacts on Nelghborhood Effects and thus mitigate or avoid the potential significant environmental effects identified in the Final EIR, Section 5.14. Pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21081.6, the mitigation measures required by this Resolution shall be monitored by the City to ensure their compliance during project implementation in accordance with the requirements of the Project's mitigation monitoring program. - 14 - --- --- -- e e SECTION 17. The city Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and therefore and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect. APPROVED AS TO FORM: M~= City Attorney f:\ppd\share\reso\safeeir - 15 - e e Adopted and approved thlS 21st of February, 1995 ~~ Mayor I hereby certIfy that the foregomg ResolutIon 8864 (CCS) was duly adopted at a meetmg of the CIty CouncIl held on the 21st of February, 1995 by the followmg vote Ayes CouncIlmembers Abdo, O'Connor, Ebner, Greenberg, Holbrook, Rosenstem, Genser Noes CouncIlmembers None Abstam CouncIlmembers None Absent CouncIlmembers None ATTEST ~~ CIty Clerk