Resolution No. 4363RESOLUTION NO. 4363
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF CYPRESS REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 3966 AND
ADOPTING LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES
FOR THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 3966, adopted by the City Council of the City of Cypress
on July 22, 1991, the City Council adopted the State Guidelines for implementation of the
California Environmental Quality Act as the local procedures for meeting the requirements of
the California Environmental Quality Act, (CEQA), Public Resources Code Section 21000 et
seq.; and,
WHEREAS, subsequent to the adoption of Resolution No. 3966, significant changes have
taken place in CEQA which mandate that the local procedures and guidelines be updated in order
to be consistent with changes in State law, administrative regulation, and case laws developed
by California courts.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS DOES
HEREBY RESOLVE, DETERMINE, AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Resolution No. 3966 adopted by the City Council of the City of Cypress
on July 22, 1991 is hereby repealed.
SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Cypress hereby adopts the local
guidelines set forth in Attachment "A ", "City of Cypress Guidelines for Implementing the
California Environmental Quality Act," attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference
as if set forth in full as the local guidelines and procedures for implementing CEQA.
SECTION 3. Any future update of the "Guidelines for the Implementation of the
California Environmental Quality Act" is hereby adopted by reference and the provisions as
revised shall supersede the relevant provisions of the current City of Cypress Local
Implementation Guidelines.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify as to the adoption of this Resolution.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Cypress at a regular
meeting held on the 12th day of September 1994.
ATTEST:
%L
CIT CLERK OF THE Ci{TY OF CYPRESS
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS
I, DARRELL ESSEX, City Clerk of the City of Cypress, California DO
HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the
City Council of the City of Cypress, held on the 12th day of September 1994; by the
following roll call vote:
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(—/
446
AYES: 5 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Age, Bowman, Kerry, Nicholson
and Partin
NOES: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSTAINED: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
Xartee644(
C ITY CLERK THE ITY OF CYPRESS
ATTACHMENT "A"
CITY OF CYPRESS
LOCAL GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
September 12, 1994
f }.43
SECTION 1. Authority.
These procedures are adopted to implement the California Environmental Quality Act
( "CEQA "), Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seg., and the State CEQA Guidelines
( "State Guidelines "), 14 California Code of Regulations Section 15000 et sue. All time periods
set out herein shall be calendar days unless otherwise indicated.
SECTION 2. Relationship to State Guidelines.
The procedures established herein implement and tailor the general provisions of the State
Guidelines to the specific operations of the City of Cypress. These Local Guidelines are not
intended to replace the State Guidelines. If any section of these Local Guidelines is in conflict
with or contrary to any provision of the State Guidelines as they now exist or may be amended
hereafter, the State Guidelines shall control. Further, if any section of the State Guidelines is
revised, that revision shall be incorporated by reference into these Local Guidelines.
SECTION 3. Delegation of Responsibility to Planning Director.
The Planning Director ( "Director ") shall be responsible for the following CEQA
functions:
(1) Determining whether a project is exempt;
(2) Conducting an Initial Study, and deciding whether to prepare a Negative
Declaration or Draft Environmental Impact Report ( "EIR ");
(3) Preparing a Negative Declaration or Draft EIR;
(4) Determining that a Negative Declaration has been completed within a period of
one - hundred and five (105) days or an EIR within a period of one (1) year from
the date when the City accepted an application as complete;
(5)
Preparing responses to comments on environmental documents;
(6) Filing notices required or authorized by CEQA, the State Guidelines, or this
Resolution;
(7) Consulting with and obtaining comments from other public agencies and the
public;
(8) Assuring adequate opportunity and time for public review and public
commentary;
(9)
Developing procedures for a mitigation monitoring and reporting program for
those mitigation measures imposed as conditions of approval in order to reduce
or eliminate a significant environmental effect; and
(10) Determining whether the effect of the project on wildlife and their habitat is de
minimis and issuing any certificate therefor.
SECTION 4. Requests for Notice.
Whenever a member of the public files a written request with the City Clerk to receive
copies of notices prepared pursuant to Public Resources Code Sections:
21080.4 Environmental Impact Report;
Determined by Lead Agency (Decision to Prepare EIR);
21092 Public Notice of Preparation of Environmental Impact Report or
Negative Declaration; Publications;
21152 Local Agency; Approval or Determination to Carry out. Project;
Notice; Contents; Public Inspection; Posting.
t.
The Director shall cause a copy of said Notice to be mailed to such individual. A "written
request" shall be defined to include the payment of a fee as set by Resolution of the City
Council. Unless a fee is not set by Resolution of the City Council, no written request for notice
shall be valid unless and until the fee is paid. All written requests shall be valid for one (1)
calendar year and may be renewed annually by submitting a new written request and payment
of the fee set by Resolution of the City Council. The provisions of Public Resources Code
§21092.2 relative to substantial compliance shall be applicable to this Section.
SECTION 5. Pre - Filing Consultation.
Upon request of an applicant the Planning Director shall provide a non - binding
consultation prior to filing an application regarding the general environmental issues and
ramifications of the project.
SECTION 6. Preliminary Review.
A. Review for Completeness.
The Director shall determine whether an application for a permit or other entitlement for
use is complete and shall notify the applicant in writing within thirty (30) days from the receipt
of the application. If the application is incomplete, the notice shall list and thoroughly describe
the specific information required to complete the application. If no written determination of the
completeness of the application is made within the thirty (30) day period, the application will
be deemed complete on the thirtieth (30th) day. Upon resubmittal of the application, or
requested materials and /or information, a new thirty (30) day period shall begin.
If the application and materials are determined to be incomplete, within fifteen (15) days
of the date of the notice, the applicant may appeal the decision in writing to the City Council.
The City Council shall issue a written determination within forty -five (45) days after receipt of
the written appeal. The determination of the City Council shall be final.
B. Review for Exemptions.
As part of the preliminary review, the Director shall determine whether a particular
activity is exempt from CEQA. If the Director determines that an activity is exempt from
CEQA, the Director shall issue a Notice of Exemption as set forth in Section 6 7(D) herein.
SECTION 7. Procedures for Identifying Activities Exempt from CEQA.
A. Application of CEQA.
The requirements of CEQA apply to all discretionary projects which may have a
significant effect on the environment. In particular, CEQA applies to discretionary private
projects that are carried out, approved or financed by a public agency. Possible exemptions
from CEQA include the following:
(1) The activity is not a project;
(2) The project is statutorily exempt pursuant to Article 18 of the State Guidelines;
(3) The project is categorically exempt pursuant to Article 19 of the State Guidelines;
or,
(4) It can be established with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity may
have a significant effect on the environment.
B. Ministerial Projects Or Permits.
A ministerial project is one approved or denied by a decision which a public official or
a public agency makes that involves only the use of fixed standards or objective measurements
without personal judgment or discretion. Ministerial projects are exempt from the requirements
of CEQA and no environmental documents are required. The following is a non - exclusive list
of actions which the City Council has determined to be ministerial in nature:
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(1) Approval of final subdivision maps;
(2) Approval of individual utility service connections and disconnections;
(3) Issuance of health regulatory licenses;
(4) Issuance of permits to install individual sewage disposal systems; and,
(5)
The issuance of a building permit shall be deemed a ministerial act if the Planning
and Building Departments exercise no discretion in the issuance of the building
permit. If the permit involves both discretionary and ministerial actions, the
permit shall not be deemed a ministerial act.
C. Categorical Exemptions.
The City Council hereby finds those classes of activities set forth in Sections 15301
through 15329 of the State Guidelines to be categorically exempt with the following exceptions:
(1) Location. Classes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 11 of the State Guidelines are qualified by
consideration of the location of the project. A project that is ordinarily
insignificant in its impact on the environment may, in a particularly sensitive
environment, be significant. Therefore, these classes are considered to apply to
all instances, except where the project may impact on an environmental resource
of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and
officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies.
(2) Cumulative Impact. All exemptions of these classes are inapplicable when
the cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place,
over time is significant; for example: annual additions to an existing building
under Class I of State Guidelines.
(3) Significant Effect. A categorical exemption shall not be used for an
activity where there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a
significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances.
D. Notice of Exemption.
If it is determined that a project is categorically exempt, then after approval of the project
the Director may cause a Notice of Exemption to be filed in the form and manner required by
the State Guidelines. The notice may be filed with the County Clerk of the County of Orange.
SECTION 8. Procedures for Conducting Initial Studies.
A. Determination That Initial Study Should Be Conducted.
If a project is subject to the requirements of CEQA and it is not determined that the
project is exempt, the Director shall cause an Initial Study to be conducted to determine if the
project may have a significant effect on the environment. If it can be determined that an EIR
will clearly be required for a project, then further initial review of the project shall not be
required, and work may begin directly on the EIR process.
All phases of project planning, implementation, and operation must be considered in the
Initial Study of the project. To meet the requirements of this section, the Director may use an
Initial Study or similar analysis prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act in
the case of a federal project.
The Director shall determine whether or not a project may have a significant effect on
the environment based on substantial evidence of the whole record and whether it has a de
minimis impact on wildlife and their habitat. If it is determined that there is no substantial
evidence that the project or any of its aspects may cause a significant effect on the environment,
the Director shall cause a Negative Declaration to be prepared.
If any aspects of the project, either individually or cumulatively, may cause a significant
effect on the environment, regardless of whether the overall effect of the project is adverse or
beneficial, then an EIR must be prepared. The existence of a public controversy alone does not,
without substantial evidence of a significant environmental impact supported by facts, require
preparation of an EIR. Public comments relative to and /or included in an EIR are not
determinative of whether the project may have a significant effect on the environment.
B. Contents.
An Initial Study shall contain in brief form:
(1) A description of the project including the location of the project;
(2) An identification of the environmental setting;
(3)
An identification of environmental effects by use of a checklist, matrix, or other
method;
(4) A discussion of ways to mitigate the significant effects identified, if any;
(5) An examination of whether the project is consistent with existing zoning, plans,
and other applicable land use controls; and,
(6) The name of the person or persons who prepared or participated in the Initial
Study.
C. Uses.
The Initial Study shall be used to provide information to use as the basis for the
determination of whether a Negative Declaration or an EIR shall be prepared for a project.
Where a project is revised in response to an Initial Study so that potential adverse effects
are mitigated to a point where no significant environmental effects will occur, a Negative
Declaration shall be prepared instead of an EIR. If based on substantial evidence in the whole
record the project would still result in one or more significant effects on the environment after
mitigation measures are added to the project, an EIR shall be prepared.
When the Initial Study concludes that no EIR is necessary, the Study shall also provide
documentation of the factual basis for the finding that the project will not have a significant
effect on the environment.
The EIR shall emphasize study of the impacts determined to be significant and can omit
further examination of those impacts found to be clearly insignificant in the Initial Study.
D. Submission of Data.
Any person may submit any information in any form to the Director to assist in the
preparation of an Initial Study.
E. Format.
Forms for an applicant's project description and a review form for use by the Director
shall be provided by the Planning Department. When used together, these forms shall meet the
requirements for an Initial Study. These forms shall provide for a substantive, written
description of the project and its potential effects.
F. Consultation.
As soon as the Director has determined that a project is not exempt and that an Initial
Study shall be required to determine whether a Negative Declaration or an EIR is required, the
Planning Department shall consult with all Responsible Agencies and all Trustee Agencies
responsible for resources affected by the project as required by Section 15063(g) of the State
Guidelines.
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During or immediately after preparation of an Initial Study for a private project, the
Planning Department may consult with the applicant to determine if the applicant is willing to
modify the project to reduce or avoid the significant effects identified in the Initial Study.
G. Time Limits.
The Director shall determine within thirty (30) days after accepting an application as
complete whether it is necessary to prepare an EIR or a Negative Declaration and, if so, whether
a previously prepared EIR or Negative Declaration may be used. The thirty (30) day period
may be extended fifteen (15) days upon the consent of both the Director and the project
applicant. Where an EIR or Negative Declaration is to be prepared under contract to the City,
the City must execute that contract within forty -five (45) days from the date the application for
the project is received and accepted as complete.
SECTION 9. Procedures for the Preparation of a Negative Declaration.
A. General.
A Negative Declaration shall be prepared for a project which:
(1)
the Director finds, on the basis of an Initial Study, there is no substantial
evidence in light of the whole record that the project may have a significant effect
on the environment; or,
(2) where the Initial Study identified potential effects, but the effects have been
mitigated to the point of insignificance.
B. Consultation.
Before completing a Negative Declaration, the Director shall consider the proposed
Negative Declaration together with any comments received during the public review process
pursuant to Section 15074(b) of the State Guidelines.
C. Contents.
A Negative Declaration circulated for public review shall include:
(1) A brief description of the project, including the commonly used name for the
project, if any;
(2) The location of the project and the name of the project proponent;
(3) A proposed finding that the project will not have a significant effect on the
environment;
(4) An attached copy of the Initial Study documenting reasons to support the finding;
(5)
Mitigation measures, if any, included in the project to avoid potentially significant
effects;
(6) A statement regarding how the mitigation monitoring and reporting requirements
established by Public Resources Code §21081.6 will be met; and,
(7)
A determination regarding impact on fish and game resources per Fish and Game
§711.4, Public Resources Code §21089(b), and 14 California Code of Regulations
753.5.
D. Public Notice.
Notice that the City Council is preparing and proposes to adopt a Negative Declaration
shall be provided to the public prior to adoption of the Negative Declaration by that body. The
public shall be provided at least twenty (20) days to review and comment on the proposed
Negative Declaration. However, if the notice must be submitted to the State Clearinghouse, the
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public review period shall be at least thirty (30) days.
A copy of the notice and the proposed Negative Declaration shall be sent to every
Responsible Agency and Trustee Agency concerned with the project and every other public
agency with jurisdiction by law over resources affected by the project. Notice shall be given
to all organizations and individuals who have previously requested such notice and shall also be
given by at least one of the following procedures:
(1) Publication at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected
by the proposed project; or,
(2) Posting of notice on and off site in the area where the project is to be located;
or,
(3)
Direct mailing to owners and occupants of property contiguous to the project as
such owners are shown on the latest equalized assessment roll.
The notice shall specify the period during which comments will be received on the
proposed Negative Declaration and shall include the date, time, and place of any public meetings
of hearings on the proposed project, a brief description of the proposed project and its location,
and the address where copies of the proposed Negative Declarations are available for review.
The notice shall also describe the significant effects on the environment, if any, anticipated as
a result of the project. Pursuant to Public Resources Code §21092(a) an action shall not be
invalidated because of alleged inadequacy of the notice content if the City has complied
substantially with the provisions of Section 21092 of the Public Resources Code.
E. Consideration.
Prior to approving the project, the City Council shall consider the Negative Declaration
together with any comments received during the public review process.
F. Approval.
The City Council shall approve the Negative Declaration if it finds on the basis of the
Initial Study and any comments received that there is no substantial evidence that the project will
have a significant effect on the environment, or that any potentially significant effects have been
mitigated to the point of insignificance. The decision of the City Council shall be final.
G. Notice of Determination.
After final approval of a project for which a Negative Declaration has been prepared, the
Director shall cause a Notice of Determination to be filed. Said Notice shall include:
(1) An identification of the project, including its common name where possible, and
its location;
(2) A brief description of the project;
(3)
The date upon which the project was approved;
(4) The determination that the project will not have a significant effect on the
environment;
(5) The documents and filing fees required by the Fish and Game Code Section
711.4, Public Resources Code §21089(b), and 14 California Code of Regulations
753.5.;
(6) A statement that a Negative Declaration has been prepared pursuant to the
provisions of CEQA; and,
(7)
The address where a copy of the Negative Declaration may be examined.
It shall be the responsibility and duty of the applicant to deliver to the Planning
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Department a check payable to the County Clerk of the County of Orange in an amount
sufficient to cover the fee required by subsection (5) above, including the County Clerk's
processing fee, within forty -eight (48) hours of City's final approval of the project. If within
such forty -eight (48) hour period, the applicant has not delivered to the Planning Department the
check required above, the approval for the project shall be void.
The Notice of Determination shall be filed with the County Clerk of the County of
Orange. If the project requires a discretionary approval from any State agency, the Notice of
Determination shall also be filed with the State Office of Planning and Research.
The filing of the Notice of Determination and the posting of a list of such notices starts
a thirty (30) day statute of limitations on court challenges to the approval.
SECTION 10. Procedures for the Preparation of EIR's.
A. Decision to Prepare an EIR.
When it is determined that an EIR will be required for a project, the procedures set forth
in this section shall be followed in the EIR preparation.
B. Notice of Preparation.
Immediately after the determination has been made that an EIR will be required for a
project, the Director shall cause a Notice of Preparation to be sent by certified mail, or other
method of transmittal which provides it with notice that the Notice has been received, to each
Responsible Agency or Trustee Agency responsible for resources affected by the project and to
each federal agency involved in approving or funding the project. The notice shall include the
significant effects on the environment anticipated from the project.
The agencies to which a Notice of Preparation is sent shall have thirty (30) days from
the receipt of said notice to respond. If an agency fails by the end of the thirty (30) day period
to respond, or make a well justified request for additional time to respond, it shall be presumed
that the agency has no response to make. Unjustified late responses need not be considered.
C. Early Consultation.
Prior to completing the Draft EIR (DEIR), the Director should consult with any person
or organization he or she believes will be concerned with the environmental effects of the
project.
Where the Director, a Responsible Agency, a Trustee Agency, or the project applicant
has requested a meeting between representatives of the agencies involved to assist in determining
the scope and content of a proposed EIR, the Director shall convene such a meeting as soon as
possible, but not later than thirty (30) days after receiving the request for the meeting pursuant
to Section 15082(4)(c) of the State Guidelines.
Prior to completing an EIR, the Director on behalf of the City shall consult with and
provide an opportunity to comment from each responsible agency, any public agency which has
jurisdiction by law with respect to the project, and any city or county which borders on the City.
The City and any bordering city and /or county may annually by agreement establish a process
or procedure for complying with this consultation requirement pursuant to Public Resources
Code §21153.
In the case of a project as defined in Public Resources Code §21065(c) involving the
issuance of a lease, permit, license, certificate, or other entitlement for use to a person by one
or more public agencies, the Director shall, upon the request of the applicant provide for early
consultation regarding the project. The consultation shall seek to identify the range of actions,
alternatives, mitigation measures, and significant effects to be analyzed in depth in the EIR. A
request for early consultation shall be made within thirty (30) days after the determination by
the City that an EIR will be required for the project. The City Council may by Resolution
establish a fee sufficient to recover the actual costs of consultation with the applicant.
Pursuant to Public Resources Code §21092.4, for projects of statewide, regional, or area
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wide significance, the Director shall consult with transportation planning agencies and public
agencies which have transportation facilities within the City which could be affected by the
project. Consultation shall occur in accordance with said Section of the Public Resources Code.
For projects where federal involvement might require preparation of the Environmental
Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, the Director shall consult
with the appropriate federal agencies.
D. Preparation of the Draft EIR.
The draft EIR shall be prepared directly by or under contract to the City.
The Planning Department may require the project applicant to supply data and
information both to determine whether the project may have a significant effect on the
environment and to assist the City in preparing the draft EIR. The requested information should
include an identification of other public agencies which will have jurisdiction by law over the
project.
Any person, including the applicant, may submit information or comments to the
Planning Department to assist in the preparation of the draft EIR. The submittal may be
presented in any format, including the form of a draft EIR. The decision - making body must
consider all information and comments received. The information or comments may be included
in the draft EIR in whole or in part.
The decision - making body may choose one of the following arrangements or a
combination of them for preparing a draft EIR.
(1) Preparing the draft EIR directly with Planning Department staff;
(2) Contracting with another entity, public or private, to prepare the draft EIR;
(3) Consider the provisions for streamlined environmental review and a Master EIR;
or,
(4) Using a previously prepared EIR.
E. Notice of Completion.
As soon as the DEIR is completed, a Notice of Completion shall be filed with the State
Office of Planning and Research. The Notice shall include a brief description of the project,
its proposed location, an address where copies of the DEIR are available, and the period during
which comments will be received.
F. Public Review.
After the DEIR is completed, the Director shall consult with and obtain comments from
any responsible and /or trustee agencies having jurisdiction by law with respect to the project,
and should consult with persons having special expertise with respect to any environmental
impact involved. The Director shall provide the general public with an opportunity to comment
on the DEIR.
The public shall be provided at least forty -five (45) days to review and comment on the
DEIR. Unless a shortened review period is requested and granted by the State Office of
Planning and Research in accordance with Public Resources Code §21091(d) and State
Guidelines § 15703.
The Director shall provide public notice of the availability of a DEIR at the same time
as a Notice of Completion is sent to the State Office of Planning and Research. Notice shall be
given to all organizations and individuals who have previously requested such notice, and shall
also be given by at least one of the following procedures:
(1) Publication at least one time in a local newspaper of general circulation in the
area affected by the proposed project; or,
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(2) Posting of notice on and off the site of the proposed project; or,
(3)
Direct mailing to owners and occupants of property contiguous to the proposed
project as shown on the latest equalized assessment roll.
The notice shall specify the period during which comments will be received on the DEIR
and shall include the date, time, and place of any public meetings or hearings on the proposed
project, a brief description of the proposed project and its location, and the address where copies
of the DEIR are available for review. Pursuant to Public Resources Code §21092(a) an action
shall not be invalidated because of alleged inadequacy of the notice content if the City has
complied substantially with the provisions of Section 21092 of the Public Resources Code.
The Director may use the State Clearinghouse to distribute DEIRs and other
environmental documents to state agencies for review and should use area -wide clearinghouses
to distribute such documents to regional and local agencies.
G. Shortened Review Period.
The Director and /or the City Manager are hereby authorized to request a shortened public
review period from the Office of Planning and Research pursuant to Public Resources Code
§21089(d)(3). For all purposes of said Section of the Public Resources Code, the Director
and /or the City Manager shall be the designated office.
Whenever the Director and /or City Manager so request a shortened public review period,
the Director and /or City Manager shall notify the City council in writing of this request which
shall appear on the next legally permissible City Council Agenda as an information item. The
City Council may thereafter, either receive and file the report, or rescind the action by directing
the Director and /or City Manager to notify the Office of Planning and Research of this
rescission.
H. Evaluation and Response to Comments.
The Director shall cause comments received from persons who reviewed the DEIR to be
evaluated and shall cause written responses to each such comment to be prepared.
I. Preparation of Final EIR.
The Director shall cause a Final EIR to be prepared before the project is scheduled for
approval. The contents of a Final EIR shall be as set forth in Section 15120 of the State
Guidelines. At the time of project approval, the City must specify the location and custodian
of the documents on which the EIR is based.
J. Certification of Final EIR.
The City Council shall certify that the Final EIR has been completed in compliance with
CEQA, that the Final EIR was presented to it, and that it reviewed and considered the
information contained in the final EIR prior to approving the project. Said certification shall
include a statement regarding how the mitigation monitoring and reporting requirements
established by Public Resources Code §21081.6 will be met. As a part of the certification
process and /or approval of the project, the City may require the applicant to enter into a written
Mitigation Monitoring Compliance Agreement which specifies the obligations and duties relative
to mitigation, monitoring, and reporting on said mitigation measures. The decision of the City
Council shall be final.
K. Findings.
No decision - making body shall approve or carry out a project for which an EIR has been
completed which identifies one or more significant environmental effects of the project unless
that body makes one or more written findings for each of those significant effects, accompanied
by a brief explanation of the rationale for each finding. The possible findings are:
(1) Changes or alterations have been required in, or incorporated into, the project
which avoid or substantially lessen the significant environmental effect as
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identified in the final EIR.
(2) Such changes or alterations are within the responsibility and jurisdiction of
another public agency and not the body making the finding. Such changes have
been adopted by such other agency or can and should be adopted by such other
agency.
(3)
Specific economic, social, or other considerations make infeasible the mitigation
measures or project alternatives identified in the final EIR.
The findings required by this section shall be supported by substantial evidence in the record.
The finding in subsection (2) hereof shall not be made if the body making the finding has
concurrent jurisdiction with another agency to deal with identified feasible mitigation measure
or alternatives.
L. Statement of Overriding Considerations.
CEQA requires the decision -maker to balance the benefits of a proposed project against
its unavoidable environmental risks in determining whether to approve the project. If the
benefits of a proposed project outweigh the unavoidable adverse environmental effects, the
adverse environmental effects may be considered "acceptable."
Where the decision of the City Council allows the occurrence of significant effects which
are identified in the final EIR but are not at least substantially mitigated, the Council shall state
in writing the specific reasons to support its action based on the final EIR and /or other
information in the record. This statement may be necessary if the Council also makes a finding
under Subsection K(2) or K(3).
If the City Council makes a statement of overriding considerations, the statement should
be included in the record of the project approval and should be mentioned in the Notice of
Determination.
M. Approval of Project.
After considering the final EIR and in conjunction with making findings under Section
K, the City Council may decide whether or how to approve or carry out the project pursuant to
Section 15092 of CEQA.
N. Notice of Determination.
After final approval of a project for which an EIR has been prepared, the Director shall
cause a Notice of Determination to be filed. Such Notice shall include:
(1) An identification of the project, including its common name where possible, and
its location;
(2) A brief description of the project;
(3) The date upon which the project was approved;
(4) The determination of whether the project in its approved form will have a
significant effect on the environment;
A statement that an EIR was prepared and certified pursuant to the provisions of
CEQA;
(6) Whether mitigation measures were made a condition of the approval of the
project;
(7) Whether a Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for the project;
(8) The address where a copy of the EIR and the record of project approval may be
(5)
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(9)
examined; and,
The documents and filing fees required by Fish and Game Code §711.4, Public
Resources Code §21089(b), and 14 California Code of Regulations 753.5.
It shall be the responsibility and duty of the applicant to deliver to the Planning
Department a check payable to the County Clerk of the County of Orange in an amount
sufficient to cover the fee required by subsection (9) above, including the County Clerk's
processing fee, within forty -eight (48) hours of City's final approval of the project. If within
such forty -eight (48) hour period, the applicant has not delivered to the Planning Department the
check required above, the approval for the project shall be void.
The Notice of Determination shall be filed with the County Clerk of the County of
Orange. If the project requires discretionary approval from a state agency, the notice shall also
be filed with the State Office of Planning and Research.
The filing of the Notice of Determination shall start a thirty (30) day statute of limitations
on court challenges to any actions taken pursuant to CEQA.
SECTION 11. Enforcement of Mitigation Measures.
Any mitigation measures required as part of a Negative Declaration or EIR shall be
enforceable as part of the conditional use permit, site plan, area plan, or other discretionary
approval for a project. The City shall include the specific steps for enforcement as part of the
Mitigated Negative Declaration or EIR, and shall require of the applicant, or responsible or
trustee agency submittal of plans for monitoring of the mitigation condition(s).
SECTION 12. Time Limits.
A. General.
Preparation and review of environmental documents shall be done within the time periods
set out herein. Preparation of an EIR should not cause undue delays in the processing of
applications for permits or other entitlements.
The Director may disapprove a project application where there is unreasonable delay in
meeting requests. The Director may allow a renewed application process to begin at the same
point in the process in which the prior application was when it was disapproved.
The City shall either:
(1) Complete a Negative Declaration within one - hundred and five (105) days from
the date the application is accepted as complete; or,
(2) Complete and certify the final EIR within one year from the date the application
is accepted as complete. The one year time limit may be extended once for a
period of not more than ninety (90) days upon consent of the decision making
body and the applicant.
Completion of a Negative Declaration within a one - hundred and five (105) day period
shall include the conducting of an Initial Study, public review, and the preparation of a document
ready for approval by the decision - making body. Completion within the one - hundred and five
(105) day period need not include the approval of the Negative Declaration by the decision
making body.
Different time limits may be established for different types of projects subject to the one-
hundred and five (105) days and one year maximum time limits.
In the event that compelling circumstances justify additional time and the project applicant
agrees to the extension, the decision making body may grant a reasonable extension of the time
periods contained in this section.
B. Projects with Federal Involvement.
The decision making body may waive the one -year time period or the one - hundred and
five (105) day period if:
(1) The project will be subject to the National Environmental Policy Act;
(2) Additional time will be required to prepare a combined EIR -EIS or a combined
Negative Declaration Finding of No Significant Impact as provided in Section
15221 of the State Guidelines; and,
(3) The time required to prepare such a combined document would be less than the
time required to prepare each document separately.
The time limits for taking final action on a permit for a development project may also
be waived where a combined EIR -EIS will be prepared.
The time limits for processing permits for development projects under Government Code
§§ 65950 -65960 shall not apply if federal statutes or regulations require time schedules which
exceed the state limits. In this event, any state agencies involved shall make a final decision on
the project within the time limits set forth by federal law.
SECTION 13. Fees.
If a project is to be carried out by any person or entity other than the City, the Director
may collect a reasonable fee from such person or entity to recover the estimated costs incurred
in preparing an EIR or Negative Declaration. Fees shall be paid in accordance with the Code
of the City of Cypress. Members of the general public requesting copies of an EIR may be
charged for the actual cost of reproducing the copy.