Laserfiche WebLink
REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />JUNE 18, 2019 <br />TITLE: <br />PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT VEHICLE <br />MILES TRAVELED THRESHOLDS AND <br />ADOPTION OF LOCAL GUIDELINES FOR <br />IMPLEMENTING THE CALIFORNIA <br />ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT <br />(STRATEGIC PLAN NO. 5, 2) <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />APPROVED <br />❑ As Recommended <br />❑ As Amended <br />❑ Ordinance on ls' Reading <br />❑ Ordinance on 2nd Reading <br />❑ Implementing Resolution <br />❑ Set Public Hearing For <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />Adopt a resolution approving Vehicle Miles Traveled thresholds for California <br />Environmental Quality Act compliance related to transportation analysis. <br />2. Adopt a resolution adopting the 2019 Local Guidelines for Implementing the California <br />Environmental Quality Act for the City of Santa Ana. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION <br />At its regular meeting on May 28, 2019, the Planning Commission by a vote of 6:0 <br />(Commissioner Benavides absent) recommended City Council approval of the Local Guidelines <br />for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act for the City of Santa Ana. In addition, <br />on February 25, 2019, the Planning Commission conducted a work study session and provided <br />input and direction to facilitate implementing Vehicle Miles Traveled as a measure for evaluating <br />transportation impacts. <br />DISCUSSION <br />The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is California's most comprehensive <br />environmental law. Generally, it requires public agencies to evaluate the environmental effects of <br />a project before action is taken. CEQA also aims to prevent significant environmental effects <br />from occurring as a result of agency actions by requiring agencies to avoid or reduce, when <br />feasible, the significant environmental impacts of their decisions. <br />On December 28, 2018, the Office of Administrative Law approved a comprehensive update to <br />the state CEQA Guidelines which also included implementation metrics for Vehicle Miles <br />Traveled (VMT). Since VMT is a new method in analyzing transportation impacts, a work study <br />session was held with the Planning Commission to gather input. Following the meeting, the Local <br />75D-1 <br />