|
Catalog of City of Santa Ana Draft General Plan Update Comments Received Post February 15, 2022
<br />#Public Comments/Concerns Draft Policies and Implementation Actions Addressing Comments/Concerns City Response Source of Comment
<br />126 While implementation Action 2.4 of the Safety Element expresses a
<br />commitment to working with our organization to understand the prevalence
<br />of environmental lead contamination in Santa Ana and to proposing solutions
<br />and measurements of effectiveness, there is not an actual expressed
<br />commitment to remediating the lead. What's more, the timeline limits the
<br />action to 2022--with a problem as widespread as soil-lead contamination, on
<br />year is not enough time to effectively address the crisis.
<br />Recommended Action Change: S-2.4: Lead Contamination. Work with state agencies including
<br />Department of Toxic Substances Control and South Coast Air Quality Management District, local
<br />and regional partners, such as Orange County Environmental Justice, Orange County Health Care
<br />Agency and University of California at Irvine Public Health, to understand the prevalence, sources,
<br />and implications of lead contamination of soil across Santa Ana. Collaborate with such state
<br />agencies, local and regional partners and environmental justice stakeholders in proposing,
<br />selecting, and implementing measures to mitigate (i.e., remove, cover, and remediate) hazardous
<br />lead-contaminated soils in the city in a manner that includes key benchmarks and routine
<br />monitoring of soil lead levels to measure and track effectiveness of selected approach.
<br />Action has been modified to address community comment. Patricia Flores, OCEJ
<br />letter dated February
<br />15, 2022
<br />127 There is no commitment to collaborating with the Orange County Health Care
<br />Agency to provide healthcare services for undocumented and uninsured
<br />residents living in neighborhoods impacted by soil- lead contamination.
<br />Recommended Action Change: CM-3.8 - Environmental Soil and Human Health Screening.
<br />Collaborate with Orange County Health Care Agency and local stakeholders, such as Orange County
<br />Environmental Justice and UC Irvine Public Health, in efforts to provide increased healthcare
<br />services (i.e., blood lead testing, treatment) for residents, especially those that reside in
<br />environmental justice communities. Additionally, collaborate to advocate for adjustment of the
<br />County and State policies for health and environmental screening levels to promote healthy
<br />outcomes related to lead contamination as recommended by health experts.
<br />Action has been modified to reflect the spirit of the comment and to be inclusive of all persons
<br />residing in Santa Ana regardless of group affiliation, legal status, or insurance type or lack
<br />there of. Additionally, Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) programs do not make a
<br />distinction of anyone's legal or insurance status when providing services related to lead.
<br />Patricia Flores, OCEJ
<br />letter dated February
<br />15, 2022
<br />128 Accessibility of Public Comment: MPNA requests that residents be able to
<br />speak promptly and early on in City Council Meetings.
<br />N/A This comment/suggestion does not relate to the GP Update, rather, protocols for City Council
<br />meetings.
<br />MPNA Attachment III,
<br />2.18.22
<br />129 Meaningful Consideration of Public Comment: MPNA requests that public
<br />comments be taken seriously by Council members. Ideally, the City partners
<br />with the community in decision-making, including the development of
<br />alternatives and identifying solutions.
<br />N/A This comment/suggestion does not relate to the GP Update, rather, to how City Council
<br />members communicate their decision making process in relation to public comments.
<br />MPNA Attachment III,
<br />2.18.22
<br />130 Community Meetings MPNA requests that the City hold EJ Community
<br />Meetings twice each year. a) The EJ Community Meetings should focus on
<br />educating the community about environmental issues in their neighborhoods,
<br />engaging communities, and obtaining feedback for future and concurrent city
<br />planning goals.
<br />Recommended Action Change: CN-1.14: Expanded Interactions. Identify opportunities to expand
<br />attendance and support neighborhood associations and community groups to hold regular
<br />meetings with City staff and decision-makers in neighborhoods within environmental justice
<br />communities, so that residents, community organizations, and businesses can communicate their
<br />unique issues and needs, as well as their recommendations on how best to implement
<br />environmental quality, environmental health, and environmental justice policies. Arrange for
<br />language interpretation services as needed at these meetings so that all residents can participate.
<br />Action has been modified to reflect the spirit of the edits.MPNA Attachment III,
<br />2.18.22
<br />131 Roundtable Meetings. MPNA requests that the City hold Roundtable Meetings
<br />with EJ community leaders, Government Agencies, and City Officials
<br />throughout the year. a) This will increase communication, accountability, and
<br />transparency between residents and government agencies. b) Agencies
<br />should include AQMD, DTSC, and OC Public Health. c) Experts from UC Irvine
<br />and representatives of SAUSD should be included. d) City officials must be
<br />present and should provide public health updates and compliance issues.
<br />Existing Action: CN-1.10: Interagency Team. Establish an environmental quality interagency team to
<br />evaluate, monitor, and make recommendations to address air quality and environmental hazard
<br />issues, with a special focus on environmental justice areas. Publish results and information on the
<br />City’s website through a dedicated Santa Ana Environmental Quality webpage.
<br />The Draft General Plan contains various policies and implementation actions related to
<br />increasing community engagement and participation regarding environmental justice issues.
<br />Existing Action CN-1.10 will establish an interagency team to evaluate, monitor, and make
<br />recommendations to address EJ related issues. Through the formulation of this team and the
<br />environmental justice staff person proposed under new action CM-3.9, details such as
<br />frequency of meetings, workshops, outreach, and participants will be analyzed and developed.
<br />MPNA Attachment III,
<br />2.18.22
<br />132 Progress Reports. City officials and attending agencies should provide
<br />progress reports with specific metrics for how pollution and contamination is
<br />being addressed and resolved in EJ communities during EJ Community
<br />Meetings and Roundtable Meetings.
<br />Existing Action: CM-3.3: Health Metrics. Engage with the Orange County Health Care Agency and
<br />other stakeholders to monitor key health indicators to measure the success of the outcome of
<br />General Plan policies and the implementation plan, including reduction in incidence in asthma and
<br />low birth weight of infants.
<br />Action CM-3.3 Health Metrics provides a mechanism by which city staff will engage with
<br />Orange County Health Care Agency to monitor health indicators to track the progress and
<br />effectiveness of related actions. Further, implementation of Action CN-1.10 Interagency Team
<br />will create evaluation and monitoring team and webpage to publicize data related to health
<br />metrics and other environmental health related data.
<br />MPNA Attachment III,
<br />2.18.22
<br />Page 25
|