Item 24 - On-Call Environmental Review Services for Federally Funded Programs

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RFP #24-038A: On -Call Environmental Review Services for CHAMBERS the Housing Division GROUP City of Santa Ana CEQA Document Preparation Chambers Group's will provide the City with a tailored approach that adapts to changes in CEQA case law and any CEQA Guideline updates. Our experienced group of environmental planning staff has an in-depth understanding of CEQA that ensures that we are able to determine the correct CEQA document for the project. For example, the Berkeley Hillside Preservation v. City of Berkeley case gives deference to the lead agency for determining when a project may be exempt from CEQA. The summaries below highlight the general approach of CEQA, other technical services, and general administrative support to the City. Preparing the IS: Preparation of an IS Checklist will be completed to confirm the appropriate environmental documentation for a given project. The IS will be prepared using the most recent revision of the IS Environmental Checklist Form suggested in the CEQA Guidelines Appendix G in compliance with CEQA Section 15063. Chambers Group will identify issue areas where no impacts, less than significant impacts, or potentially significant impacts would result from the proposed project. Further analyses will be provided for specific resource areas that may be of concern based on the project area or based on technical analyses provided by outside consultants. These include analyses on a project's consistency and applicability to the City's General Plan policies, zoning, and specifications. The IS will be used as a guide in the decision as to the appropriate environmental documentation to prepare for the project. Chambers Group will provide a recommendation for the appropriate level of CEQA documentation. We understand the importance of being good stewards of public funds and will use our CEQA expertise to ensure that the City is preparing the appropriate CEQA document based on the project impacts and project type. This is our standard approach, but it is understood that in some circumstances an Initial Study checklist is not necessary for support of a Categorical Exemption. If a discussion with the City indicates the project is not a risk for a challenge and is generally supported by the community, the Chambers Group will likely opt to skip the CEQA Checklist tasks while developing a Categorical Exemption. Notice of Exemption (NOE): Chambers Group, in consultation with the City, will determine if there is an appropriate exemption for a project. A project will be analyzed whether it would qualify for a Statutory Exemption (per Article 18) or a Categorical Exemption under the CEQA Guidelines. Exclusions granted by the Legislature would be considered statutorily exempt. An IS may be prepared to confirm the preparation of an exemption or provide supplemental environmental analysis for the project. The exemption may also include other technical studies if required by the project. Chambers Group will file the NOE with the Orange County Clerk Recorder. ND/MND: The process for preparing a ND is the same as a MND with the exception that a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) is not required under an ND. Therefore, only the MND process is described. A MND will be prepared when a project will have a significant effect on the environment, but such effects can be mitigated to a less than significant. If after preparation of the IS, it is identified that one or more significant impacts would occur, CEQA allows the preparation of an MND when those impacts can be mitigated to a less than significant level. Based on CEQA defined significance criteria, Chambers Group will determine the potential for any adverse or significant adverse impacts and present mitigation measures to reduce any such impacts to a level below significance. EIR: Preparation of an EIR is a more detailed process and requires more effort than the preparation of a MND. An EIR would be prepared if there is a potential for significant impacts which cannot be mitigated to a level less than significant or if significant public controversy or scrutiny exists. In which case, an EIR would be the more legally defensible document. Preparing an EIR will require completion of several important steps, from study initiation through development of the project description and Draft EIR, to attendance at public hearings and Final EIR preparation. The process for a more complex EIR would likely include additional scoping meetings (if the project is deemed to be controversial), complexity of technical issues, number of alternatives assessed, possibility of extra internal review cycles, more complexity in responding to public comments for the final document, a more in-depth mitigation monitoring plan, and additional public meetings. "= Est 1979 14 www.chambersgroupinc.com