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AGENDA ORDER - EIR & /SPECIFIC PLAN Following discussion and LOWER SANTIAGO CREEK citizen comments, and on DECLARED INADEQUATE; STAFF DIRECTED the motion of Councilman Bricken, seconded by Coun- cilman Garthe, carried 6:0 unanimously, the Lower Santiago Creek Specific Plan/Environmental Impact Report was declared to be inadequate to mitigate the environmental impacts on the citizens of Santa Aha, particularly the residents adjacent to the Creek, and Staff was directed to transmit these concerns to the proper Orange County agency. City Manager Bruce Spragg stated that meetings had been held with approximately 140 interested residents; that the objections are fundamentally to the proposed equestrian trail, the bicycle and hiking trails, and to the configuration of the channel itself. A letter to the City Council, the Planning Commission and the City Staff dated December 14, 1977, a "Memorandum of Points to Consider In Support of Eliminating Trails and Changing Plan Concept from Fourteen-foot Vertical Walled Concrete Channel to Aesthetically Acceptable Landscaped Watercourse from the Santa Aha River to Main Street", and a petition containing $$ signatures, was referred to Staff, on the motion of Councilman Ortiz, seconded by Vice Mayor Ward, carried 6:0 unanimously. Speakers in opposition to the Lower Santiago Creek Plan and EnViron- mental Impact Report were: Willis Clemons, 1026 River Lane David Geddes, 1210 River Lane Pat Pleshe, 905 Riviera Drive Raymond Marsile, 1515 Riviera Drive Clara Leum, 1206 River Lane The speakers overwhelmingly favored maintenance of the Creek in its present condition; they were concerned about the handling of debris in the area of the box culvert and whether it would be screened out to keep the culvert clear, and with the general maintem~nce of the flood control channel, as well as control of rats; they were concerned that a 14-foot cement channel would be a hazard to children who walk through the area and a liability to the City; they were concerned about the probability of inviting gyaf~tti on large cement walls producing an unsightly view; and one speaker offered the suggestion that residents whose houses back up to the creek may be interested in purchasing the creek property at its appraised value to maintain as a green belt, which would provide taxes for the City while preserving the charac- ter of the area. One speaker, Andrew Sorer, 1125 Riviera Drive, favored the flood control channel because he had experienced difficulty in obtaining financing for his home because of the flood hazard. Edward Just, Orange County Flood Control District, stated that those residents whose homes lie in the designated flood plain are required by federal regulation to provide flood insurance to any lender who finances the property and that the insurance cost could be reduced if greater protection were provided against flood damage. Assistant City Manager Ronald Wolford commented on inferences made that handling of the 1969 flood was not appropriate. He stated that he had been the. City official on the scene, and that he wanted to make sure that it is clear that the handling of the release of water from the dam could not have been better; that the water level of the dam had been lowered as much as possible, CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 469 DECEMBER 19, 1977