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Home My WebLink About1997-11-10 City Council (17)TO: City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM: AGENDA DATE: CITY MANAGER November 10, 1997 DEPARTMENT: Planning and Community Environment CMR:467:97 SUBJECT:COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE -- ISSUES RELATED TO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ELEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS This staff report transmits comments and several recommended changes to the Natural Environment Element. The issues raised in -this staff report have been identified by staff after completion of the Planning Commission review of the Draft Plan. POLICY IMPLICATIONS The Comprehensive Plan will reconfirrn existing policies and establish new policies. The items addressed in this report that are related to the density of development in the foothills, riparian corridor restoration and location of a recycling center are part of the policy-setting process. The other items are points of clarification. DISCUSSION Page N-3 (white), Program N-2: The program lists specific City departments, although other City vehicles may access open space areas. It is recommended that the list of City departments be deleted and the program read: "Examine and improve management practices for natural habitat and open space areas, including the provision of access to open space for City Fire;,¯ ,__,__ ,,__,_,,._ ,~T__, .... J ~":’"’:--~" ........ hi and quip ensure that natural resources are protected." Page N-4A (green), Programs N-SA, N-SB and N-5C: In the Land Use and Community Design element, the Council eliminated the references to changing the permitted density of the Open Space...Controlled Development zone (page L-9, green ). Elimination of Programs ClVlR:467:97 Page 1 of 6 N-5A, N-5B and N-5C would be consistent with the previous Council action recommended. and is Page N-7 (white), Program N-7: The reference to the Coordinated Resource Management and Planning (CRMP) process is for San Francisquit0 Creek (as noted in the text following the program). It is recommended that the program be clarified by adding a reference to San Francisquito Creek so that it reads: "Participate in a ~:i~!~O,~p~i~i~ Coordinated Resource Management and Planning (CRMP) process with adjacent cities." Page N-7 (white), Program N-9: Two problems have been identified with this program to "develop a comprehensive riparian corridor restoration and enhancement program...". First, the program is open-ended regarding all of Palo Alto’s creeks. Second, the program makes no distinction between the relatively natural creek areas and the concrete-lined waterways. The combination of the two factors would make this a Very expensive program. It is recommended that the program be modified to recognize the role of the Water District and focus on one creek segment. Recommended wording is: ~i!!ii::;~ii~ a comprehensive riparian corridor restoration and enhancement program that identifies specific stretches of corridor to be restored, standards to be achieved, and sources of funding. Include provisions for tree planting to enhance natural habitat.’" Page N-9 (white), Program N-12: Arbor Day has been re-established in Palo Alto. It is recommended that the program be reworded to: "~~"~ ~ celebration of Arbor Day in Palo Alto." ClVIR:467:97 Page 2 of 6 Page N-9 (green), Program N-12A: The City has developed over the past years an unwritten requirement for replacement of trees lost to new development. The Planning Commission discussion related in part to street tree replacement and in part to replacement of trees being located offsite when it is impractical to have the new trees located onsite. Offsite location of replacement trees has not been part of City development requirements. It is recommended that the program be reworded to: Page N-9 (white), Program N-13: The use of"enforceable" is inconsistent with the way other programs are worded and is not necessary. It is recommended that the program be. reworded to: "Develop and implement ~ plan for maintenance, irrigation, and replacement of trees in parks, parking lots, and City rights-of-way." Page N-12 (white), Program N-22: The City has studied and rejected the use of recycled water for irrigation. It is recommended that the program be reworded to: "Implement incentives for the use of drought-tolerant landscaping and-reeye!~ Page N-15 (white), Program N-31: Due to concerns raised by the Utilities Advisory Commission and Finance Committee in preliminary review of the Master Plan, and the uncertainty of funding for this program due to the passage of Proposition 218, staff recommends the following modified program: "Complete improvements to the storm drainage system consistent with the priorities outlined in ~e City’s 1993 Storm Drainage Master Plan ~~"..~ Page N-17 (white), Program N-36: The intent is to support legislative and regulatory programs and not to convey any implication that the City would create a program to remove old vehicles. It is recommended that the program be modified to: "Support ~i:~ programs that result in the removal of the oldest and dirtiest vehicles on the roadway." CMR:467:97 Page 3 of 6 Page N-19 (white), Program N-43: Replacement of "monthly" recommended because the future timing of the program may vary. wording is: with "regular" is The recommended "Continue sponsoring a .....’-’-- ~i household hazardous waste collection event." Page N-21 and N-22 (white), Programs N-48 and N-50: The City’s solid waste recycling program focuses on cost-effective programs for residential and commercial customers. The industrial customers rely primarily on private sector waste recycling services. To reflect that, Program N-48 should be reworded to: "Continue to develop ~~ source separation programs for recyclable solid waste materials for -" ...... ~fii~ii~:!~i~i~i~~i.:: .Further, there is a potential conflict between continued source separation and Program N-50, use of disposal methods such as the SMART Station. To acknowledge this, Program N-50 should be moved to follow Program N-48 and the text following the programs should be inodified to reflect the potential for disposal methods that may reduce the need for source separation. The following new text is recommended for the end of the paragraph on page N-21 (white): ¯ Page N-22, Program N-49: Continuation of the Recycling Center at the current refuse disposal area is in conflict with the Byxbee Park Master Plan. It is recommended that the program be reworded to: ling -" "~-- ’~:’--’ ....~---"Maintain and expand the use of the a recyc center ,,~ ~,,,~ ,~.~y ~ ,,..~,~ Page N-25 (green), Program N-58A: Public education programs have been established. It is recommended that the program be revised to: "Encourage e,genbti~m~ ~~~"~i of public education programs addressing energy conservation and efficiency." Page N-28, Program N-67: Rather than having a contract for engineering geologist services, the City relies on project-specific reports. The program would be more accurate if worded: C!VIR:467:97 Page 4 of 6 "~ ~~i~~i-~i~!:-~ii~ an engineering geologist to revie~ geologic, soils, and engineering reports for development in hazard areas. Establish appropriate fees to cover the cost of this review." Page N-29, Program N-68: Rather than requiring retention of a geotechnical engineer, it is recommended that the program be modified to: City code requirements for excavation, grading, and filling m ~iii~ that, they conform to currently accepted standards. Recover the cost of this work through grading permit fees." Page N-29, Program N-69: As worded, the program would lead to required mitigation for any increases in storm runoff into the storm drainage system~ This would be a significant change in City policy. Mitigation measures are currently applied to projects where, during the environmental review, a significant negative impact on the storm drainage system is identified. Staff recommends deletion of the second sentence so that the program reads: "Establish a standardized process for evaluating the impacts of development on the storm drainage system. ~’ .... : .... -"~--~--- ~’-- ’ -" ............ ~’ Page N-29 (white), Program N-70: The content of this program, which relates to Special Flood Hazard Areas, is scheduled for Council discussion in December 1997. The program may need to be modified based on furore Council actions. Page N-31 (white), Program N-75: Staff’s concem is with establishing a program to "ensure that each household in the City is prepared to be self-sufficient for 72 hours after a major earthquake." Ensuring this is beyond the City’s control. It is recommended that "ensure" be replaced with "encourage," and that the program read: Initiate public education programs that ~ ~~ that each household in the City is prepared to be self-sufficient for 72 hours after a major earthquake. Update and distribute the City’s earthquake preparedness guide, "Living With Our Faults." ALTERNATIVES The Council, for any of the items in this report, can retain the Planning Commission- recommended wording or develop other modifications. FISCAL IMPACTS The items and potential program changes addressed in this report do not contain significant fiscal impacts. CMR:467:97 Page 5 of 6 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT The items and potential program changes addressed in this report are consistent with the project and alternatives evaluated in the Environmental Impact Report on the Draft Comprehensive Plan. - ATTACHMENTS, None. cc: Planning Commission PREPARED BY: Kenneth R. Schreiber, Director of Planning and Community Environment DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW: KENNETH R. SCHREIBER Director of Planning and CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: CMR:467:97 Page 6 of 6