HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 26981 ·
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!• ' • ORIGINAL
ORDINANCE NO. Z698
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY .OF .PALO Al:To
ADDING TITLE 1l TO THE PAW ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE
ESTABLISHING ·AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PROCEDURE ANO
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
. The Council of the City of Paio Alto doea ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION l. · There hereby is added. to the Palo Alto Muu.icijlal Code a new title to be
-entl~e<l: "Title H-BNVIRONMENTAL ™1-Acr PROcEDURE," to 'read. u foll~ws:--. ,
"TITLE. 11
:ENVIRONMBNT AL 1MPACT PROCEDURE.
. Definitions .i
· General Provisions ·
Categorical Exemption ,
Chapters:
11.04
11.08 .
11.12
11.16
11.20'
Pteijmiruuy En\tirorunental Assessment .. ·
11.24
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Environmental A.mlmr-nt
Bn~O~',',n~ _ biipact . Report . ·.·; ~. : ....
CHAPTER 1 t.04.
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_Sections:
I 1.04.010 Ddmttkma pnetally •. · ..
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11.04.020 · -~~tit;al exemp~_ . . .
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. 1 J.04.030. · Dedlionmaker. The .term "d"ciaionmaker" shall mea:n any agency, official,
or employee of the city who is autho~ to take a governmental action on a projeCt, including
but not limited . to the city council and the planning· commission.
l l.04.040. 'Dllcietionary project.' The phrase "discretionary project" shall mean a project
for which the BOVernmental action requested alfows latitude of decision within which the
a~onrnaker. determines iarei for that project according. to the circumStances and iaccordina
t~ the Judgment :.:;,f the deciliorunaker; that is, the decisiorunaker is not expressly controlled by
fixed tuJtl · of I:tw. ·
11.04.0SO ·EnYi1'9nment. 'the term 1~environrnentt1 shall mean the physical conditions
which exist within the ·area which will be:· affected by a proposed project, including. land, air{
·) ·. ' ' ' ' ' ' '
··water, minetals, flora, fauna, noise, and objeets of ~oric or aesthetic Wgni,ficance. ·The general .
tenn '1environ1'nent" is divided into the follQwfug ·categories:
'.
( l) The·. physic8i · <?f inorganic qlvironment, comprlaing W<:h, factOI'$ ·as climate and . soit 1
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(2) The biological environmeilt, cqmprising wild plants and animills~ including bacteria and ' · ·
other germs. · · · · · · · · ··
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(3)-'.The iOcial. enVirOnment; ce>mprising~·~ due to human activity ~md divisible~ turn into: · c · • c " ·. -· · ·.· · · ·'
. (a) The physi.osoeial envirJnment. 00-iJ:lpr:Wng buildings, roads, and. au
· · manufacttiied objects. · · ·
· ... (b) . The bi~ -~,jto~ent; comprili:ng'dometticated 'plants and munds. ~:. '
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. i t.04.060 .-·· ~~lmle11tai ~~-~ .The p~ "en-iironni~ntal a.sse.ssmentn:shall 'ineiur.
an ·evaltiati9i\~,or the: cli~acterli:tks _{l_r:~a ptOject_.aricl · o{iis propo~:environm~nt fo·determine. _
wheth~t the project ctliay hilve a· sigo.l(:~f"effect , Qti the enviro:On:eti'L . . . . ... ---' . - -__ -·~>_-',~/~·: ... ----~·-~::>-<-.--:· --<:·· ·--,· -._:~_-'< -~
.·· . .n ~:..:·:::m ~T!-~f.e~.:t-~::<~en::~=
upon as the. basiS, proof, or .. ~>tf·of-thO' ~eri.tal 'ilb*t of the project. . '
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11.04.120 Pt.non. The tenn "person" shall mean any ·penon 1 flnn 1 at10Ciation,
organization, partnenhip, buline11, trust, corporation, company, district, county, city and county,
. city, townj the state, and any of the agencies and political subdivisions of such entities.
11.04.130 Project. \The term nproject" lha11 mean· a planned undertaJdna tequirlns ·.·
governmental action on the undertaking as a whole or on any discrete part of the undertaking
authorizing land acquisition, site development, building alteration, building construCtion, or any·
. significant iriteitsification of the uie of land; "Project/' as defined by the Environmental QUality
· Act of · 1910, indudes · the . following:
( 1) Activities directly undertaken by the cify. ·•
(2) Activities· Ulld~rt~en by a person other. than the city which are supported
in whole or in part through contracts, grants, $U~ies,. loans, or other forms
of assistance from .. the city.
(3) Activities involving the issuance to a person other than the city of a lease~
permit, license, certificate. or otltet entitlement. for 4se by the city.
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11.04: 140 Significant effect on the emiro~t.· The pllraie "significa.~t effect on the·
environment" s.liall mean an impo;rtant resuit; either beneficial or advene, in 'the environment
of a project whkh may be produced by· the isriplementation of the. project a8 proP<>sed. The
significance of an effect generaliy · is directly proportional to the· following qualities of the effect:
. (1) Its magnitude.
· (2) Its duration.
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(3) Iti proximity to the project $ite.
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c 4) The num~r of indiViduals. ~tty i!fected . by it.. .: . < ,
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(5) . The closeness of its relation~ip ·to. the pJiysi~':~ ~ol~·envirOnme_nt. ·.·
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(1) ·Aesthetic· e4virQhifi¢nUt tttiJtties. :. · .; · ·;'···--· .. :; .· -·'·
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(6) Freedom from e~~-nOi~:'~ _;
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. 11.04.ISO ·. Sponsor; The term "sponibr" shall mean the person who _submits a project
or a· discrote part 'of a project for governmentaJ action. · ·
CHAPTER 11.08
General Provisions ·
Sections:
ll.08,010 ·. · Purpose 9f title.
11.98.020 CortstrJction •of. t.itle. .
. 1 L08,0J.O .. ·Effect of tltl~ on past actions:
11.08.040 ' .~ Fe~-' , . ' ·
I l.08.050 ·Public oonunertt on environmental documents.
11.08.060 · · Authority to,~ findings., · .
11.08.070 Cornnit:ncem\'.nt of actions ..
l l .08.080 Proof of service.
11.08:090 · Filing ·of notices. · .
I l .08. l 00 Minist~naJ t>tojec~:ii. r -; -•
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l 1.08.010 · Purpose of title. The purpose of this title is to implement .t.lte.EnvironmentaJ
Quality Act of 1970 insorar as"lt is applieal>le to~:the cit}'. ·. · · ·
I 1.08._020 Con!ttuctio~· of title., · The provisions of this title s.'lall be ·construed in
accordance with the Environmental Qualify Act of J.9?0 .. an4 any interp~tatiqns tliereof by· a ·
competent tribunal. · Any provisio·n of. this title Which is lesi restricti"'e th~ . required by Such ·
state law shall be construut to 'b~ as restrictive' as require4 by such '$t~te law insofar as possible.
Any provision of this title whi¢h •ii more re_stricti.ve than ·r~uired bf such state law shall. be
.· oonstru_ed to be only as-re$tricti~ as· re4uittd by mch state ~.v .insofar;-~ po$jible. Notlung
in this title . Shall preelude .t1t~· tity from taking Nch. t>the:r';a~tidrt in re$:Pect io. projects as is
deemed. ne~~::bY the city·to obwn. ilin c01npUance by tho cley"\vith:.llie provisions of the .
Environrn~ntai QU~Iift Act 'or-l 910. · · · · (~-! ~ · · · .· · . , _
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l l.OS,;030 FJrect of title, oh~ ~ti6~: 'the:~dpttibifof'.ti)is Utle ~all not be r.onstili~d
to favatiaate· any past,governrii:-ntal· i¢tit;11•\ly)lte city~.l¥JU~h ·.di~ ilof t-~mply, with the provisions , ··: T
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assessnf"t a'··6e -~neift&i'·•·-·aaf'·6th '":,fi ..... ---~d f('-""''"'···~~thf'':'lvj 't'" > ·' ·"·" ,···,. ', ,, .·~--<'.
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. (b) Environmental assessment. The fee for an environmental assewnent of a project
sp<Jn$0red entirely by a person other than the city shall be S2S and shall be paid prior to ~uch
enVirorunental assessment.
(c) · En~onmentaJ impact report. The fee for the preparation of an envkonment_al impact
report for a project sponsored entirely by a person other than the cit>' shall be $200 and shall
be :Pai~ prior to the preparation of the environmental impact report. · . •. . .
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-l l.08.0SO Public comment on environmental documents. ·AU. written comment or the
re"'-ont ~hereof by the public or by a governmental agency specificaUy on the environmental.
cbaracteristies of a discretion~ project shall be transmitted to the. planning department and,
'' if noftequired fo be a part tir the environmentafimpa·ctre(Jort by the Environmental Quality
Act of -1970,. may be included with the envir6nmental documentS for the project.
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11.08.060 · _,\uthorit)' to ·sign findings. _ Whenever_an agency of the cit)'• sUch as the City
council or the plan~ing cotnnllssiort~ is requjred by . this title. to· make' a finding~: ~~)1: finding
may be made orally. The Clerk or ~cretary ;fOr mch agenc'y lie~bY. is~authoriietf-to act on
behalf of that agency in making the Written findirig i~ the appr~prfat~_(ang\lage on the appropriate .
d~curnent an(i in ·signing such appropriate document: · · -
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11.08:070 . Commencement of ·actions •. ··Any· attion or proceeding to attack~ revjew,· set
aside, •1oid; or annul any detenninati~n. decisi,on; or govemmental action by the .rity ofi· the
ground of noncompllance with this titl~ .. o( With the Environmentaj QUatity Act of l 9.7Q sh.all ·
be commenced as follows: ·. ' .· ,. ·• . . . ··'"·
(1) Any action or proceedmg. alleging that the City is qanying OQ t or ha~ appr~y~d
a project which may have a_ sigilificant effect on. the ellvirOnment with.out
·.having determined-whether .f!te project may haye a sigriificant 'effect on· the
environment shall _\le .commenced within 180 days of the City 1s decision :to
carcy out •Jf approve the. project or, if a project is undertaken without a~
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. formal dedsion by the clty, within .180. days :after ~tnmen:cement of the
project .. ···:-··. · . · ·· . • . · . "_ ': ··. < ·. -:\;-~J '· .. ·· .. · .:. . . ·: l
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11.08.090 Filing of notices. The director of planning shall file arty notkes req~ired
by the Environmental Quality Act of 1970.
1 l .08.100 Knistericl projects. The director of planning shall devetoe a list of clas5es
of projects which are ministerial. The city manager shall recommend to the council the list
of ministerial projects. Approval of the list of ministerial projects shall be by motion. Ministerial
projects are not subject· to the environmental impact procedures specified in this title ot to the -
Erivironmental Quality Act of 1970.
Sections:
11.12.0lO
11.12.020 .
l l.12.030
11.12.040
CHAPTER 1 L l 2
Categorl~ Bxe1nption ··
-Criteri!;l: -. . .... · .
Developm~nt by,director of planning.
Adoption. by motion ..
Effect of a categoncal exemption.
11.12.010 Criteria. The criteria for gr;mting a class of discretiona.cy projects.a categorical-· __
exemption . shall be as follows: . . . . . .
(l) The projects within the cl~ _occur fiequen.tly.
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(2) -The pr9jects within the class in general ·wm not have a· significant effect on the
environment due . to their nature... -
(3) . F~r dasse~ of p;~jects which by their nature may have 'a $igi\ificant effect on · the
environment> the projects within the cbss in general will not have a significant effect on the
environment bCcause sufficient guidelines f9r takmg governmental actiop. have bee~ established .
by ordinance~ by· tes0lution, · ot. by motio:il to ittSU~, tbe C:O~formity of the projects Wifu the :
. EnvironrnentBl QUality Ac.t· of. 197Ci ~ ·_.·. ·. . ·. " ·'·
11.12.020 "Devet9pment by :dftct:Ot of planning. The director of planning shall develop.
a list of classes of 'ptOje~ts which>niay be.: ~t¢cf: Cjtegoric'lt e2(emp'tions in addition to those,:
~lasses of Pr~J~'1···~x~mpted by th~ l!nv#i)il(nerttai 'QUaliiy ~Act of' 1910. . . -. . .
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.~ctions;
11.16.010
11.16.020
11.16.030
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CHAPTER 11.16
Preliminary EnvironmentaJ Assessment
Data from sponsor.
Recommendation . by processing official.
Finding by decisiOnmaker.
11.16.010 Data from spons.or. The city official who n.~ceives a project for process.Ing
may require the sponsor to provide all or any part of the base· information on the project and
its prop0sed environment necessary for a preliminary environmental assessment of the project,
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l L 16.020 Reconlniendation by processing official.· When a project is submitted to the
city for processing, the city official resv<>nsible fot the: processing shall make a preliminary
environmental assessment of the proj~t. lf he 4etennines that the projec.t qualifies for a categorical
exemption, he shall record this ·recommendation in writing. ·If he · determines that the project
does not quaJify for a categ<>rical exemption, he shall record this recommendation in writing
and transmit the project to the director of 'planning for an· environmentai asses5ment. . -. . ~ -
11.16.030 Findm1 by decisiorunaker~ If the proce~ing,officiaI recommends that a project·
qualifies for a categorical exemption, each decisiomnaker for the project other than the processing .
offiCial ~all cQnfirm or· rej~ct this recommend~tion and ··record his finding in. writ!ng. If a
.deds.ionrna.ket fi~da ·that .the projectdqes not qualify for a' categorical exemption, he shail tranSinit
the project to the director of plinniRg for an. enviroh111ental asses5ment. . ';
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Sections: .
'i 1.20.010
11.20.020
11.20.030
11.20.040
•l i.20.050
11.2o~C6Q ·
·_ CHAPTER t 1:20 .
· EnviWnm~nhtl . AiSeSSment
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Development of Procedure by director gf plarmintk
Adoption of Procedute by m~tion;· · · .· · ~
.Environmental ~ent ·by director of. planruna. Data riom iPo~t~· ·;,_-<.: ·. ·· ... · .· · ..• · .. · ·
· Jte~mmertdationJ>Y ~tot . of. plaliniilg;·
·Ffudin& by··~ecili~~a,t;ei: .· :: . . , :
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IL20,_0lt>' . : ~l~(ot~~-~¢tor~·of·~.--Thc'djrector .. ofp~frig ·_,_ ._, •··
shall develop a pr@edure> f¢>i-t~!i\.itt~uro~titij .. ~en!S · ()f ptOjects. '. Such· procedure' may, be . : '° ·;
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in the form of a<questio{lnall:e~ a matnx'° or ~Y. )>tb.er f9rot. '··~ .,..,, . · .· .· . · · · ·
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~~ •·•·· · ·n.i0.03Q,.·,_:~ En..,~.tal:••.r&n•ent. Jy_director .of p~. 'The'duec.totof.pl~ · • ·.· ·:\
~ make ·an ~~~?~ .. ~t2r:,,;.roU9Wif\i.~1~~}t~~;Of ;{:~:~~~te .•. ,·:,•· , ·· ..
(1) Any Pf9j~ct. which d~ ~or<iualiry:t9r.a ~~•ncM e~~!ti~U9~: ~-~;.iflir11 ~~1:;teq11ne ...
· an environmentad impact" rel>orf un~er ihe Enm:O#~ntl.1 QYiilltY : A'Qtur=<t ~7<f. .· ·''\\ · :::
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(2) Ariy project which is submitted by the sponsor to thi; · director of planning for an
environmental assesmtent prior to the submitt.8.t pf the project lo the city for governmental action.
11.20.040 Data from sponsor. The director of planning may require the sponsor of
a project to provide all or. a part of the b;ise data on the project and its proposed environment·
necessary for an envitQnmental assessment of the project.
11.20.050 Recommendation by director of planning. If the director of planning finds
that a project may have _a _significant effect on the environment, he shall re<;ord this
recommendation in •tinting and, after the payment of the appropriate fee, prepare an environmental
impact report for the project. . If the direcfor of pianning finds that a project will not have
a significant effect on the· environment, he shall record thi5 recommendation in writing and return
the project to the appropr.fate cify official or to the sw~sor, as the case may be. -- -
11.20.060 Finding by decisionmaker. if the director of pJanning recommends that a
project does not have significant effect on the -environrne.nt, each decisionmaker for ttie project .
sh.all co_nfirm or reject this recommen,dation and record his finding in writing .. If a decisionma.ket
finds that the project may have a significant effect on the environment,· he shall transmit the
project ·.to the director of planning for an environmental impact reporL
·.Sections:
11.24.010
.11.24.020
1 J.24.030
11.24.040
11.24.0SO
1 l.24.060
11.24.070
11.24.080
11.,24.090
CHAPTER 11.24
Environmental Impact Report
Development of procedure by director of planning.
Adoption of procedure , by motion .
Environmental. impact report by director of pit '.1ning.
Supplemental _ enViionrnental -impact. report.
Data from _sp.o:nsor.
Recommendation by dite.ctor of planning.
Publk. , hearmg. - - - _ , . .·
Finding . by debiai<>imiaker .. ··
Use of environmental inipitct rep~>rt ..
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11.24.01 o Develo~~t of ~~ by dhectc>r -of ~. '-ibe dh'e6tor of planning
shall develop -a ,rocedtue for tJ:le i~reparati9n or e~Vifonmen1al htiml'?~-'teports .. sucli procedure
may b<::dn the form• of a questfonnaite, ·a matriXt ot arty other_ form:· -. . . . . -,_ .... ·-. ...-· .. -. -.
__ 11.24.020 · · Adopdon of ~~ bf ,-~ti~ .. The_ city manager ~ ~Commend 'to ·
-. the city Council the prOcedure toi: the .preparation' of environmental jmpact rew~:~_'11le ~optiQn
•·or r¢~i~on of· stt'-h ,~~d~ie. :~·'.b,e.·~Y;·nio~on.· . _ _ .. --·<,_;<,<.': .. ·_·'.-. "-· ·
-.. -._ -' ._ .... · _, ......... ' ij,:\.'·, · .. , .. : ---::.·._._; ·.-·· -_ ' . <[;.·,:}--.~;._ . _·-:_·. -.--_._·. -:._ -_: --· -..
. 11.24.030-. Environn'MGtaJ b.npact rep0rt by dhector of'.p~, Tht d~ct~t of planning . · ·.
-' { } . - . • ; - - ----.. \" t ' • - . . ·: . • ' ' ' -• \ . ' ~ --· -. --.. -. .: ~ ' _.,.' . --·;:imaU prepare an en'tirpnwen~ ~P~~t·~wrt fot the f9U~WiDi .atl•r_ tjle p·ay@~nf of tb~-!Pp@riat~ · ·.; ' .
· fee: " . . ---·:· · ... ,,, · · -.·. ,. __ ·.:~. · · .,. · --·.,, .,,. ·':·,>.--' ···;-;°>'"·· -<-.::·. . .-c.,.
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. - -'-~-.··'" .. : . -_ '.:--:· ~·-': :\~~;_: ... -· ~;· ... :_"_1.~ .. ·.·: -''"''-.·· .... ~ .. :,· -~:~:: .. :::·:-.;-~~~~.-;_._,.~ -~~~·-~ ... ~~~-:>~--.~-~~:{~ ..... ·_ ·:[.">;.~;:_.. . . .·,· .. ~· .. _·:.·
(1) -Any proj~f" whi~ may h~Y~-.a $i&l\ifitjU'lt effecton,(h~'-"_n\tiron.1'\en~:!ltt~which requires '. · ·· " . ; -: . _·. -. -. -. ·., •'. -'. -.. -.. --. . ,, .. . . -.. ' .. '~."\ ';: -. . --.. ' -. -.-_-.. -.': .. ·. ;· ' . ,. . ; ..
an environmental impact report under tbe -Bnyironmcntal QUa.lify''A¢f of, t970~ , ·· · -·. _ ·· ~·:, · · _,
. : . . -. .. . . . . -·_ -, . . ...... -•: . \ ... ~ ~~· . ~·~ .. -
. _.:::: -. ; ~ ·-· . '· .~ ..
. . -__ -. ' -.: . ~ .. · ... - -. -.... . ' . -_ .... --~ ·--...__; -. .• ~ . . , ' -·-. . . .
(2) Any project .which is subnil~e(l 1;>y the,:spcili~r ~qJh\!·, d~tor ~f pl~.fpr ;ui
emit911mental ilnpact report ptjor" fo "the "lllbmittal -~fihe' ptojec(to"· thtf "Cjfy .. for 0 g01/ttnmel)ta1
-. . . . -~ ' _. ' ~.... • .· ·. -' • . -1._) -,_.. . . . .
· action,. · ,. ·~ -· · .-,,
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J 1.24.040 Supplemental environmental bnpact report. The director of planning shall
prepare a supplemental environmental impact report for a project whenever the same is re·quired
by the Environmental Quality Act of 1970, whenever there is any data on the project or its
proposed environment which was not previously considered in the environmental impact report,
or whenever it appears necessary to revise the original environmental impact report.
11.24.050 Data from sponsor. The director of planning may rcqufre the sponsor of
a 'project to provide aJI or a part of the base data on the project and its proposed environment
necessary for an environmental impact report or a supplemental em•ironmental impact report on
the project.
11.24.060 Recommendation by director of planning. 111e director of planning shall make
a recommendation in the environmental impact report and any supplemental envjronmental impact
report as to the governmental action to be taken on 1he ptojec l, based on the effect of the
project on the environment.
11.24.070 Public hearing. Before any governmental .action ma}' t>e taken on a project
which may have a significant effect on the environment, a public hearing shall be held on the
environmental impact repu1 ~ for the proje~~ and on any supplemental environmental impact report
for the project which differs significantly from the original environmental impact report. lf the
first governmental action for such a project is to be taken at the administrative level, the director
of planrjng or his designce· shall hold foe hearing. Otherwise, the first agency \o take governmental
action on such ·a project shall hold the hearing. Notkl) of the time and place of the hearing
Shall be publisi1ed at least once in a newspaper published and circulated in the city, the first
publication of which s.'1all be at lead four days prior to the time set for the hearing. Any
environmental 1 impact report to be considered shall be available in the planning department for
public inspection from the time of publication until the time of the hearing. At the time and
place set for the hearing, evidence . on the potential effect of the. project on its proposed
environment shall be received. The hearing may be continued from time to time. No decision
on the environmental impact of the project or on the proposed governmental action is necessary
at such a hearing.
11J..¥.oso Finding by declsionmaker. Each decisionmaker for a project mail make a
finding on the sufficiency of the environmental impact report .and any supplemental enviro:rirnentaJ
imp.act report for the project and shall record his finding in Writing. !f a decisionmaker finds
that the environmental impact report or any supplemental environmental· impact repr·rt is not
sufficient, he shall transmit the project to the director o( planning for a supplemental environmental
impact report. · · . ·
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11.24.090 Use of enviro~ntal impact report. Every decisfonmaker for a project shall
consider all environmental im{'!tct reports for the project prior to approving. or disapproving the
project. TI1e environment.al data . iUpplied by the~ ~ports and ·by any other source ~ay be
U!1ed by the decisiontnaker as foltowa: .
(1) Authoriu.tioncff a project ~may .hft denied, .if, in the. ophtion of the director of planp.ing
and the decisionmaker:. ' .' -~ . ~ .... ·•. '
(a)· Us adverse environlnent.al eff?ct outweighs its bendiCiaL environmental
effect, or · ' · · )
(b) A feasibl~ alternative exists having a tes5er adverse enyironrnental effect
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(2) A project may be authorized subject to conditions reasonably calculated to:
(a) Minimize the a<lvcrsc environmental cff ect of the project, or
(b) · Maximize the beneficial environmental effect of the project. 11
SECTION 2. The City Council hereby does find and declare as follows:
(a) The EnvironmentaJ QuaJity Act of 1970, as enacted in 1970, was interpreted by
the City of Palo Alto as being applicable solely to activities directly underfaken by the City
of Palo Alto which were of major proportions.
(b) The decision of the Supreme Court of the State of California in Friends of
Mammoth, ~al., v. Board of Supervisors of Mono County, et al._, which was filed on September
21, 1972, and modified on November 6, 1972, interpreted the Environmental Quality Act of
1970 as being applicable to activities involving the issuance to a person of a lease, pennit,
certificate, or other entitlement for use by the City of Palo Alto, even though such acfr;ities
were not of major proportions.
(c) The amendments to the .Environmental Quality Act of 1970, which became law
as an urgency measure on December S, 1972, confirmed th~ said interpretation of this act by
the Supreme Court of the State of California and imposed further obligations on the City of
Palo Alto, such as filing certain notices.
(d} The Environmental Quality Act of 1970 leaves •1arious pertinent tenns and phrases
undefined and does not specify how its substantive provisions are to be implemented within the
organizational structure of the City of Palo Alto.
(e) The City of Palo A!!o has extensive activities w:P..ich it directly undertakes or which
it supports in whole or in part th::augh contracts and other fonns of assistance. Such acU.vities
may be unduly delayed or put in jeopardy if procedures to implement the Environmental Quality
Act nf 1970 are not established immediately by the City of Palo Al~o for such activities.
(0 Furthermore, pending private projects may require governmental action on or after
April S, 1972, which is the date the _Environmental Quality Act of 1970 becomes applicable
to such activities. These projects may be tind111y-delayed unless procedures to implement the
Environmental Quality Act of 1970 are not established immediately ·by .the City of Palo Alto
for such activities.
(g) Furthermore, the· public health, safety, and welfare are protected and promoted
by the Environmental Quality Act qf 1970, whicb. is intended to minimize_adverse effects on
the environment. The protection and p1omotion of the public health, safety, and welfare require
the immediate e~tablishment of ordctlv procedures designed to implemeht the Environmental
·~ Q:1ality Act of i 970 for the benefit Of the public.
SEC.."TION 3. Because of the facts set fortl.: i.1 -.:;t~iivn 2 hereof and in order to protect
the gublic heaith, safety, and welfare, -the City Council docs dedare ~hat this is an emergency
ordinance that shall take effect immediately upon its passage •. in accofdance with the provisions
of Section 2.04.330 and Section 2.04.375 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code; for al'?tivities directly
undertaken by the City of Palo Alto, for activities -undertaken by a person. which are supported
in whole or in part by forms of assistance other than by contract from U1e Cicy of Palo Alto
or any other public agency, and for activities involving the issuance to a person of a lease, permit,
license, c~rtificate, or other entitlement for u~ by the City of Palo Alto if the sponsor of such
activity desires to have the procedures of Title 11 made applicable ·to his or her project.
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SECTION 4. As to all other activities not specified in Section 3 hereof, this ordinance
shall become effective on April 5, 1973, in accordance with the Environmental Quality Act of
1970.
INTRODUCED: DC'cember 18, 1972
PASSED: December 18, 1972
AYES: MAJORl'l'Y
NOES: PEARSON
ABSENT: NONE
APPROVED:
~ /?~d
G:ity )liii'fiiger /
I
I
APPROVED:
~~L 1:/J??74:c{ .
City ContrQ r
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