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CC RES 2013-055RESOLUTION NO. 2013 -55 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES ADOPTING ADDENDUM NO. 1 TO THE 2007 COUNCIL ADOPTED NEGATIVE DECLARATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE FUTURE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUNNYSIDE RIDGE TRAIL. WHEREAS, on September 18, 2007, the City Council, pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et. seq. ( "CEQA "), the State CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Sections 15000 et. seq., the City's Local CEQA Guidelines, and Government Code Section 65952.5(e) (Hazardous Waste and Substances Statement), adopted Resolution No. 2007 -101, thereby adopting a Negative Declaration / Environmental Assessment to allow the construction of the Sunnyside Ridge Trail Project (Project) which involves the construction of a point -to -point equestrian and pedestrian trail across a City -owned easement; and, WHEREAS, on October 1, 2007, pursuant to Council direction at its September 18, 2007 meeting, City Staff filed a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation for the Project (State Parks); and, WHEREAS, in March 2008, the City received notification from State Parks that it was unsuccessful in securing RTP grant funds for the Project and as result the Project was not constructed; and, WHEREAS, on June 13, 2013, the City received notification of the 2013 Los Angeles County Trails Grant that would provide the City an opportunity to fund the Project; and, WHEREAS, on August 21, 2013, notification was given to residents within a 500 - foot radius of the Council's September 3, 2013 consideration of the Project and filing of the 2013 Los Angeles County Trails Grant application; and, WHEREAS, after issuing notice, the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes held a public hearing on September 3, 2013, at which time all interested parties were given an opportunity to be heard and present evidence. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1: The City Council finds that the Project is substantially the same project originally analyzed in the 2007 Council adopted Negative Declaration and the environmental impacts in the current project are equal to or less than the environmental impacts previously studied in the 2007 Council adopted Negative Declaration. Section 2: The City Council finds that the Project will not significantly impact or have a substantial adverse effect on the local habitat, federally protected wetlands, migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or conflict with the City's Natural Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP). Additionally, the project site is not located within an existing or proposed Significant Ecological Area (SEA). Section 3: The City Council finds that the Project will not alter the location, distribution, density, or growth rate of the human population in the area above what is forecast in adopted City plans and policies, nor will the project affect existing housing, or create a demand for additional housing. The Project will not create a significant additional demand for fire or police protection, maintenance of public facilities (including roads), or other governmental services. The Project will not result in the need for new systems, or substantial alterations to utilities, including power or natural gas, communication systems, water, sewer or septic tanks, storm water drainage, or solid waste disposal. Furthermore, the Project will not result in an increase in population, thereby warranting new recreational facilities. Section 4: The City Council finds that the Project will not result in significant adverse affects to topography; destruction, covering, or modification of unique geologic or physical features; impacts to archeological or paleontological resources; or expose persons to seismic ground failure, landslides, or other known hazards; or create a wasteful or inefficient use of the energy already being consumed on the site. Section 5: The City Council finds that there will be no environmental impacts resulting from the project to hazards and hazardous materials. The Project will not result in transportation, use, or disposal of hazardous material. Section 6: The City Council finds that the Project, in terms of hydrology and water patterns will not significantly impact the surrounding environment and will not change the current, the course or the direction of water movements in either marine or fresh waters, since the project site is not located in such a setting. The Project involves the construction of a bridge over an unnamed canyon to connect both sides of the new trail and will not affect any natural water movement within the canyon during the rainy season. Section 7: The City Council finds that the Project will not create substantial impacts to circulation patterns, parking capacity, or traffic congestion. Section 8: The City Council finds that the Project will not result in adverse noise impacts and that anticipated noise generated by construction is not uncommon to the surrounding environment and that such noise will be temporary in nature. Further, in accordance with the City of Rancho Palos Verdes' Municipal Code, construction is limited between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, with no construction permitted on Sundays and legal holidays (as identified in the City's Resolution No. 2013 -55 Page 2 of 3 Municipal Code). Section 9: The City Council finds that the Project will not result in adverse aesthetic impacts and repairs will not adversely impact views taken from the subject property nor views from major arterial roads or viewing corridors. Section 10: For reasons discussed in the 2007 Initial Study, which is incorporated herein by reference, the Project will not have any potential to achieve short -term, to the disadvantage of long -term, environmental goals, nor would the Project have impacts which are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable. Section 11: For the foregoing reasons and based on the information and findings contained in the staff reports, minutes, and evidence presented at the public hearings, the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes hereby approves Addendum No. 1 (Exhibit "A ") to the 2007 Council adopted Negative Declaration, based on the City Council's independent review and determination that the document was completed in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act and State and local guidelines with respect thereto. PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 3rd day of September 2013. City Clerk State of California ) County of Los Angeles )ss City of Rancho Palos Verdes ) I, Carla Morreale, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that the above Resolution No. 2013 -55 was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said City Council at a regular meeting held on September 3, 2013. City Clerk Resolution No. 2013 -55 Page 3of3 EXHIBIT "A" ADDENDUM NO. 1 TO NEGATIVE DECLARATION / ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT SEPTEMBER 3, 2013 On September 18, 2007, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2007 -101, thereby adopting a Negative Declaration / Environmental Assessment to allow the construction of the Sunnyside Ridge Trail Project (Project) which involves the construction of a point -to -point equestrian and pedestrian trail across a City -owned easement. As proposed, the trail would begin at Sunnyside Ridge Road, at the old Narbonne Right -of -Way, and would extend northward, across an unnamed canyon, to Palos Verdes Drive East. The trail segment is part of the Palos Verdes Loop Trail, as designated within the City's Conceptual Trail Plan, and constitutes a significant connection between the Sunnyside Ridge Trail, at Sunnyside Ridge Road, and the Deadman's Curve Trail, on Palos Verdes Drive East. In adopting the Negative Declaration, the City Council found that the Project's cumulative impacts could not significantly impact the surrounding environment. Since the Council's adoption of Resolution No. 2007 -101, the City was unsuccessful in securing grant funds to construct the Sunnyside Ridge Trail. At this time, the City is pursuing another grant opportunity to construct the Sunnyside Ridge Trail Project as approved in 2007. Construction of the current Project includes the following components which is substantially the same as the project analyzed and approved by the City Council in 2007: 1) 2000 linear feet of pre- construction shrub clearance and grubbing 2) 2000 linear feet of grading for a natural surface trail 3) 150 linear feet of decomposed granite trail surfacing 4) Installation of 50 railroad ties, or other suitable option, to provide additional tread across the trail. 5) A 60 -foot long, 8 -foot high retaining wall across a 10 -foot wide easement that traverses a portion of the subject property, along the east side property line with railing /fence at the top of the retaining wall for protection. 6) Installation of landscaping on both sides of the trail, adjacent to the existing single - family residential homes, for a distance of 150 feet, as measured from Sunnyside Ridge Road. 7) Construction of a 50 -foot long, 8 -foot high wood bridge with protection railings over an existing storm drain facility at the bottom of a ravine, connecting the south side of the Sunnyside Segment trail to the north side of the trail. 8) Installation of screening elements with landscaping at the east end of the easement along the two existing properties. The City Council has reviewed and analyzed the Project and is of the opinion that the environmental impacts associated with the current Project are equal to or less than the environmental impacts studied in the 2007 Council approved Negative Declaration and will not alter nor diminish the spirit and intent of the original Project approved by the City Council in 2007. The City Council finds that the 2007 Initial Study was prepared and published in the Peninsula Newspaper and distributed to residents within a 500 -foot radius for a 15 -day comment period whereby public comments related to the Project were adequately addressed. Moreover, a notice was provided to the residents within a 500 -foot radius on August 20, 2013 and public comments were considered in the Council's decision. The City Council finds that the Project will not significantly impact or have a substantial adverse effect on the local habitat, federally protected wetlands, migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or conflict with the City's Natural Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP). The Project will not alter the location, distribution, density, or growth rate of the human population in the area nor create a significant additional demand for fire or police protection, maintenance of public facilities (including roads), or other governmental services. The Project will not result in the need for new systems, or substantial alterations to utilities, including power or natural gas, communication systems, water, sewer or septic tanks, storm water drainage, or solid waste disposal. The Project will not result in significant adverse effects to topography; destruction, covering, or modification of unique geologic or physical features; impacts to archeological or paleontological resources; or expose persons to seismic ground failure, landslides, or other known hazards; or create a wasteful or inefficient use of the energy already being consumed on the site. The Project, in terms of hydrology and water patterns will not significantly impact the surrounding environment, will not change the current, the course or the direction of water movements in either marine or fresh waters, since the project site is not located in such a setting. Moreover, the Project involves the construction of a bridge over an unnamed canyon to connect both sides of the new trail and will not affect any natural water movement within the canyon during the rainy season. The Project will not create substantial impacts to circulation patterns, parking capacity, or traffic congestion. In addition to the above, the City Council finds that the Project will not result in adverse noise impacts. Although the construction of the Project is anticipated to generate noise levels uncommon to the surrounding environment, such noise will be temporary in nature. Further, in accordance with the City of Rancho Palos Verdes' Municipal Code, construction is limited between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, with no construction permitted on Sundays and legal holidays (as identified in the City's Municipal Code). The Project will not result in adverse aesthetic impacts nor adversely impact views taken from the subject property or views from major arterial roads or viewing corridors. Therefore, the City Council finds that there are no changed circumstances or new information, which was not known at the time the Negative Declaration was adopted that would require the preparation of a subsequent Negative Declaration or major revision to the Council adopted Negative Declaration pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162. In accordance with Section 15164 of the State CEQA Guidelines, the City Council has independently reviewed and considered and hereby adopts this Addendum No. 1 to the 2007 Council adopted Negative Declaration. Resolution No. 2013 -55 Exhibit A Page 2 of 2