ERC 01-08-2015 Community Development Department
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 777-3308
APPROVED MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW COMMITTEE HELD ON JANUARY 8,2015
Committee Members: David Brandt
Timm Borden
Aarti Shrivastava
Paul Brophy
Barry Chang
Committee Members absent: none
Staff present: Erin Cooke
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
October 23,2014
The minutes of October 23,2014 were approved as written
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
(Reserved for persons wishing to address the Committee on issues that are not already included in the regular
Order of Business)
Speaker, Bill Oman, addressed the Committee regarding air quality in the Valley. He expressed concern
about the particulate matter (smog) in the air caused by the operations of the Lehigh Cement plant. He
wanted to bring it the Committee's attention that the facility plans on increasing its production.
Speaker, Gary Latshaw, addressed the Committee about the email documentation he sent to the
Committee (documentation was provided to members as Written Communications at today's meeting).
These emails pertain to the emissions and pollutants generated by the Lehigh Cement plant. He wanted to
bring it to the Committee's attention that the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's Board has
allowed the plan to increase production without requiring the submittal of a new Health Risk Assessment
Report. He requested that the City write a letter to the District's Board requesting that new emissions
controls be mandated for the cement plant.
Note-The Lehigh Cement Plant is not located within the City of Cupertino city limits
NEW ITEMS:
1. Application No.(s) Climate Action Plan(EA-2013-02)
Applicant: City of Cupertino
Location: citywide
Review Climate Action Plan (CAP) process and proposed greenhouse gas reduction measures;
focusing on options to reduce community-wide and municipal emissions across the energy,
transportation, water and solid waste sectors.
❑ Discussion
A Climate Action Plan will enhance the City's existing programs and policies (Green Building
Ordinance, Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, Green Business Program, Composting Program,
street light and facility upgrades). A practical reason to consider adoption of a Climate Action
Plan, which serves as a qualified greenhouse gas emissions reductions plan under the Bay Air
Quality Management District's CEQA Guidelines, is to help developers within the City streamline
their project-level CEQA review. Any .project that demonstrates alignment with the CAP
requirements can 'fast track' the greenhouse gas emissions analysis required under CEQA.
Additionally, the City's General Plan Sustainability Element requires the City to adopt a Climate
Action Plan. The Climate Action:
• Analyzes projected population and employment growth numbers and develop mitigation
measures to reduce green house gas emissions for those projected growth estimates.
• Offers opportunities to create and expand partnerships for environmental programs with
other agencies like VTA,MTC and ABAG. These agencies require the adoption of a Climate
Action Plan in order to qualify for grant funds to use for program development.
o Details the following elements; establish a baseline measurement of greenhouse gas
emissions, project and forecast future emissions, create reduction targets/goals, strategies
and methods to reach those targets,establish timelines and monitoring programs.
• Reviews state-level emissions reductions efforts and requirements. The State of California
set target reduction rates at 15% reduction (of baseline measured emissions) by 2020, 50%
by 2035 and 80%by 2050.Most cities have also set these same standards.
o Considers emissions reduction targets for the City: The City of Cupertino will set its target
reduction rate by comparing the 'Business as Usual' projections (only population and
employment growth figures) against the 'Adjusted Business as Usual' projections
(population and employment growth figures adjusted for the implementation of statewide
policies to reduce emissions.
o Resources specific goals set with the City's proposed Climate Action Plan (CAP) including;
the reduction of energy use, encouragement of the use of alternate methods of
transportation, conservation of potable water, reduction of solid waste and the expansion
of green infrastructure.
o Outlines mitigation measures and data collection that will have the most impact in the
areas of energy use and transportation. In order to better reach the proposed targeted goals,
the City will have to implement reduction plans in these areas.
o Clarifies which reduction actions are already in progress. The City has already
implemented a solid waste/paper diversion program, a demolition and construction waste
diversion program, street-light retrofits and an urban forest program. Future programs
proposed through the CAP include a recycled water/irrigation program, a zero waste goal
and the maintenance and updates of the Climate Action Plan.
The environmental impacts of approval of the Climate Action Plan have been studied. It was
determined that there are no new or additional significant impacts that were not already analyzed
and had mitigations prescribed for in the Environmental Impact Report prepared as part of the
General Plan Amendments. The mitigation measures that were evaluated were:
o The installation of solar and photovoltaic system on City facilities
o The installation of electric charging stations
o Evaluating fuel cell fueling stations
o Developing a citywide bike share program or opting to participate in the SF Bay Area's
regional program
o Transit priority issues;transit traffic signal timing,intersection transit queue jumps
o Community-wide alternate fuel vehicles
ACTION: Recommendation for approval of an Amendment to the Environmental Impact Report for
EA-2013-03 (GPA-2013-01, GPA-2013-02, Z-2013-01,SPA-2014-01,MCA-2014-01)
MOTION:David Brandt
SECOND: Aarti Shrivastava
NOES: none
VOTE: 5-0-0
OLD BUSINESS
None
Respectfully submitted,
01
Beth Ebben
Administrative Clerk