Toxic Release Inventory.
Facilities that make or use toxic
chemicals can release these
chemicals into the air. The Toxic
Release Inventory is a database
that tracks toxicity-weighted
concentrations of modeled chemical releases into the
air from facility emissions and off-site incinerations as reported by industrial and federal facilities. The
USEPA has additional information regarding toxic
releases from facilities. All Planning Area census
tracts are in proximity to facilities that handle toxic chemicals.
PM2.5. Particulate matter (PM) is a
complex measure of aerosolized
solids and liquid particles, which
include substances such as
organic chemicals, dust,
allergens, and metals. These
particles can be emitted through vehicles, industrial
processes, wood burning, and other activities
involving combustion. PMs have adverse health
effects depending on their size, as the smaller the
particle the more deeply the particle may penetrate
into the lungs. Children, elderly, persons suffering
from cardiopulmonary disease, and other respiratory
illness are vulnerable to the effects of PM.
Solid Waste Facilities. Solid
waste facilities are places where
household garbage and similar
kinds of waste are collected,
processed, or stored. These
include landfills and composting
or recycling facilities. Solid waste disposal can
release waste gases such as methane and carbon
dioxide and may do so for decades after site closure.
Exposure to landfill leachate can have adverse
impacts on reproductive and respiratory systems.
Composting, recycling, and waste treatment facilities
may produce odors, attract pests, and increase local
truck traffic.
Groundwater Threats.
Hazardous chemicals can be
stored in containers on land or in
underground storage tanks.
Common soil and groundwater
pollutants include gasoline and
diesel fuel, solvents, heavy metals, and pesticides.
Leaks from containers and tanks can contaminate soil
and pollute groundwater. Human-made ponds
containing water produced from oil and gas activities
may also contain pollutants.
Hazardous Waste. Hazardous
waste is potentially dangerous or
harmful to human health and the
environment. Potential health
effects associated with living in
proximity to hazardous waste
processing and disposal sites include diabetes and
cardiovascular disease. Only certain licensed facilities are allowed to treat, store, or dispose of this type of waste. Hazardous waste can range from used
automotive oil to highly toxic waste materials
produced by factories and businesses.
Diesel PM. Diesel particulate
matter is emitted into the
environment from on- and off-road
sources. These sources include
trucks, buses, cars, ships, and
locomotive engines. Diesel
particulate matters are found in higher concentrations
near ports, rail yards, and freeways. As with other
particulate matters, diesel PM can enter into an
individual’s airways and cause, or worsen, chronic
respiratory illnesses.
Paramount General Plan
Environmental Justice Element | Page 16
Traffic Density. Heavy traffic is
common in major cities. Traffic
density is used to represent the
number of vehicles on the road in
a specific area, resulting in
human exposures to chemicals
that are released into the air by the exhaust of
vehicles. Major roadways have several effects on
communities, including noise, vibration, and injuries.
Exhaust fumes contain toxic chemicals that can
damage DNA, cause cancer, make breathing difficult,
and cause low weight and premature births. Children
who live or go to schools near busy roads can have
higher rates of asthma and other lung diseases.
Cleanup Sites. Contaminated
sites can pose a variety of risks
to nearby residents. Hazardous
substances can move off-site and
impact surrounding communities.
In general, it takes many years
for a site to be certified as clean, and cleanup work is often delayed due to cost, litigation, concerns about
liability or detection of new contaminants.
Drinking Water. Californians
receive their water from a variety
of sources and distribution
systems. As such, drinking water
varies with location, water
sources, and treatment methods. Contaminants are
introduced into water sources through natural
occurrences, industrial releases, accidental
contaminant spills, and runoff from agricultural or
industrial facilities. Lower income and rural
communities are disproportionately exposed to
contaminants in their drinking water.
Environmental Justice Approaches
Pollution Exposures and Health Risks
Pollution is the presence in or introduction into the
environment of a substance that has harmful or
poisonous effects. In the city environment (though not
only within cities) there are three major types of
pollution: air pollution, water pollution, and land
pollution. The concentration and exposure time of
certain pollutants are factors that are considered
when identifying the risk that is posed to human
health.
Pollution sources include household activities, mobile
sources (such as vehicles and planes), agricultural
activities, and stationary sources (such as factories
and landfills). However, some pollution sources are
not always easily traced to one particular source,
making it hard to identify the polluter, which is why
there are regulations and procedures in place for
handling toxic material. Reducing the overall risk of
exposure to pollution in areas where there are several
types of pollution sources is important in preserving
public health and quality of life.
Previous sections have demonstrated the pollution
burdens placed on the communities of Paramount.
Strategies for mitigating the risk of exposure and
ensuring that resident health is priority are important to implement. The following strategies are potential
methods of addressing industrial and air pollution
throughout the city.
Addressing Industrial and Air Pollution
Sound Walls and Berms
Residents in the City of Paramount are surrounded by
major freeways and arterial streets (I-105, I-710, and
State Route 91) serving as significant noise pollution
sources. Sound becomes unwanted when it interferes
Paramount General Plan
Environmental Justice Element | Page 17
with normal activities such as sleep and diminishes
one’s quality of life. Studies have shown that there
are direct links between the amount of noise one is
exposed to in the urban environment and their health.
Some noise-related problems include high blood
pressure, speech interference, hearing loss, sleep
disruption, loss of productivity, and other stress
related illnesses. Among these problems Noise
Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is the most common
and adverse health effect as a result of noise
pollution. Some studies have shown that sounds
measuring 70 decibels (dB) or more for a prolonged
period of time may result in damage to hearing, while
the average level of highway traffic noise ranges from
70-80 dB at a range of 50 feet.
The use of sound walls or sound berms (detailed in in
the illustration above) would be a way that the city
can mitigate and address the problem related to noise
from trucks and vehicles. Placing sound walls/berms
along freeway or major corridors that reside next to
residential areas is a design-based approach that
would significantly reduce the amount of noise
residents in the area are exposed to.
Pollution Prevention Plan
A Pollution Prevention Plan would be a city led effort
to address issues of pollution that directly affect
residents. A proactive, rather than reactive approach,
ensures that the city has measures and operational
procedures in place to address pollution concerns
and issues. A Pollution Prevention Plan would be any
effort that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source, also known as “source reduction”.
Transportation Strategies
Expanding means to reliable public transportation and
providing efficient infrastructure that encourage active transportation aims to address the issue of ambient
air quality within the city. By offering different methods of transportation, residents may seek alternatives that reduce the number of vehicles on the roads within the
city. With fewer vehicles being used to travel locally, there will be a reduction in PM pollution from vehicle
exhausts.
Trees and Green Buffers
Urban greening efforts such as increasing the amount
of tree canopy coverage along residential and
commercial corridors are among some of the ways of
addressing the issue of ambient air pollution. Harmful
air pollutants such as airborne particles, nitrogen
dioxide, and carbon monoxide are found in high
concentrations along busy roadways. Tree cover near
these busy roadways may serve as a buffer from
these pollutants by, helping to reduce their
concentration. On the ground, green buffers such as
rain gardens collect and treat stormwater that comes
from streets and sidewalks and often times carry
pollutants from vehicles and other pollution sources
into waterways.
Sound Walls & Berms
Noise absorbption/ reflection
Noise absorbption/ reflection
Paramount General Plan
Environmental Justice Element | Page 18
Building Design Measures
Building design measures that ensure that there is
proper and filtered airflow in building structures helps ensure that occupants are breathing clean air. Along
with air quality benefits, constructing buildings with
double-pane windows helps reduce the amount of
sound pollution from busy roadways.
Enforcing and Monitoring
Consultation with regional agencies supports
rigorous monitoring and enforcement of air pollution
standards. Proper enforcement and monitoring keep
local industrial sites accountable and regulates the
amount and type of pollution that is being released.
Paramount lies within the South Coast Air Quality
Management District (SCAQMD), an agency
responsible for attaining state and federal clean air
standards in the South Coast Air Basin. The basin
covers an area of 6,745 square miles with a
population of 14.6 million. The South Coast AQMD
offers a broad range of programs to help achieve
cleaner air quality through financial assistance and
incentives for business and local government to adopt
clean air technologies.
Site Polluters Away from Residential Uses
Adjustment of zoning ordinances to prevent and
restrict high pollution business from being in close
proximity to residential neighborhoods reduces the
number of households that are exposed to harmful
pollutants. The map below demonstrates the
concentration of toxic pollutants and industrial land
uses (seen in grey blue color) and their proximity to
land designated for residential uses (seen in yellow).
Social Well-being
Community health starts with the individual. As an
individual develops, they learn to interact with others, conduct everyday healthy habits, and formulate a
sense of identity and interests. Positive social habits can help build stronger support systems and allow an
individual to stay heathier mentally and physically.
Proper social well-being is cultivated in different
spaces such as at home, school, and in the
community at-large, which is why Paramount aims to
address these particular spaces in order to develop
stronger social well-being for its residents. Ways to
improve social well-being include improving
educational resources, expanding safe and affordable
housing, and adopting community programs and
services that benefit Paramount residents.
Improving Educational Resources
By improving educational resources, the City is better
able to provide essential tools and guidance that
benefit the students of Paramount. These educational
resources can be tailored to address several social
factors that can have a strong impact on the lives of
students, such as adopting curriculums that address
everyday life, such as: health (both mental and
physical), environmental justice, and climate change.
Other approaches include expanding funding for
resources such as effective guidance counseling for
students seeking higher education, scholarships
(such as the Paramount Education Partnership), and
awards, and other educational opportunities. With
equitable guidance counseling, students are better
informed on the options when it comes to pursuing
higher education.
Improving educational resources may have
implications for the advancement of educational
attainment by residents of Paramount. Educational
attainment, as defined earlier, is an important
component of socioeconomic status and a social
determinant of health. Resources that improve the
quality of education ensures that students are
adequately supported and accommodated in their
educational pursuits.
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Environmental Justice Element | Page 19
Expanding Safe and Affordable Housing
Housing is essential for all individuals. Safe and
affordable housing is also identified as a key
determinant of proper social well-being. When
considering ways to improve mental health and wellbeing, housing usually is not the first factor that comes to mind. However, safe and affordable housing
is crucial in ensuring a stable housing situation for all families. Households who struggle to pay rent often
have difficulty attending to other immediate needs,
often times neglecting their mental and physical
health. Children who undergo a variety of transitions
from one home to the next or experience
homelessness, are prone to developmental delays,
depression, and mental health problems more often
than those who are in a more stable housing
condition. Threats of foreclosure and eviction instill
stress on families and can then increase the risk of
stress-related health conditions. By expanding access
to safe and affordable housing for current and future
residents of Paramount, the city is investing in the
well-being of its residents.
Community Programs and Services
Creating and implementing community programs and
services that benefit the various residents of
Paramount is crucial in cultivating a stronger sense of belonging and community pride. Over the years,
Paramount has held a number of community wide
events and programs that engage residents of all
ages.
Increasing Health Food Access
Access to affordable and nutritious food plays an
important role in the optimal growth, development,
health, and well-being of individuals in all stages of
life. Healthy eating can reduce the risk of chronic
disease, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and
other types of cancers. Limited access to food
retailers, such as grocery stores, farmers’ markets,
cooperatives, and other vendors of fresh food may
make it more difficult for residents to adopt a healthier diet. Many communities that lack access to healthy
foods are also oversaturated with fast-food
restaurants, liquor stores, and other sources of
inexpensive and processed foods that have no
nutritional value. Increasing resident accessibility to fresh and affordable foods is therefore critical in
addressing the risk to chronic diseases caused by
poor nutrition.
Grocery Store Access
Within the City of Paramount, a number of residents
do not have a grocery store within walking distance,
limiting adequate access to grocery stores. Areas with
large concentration of residents have to walk more
than one mile to reach the nearest grocery offering
nutritious foods. Improving access to grocery stores
that offer affordable and nutritious produce can
encourage residents in the area to adopt healthier
habits. Healthier eating habits provide a variety of
health-related benefits. Improving grocery store
access may also enable residents to seek alternatives
to driving a vehicle when taking a quick trip to the
grocery store. Instead of driving they may choose to
bike or walk, which in turn can improve local air
quality by reducing the number of vehicles on the
road.
Healthy Food Access
Ensuring that all Paramount residents have access to
nutritious and affordable foods addresses the problem
of food deserts. A food desert is characterized as an
area where it is difficult to find and buy affordable and fresh foods, making it more difficult for residents to
maintain a healthy diet. Developing and equipping
grocery stores, small retailers, corner markets, and
farmers’ markets to provide more nutritious and
affordable foods not only addresses this problem but
Paramount General Plan
Environmental Justice Element | Page 20
is also an important part of creating a healthy
community.
Community Gardens
The City of Paramount has a long history of
supporting urban agriculture. Community gardens are
a great way of utilizing vacant lots, and turning them
into hubs of community engagement, while
addressing issues related to access to healthy foods
and food sovereignty. Gardens in the urban area can
help improve air and soil quality, as well as reduce
the “food miles” required to transport nutritious food.
In many cases, community gardens can be operated
in an individual manner, where people are assigned
their own plots of land, or in a co-operative style
where everyone shares the work and the harvest.
Community gardens are beneficial to the health of
residents, but also are great ways for cultivating
community and culture within the City. Through
collaborative efforts amongst residents and
neighbors, these gardens help build trust between
community members. Along with the social benefits of
community gardening come the mental health
benefits of reducing stress and improving mental
health when partaking in gardening activities such as
tree pruning, cleaning, and other activities that keep
the body moving and the mind focused.
Access to Open Space and Physical Activity
Urban green spaces, such as parks, sports fields, and
gardens give people the space needed to engage in
physical activity, relaxation, and to cool off on warm
days. Green and open spaces are important
resources for the physical activity of residents within a city, as they have the potential to reduce chronic
illnesses such as obesity and diabetes, as well as
other cardiovascular-related illnesses. Green space
also provides a means for climate mitigation by
reducing heat island effects in cities and reducing air pollution effects. Seeing that access to open spaces
provides a variety of benefits to everyone’s mental
and physical well-being, it is important that all
residents have equal access to these spaces
throughout Paramount. Figure 5 portrays the degree
of current access to parks and recreational facilities
throughout the City of Paramount.
Physical Activity (More walking, biking- physical
activity at parks)
Regular physical activity is one of the most important
things that someone can do for health. Research
shows that regular physical activity improves health in people of all ages, as certain activities can improve
heart and lung function, strengthen muscles and
bones, and help people maintain a healthy weight.
Small changes such as choosing to walk to the
grocery store instead of driving or biking around the
neighborhood can be very beneficial. Parks through
the city provide residents with several amenities such
as pathways, tracks, sporting fields and courts, and
exercise equipment.
Park Access
Currently within the city of Paramount, there is little open space other than the park system for residents
to enjoy, with a variety of small pocket parks and
larger parks such as Paramount, Salud, and Progress
Parks. Figure 5 illustrates that people living in the
more densely populated areas have to walk more
than 10 minutes (half mile) to reach the nearest park.
Identify and Maximizing Use of Green and Open
Space (Urban Greening)
Maximizing use of green and open space in a mostly
developed city is challenging, but with innovative
designs and improvement to existing space, a city
can work towards expanding access to green and
open space. As previously mentioned, green and
open space is important for one’s physical and mental
health. Ways to maximize green space within the city
Paramount General Plan
Environmental Justice Element | Page 21
include green streets and infrastructure, more trees
on streets, and small-scale urban gardens.
Community Engagement
Linguistic Isolation
According to the most recent 2010-2014 American
Community Survey (ACS), nearly 43 percent of
Californians speak a language at home other than
English, about 20 percent of the state’s population
speaks English “not well” or “not at all,” and 10
percent of all households in California are
linguistically isolated. The Census Bureau uses the
term “linguistic isolation” to measure households
where all members 14 years of age or above have at
least some difficulties speaking English. A high
degree of linguistic isolation among members of a
community raises concerns about access to health
information and public services, and effective
engagement with regulatory processes. Information
on language use is collected annually in the ACS. In
contrast to the decennial census, the ACS surveys a
small sample of the U.S. population to provide more
current and detailed economic and social information
regarding the country’s population.
Paramount presents some tracts in which Latino
populations make up to 93 percent of the
demographic makeup in that census tract. Tracts like
this often present the highest linguistic isolation, a
pattern that is also observable in nearby cities like
South Gate and Bell. Tract 536.02 presents the least
linguistic isolation in the city, but its racial
demographic makeup still consists of 70 percent
Hispanic/Latino population.
Paramount General Plan
Environmental Justice Element | Page 22
Figure 5: Park Access
Park Access
Paramount General Plan
Environmental Justice Element | Page 23
Figure 6: Grocery Store Access
Paramount General Plan
Environmental Justice Element | Page 24
Neighborhood Community Needs
Based on the strategies identified in the previous
pages, a prioritization of community needs has been
developed at the neighborhood level. Figure 7
identifies healthy foods, physical activity,
walking/biking improvements, urban greening, and
pollution burden strategies within Paramount’s
neighborhoods. In conjunction with the goals and
policies on the following pages, together these
strategies and policies form the City’s approach in
addressing Environmental Justice challenges.
Each of the icon illustrates a recommended strategy
within each neighborhood. Implementing these
strategies will be based on feasibility and available
funding resources
Figure 7: Neighborhood Community Needs
Paramount General Plan
Environmental Justice Element | Page 25
Goals and Policies
Addressing Pollution Burdens
GOAL EJ-1: REDUCED EXPOSURE TO AIR
POLLUTION AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Policy EJ-1.1: Truck Idling Restrictions.
Designate acceptable and
unacceptable areas for freight
trucking and diesel truck idling to
limit impacts on residential
neighborhoods overburdened by air
pollution. Require businesses to
install signs prohibiting idling.
Promote contact information of
regulatory agency for reporting
violations.
Policy EJ-1.2: Industrial Pollution. Reduce
pollution exposure in residential
neighborhoods by limiting industrial
operations that generate potentially
hazardous air pollutants.
Policy EJ-1.3: Enforcement/ Monitoring. Consult
with California Air Resources Board
and the South Coast Air Quality
Management District to ensure the
appropriate monitoring and
enforcement of mobile and
stationary source emissions and to
receive aid and assistance in
reducing exposures to harmful air
pollutants.
Policy EJ-1.4: Emission Data Collection.
Coordinate with the South Coast Air
Quality Management District to
explore ways to initiate data
collection efforts for a community
emissions reduction and/or
community air quality monitoring
plan, including the identification of:
information needed (new or
updated), potential data sources
and the resources needed, and
strategies to engage residents and
GOAL EJ-2: IMPROVE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS OF
RESIDENTIAL AREAS ADJACENT TO POLLUTIONS
SOURCES
Policy EJ-2.1: Industrial Air Pollution and Noise.
Mitigate impacts on residential
neighborhoods immediately adjacent to
industrial areas by utilizing tree and green
buffers, and sound walls, and similar
strategies.
Policy EJ-2.2: Minimizing Pollution Burdens. Require
new residential development and
encourage established residential units to
include building design features,
equipment, and/or site planning measures
to protect occupants from air pollution.
Policy EJ-2.3: Weatherization Programs. Assist
residents in retrofitting their homes to be
more energy efficient, weatherproofed,
and better protected from air and noise
pollution.
Policy EJ-2.4: Community Complaints. Develop a
proactive process that allows the City to
quickly connect with City departments and
regional agencies in order to promptly
respond to community complaints
concerning odors, emissions, noise, and
vibration from industrial businesses.
Policy EJ-2.5: Public Education. Develop community
programs to improve public awareness of
State, regional and local agencies, and
resources to assist with air quality and
other environmental quality concerns.
Policy EJ-2.6: World Energy Paramount Consultation.
Consult with World Energy Paramount for
development of a community education
campaign about the use of biodiesel at the
former Paramount Petroleum Refinery.
Paramount General Plan
Environmental Justice Element | Page 26
GOAL EJ-3: PROPER MANAGEMENT AND
DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUSE WASTE FROM
INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES
Policy EJ-3.1: Hazardous Waste Siting.
Discourage the siting of facilities
that utilize hazardous materials
or generate hazardous wastes
within one-quarter mile of any
private or public school, park, or
similar place where people
congregate in numbers.
Policy EJ-3.2: Hazardous Materials
Locations. Monitor and evaluate
commercial and industrial uses
that generate, store, and
transport hazardous materials to
determine the need for buffer
zones or setbacks to minimize
risks to residential
neighborhoods, schools, parks,
and community facilities.
Policy EJ-3.3: Contamination Protection.
Protect natural resources—
including groundwater—from
hazardous waste and materials
contamination, and leaking
underground storage tanks.
Policy EJ-3.4: Agency Collaboration. Consult
with State, federal, and Los
Angeles County agencies to
develop and promote best
practices related to the use,
storage, transportation, and
disposal of hazardous materials.
Policy EJ-3.5: Hazard Mitigation. Coordinate
and integrate hazard mitigation
activities with emergency
operations plans and
procedures.
Policy EJ-3.6: Proper Hazardous Materials
Management. Promote the proper
collection, handling, recycling, reuse,
treatment, and long-term disposal of
hazardous waste from households,
businesses, and government operations.
Open Space and Physical Activity
GOAL EJ-4: ACCESSIBLE OPEN SPACES AND
INCREASED LEVELS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
Policy EJ-4.1: Park Facility. Develop park facilities in residential neighborhoods that are
lacking park opportunities within a 10-
minute walk.
Policy EJ-4.2: Active Recreation Programming.
Develop methods to provide active
recreation programming for resident in
neighborhoods that are lacking park
opportunities within a 10-minute walk.
Policy EJ-4.3: Park Enhancements. Improve existing
parks to include active recreational
opportunities, such as additional
exercise equipment or walking trails and
tracks.
Community Facilities and Public Improvements
GOAL EJ-5: PRIORTIZING COMMUNITY NEEDS
Policy EJ-5.1: Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety.
Prioritize pedestrian and bicycle safety
improvements along major corridors,
focusing on the following roadways:
Rosecrans Avenue, Paramount
Boulevard, Downey Avenue, Somerset
Boulevard, and Alondra Boulevard.
Paramount General Plan
Environmental Justice Element | Page 27
Policy EJ-5.2: Tree Canopy. Expand the tree
canopy and improve the urban
forest in areas without a lot of
trees to promote healthier
communities and expand shade
opportunities along sidewalks
and parking areas.
Policy EJ-5.3: Urban Greening. Encourage
urban greening and green
infrastructure elements to
increase groundwater recharge,
reduce urban runoff, improve
water quality, and create public
green spaces.
Policy EJ-5.4: Gathering Spaces. Support
expansion of new community
gathering spaces with flexible
areas to allow for special events
and activities.
Policy EJ-5.5: Supporting Health Services.
Collaborate with communitybased organizations and local health providers engaged in
improving public health and
wellness, expanding access to
affordable quality health care,
and providing medical services
offer fresh foods, where feasible.
Policy EJ-5.6: Equitable Programming and
Services. Ensure educational,
recreational, and cultural
programs and activities of local
interest that are inclusive and
affordable to all.
Expanding Access to Healthy and Nutritious
Foods
GOAL EJ-6: IMPROVED COMMUNITY HEALTH AND
WELLNESS THROUGH HEALTHIER FOOD OPTIONS
Policy EJ-6.1: Community Gardens. Work with
organizations and other community
groups to build and manage community
gardens throughout the City, specifically
on unique properties that cannot be
developed or are vacant.
Policy EJ-6.2: Access Healthy Foods. Encourage the
provision of safe, convenient
opportunities to access healthy food
products by ensuring that sources of
healthy foods are easily accessible from
all neighborhoods.
Policy EJ-6.3: Urban Agriculture. Promote and
expand urban agricultural opportunities,
including home gardens, community
gardens, urban orchards, and small-lot
urban agricultural projects on
underutilized sites, park or community
facilities, schools, and remnant vacant
properties.
Policy EJ-6.4: Food Education. Support food
education programs and messaging
about healthy eating habits, food
choices, culinary classes, nutrition, and
related food education programs.
Policy EJ-6.5: Grocery Stores. Encourage new
grocery stores and small markets that
offer fresh foods, where feasible.
Paramount General Plan
Environmental Justice Element | Page 27
Expanding Community Engagement
GOAL EJ-7: INCREASED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
THAT IS INCLUSIVE AND TRANSPARENT
Policy EJ-7.1: Outreach Strategy Plan. Create
a comprehensive Community
Outreach Strategy that serves as
a framework for all departments
to participate in meaningful twoway communication with the public, prioritizing residents with
language barriers.
Policy EJ-7.2: Youth Engagement.
Encourage community
engagement activities that
connect with youth and young
adults.
Policy EJ-7.3: Multimedia Engagement.
Connect with the community by
using multimedia and other
technologies.
Policy EJ-7.4: Connect with Community
Based Organizations. Consult
with community-based
organizations to expand
outreach and connect with
residents and community
members. Assist with
development of new communitybased organizations.
Policy EJ-7.5: Multilingual Engagement.
Support multilingual community
engagement including Spanish
translators at meetings and
publishing digital and paper
materials translated in Spanish.
Policy EJ-7.6: Civic Engagement. Support an
equitable and comprehensive
approach to civic engagement
and public outreach on all
aspects of City governance and
delivery of services.
Policy EJ-7.7: Special Meetings. Conduct special
informational meetings for projects that
could pose an impact on residential
neighborhoods, including projects that
may affect specific neighborhoods.
2021 - 2029 HOUSING ELEMENT H - 1
Health and Safety Element
Paramount General Plan
City of Paramount
Public Hearing Draft
January 2022
Paramount General Plan
Health and Safety Element | Page 1
Health and Safety Element
Public safety and community health are fundamental
to long-term community stability. This Health and
Safety Element establishes City policy relative to the
reduction and mitigation of natural and human-made
hazards that must be considered in future planning
and decision-making. Due to Paramount’s location in
a seismically active region, public health and safety
has always been a critically important component of
the City’s General Plan.
Maintaining a safe community requires assessment of
the City’s public safety needs. The Health and Safety
Element identifies, evaluates, and addresses such
safety issues and provides the goals, policies, and
implementation programs that will help reduce future
loss of life, injuries, property loss, environmental
damage, and social and economic disruption from
natural and human-caused emergencies and other
public safety concerns.
This Health and Safety Element meets the State’s
requirements for a safety element and a noise
element. The Health and Safety Element is
concerned with identifying natural and human-made
hazards and ways to reduce the risk of property
damage, injury, or loss of life associated with living in an urban environment. State law requires that every
safety element consider the following:
• The identification, mapping, and appraisal of
seismic hazards that should be of concern to
planning and future development, including
areas subject to liquefaction, ground-shaking,
surface rupture or seismic sea waves
(Government Code Section 65302); and,
• An appraisal of mudslides, landslides, and
slope stability that might occur as a result of
seismic disturbance (Government Code
Section 65302) and,
• The identification of potential for fires and other
natural and human-made disasters and
measures designed to reduce the loss of life,
injury, and damage to property (Government
Code Section 65302(i)).
This element contains a plan that identifies
evacuation resources and the locations of emergency
shelters. The Element also emphasizes the
importance of emergency preparation in reducing the
impacts of natural and human-made disasters.
Effective disaster response requires the cooperation
of many government agencies. A primary goal of the
City is to continue working with other agencies, both
to prevent accidents (as much as this is possible) and
to minimize risk.
As indicated previously, this Element also addresses
those issues mandated by the State for consideration
in noise elements. The State recognizes that noise
may have a significant impact on a community’s wellbeing, and therefore requires all jurisdictions to Early Safety Element Requirements
The seismic safety element was one of the first
mandatory general plan elements. Since 1970, changes
in planning law require those issues previously
considered in the seismic safety element to be
incorporated into the ‘safety elements,” the scopes of
which were broadened to consider other safety-related
issues of concern. Seismic hazards, though, continue to be a central theme of the Paramount General Plan
Health and Safety Element. As an example, the City has
experienced the damaging effect of the 1991 Northridge
Earthquake. This earthquake revealed that here was a
much more extensive fault system underlying the Los
Angeles Basin compared to what was previously known.
It is probable that an earthquake of even greater
intensity will occur sometime during the “life” of this General Plan.
Paramount General Plan
Health and Safety Element | Page 2
prepare a noise element to identify ways to minimize
exposure to excessive noise levels.
The State guidelines are also very specific as to the
content of noise elements. Government Code Section
65302(f) describes requirements for a noise element.
At a minimum, the Government Code requires that
the Element analyze and project noise levels for the
following:
• Highways and Freeways;
• Primary arterial and major local streets;
• Passenger and freight online railroad
operations and ground rapid transit systems;
• Commercial, general aviation, heliport,
helistop, and military airport operations; aircraft
overflights, jet engine test stands, and all other
ground facilities and maintenance functions
related to airport operations;
• Local industrial plants, including, but not limited
to, railroad classification yards; and,
• Other ground stationary sources identified by
local agencies as contributing to the
community noise environment.
The State General Plan guidelines further indicate
that noise exposure information should be used to
develop the Land Use Element to achieve noisecompatible land use patterns (Section 65302(f)).
Because land use patterns in Paramount generally
are well-established, this Element focused on
resolving existing noise concerns. The policies related to noise issues stress the importance of protecting
residents from excessive noise. Complementary
policies, and programs that address noise impacts,
are also found in the other elements.
Health and Safety Element Policies
The Health and Safety Element is organized
according to the following sections, reflecting the
format of the other Elements included in the
Paramount General Plan:
• The Introduction to the Element sections
provided an overview of objectives with respect
to health and safety, summarizes key issues,
and discusses this Element’s relationship to
the other General Plan elements.
• The Health and Safety Policies section states
the City’s vision with respect to emergency
preparedness and response, as well as
environmental health.
• The Health and Safety Plan indicates
standards and plans related to emergency
preparedness, response, and environmental
health.
The policies included in this section will serve as the foundation for the Health and Safety Element. The
following key health and safety objectives will be
realized through the implementation of the policies
contained in this Element:
• The City’s continued commitment to identifying
emergency response strategies that will
improve the community’s overall safety;
• The continuation of efforts to prepare for, and
response to emergencies arising from a major
earthquake;
Fire Protection in Early Paramount…
One of the endeavors of the public-spirited citizens was the establishment of a fire-protection district in 1925. A 350-gallon pumping engine was purchased and placed
in a rented garage on Ocean Avenue in Hynes and a
volunteer fire department was formed. There was only
one fire hydrant in the district at that time. Water was obtained from irrigation ditches, deep-well pumps, and
wherever else it could be found. As this was most
unsatisfactory, the people elected to form a water
district. In 1927 the Clearwater-Hynes County Water
District was formed which later became the Paramount
County Water District.
Paramount General Plan
Health and Safety Element | Page 3
• The continued support of the Fire Department
and fire prevention programs;
• The ongoing support of law enforcement
efforts and crime preventions programs; and,
• The reduction of noise in the community.
Issue: Emergency Preparedness
The following policies underscore the City’s continued
commitment to identifying strategies that will improve
the community’s overall safety. The policies included
in this section promote education and prevention as a
means to address a number of safety-related issues.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 1. The City
of Paramount will strive to minimize damage to
life and property in the event of a major
disaster.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 2. The City
of Paramount will work to identify and improve
existing buildings that do not meet fire or
earthquake standards.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 3. The City
of Paramount will identify areas of high risk
(high densities, older structures, fire hazards)
so that disaster response may be prioritized.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 4. The City
of Paramount will maintain an inventory of
alternative emergency resources in the City
(portable water, water delivery systems,
communication, security, waste collection, and
emergency power for critical facilities).
• Health and Safety Element Policy 5. The City
of Paramount will identify critical facilities for
use during disasters and inform appropriate
disaster assistance agencies of their location
and capabilities.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 6. The City
of Paramount will assign disaster response
duties to appropriate public employees.
Issue: Seismic Safety
• The major natural hazard that will face the City
and region in the coming years is related to the
numerous earthquake faults found in the
Southern California region. The following
policies underscore the City’s recognition of
these hazards.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 7. The City
of Paramount will work to minimize serious
injury and loss of life in the event of a major
disaster.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 8. The City
of Paramount will strive to prevent serious
structural damage to critical facilities and
structures, particularly where large numbers of
people are apt to congregate.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 9. The City
of Paramount will work to ensure that vital
services and functions can continue following a
major earthquake.
Long Beach Earthquake…
The Long Beach earthquake on Friday, March 10, 1933,
did considerable damage to Hynes-Clearwater. The
town was practically closed Saturday and Sunday
following the quake, but on Monday people commenced
to stir about to remove the wreckage. Some made
impromptu camps on lawns and vacant lots. The Red
Cross set a tent on Paramount Boulevard.
Paramount General Plan
Health and Safety Element | Page 4
• Health and Safety Element Policy 10. The
City of Paramount will work to educate the
community on how the effects of a major
earthquake can be reduced.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 11. The
City of Paramount will develop an information
program to familiarize citizens with emergency
preparedness in the event of a major
earthquake.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 12. The
City of Paramount will require special soils and
structural investigations for all larger structures
or development involving large groups of
people pursuant to State requirements.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 13. The
City of Paramount will continue to employ the
code enforcement program, including the
identification of pre-1933 structures, and
require their rehabilitation.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 14. The
City of Paramount will continue
redevelopment efforts, particularly in older
commercial and industrial areas.
Issue: Fire Protection
The City has maintained a contract with the Los
Angeles County Fire Department since incorporation.
The Department currently operates one station
(Station 31) on Somerset Boulevard in the City, and
the fire protection rating overall is very good. The
City, through the following policies, remains
committed to the Fire Department’s ongoing
prevention and inspection programs, and the
continued maintenance of the high standards related
to emergency response.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 15. The
City of Paramount will strive to protect life and
property from fire damage.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 16. The
City of Paramount will work to reduce fire
danger.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 17. The
City of Paramount will continue to provide
efficient fire protection services.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 18. The
City of Paramount will continue code
enforcement efforts as a means to reduce fire
hazards often associated with older buildings
and unpermitted structures.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 19. The
City of Paramount will require contemporary
fire protection for multi-story structures and
larger industrial facilities.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 20. The
City of Paramount will require all development
to comply with established fire safety
standards.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 21. The
City of Paramount will require new
development to install sprinkler systems and
smoke detectors, as appropriate.
Creation of the Fire Department…
A regular fire station was erected later at 345 North
Ocean in Clearwater. A fireman's ball was held to
supply the station with cooking utensils, dishes and a
radio. The sign over the door read "Los Angeles County
Fire Department, Engine No. 31." Captain T. F. Mitchell was in charge and he had two assistants. In 1949, the
Paramount Fire Protection District merged with nine
other county districts to form the Los Angeles County
Consolidated Fire Protection District. Another larger fire station was constructed on Colorado Street in 1952.
Paramount General Plan
Health and Safety Element | Page 5
• Health and Safety Element Policy 22. The
City of Paramount will encourage improved fire
insurance programs.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 23. The
City of Paramount will monitor, review, and
improve, as needed, the City's emergency
response capabilities.
Issue: Law Enforcement
The City has also utilized the services of the Los
Angeles County Sheriff’s Department since
incorporation. The Sheriff’s Department maintains a
station on Paramount Boulevard. In addition, the
Sheriff’s Department is able to draw on its extensive
resources from nearby communities, should the need
arise. As indicated in the following policies, the City remains committed to the support of those services
provided by the Sheriff’s Department.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 24. The
City of Paramount will strive to provide an
atmosphere of security and safety for residents
and businesses in the City.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 25. The
City of Paramount will encourage good
relations between all residents and police.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 26. The
City of Paramount will cooperate with local law
enforcement as a means to suppress crime.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 27. The
City of Paramount will support "neighborhood
watch" programs in conjunction with
neighborhood improvement associations to
encourage cooperation between residents,
businesses, and police.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 28. The
City of Paramount will cooperate with police
and probation departments in the rehabilitation
of residents involved in crimes through
employment assistance, counseling, and
related programs.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 29. The
City of Paramount will strive to continue the
development of youth programs.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 30. The
City of Paramount will incorporate defensible
space design principles and other security
measures into new development in the City.
Issue: Noise Control
Noise levels may be significantly reduced by
employing relatively simple design measures, such as
the use of sound walls, extra insulation, double-paned
windows, etc. The following policies underscore the
City’s continued efforts to control noise exposure
through land use planning and building design.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 31. The
City of Paramount will strive to ensure that
public buildings (schools, libraries, etc.) are
sufficiently noise insulated to permit their
intended function to be uninterrupted by
exterior noise.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 32. The
City of Paramount will cooperate with State
and Federal agencies so as to minimize
transportation related noise.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 33. The
City of Paramount will ensure that the design
and improvement of future master planned
roadway links in the City are accomplished in a
manner that minimizes noise impacts on
adjacent noise sensitive land uses.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 34. The
City of Paramount will promote the
development of a compatible noise
environment throughout the City.
Paramount General Plan
Health and Safety Element | Page 6
• Health and Safety Element Policy 35. The
City of Paramount will continue to require noise
attenuation in new residential developments
that are exposed to significant noise levels
from freeway and arterial roadway traffic.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 36. The
City of Paramount will periodically review
County and regional plans for land use,
transportation, airport operation, etc. to identify
any potential noise impacts and to develop
corresponding noise attenuation strategies.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 37. The
City of Paramount will continue to promote the
application of noise insulation and other noise
control techniques in new schools, hospitals,
and convalescent homes consistent with State
and Federal regulations.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 38. The
City of Paramount will consider the effects of
truck mix, speed limits, and ultimate motor
vehicle volumes on noise levels adjacent to
master planned roadways when improvements
to the circulation system are planned.
Issue: Climate Adaptation
Climate change is a long-term shift in global or
regional climate patterns. Climate adaptation refers to the process of preparing for these evolving
environmental conditions. The leading cause of the
changing climate are greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions. In response, California law requires that
the cities throughout the State, take actions to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions toward State
reduction goals. State legislation under AB 320
(2006) set out goals to reduce emissions by at least
40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, with this target
date subject to change based on measured progress.
Thus, it is critical that the General Plan include
policies not merely to comply with State requirements
but to be part of the California-wide solution. The
Paramount City Council adopted a Climate Action
Plan in 2021 to guide local reduction in greenhouse
gas emissions.
Vulnerability Assessment: Climate
Adaptation:
By itself, the mitigation of greenhouse gases as
required by State law will not be enough to protect the community from the dangerous effects of climate
change.
In particular, climate change will exacerbate
numerous natural hazards that face the Paramount
community. A vulnerability assessment, as developed
with the Paramount Climate Action Plan, helps
identify priority climate vulnerabilities. The
vulnerability rating identified here identify the potential impact and adaptive capacity. Table 5-1 identifies
risks that could affect Paramount and the impact it
could pose to the community.
Extreme Heat. A study by the California Energy
Commission states that “over the past 15 years, heat
waves have claimed more lives in California than all
other declared disaster events combined," and the
Flooding in the City…
Flooding was one of the big problems facing the HynesClearwater territory. In 1884 the San Gabriel River went out of its bounds. Its tributary became the Rio Hondo.
Thousands of acres of farmland were inundated. Bridges
and roads were washed out. Some people were
stranded for ten days at a time. The Los Angeles river, too, changed its channel many times. One of the most
destructive storms in the history of California occurred in February of 1927.
Paramount General Plan
Health and Safety Element | Page 7
state continues to get warmer. Given higher
temperatures, the City is expected to experience
more extreme heat events, and these are expected to
occur more frequently and to persist for longer time
periods. City residents will face increased risk of
death from dehydration, heat stroke, heat exhaustion,
heart attack, stroke and respiratory distress caused
by extreme heat. In response, the City will need to
designate more cooling centers and take preventive
actions such as planting more trees to help cool
buildings and neighborhoods.
Extreme Storms. According to the California Climate
Adaptation Study (CAS), climate change is expected
to only cause a slight increase or decrease in average
annual rainfall. However, the intensity of individual
rainfall events is anticipated to increase. The
prospect of more intense rainfall events increases the
likelihood that these storms will overwhelm
stormwater systems built to historic rainfall averages, making localized flooding more likely. In addition,
more intense thunderstorms as a result of climate
change are also likely to bring stronger more
destructive winds.
Table 5-1 Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Potential Impact Adaptive Capacity
Extreme Heat (EH) Medium Low
Extreme Storms (ES) Medium Low
Droughts and Water Shortages (D) Medium Medium
Power Outage (P) Medium Medium
Flooding (F) Low High
Dam Failure (DF) Low Low
Score Potential Impact Adaptive Capacity
Low
Impact is unlikely based on projected exposure; would
result in minor consequences to public health, safety,
and/or other metrics of concern.
The population lacks capacity to manage climate
impact; major changes would be required.
Medium
Impact is somewhat likely based on projected
exposure; would result in some consequences to public
health, safety, and/or other metrics of concern.
The population has some capacity to manage climate
impact; some changes would be required.
High
Impact is highly likely based on projected exposure;
consequences to public health, safety, and/or other
metrics of concern
The population has high capacity to manage climate
impact; minimal to no changes are required.
Paramount General Plan
Health and Safety Element | Page 8
Droughts and Water Shortages. Given warmer
temperatures, droughts are more likely to become
more frequent and persistent in coming decades.
The CAS notes that climate change is likely to
significantly diminish California’s future water supply and create greater competition for limited water
supplies needed by the environment, agriculture, and
cities. Given the increasing vulnerability of its water supply, the City will need to verify that new
developments will have access to a reliable water
supply. Long-term conservation efforts will be critical to maintaining economic and social well-being,
especially in light of the impacts of climate change on California’s water supply. Additionally, droughts will
also cause local trees to dry out and become more
vulnerable to falling over during storm events.
The Central Basin Water District, which services the
City of Paramount (Division V) has prepared a
Drought Response Plan that identifies actions to
address changes in future water supplies as a result
of climate change and increase in regular drought
conditions.
Flooding and Dam Failure. Climate change can
influence variables that contribute to floods such as
the more intense rainfall events described above. In
early 1995, heavy winter rains caused local flooding
events in Los Angeles County in close proximity to
the City of Paramount. Typically, portions of the City
of Paramount have been prone to occasional urban
flooding due to debris accumulation on storm drains
and aged drainage systems. Otherwise, the City of
Paramount has long had a high degree of flood
protection due to the construction of dams along the
San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Rivers and the
channelization of the Los Angeles River in the 1950s.
There are, however, two major dams that could
potentially affect the City in the event of a dam failure.
The Whittier Narrows Dam on the San Gabriel River
at the southern end of the San Gabriel Valley, and the
Hansen Dam located on the northern edge of the San
Fernando Valley. In particular, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers has determined that the 60-year-old
Whittier Narrows Dam is structurally unsafe and
poses a potentially catastrophic risk to the
communities along the San Gabriel River floodplain,
including the City of Paramount, which is
geographically located in the flood inundation area
should a dam failure occur.
Power Outage. Climate change is causing an
increase in many types of extreme weather. Heat
waves are hotter, heavy rain events are heavier, and
winter storms have increased in both frequency and
intensity. To date, these kinds of severe weather are
among the leading causes of large-scale power
outages in the United States.
Paramount General Plan
Health and Safety Element | Page 9
Vulnerable Population: Climate Adaptation
Due to the rise and frequency of extreme weather and
climate-related events, it’s important to emphasize the health threats and challenges imposed by climate
change. While most residents and businesses will be
faced with the health impacts inflicted by climate
change, certain groups will disproportionately feel the health impacts, as they can be less climate resilient.
Evacuation scenarios are particularly difficult for
seniors and people with disabilities who may be
physically unable or prepared to leave their homes.
Secondary health impacts that are indirectly
exacerbated by climate change include air pollution
complicated by warmer weather and increase in
vector-borne diseases with the prolonged stay of
mosquitos.
Table 5-2 identifies specific populations in Paramount
the potential climate effects that will impact them the most.
Table 5-2 Vulnerable Population
Population
(2019)
Percent of Total Climate
Effects Paramount LA County
Total 54,205 10,012,895 DW, P, AP, V
Children
(age 0 to 17) 28.7% 22.1% AP, EH, DW,
V
Older Adults
(age 65 and
over)
8.2% 13.1% AP, EH, F PO,
DW, DF, V
Disability 15.4% 20.7% AP, EH, F PO,
DF, V
Below Poverty 16.7% 14.9% EH, P, AP, V
Notes: Climate Effects acronym: Extreme Heat (EH),
Extreme Storms (ES), Droughts and Water Shortages
(DW), Flooding (F), Dam Failure (DF), Power Outage (P), Air Pollution (AP), Vector (V).
Paramount General Plan
Health and Safety Element | Page 10
Policies
• Health and Safety Policy Element 39.
Integrate climate change hazards, adaptation,
and resiliency into the update of city plans,
regulatory codes, and policies
• Health and Safety Policy Element 40. Evaluate,
identify, and implement strategies to reduce the
negative effects of climate change on the health
of disadvantaged communities and socially
vulnerable populations lacking adaptive
capacities (e.g., older population, children, lowincome households, disability, etc.) • Health and Safety Policy Element 41. Set up
systems to predict and communicate with the
public about heat waves and severe storm
events.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 42. Establish
cooling centers and emergency shelters to
reduce City of Paramount residents’ vulnerability
to extreme heat events and severe storms.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 43. Update
the City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan regularly
to assess hazard vulnerabilities and identify
mitigation to pursue in order to reduce the level
of injury, property damage, and community
disruption
• Health and Safety Policy Element 44.
Maximize the resiliency of essential public
facilities to risks and hazards of flooding.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 45. Evaluate
the need to expand the capacity of flood control
facilities to minimize flood hazards resulting from
extreme weather events.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 46. Monitor
the work of the Army Corps of Engineers’ and
other federal agencies’ response plan to repair
the Whittier Narrows Dam.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 47.
Encourage natural flood control infrastructure
and techniques to capture storm water, recharge
aquifers, and prevent flooding near established
drainage systems and channels.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 48. Conduct
appropriate outreach and engagement efforts
with community residents and businesses for
community feedback and buy-in, particularly
targeting vulnerable populations.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 49.
Decrease the urban heat island effect, especially
in areas with populations most vulnerable to
heat.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 50. Enhance
resilience of community tree canopy and urban
forest.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 51. Enhance
the resilience of buildings within the community
to extreme heat, weather, and energy
disruptions.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 52. Improve
the energy efficiency and weatherization of
homes and businesses to reduce energy costs
and carbon pollution.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 53. Consult
with Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control
District to address the potential increased risk of
disease due to changes in vector populations.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 54. Consult
with Central Basin Water District to implement
Drought Response Plan.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 55. Monitor
progress of implementation of the Paramount
Climate Action Plan and update the plan
regularly.
Paramount General Plan
Health and Safety Element | Page 11
Health and Safety Element Plan
The graphic depiction of the City of Paramount’s
official policy relative to emergency preparedness is
presented on Exhibit 5-1 that includes an
identification of critical facilities and potential
evacuation centers as well as evacuation routes. The
COVID-19 pandemic and the local emergency
response highlighted the need to prepare for and
adapt to unique and unusual emergencies. The areas
of the City that may be impacted by natural hazards is
indicated in the environmental impact report (EIR)
prepared for the General Plan. The information
contained in the EIR includes the existing seismic
hazards, soil constraints, and flood hazards that
impact the community. These hazards are identified
to alert the City to the naturally occurring hazards that are to be mitigated in order to reduce the risk to life and property in the City.
The City seeks to control noise levels within those
areas of Paramount that include noise sensitive
receptors. These areas are shown in Exhibit 5-2.
Appropriate measures should be implemented as a
means to reduce the effects of noise exposure in
these areas.
Noise and Land Use Compatibility
The State Office of Noise Control has prepared
Guidelines for the Preparation and Content of Noise
Elements of General Plans. These guidelines serve
as a guide for compatibility of noise-sensitive land
uses. Residential uses should not be located in areas
exceeding 70 dB CNEL. Schools, libraries, hospitals,
and nursing homes are treated as noise-sensitive
land uses, requiring mitigation when such
development occurs in areas where the ambient
noise levels exceed 60 dB CNEL. These guidelines
are shown in Table 5-3.
Table 5-3 Noise and Land Use Compatibility
Guidelines
Land Use
Maximum
Desirable
Noise Level
Maximum
Acceptable
Noise Level
Low Density
Residential 55 dBA 65 dBA
Medium Density
Residential 60 dBA 65 dBA
High Density
Residential 65 dBA 70 dBA
Schools 60 dBA 70 dBA
Office and
Commercial 65 dBA 75 dBA
Industrial 70 dBA 75 dBA
Noise Control Regulations
A number of other federal, state, and local agencies
have adopted standards and recommended noise
criteria to protect people in both the working and
home environments. A summary of major existing
noise regulations is provided below:
• The Federal Highway Works Administration
(FHWA) has established noise exposure
standards for different land uses. These
standards apply to the planning and design of
federally funded highway projects and are
expressed in terms of both Equivalent Noise
Level (Leq) and L10.
• The Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) has adopted
Paramount General Plan
Health and Safety Element | Page 12
environmental criteria and standards for
determining project acceptability and
necessary mitigation measures to ensure that
projects assisted by HUD provide a suitable
living environment. Standards include
maximum levels of 65 dB Ldn for residential
areas.
• The Noise Control Act of 1972 authorized the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
publish descriptive data on the effects of noise
and establish levels of sound "requisite to
protect the public welfare with an adequate
margin of safety." These levels are separated
into health (hearing loss levels), and welfare
(annoyance levels), with an adequate margin
of safety.
• The California Motor Vehicle Code
establishes noise standards for those areas
not regulated by the federal government. State
standards regulate the noise levels of motor
vehicles and motorboats; establish noise
impact boundaries around airports; regulate
freeway noise affecting classrooms, sound
transmission control, and occupational noise
control; and identify noise insulation standards.
The California Motor Vehicle Code sets
operational noise limits according to the type of
vehicle and date of manufacture.
• Sound Transmission Control Standards
contained in the California Administrative
Code, Title 24, Building Standards, Chapter
2.35, outline noise insulation performance
standards to protect persons within new hotels,
motels, apartment houses, and dwellings other
than detached single-family dwellings. These
standards require an interior noise level of 45
dB CNEL or less for residential projects. For
residential buildings or structures within the 60
dB CNEL of an airport, or vehicular or
industrial noise source, an acoustical analysis
must be conducted to show compliance with
the standards.
• The California Occupational Noise Control
Standards contained in the California Code of
Regulations, Title 8, Industrial Relations,
Chapter 4, outline permissible noise exposure
at a workplace. Employees should not be
exposed to noise levels of 90 dBA for more
than eight hours in any workday.
Paramount General Plan
Health and Safety Element | Page 13
Paramount General Plan
Health and Safety Element | Page 14
City of Paramount
2021-2029 Housing Element Update
Health and Safety Element Update
and new Environmental Justice Element
Initial Study and
Negative Declaration
Lead Agency
City of Paramount
Planning Department
16400 Colorado Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
Consultant
MIG
1650 Spruce Street, Suite 102
Riverside, California 92507
November 3, 2021
City of Paramount i
Table of Contents
1 PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY................................................................................................................................................................ 1 CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 TIERING .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION...................................................................................................................................................................... 5 3 DETERMINATION ................................................................................................................................................................................ 23 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED...................................................................................................................................... 23 DETERMINATION ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 2323 4 EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ............................................................................................................................... 25
1. AESTHETICS....................................................................................................................................................................................... 25
2. AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................................................... 27
3. AIR QUALITY ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
4. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES.................................................................................................................................................................... 31
5. CULTURAL RESOURCES ...................................................................................................................................................................... 33
6. ENERGY ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 34
7. GEOLOGY AND SOILS .......................................................................................................................................................................... 36
8. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS .......................................................................................................................................................... 399
9. HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ............................................................................................................................................... 40
10. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY ...................................................................................................................................................... 43
11. LAND USE AND PLANNING ............................................................................................................................................................... 4646
12. MINERAL RESOURCES ...................................................................................................................................................................... 477
13. NOISE ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 48
14. POPULATION AND HOUSING................................................................................................................................................................. 50
15. PUBLIC SERVICES ............................................................................................................................................................................... 51
16. RECREATION ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 53
17. TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC .......................................................................................................................................................... 54
18. TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES ........................................................................................................................................................... 57
19. UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS ........................................................................................................................................................ 58
20. WILDFIRE........................................................................................................................................................................................... 60
21. MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE............................................................................................................................................. 61 5 LIST OF PREPARERS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 63 LEAD AGENCY .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 63 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSTS .......................................................................................................................................................................... 63 6 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 65 List of Tables
TABLE 1 CITY OF PARAMOUNT REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATION (RHNA) ................................................................................................. 7 TABLE 2 RHNA CREDITS AND REMAINING NEED.................................................................................................................................................. 8 TABLE 3 CURRENTLY AVAILABLE VACANT/UNDERUTILIZED LAND INVENTORY......................................................................................................... 8 List of Exhibits
EXHIBIT 1 REGIONAL CONTEXT AND VICINITY MAP ............................................................................................................................................. 19 EXHIBIT 2 SITES INVENTORY ............................................................................................................................................................................. 21 Table of Contents
ii 2021-2029 Housing Element
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City of Paramount 1
1 PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY
The purpose of this Initial Study is to identify and assess the significance of the physical effects on the environment due to potential future development guided by the goals, policies, and implementation programs of the City of Paramount 2021-2029 Housing Element Update, Health and Safety Element Update, and new Environmental Justice Element. Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the proposed Housing Element Update, Health and Safety Element Update, and Environmental Justice Element is considered a “Project” and thus requires analysis and determination of environmental effects prior to approval.
This Initial Study has been prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Statutes and Guidelines and the City of Paramount local rules and regulations. The proposed Project requires discretionary approval by the City of Paramount and review by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). As the project initiator, and because of the legislative approvals involved, the City of Paramount is the Lead Agency with respect to this Initial Study pursuant to §15367 of the CEQA Guidelines. Specifically, the Project requires City of Paramount approval of a General Plan Amendment No. 21-2. No other governmental agencies have discretionary permitting authority with respect to approval of the proposed Project, and no Trustee Agencies, as defined in §21070 of the CEQA Statutes, has jurisdiction over resources such that Trustee agency approval is required for entitlement approval.
Pursuant to §15074 of the CEQA Guidelines, prior to approving the Project, the City of Paramount is obligated to consider the findings of this Initial Study and to either adopt a Negative Declaration (ND) or a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) or determine that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is required due to potentially significant, unavoidable environmental impacts. The findings of this Initial Study support adoption of Negative Declaration (ND), as discussed in Section 4, indicating that the environmental impacts of the Project will be less than significant and that an EIR is not required.
CONTENTS
This document has been prepared to comply with Section 15063 of the State CEQA Guidelines that sets forth the required contents of an Initial Study. These include:
• A description of the project, including the location of the project (see Section 2) • Identification of the environmental setting (see Section 2.11) • Identification of environmental effects by use of a checklist, matrix, or other methods, provided that entries on the checklist or other form are briefly explained to indicate that there is some evidence to support the entries (see Section 3)
• Examination of whether the project is compatible with existing zoning, plans, and other applicable land use controls (see Sections 2.6 and 2.7)
• The name(s) of the person(s) who prepared or participated in the preparation of the Initial Study (see Section 5.1)
TIERING
Section 15152 et al of the CEQA Guidelines describes “tiering” as a streamlining tool as follows:
(a) "Tiering" refers to using the analysis of general matters contained in a broader EIR (such as one prepared for a general plan or policy statement) with later EIRs and negative declarations on narrower projects; incorporating by reference the general discussions from the broader EIR; and concentrating the later EIR or negative declaration solely on the issues specific to the later project.
(b) Agencies are encouraged to tier the environmental analyses which they prepare for separate but related projects including general plans, zoning changes, and development projects. This approach can eliminate repetitive discussions of the same issues and focus the later EIR or negative declaration on the actual issues ripe for decision at each level of environmental review. Tiering is appropriate when the sequence of analysis is from an EIR prepared for a general plan, policy, or program to an EIR or negative declaration for another plan, policy, or program of lesser scope, or to a site- Purpose and Authority
2 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element specific EIR or negative declaration. Tiering does not excuse the lead agency from adequately analyzing reasonably foreseeable significant environmental effects of the project and does not justify deferring such analysis to a later tier EIR or negative declaration. However, the level of detail contained in a first tier EIR need not be greater than that of the program, plan, policy, or ordinance being analyzed.
(c) Where a lead agency is using the tiering process in connection with an EIR for a large-scale planning approval, such as a general plan or component thereof (e.g., an area plan or community plan), the development of detailed, site-specific information may not be feasible but can be deferred, in many instances, until such time as the lead agency prepares a future environmental document in connection with a project of a more limited geographical scale, as long as deferral does not prevent adequate identification of significant effects of the planning approval at hand.
(d) Where an EIR has been prepared and certified for a program, plan, policy, or ordinance consistent with the requirements of this section, any lead agency for a later project pursuant to or consistent with the program, plan, policy, or ordinance should limit the EIR or negative declaration on the later project to affects which:
(1) Were not examined as significant effects on the environment in the prior EIR; or (2) Are susceptible to substantial reduction or avoidance by the choice of specific revisions in the project, by the imposition of conditions, or other means.
(e) Tiering under this section shall be limited to situations where the project is consistent with the general plan and zoning of the city or county in which the project is located, except that a project requiring a rezone to achieve or maintain conformity with a general plan may be subject to tiering.
(f) A later EIR shall be required when the initial study or other analysis finds that the later project may cause significant effects on the environment that were not adequately addressed in the prior EIR. A negative declaration shall be required when the provisions of Section 15070 are met.
(1) Where a lead agency determines that a cumulative effect has been adequately addressed in the prior EIR that effect is not treated as significant for purposes of the later EIR or negative declaration and need not be discussed in detail. (2) When assessing whether there is a new significant cumulative effect, the lead agency shall consider whether the incremental effects of the project would be considerable when viewed in the context of past, present, and probable future projects. At this point, the question is not whether there is a significant cumulative impact, but whether the effects of the project are cumulatively considerable. For a discussion on how to assess whether project impacts are cumulatively considerable, see Section 15064(i).
(3) Significant environmental effects have been "adequately addressed" if the lead agency determines that:
(A) they have been mitigated or avoided as a result of the prior environmental impact report and findings adopted in connection with that prior environmental report; or
(B) they have been examined at a sufficient level of detail in the prior environmental impact report to enable those effects to be mitigated or avoided by site specific revisions, the imposition of conditions, or by other means in connection with the approval of the later project.
(g) When tiering is used, the later EIRs or negative declarations shall refer to the prior EIR and state where a copy of the prior EIR may be examined. The later EIR or negative declaration should state that the lead agency is using the tiering concept and that it is being tiered with the earlier EIR.
Purpose and Authority
City of Paramount 3
(h) There are various types of EIRs that may be used in a tiering situation. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) General Plan EIR (Section 15166)
(2) Staged EIR (Section 15167)
(3) Program EIR (Section 15168)
(4) Master EIR (Section 15175)
(5) Multiple-family residential development/residential and commercial or retail mixed-use development (Section 15179.5)
(6) Redevelopment project (Section 15180)
(7) Projects consistent with community plan, general plan, or zoning (Section 15183) This Initial Study for the 2021-2029 Housing Element, Health and Safety Element Update, and Environmental Justice Element has been prepared to tier from the General Plan “Program” EIR of the City of Paramount dated August 2007, as amended or otherwise supplemented. For the City of Paramount, documents by which the analysis recorded herein has been tiered from are available for public review at:
City of Paramount
Planning Department
16400 Colorado Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
Purpose and Authority
4 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element This Page Intentionally Left Blank
Project Description
City of Paramount 5
2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
PROJECT TITLE
City of Paramount 2021-2029 Housing Element Update, Health and Safety Element Update, and new Environmental Justice Element
LEAD AGENCY/PROJECT SPONSOR NAME AND ADDRESS
City of Paramount
16400 Colorado Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
(562) 220-2000
CONTACT PERSON AND PHONE NUMBER
John King, AICP, Assistant Planning Director
City of Paramount
16400 Colorado Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
Telephone: 562-220-2049
Email: [email protected]
THE PROJECT
This Initial Study analyzes the potential environmental impacts associated with:
• Adoption of the City of Paramount’s sixth cycle (2021-2029) Housing Element. • Adoption of an update to the City of Paramount’s Safety Element • Adoption of a new Environmental Justice Element
The Housing Element is a required component of the City’s General Plan and must be updated on a regular basis, as set forth in Government Code Section 65588.The Housing Element consists of these components, described in detail below: 1) housing needs, 2) constraints to housing development, 3) housing resources (available sites and funding sources), and 4) a housing plan.
The 2021-2029 Housing Element applies to all properties within the City of Paramount on which existing and proposed General Plan land use designations and zoning districts allow residential and/or mixed-use development. The Housing Element does not specifically authorize the construction of any housing development, nor does it indicate where and when specific housing projects will occur. The Housing Element is a policy document setting forth the City’s plan to accommodate its share of regional housing needs, as determined by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). For the 2021-2029 planning period, the City of Paramount’s share is 364 housing units. This allocation is referred to as the Regional Housing Needs Assessment, or RHNA.
In conjunction with this Housing Element update, the City is also undertaking an update to the Health and Safety Element to align it with the recently adopted Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and adopt climate adaptation strategies, and adding a new Environmental Justice Element to comply with SB 1000 and SB 244.
This Initial Study examines the potential environmental impacts at a program level for the Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element, since these policy documents do not specifically authorize the construction of any development, nor do they indicate where and when specific housing projects will occur.
Project Description
6 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element
PROJECT LOCATION
The City of Paramount is fifteen miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles and borders North Long Beach to the south.
Known in the 1930s as the communities of Hynes and Clearwater, the area was a nationally prominent center of the dairy and hay industries. Hynes-Clearwater joined together under the common name of Paramount in 1948, grew steadily, and in 1957 was incorporated as a City. Today a modern city, Paramount provides a broad range of municipal services. Approximately five square miles in size, Paramount has close to 54,000 residents and over 3,000 businesses. The Planning Area of the General Plan consists of the corporate boundaries of the City of Paramount. Six cities total and unincorporated Los Angeles County areas border the City: (clockwise from the north): South Gate, Downey, Bellflower, Long Beach, Compton, unincorporated Los Angeles County (East Rancho Dominguez) and Lynwood. The regional and local context of the Planning Area is identified on Exhibit 2-1 (Vicinity Map and Planning Area) located on page 19.
GENERAL PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATIONS
The Paramount General Plan provides for a range of land use designations in the City that can accommodate residential units.
Multiple residential General Plan land use designations within the City provide opportunities for development of housing projects, including the Single-Family and Multiple Family Residential designations. The Housing Element 2021-2029 Update, Health and Safety Element update, and new Environmental Justice Element project does not propose to change any particular parcel’s General Plan land use designation. The 2021-2029 Housing Element recognizes that the City considers Proposition FF (established in 1988), which caps housing density at 22 dwelling units per acre, to be invalid based on operation of law; therefore, City zoning is in compliance with California Department of Housing and Community Development’s default density of 30 dwelling units per acre established for affordable housing. The Housing Element 2021-2029 Update sites inventory analysis continues to use the 22 dwelling units per acre density approach to meet the 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Assessment.
ZONING DISTRICTS
Multiple residential districts within the City provide opportunities for development of housing projects at various densities.
Residential density within the various zones is calculated at dwelling units per acre (du/acre). Residential uses are permitted in the following zones: R-1 (Single-Family Residential), R-2 (Medium Density Residential), R-M (Multiple-Family Residential), and some PD-PS (Planned Development with Performance Standards) zones as well as various Specific Plans, including the Clearwater East Specific Plan (Chapter 17.88) and Clearwater North and Howe/Orizaba Specific Plans (Chapter 18.84). The Housing Element 2021-2029 Update, Health and Safety Element update, and new Environmental Justice Element project does not propose to change any particular parcel’s zoning.
SPECIFIC PLAN
CLEARWATER EAST SPECIFIC PLAN
In May 2019, the City amended the Clearwater East Specific Plan, which encompasses approximately 68 acres within NorthCentral Paramount. Specific land uses include multiple family dwellings, live-work units, senior housing, office/business park, commercial, public/quasi-public, and light industrial uses. The amendment focused on revising the minimum density of 20 units per acre and a maximum density of 22 units per acre.
NORTH PARAMOUNT GATEWAY SPECIFIC PLAN
The City is preparing a new North Paramount Gateway Specific Plan that will combine Clearwater North and Howe-Orizaba Specific Plan. The new Specific Plan will emphasize residential, commercial, and mixed uses to be integrated with the proposed Metro West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor light rail station near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue and Paramount Boulevard. The Specific Plan, when adopted, will require its own environmental documentation associated with the growth projected by the new land use plan. The sites inventory under the Housing Element 2021-2029 Update does not apply any units toward the 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Assessment.
Project Description
City of Paramount 7
HOUSING ELEMENT
REQUIREMENTS AND CONTENT
A Housing Element is one of the required General Plan elements. It addresses existing and future housing needs of persons of all income levels and provides policy guidance to decision-makers and City staff. The City is not required to construct housing to meet those needs, but it must create a regulatory environment that supports and encourages housing production and equal access to housing.
State law requires that all housing elements address four key topics: 1) housing needs, 2) constraints to housing development, 3) housing resources, and 4) a housing plan. Article 10.6, Section 65580 – 65589.8, Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the California Government Code establishes the legal requirements for a housing element and encourages the provision of affordable and decent housing, in suitable living environments, in all communities, in working toward statewide goals. The 2021-2029 Housing Element is the policy document that addresses current and projected housing needs consistent with State law.
HOUSING NEEDS AND RESOURCES
Several factors influence the demand for housing in the City of Paramount, including population growth, the cost of housing, and housing needs of "special needs groups" that include the elderly, large families, female-headed households, households with a physically or developmentally disabled person, farm workers, and the homeless. The 2021-2029 Housing Element examines the housing needs of different groups of people based on demographic metrics that include owners versus renters, lower-income households, overcrowded households, elderly households, special needs groups, and homeless persons.
SCAG has assigned the City of Paramount a RHNA allocation of 364 housing units for the 2021-2029 planning period, divided among the household income categories identified in Table 1. Housing units that have been approved or proposed but not yet built or that are under construction as of June 2021 may be credited toward the RHNA. Table 2 (RHNA Credits and Remaining Need) identifies RHNA credits, and the remaining housing need to be accommodated by land use policy and zoning regulations (see Exhibit 2-2: Sites Inventory located on page 21).
Table 1
City of Paramount Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Income Group
Total
Allocation (DU)
Income Group
Ratio (%)
Very Low (<50% of AMI) 92 25.3%
Low (50% - 80% of AMI) 43 11.8%
Moderate (80% - 120% of AMI) 48 13.2%
Above Moderate (>120% of AMI) 181 49.7%
Total 364 100.0%
Source: SCAG 2021
Project Description
8 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element Table 2
RHNA Credits and Remaining Need
Ex./Very
Low (0-50%
AMI)
Low
(50-80%
AMI)
Moderate
Income (80-
120% AMI)
Above
Moderate
Income
(120%+ AMI) Total
APPROVED PROJECTS/PROPOSED PROJECTS
16675 to 16683 Paramount Blvd. -- 2 -- 12 14
6500 to 6510 Alondra Blvd. -- -- -- 10 10
7254 Motz St. -- -- -- 1 1
15922 Georgia Ave. -- -- -- 1 1
Rancho Camino (APN: 626-600-1013) -- -- -- 1 1
15942 Orazba Ave. -- -- -- 1 1
Total -- 2 -- 26 28
RHNA 92 43 48 181 364
Remaining RHNA 92 41 48 155 335
State law requires that jurisdictions demonstrate in the Housing Element that land inventory is available and adequate to accommodate the RHNA allocation. Sites currently available and appropriate to accommodate a portion of the RHNA are categorized and summarized in Table 3.
Table 3
Currently Available Vacant/Underutilized Land Inventory Site Type (Map No.)
Affordability Level
Ex./Very
Low Income
(0-50% AMI)
Low Income
(50-80% AMI)
Moderate
Income
(80-120% AMI)
Above
Moderate
Income
(120%+ AMI) Total
Estimated Accessory Dwelling Unit Production 39 74 4 49 166 Clearwater East Specific Plan (Site 1) 47 46 140 233
North Paramount Gateway Specific Plan (Site 2) 18 18 28 64 Residential Recycling Sites (Sites 3 to 6) -- -- 31 31
Total Sites Currently Available and ADU
Production 216 65 226 507
Remaining RHNA after approved/
proposed projects 92 43 48 181 364
Updated Remaining RHNA +45 +20 +93 +158
The estimated accessory dwelling unit production and residential recycling sites can be accommodated in the existing 2007 General Plan Land Use Plan and the associated City of Paramount General Plan Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
Project Description
City of Paramount 9
The EIR, when completed and certified in 2007, identified 14,575 existing housing units in 2006, 22,000 units 1 allowed under the Land Use Plan build-out growth projections, and as of May 2021, the City consisting of 14,723 housing units 2. The EIR addresses potential impacts to General Plan Update. The Clearwater East Specific Plan units identified in the sites inventory are accommodated by a Negative Declaration which addresses potential impacts of the Specific Plan Amendment in conformance with the guidelines of the State of California.
HOUSING CONSTRAINTS
The Housing Constraints section identifies and addresses regulations and conditions that constitute constraints to housing production and preservation, including governmental and nongovernmental regulations, infrastructure requirements and market conditions such as land, construction and labor costs as well as restricted financing availability. Where constraints were identified, programs to address those constraints were included in the Housing Plan.
AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING
The Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) mandate imposed by AB 686 requires a detailed analysis of segregation/integration patterns and disparities in access to opportunity is included in the Housing Element. The City of Paramount contracts with the Fair Housing Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to affirmatively furthering fair housing choice through the provision of education and direct client services. In response to this analysis, a program was included in the Housing Plan to update the existing Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (2016) and to continue the City’s efforts to affirmatively further fair housing.
SUMMARY OF GOALS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS
The Housing Element includes the following goals and policies to direct housing decisions over the 2021-2029 planning period:
GOAL 1: Established housing and residential neighborhoods in Paramount are maintained and enhanced.
Policy 1.1: Neighborhood Preservation. Preserve the character, scale, and quality of established residential neighborhoods.
Policy 1.2: Maintenance and Rehabilitation. Continue to promote the maintenance and rehabilitation of the existing housing stock in Paramount.
Policy 1.3: Adverse Impacts. Strive to ensure that future development in Paramount does not adversely impact the established residential neighborhoods.
Policy 1.4: Preserve Housing Stock. Assist in the elimination of substandard construction, overcrowding, and other factors that contribute to the deterioration of the existing housing stock.
Policy 1.5: Healthy Neighborhoods. Support healthy neighborhoods by addressing public health and safety issues; proactively resolve code violations; and minimize threats from pollution contamination, industrial uses, and incompatible uses.
GOAL 2: A range of available housing types, densities, and affordability levels to meet the diverse needs of the community, maintaining a balanced supply of ownership and rental units. 1 Final Environmental Impact Report Paramount General Plan Update, City of Paramount, August 2007. 2 California Department of Finance, Demographic Research Unit, Table 2: E-5 City/County Population and Housing Estimates, January 1, 2021.
Project Description
10 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element Policy 2.1 Adequate Sites. Provide for adequate sites that will enable the production of 364 housing units through October 2029 to meet the demands of present and future residents, including an adequate number and range of new dwelling types affordable to extremely low, very low, low, moderate and above moderateincome households.
Policy 2.2: Diversified Housing Types. Facilitate the development of a range of residential development types in Paramount which fulfill regional housing needs, including accessory dwelling units, low density singlefamily uses, moderate density townhomes, and higher density apartments and condominiums and mixeduse projects.
Policy 2.3: New Residential Development. Promote new residential development and ensure this housing, including affordable units, provides a healthy, safe, and attractive living environment.
Policy 2.4: Housing Near Transit. Encourage transit-oriented development, including higher residential densities, gathering places, amenities, commercial, and entertainment uses within walking distance of planned rail stations and bus stops.
Policy 2.5: In-Fill Housing. Encourage in-fill housing development that is compatible in character with the established residential neighborhood.
Goal 3: Adequate housing and provide resources to meet the needs of low- and moderate-income and special needs households.
Policy 3.1: Affordable Housing. Strive to ensure that affordable housing in the City is developed to the highest standards possible in a manner consistent with market rate housing in the City.
Policy 3.2: Housing for Persons with Disabilities. Encourage the development of residential units accessible to persons with disabilities or are adaptable for conversion for persons with disabilities.
Policy 3.3: Homelessness. Consult with local social service providers to address the needs of the homeless and persons at-risk of homelessness.
Policy 3.4: Senior Housing. Promote the development and rehabilitation of senior housing specifically designed to meet their needs and living arrangement.
Policy 3.5: Special Needs. Consider opportunities for new housing, including housing for special needs households, in the planning and review of new development proposals.
Goal 4: Housing production and housing affordability that is free from governmental and nongovernmental constraints.
Policy 4.1: Streamline Review Process. Facilitate the review of new residential development through the implementation of the “streamlined” review process.
Policy 4.2: Innovative Strategies. Explore innovative strategies that will facilitate the planning and design process while providing clear and consistent direction to housing providers.
Policy 4.3: Agency Consultation. Consult with other public agencies and the adjacent cities in identifying strategies to promote and facilitate new housing construction.
Policy 4.4 Development Approval Process Education. Educate applicants on how to navigate the development approval process; facilitate building permit and development plan processing for residential construction.
Project Description
City of Paramount 11
Policy 1.7: Governmental Constraints. Periodically review City regulations, ordinances, procedures, and fees to ensure they do not unduly constrain the production of housing.
GOAL 5: Affirmatively further equal and fair access to housing opportunities for all residents.
Policy 5.1 Discrimination. Prohibit discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability/medical condition, familial status, marital status, source of income, or any other arbitrary factor.
Policy 5.2: Fair Housing. Assist in the enforcement of fair housing laws by providing support to organizations that can receive and investigate fair housing allegations, monitor compliance with fair housing laws, and refer possible violations to enforcing agencies.
Policy 5.3: Equitable Housing. Encourage investments and the siting of new housing in an equitable and fair manner that prevents discrimination, overcomes pattern of segregation, and fosters inclusive communities.
Policy 5.4: Underrepresented Groups. Facilitate increased participation among traditionally underrepresented groups in the public decision-making process.
In addition to goals and polices, the Housing Element includes a number of implementation action programs to implement the policy direction. Many programs are included to comply with new State laws. Some of the most significant programs include:
SAFETY ELEMENT
The purpose of the update to the Health and Safety Element is to comply with recent State legislation and guidelines (including Assembly Bill 162, Senate Bill 1241, Senate Bill 99, Assembly Bill 747, Senate Bill 1035 and Senate Bill 379). The technical amendments incorporate data and maps, address vulnerability to climate change, and incorporate policies and programs from the City’s update to the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The proposed Health and Safety Element Update organizes safety goals and policies into the following sections: Geology and Seismicity, Flooding, Noise, Air Installation Land Use Compatibility, Hazardous Materials, Crime Prevention and Protection Services, Fire Prevention and Suppression Services, Disaster Preparedness and Evacuation, Emergency Medical Facilities, and Climate Adaptation. The Health and Safety Element includes the following goals and policies. Additional specific actions are included in the Element to implement these goals and policies.
SUMMARY OF GOALS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS
• Health and Safety Element Policy 1. The City of Paramount will strive to minimize damage to life and property in the event of a major disaster.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 2. The City of Paramount will work to identify and improve existing buildings that do not meet fire or earthquake standards.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 3. The City of Paramount will identify areas of high risk (high densities, older structures, fire hazards) so that disaster response may be prioritized. • Health and Safety Element Policy 4. The City of Paramount will maintain an inventory of alternative emergency resources in the City (portable water, water delivery systems, communication, security, waste collection, and emergency power for critical facilities).
Project Description
12 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element • Health and Safety Element Policy 5. The City of Paramount will identify critical facilities for use during disasters and inform appropriate disaster assistance agencies of their location and capabilities. • Health and Safety Element Policy 6. The City of Paramount will assign disaster response duties to appropriate public employees. The major natural hazard that will face the City and region in the coming years is related to the numerous earthquake faults found in the Southern California region. The following policies underscore the City’s recognition of these hazards.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 7. The City of Paramount will work to minimize serious injury and loss of life in the event of a major disaster.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 8. The City of Paramount will strive to prevent serious structural damage to critical facilities and structures, particularly where large numbers of people are apt to congregate. • Health and Safety Element Policy 9. The City of Paramount will work to ensure that vital services and functions can continue following a major earthquake.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 10. The City of Paramount will work to educate the community on how the effects of a major earthquake can be reduced.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 11. The City of Paramount will develop an information program to familiarize citizens with emergency preparedness in the event of a major earthquake. • Health and Safety Element Policy 12. The City of Paramount will require special soils and structural investigations for all larger structures or development involving large groups of people pursuant to State requirements. • Health and Safety Element Policy 13. The City of Paramount will continue to employ the code enforcement program, including the identification of pre-1933 structures, and require their rehabilitation. • Health and Safety Element Policy 14. The City of Paramount will continue redevelopment efforts, particularly in older commercial and industrial areas.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 15. The City of Paramount will strive to protect life and property from fire damage.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 16. The City of Paramount will work to reduce fire danger. • Health and Safety Element Policy 17. The City of Paramount will continue to provide efficient fire protection services.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 18. The City of Paramount will continue code enforcement efforts as a means to reduce fire hazards often associated with older buildings and unpermitted structures. • Health and Safety Element Policy 19. The City of Paramount will require contemporary fire protection for multi-story structures and larger industrial facilities.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 20. The City of Paramount will require all development to comply with established fire safety standards.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 21. The City of Paramount will require new development to install sprinkler systems and smoke detectors, as appropriate.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 22. The City of Paramount will encourage improved fire insurance programs.
Project Description
City of Paramount 13
• Health and Safety Element Policy 23. The City of Paramount will monitor, review, and improve, as needed, the City's emergency response capabilities.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 24. The City of Paramount will strive to provide an atmosphere of security and safety for residents and businesses in the City.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 25. The City of Paramount will encourage good relations between all residents and police.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 26. The City of Paramount will cooperate with local law enforcement as a means to suppress crime.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 27. The City of Paramount will support "neighborhood watch" programs in conjunction with neighborhood improvement associations to encourage cooperation between residents, businesses, and police.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 28. The City of Paramount will cooperate with police and probation departments in the rehabilitation of residents involved in crimes through employment assistance, counseling, and related programs.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 29. The City of Paramount will strive to continue the development of youth programs.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 30. The City of Paramount will incorporate defensible space design principles and other security measures into new development in the City. • Health and Safety Element Policy 31. The City of Paramount will strive to ensure that public buildings (schools, libraries, etc.) are sufficiently noise insulated to permit their intended function to be uninterrupted by exterior noise. • Health and Safety Element Policy 32. The City of Paramount will cooperate with State and Federal agencies so as to minimize transportation related noise.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 33. The City of Paramount will ensure that the design and improvement of future master planned roadway links in the City are accomplished in a manner that minimizes noise impacts on adjacent noise sensitive land uses.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 34. The City of Paramount will promote the development of a compatible noise environment throughout the City.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 35. The City of Paramount will continue to require noise attenuation in new residential developments that are exposed to significant noise levels from freeway and arterial roadway traffic. • Health and Safety Element Policy 36. The City of Paramount will periodically review County and regional plans for land use, transportation, airport operation, etc. to identify any potential noise impacts and to develop corresponding noise attenuation strategies.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 37. The City of Paramount will continue to promote the application of noise insulation and other noise control techniques in new schools, hospitals, and convalescent homes consistent with State and Federal regulations.
• Health and Safety Element Policy 38. The City of Paramount will consider the effects of truck mix, speed limits, and ultimate motor vehicle volumes on noise levels adjacent to master planned roadways when improvements to the circulation system are planned.
Project Description
14 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element • Health and Safety Policy Element 39. Integrate climate change hazards, adaptation, and resiliency into the update of city plans, regulatory codes, and policies
• Health and Safety Policy Element 40. Evaluate, identify, and implement strategies to reduce the negative effects of climate change on the health of disadvantaged communities and socially vulnerable populations lacking adaptive capacities (e.g., older population, children, low- income households, disability, etc.) • Health and Safety Policy Element 41. Set up systems to predict and communicate with the public about heat waves and severe storm events.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 42. Establish cooling centers and emergency shelters to reduce City of Paramount residents’ vulnerability to extreme heat events and severe storms. • Health and Safety Policy Element 43. Update the City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan regularly to assess hazard vulnerabilities and identify mitigation to pursue in order to reduce the level of injury, property damage, and community disruption
• Health and Safety Policy Element 44. Maximize the resiliency of essential public facilities to risks and hazards of flooding.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 45. Evaluate the need to expand the capacity of flood control facilities to minimize flood hazards resulting from extreme weather events. • Health and Safety Policy Element 46. Monitor the work of the Army Corps of Engineers’ and other federal agencies’ response plan to repair the Whittier Narrows Dam. • Health and Safety Policy Element 47. Encourage natural flood control infrastructure and techniques to capture storm water, recharge aquifers, and prevent flooding near established drainage systems and channels. • Health and Safety Policy Element 48. Conduct appropriate outreach and engagement efforts with community residents and businesses for community feedback and buy-in, particularly targeting vulnerable populations. • Health and Safety Policy Element 49. Decrease the urban heat island effect, especially in areas with populations most vulnerable to heat.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 50. Enhance resilience of community tree canopy and urban forest. • Health and Safety Policy Element 51. Enhance the resilience of buildings within the community to extreme heat, weather, and energy disruptions.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 52. Improve the energy efficiency and weatherization of homes and businesses to reduce energy costs and carbon pollution.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 53. Consult with Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District to address the potential increased risk of disease due to changes in vector populations. • Health and Safety Policy Element 54. Consult with Central Basin Water District to implement Drought Response Plan.
• Health and Safety Policy Element 55. Monitor progress of implementation of the Paramount Climate Action Plan and update the plan regularly.
Project Description
City of Paramount 15
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT
The City is developing a new Environmental Justice Element to be part of the General Plan and reflect current and planned efforts in addressing environmental protection, public health, public participation, and equitable distribution of services. As provided by State Government Code 65302(h), the Environmental Justice Element has the same weight as the mandatory elements of the General Plan and is internally consistent with the other elements.
SUMMARY OF GOALS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS
Addressing Pollution Burdens
GOAL EJ-1: REDUCED EXPOSURE TO AIR POLLUTION AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS Policy EJ-1.1: Truck Idling Restrictions. Designate acceptable and unacceptable areas for freight trucking and diesel truck idling to limit impacts on residential neighborhoods overburdened by air pollution. Require businesses to install signs prohibiting idling. Promote contact information of regulatory agency for reporting violations.
Policy EJ-1.2: Industrial Pollution. Reduce pollution exposure in residential neighborhoods by limiting industrial operations that generate potentially hazardous air pollutants.
Policy EJ-1.3: Enforcement/ Monitoring. Consult with California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District to ensure the appropriate monitoring and enforcement of mobile and stationary source emissions and to receive aid and assistance in reducing exposures to harmful air pollutants.
Policy EJ-1.4: Emission Data Collection. Coordinate with the South Coast Air Quality Management District to explore ways to initiate data collection efforts for a community emissions reduction and/or community air quality monitoring plan, including the identification of: information needed (new or updated), potential data sources and the resources needed, and strategies to engage residents.
GOAL EJ-2: IMPROVE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS OF RESIDENTIAL AREAS ADJACENT TO POLLUTIONS
SOURCES
Policy EJ-2.1: Industrial Air Pollution and Noise. Mitigate impacts on residential neighborhoods immediately adjacent to industrial areas by utilizing tree and green buffers, and sound walls, and similar strategies.
Policy EJ-2.2: Minimizing Pollution Burdens. Require new residential development and encourage established residential units to include building design features, equipment, and/or site planning measures to protect occupants from air pollution.
Policy EJ-2.3: Weatherization Programs. Assist residents in retrofitting their homes to be more energy efficient, weatherproofed, and better protected from air and noise pollution.
Policy EJ-2.4: Community Complaints. Develop a proactive process that allows the City to quickly connect with City departments and regional agencies in order to promptly respond to community complaints concerning odors, emissions, noise, and vibration from industrial businesses.
Policy EJ-2.5: Public Education. Develop community programs to improve public awareness of State, regional and local agencies, and resources to assist with air quality and other environmental quality concerns.
Project Description
16 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element Policy EJ-2.6: World Energy Paramount Consultation. Consult with World Energy Paramount for development of a community education campaign about the use of biodiesel at the former Paramount Petroleum Refinery.
GOAL EJ-3: PROPER MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUSE WASTE FROM INDUSTRIAL
ACTIVITIES
Policy EJ-3.1: Hazardous Waste Siting. Discourage the siting of facilities that utilize hazardous materials or generate hazardous wastes within one-quarter mile of any private or public school, park, or similar place where people congregate in numbers.
Policy EJ-3.2: Hazardous Materials Locations. Monitor and evaluate commercial and industrial uses that generate, store, and transport hazardous materials to determine the need for buffer zones or setbacks to minimize risks to residential neighborhoods, schools, parks, and community facilities.
Policy EJ-3.3: Contamination Protection. Protect natural resources—including groundwater—from hazardous waste and materials contamination, and leaking underground storage tanks.
Policy EJ-3.4: Agency Collaboration. Consult with State, federal, and Los Angeles County agencies to develop and promote best practices related to the use, storage, transportation, and disposal of hazardous materials.
Policy EJ-3.5: Hazard Mitigation. Coordinate and integrate hazard mitigation activities with emergency operations plans and procedures.
Policy EJ-3.6: Proper Hazardous Materials Management. Promote the proper collection, handling, recycling, reuse, treatment, and long-term disposal of hazardous waste from households, businesses, and government operations.
Open Space and Physical Activity
GOAL EJ-4: ACCESSIBLE OPEN SPACES AND INCREASED LEVELS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES Policy EJ-4.1: Park Facility. Develop park facilities in residential neighborhoods that are lacking park opportunities within a 10-minute walk.
Policy EJ-4.2: Active Recreation Programming. Develop methods to provide active recreation programming for resident in neighborhoods that are lacking park opportunities within a 10-minute walk.
Policy EJ-4.3: Park Enhancements. Improve existing parks to include active recreational opportunities, such as additional exercise equipment or walking trails and tracks.
Community Facilities and Public Improvements
GOAL EJ-5: PRIORTIZING COMMUNITY NEEDS
Policy EJ-5.1: Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety. Prioritize pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements along major corridors, focusing on the following roadways: Rosecrans Avenue, Paramount Boulevard, Downey Avenue, Somerset Boulevard, and Alondra Boulevard.
Policy EJ-5.2: Tree Canopy. Expand the tree canopy and improve the urban forest in areas without a lot of trees to promote healthier communities and expand shade opportunities along sidewalks and parking areas.
Project Description
City of Paramount 17
Policy EJ-5.3: Urban Greening. Encourage urban greening and green infrastructure elements to increase groundwater recharge, reduce urban runoff, improve water quality, and create public green spaces.
Policy EJ-5.4: Gathering Spaces. Support expansion of new community gathering spaces with flexible areas to allow for special events and activities.
Policy EJ-5.5: Supporting Health Services. Collaborate with community-based organizations and local health providers engaged in improving public health and wellness, expanding access to affordable quality health care, and providing medical services offer fresh foods, where feasible.
Policy EJ-5.6: Equitable Programming and Services. Ensure educational, recreational, and cultural programs and activities of local interest that are inclusive and affordable to all.
Expanding Access to Healthy and Nutritious Foods
GOAL EJ-6: IMPROVED COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS THROUGH HEALTHIER FOOD OPTIONS Policy EJ-6.1: Community Gardens. Work with organizations and other community groups to build and manage community gardens throughout the City, specifically on unique properties that cannot be developed or are vacant.
Policy EJ-6.2: Access Healthy Foods. Encourage the provision of safe, convenient opportunities to access healthy food products by ensuring that sources of healthy foods are easily accessible from all neighborhoods.
Policy EJ-6.3: Urban Agriculture. Promote and expand urban agricultural opportunities, including home gardens, community gardens, urban orchards, and small-lot urban agricultural projects on underutilized sites, park or community facilities, schools, and remnant vacant properties.
Policy EJ-6.4: Food Education. Support food education programs and messaging about healthy eating habits, food choices, culinary classes, nutrition, and related food education programs.
Policy EJ-6.5: Grocery Stores. Encourage new grocery stores and small markets that offer fresh foods, where feasible.
Expanding Community Engagement
GOAL EJ-7: INCREASED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THAT IS INCLUSIVE AND TRANSPARENT Policy EJ-7.1: Outreach Strategy Plan. Create a comprehensive Community Outreach Strategy that serves as a framework for all departments to participate in meaningful two-way communication with the public, prioritizing residents with language barriers.
Policy EJ-7.2: Youth Engagement. Encourage community engagement activities that connect with youth and young adults.
Policy EJ-7.3: Multimedia Engagement. Connect with the community by using multimedia and other technologies.
Policy EJ-7.4: Connect with Community Based Organizations. Consult with community-based organizations to expand outreach and connect with residents and community members.
Policy EJ-7.5: Multilingual Engagement. Support multilingual community engagement including Spanish translators at meetings and publishing digital and paper materials translated in Spanish.
Project Description
18 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element Policy EJ-7.6: Civic Engagement. Support an equitable and comprehensive approach to civic engagement and public outreach on all aspects of City governance and delivery of services.
Policy EJ-7.7: Special Meetings. Conduct special informational meetings for projects that could pose an impact on residential neighborhoods, including projects that may affect specific neighborhoods.
SURROUNDING LAND USES
The Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element apply throughout the City. Uses consist of a full range of suburban land uses, including single-family uses, multi-family uses, commercial uses, light and heavy industrial uses, public and civic uses, and parks and recreational uses.
ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING
The City of Paramount in the Los Angeles Basin, a coastal alluvial plain nestled among the Santa Monica Mountains, the Pacific Ocean, the Elysian, Repetto, and Puente Hills and the Santa Ana Mountains and San Joaquin Hills. Geologically, the City occupies the Central Block area of the Los Angeles Basin adjacent to the Elsinore Fault and Newport-Inglewood Fault.
The Los Angeles River abuts the City and carries waters that originate from headwaters of the Santa Susana Mountains in the San Fernando Valley, drains the Lower Los Angeles River Watershed, and recharges the Central Basin. Topographically, the City is 70 to 80 feet above sea level. According to the State Department of Finance, the population of the City in 2020 is 55,461. According to the American Community Survey 2014-2018 5-year estimates, the City’s housing stock consists of 14,452 total units and place of employment for 24,511 workers. Paramount’s urban development is part of the Census-defined Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim urban area, a densely developed territory with an area of 1,736 square miles and a total population of 12,563,660 and encompass residential, commercial, and other non-residential urban land uses of the Los Angeles Basin and adjoining urbanized valleys.
REQUIRED CITY APPROVALS
The City Council must adopt a General Plan Amendment to incorporate the 2021-2029 Housing Element, the Health and Safety Element Update, and the new Environmental Justice Element into the General Plan.
OTHER AGENCY APPROVALS
The State of California, Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is required to review the Housing Element for compliance with State law (Article 10.6 of the California Government Code) but does not have actual approval authority. The California Geological Survey was consulted as part of the Health and Safety Element drafting. The Element does not require Cal Fire review, as no very high-fire severity areas are located within the jurisdiction.
Project Description
City of Paramount 19
Exhibit 1
Regional Context and Vicinity Map
Project Description
20 City of Paramount
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Project Description
City of Paramount 21
Exhibit 2: Sites Inventory
Project Description
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City of Paramount 23
3 DETERMINATION
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED
□ Aesthetics □ Agriculture Resources □ Air Quality
Biological Resources □ Cultural Resources □ Energy
□ Geology /Soils □ Greenhouse Gas Emissions □ Hazards & Hazardous Materials
□ Hydrology / Water Quality □ Land Use / Planning □ Mineral Resources □ Noise □ Population / Housing □ Public Services
□ Recreation □ Transportation/Traffic □ Tribal Cultural Resources □ Utilities / Service Systems □ Wildfire □ Mandatory Findings of Significance
DETERMINATION
On the basis of this initial evaluation:
I find that the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment, and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION would be prepared.
I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there would not be a significant effect in this case because revisions in the project have been made by or agreed to by the project proponent. A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION would be prepared.
I find that the proposed project MAY have a significant effect on the environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required.
I find that the proposed project MAY have a "potentially significant impact" or "potentially significant unless mitigated" impact on the environment, but at least one effect 1) has been adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and 2) has been addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis as described on attached sheets. An ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required, but it must analyze only the effects that remain to be addressed.
I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, because all potentially significant effects (a) have been analyzed adequately in an earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION pursuant to applicable standards, and (b) have been avoided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION, including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed upon the proposed project, nothing further is required.
John King, Assistant Planning Director
City of Paramount
Date
October 28, 2021
Environmental Impact Evaluation
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Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 25 4 EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
1. AESTHETICS
Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic
vista?
B) Substantially damage scenic resources, including,
but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and
historic buildings within a state scenic highway?
C) In non-urbanized areas, substantially degrade the
existing visual character or quality of public views
of the site and its surroundings? (Public views are
those that are experienced from a publicly
accessible vantage point). If the project is in an
urbanized area, would the project conflict with
applicable zoning and other regulations governing
scenic quality?
D) Create a new source of substantial light or glare
which would adversely affect day or nighttime
views in the area?
A) Less than Significant. The 2007 General Plan EIR3 described the urban setting of the City and concluded that all visual and aesthetic impacts would be less than significant. Future development implemented under the Project, specifically the Housing Element, will not substantially change the location, distribution, or overall density of development within the City other than for the Inventory Sites. The City contains no designated scenic vistas although views of regional scenic features may still be available within the City or from elevated freeways. Impacts will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
B) Less Than Significant Impact. Scenic resources are isolated, natural or manmade objects offering a unique visual display to the onlooker, in contrast to the expanse and variety of aesthetic values offered in scenic vistas. All of the Inventory Sites are currently undeveloped or previously developed properties. Significant impacts could occur through the implementation of the Project and potential development of the Inventory Sites substantially damaged scenic resources, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a State scenic highway.
According to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) website, none of the freeways in the vicinity of the City of Paramount are designated as scenic or eligible to be designated as a scenic highway or route (Caltrans 2020). The City General Plan does not indicate that any of the freeway or roadway segments within the City are designated as scenic roads or corridors.
Future development of any individual Inventory Site will be subject to project-specific review pursuant to CEQA. Considering that the General Plan EIR analyzed impacts to scenic resources at the program level and concluded that impacts were less than significant, impact with adoption and implementation of the proposed Project will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
3 The Initial Study with the Notice of Preparation focused out aesthetics from a more detailed analysis in the DEIR Environmental Impact Evaluation
26 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND C) Less Than Significant Impact. Visual character is the composite physical values of a structure or structures, in context of the built and/or natural environment, that include architectural treatment, landscaping, location, and the intangible qualities such as historical context or uniqueness that establish a thematic visual display for the onlooker when viewing the location.
Above most environmental issues, defining visual character is generally subjective, relying on the opinion of the onlooker coupled with the expertise and institutional knowledge of the local jurisdiction to define the visual character of an area or property.
Residential uses are typical of Southern California Mid-Century development, relatively suburban in nature, and are generally distributed throughout the western, eastern, southern, and northern portions of the City; whereas, the central and northern portions of the City are designated for industrial and commercial land uses. Future development implemented through the policies of the Project will have the effect of incrementally changing the visual character of each Inventory Site. If the change in the visual character or quality of an Inventory Site, in context of the existing visual character and quality of the surrounding environment, can be perceived as ‘degrading’, then the effect of the project may result in potentially significant impacts.
Adverse changes to the visual character of an area can reduce the quality of life for occupants and visitors of the area, reduce the uniqueness or singularity of the viewing experience, and/or reduce the historical and/or communal value of the visual setting.
There is no widely recognized threshold for determining when the effects of a project ‘degrade’ visual character or quality to the point that potentially significant environmental impacts could occur. However, the current CEQA threshold is whether or not a project (in an urbanized area) would conflict with applicable zoning and other regulations governing scenic quality. Thus, future development on the Inventory Sites will be subject to applicable General Plan Policies and zoning regulations related to height, mass and scale, architectural style, materials, landscaping, and a variety of other standards that will ensure future housing development is consistent with the visual character intended for the area. Therefore, impacts due to changes to visual character or quality will be less than significant with implementation of existing regulations and no mitigation is required.
D) Less Than Significant Impact. Future development guided by the implementation of the proposed Project will result in new sources of light and glare. Outdoor lighting will be required in parking lots and pedestrian pathways for security purposes and may be included as accent lighting in landscaping and architectural features. Indoor lighting will also likely be visible through windows. Lighting associated with vehicle travel to and from the Inventory Sites will also be generated. Outdoor lighting when viewed at night can result in glare that can be defined as “excessive, uncontrolled brightness” from a luminaire.
Glare can also occur during the day due to light reflecting off building materials such as highly polished metal and reflective glass. Inappropriate installation of light and reflective materials in future housing could result in effects on nighttime and daytime views through scattering excessive light in the viewers’ eyes, causing a partial or complete inability to see due to light scattering in the eye. The effects of excessive light and glare can result in nuisance impacts ranging from viewer annoyance or an inability to see features in the night sky, to health and safety impacts such as temporary blindness while operating a motor vehicle.
The 2007 General Plan EIR found that impacts related to light and glare will be less than significant with implementation of lighting requirements set forth in the General Plan and zoning regulations. Future housing, implemented through the amended Housing Element, will be developed to meet local and regional housing needs will be subject to the City’s Municipal Code regulating the installation and operation of lighting. Implementation of the lighting requirements of the General Plan and Municipal Code will ensure that lighting is appropriately designed to provide necessary security while not creating undue nuisance or hazards for people at surrounding properties or on roadways in the vicinity of the Inventory Sites. Furthermore, future housing will be subject to standards enumerated in the Code or other documents, requiring review by staff that will limit the use of highly reflective materials thereby minimizing the potential for daytime glare. Impacts to daytime and nighttime views will be less than significant with implementation of exiting regulatory requirements and no mitigation is required.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 27
2. AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
In determining whether impacts to agricultural resources are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to the California Agricultural Land Evaluation and Site Assessment Model (CALESA) prepared by the California Dept. of Conservation as an optional model to use in assessing impacts on agriculture and farmland. In determining whether impacts to forest resources, including timberland, are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to information compiled by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) regarding the State’s inventory of forest land, including the Forest and Range Assessment Project and the Forest Legacy Assessment project, as well as forest carbon measurement methodology provided in Forest Protocols adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
A) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or
Farmland of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as
shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland
Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California
Resources Agency, to non-agricultural use?
B) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act contract?
C) Conflict with existing zoning for, or cause rezoning of, forest land (as defined in Public Resources Code
section 12220(g)), timberland (as defined by Public
Resources Code section 4526), or timberland zoned
Timberland Production (as defined by Government
Code section 51104 (g))?
D) Result in loss of forest land or conversion of forest land to non-forest use?
E) Involve other changes in the existing environment
which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland to non-agricultural use or
conversion of forest land to non-forest use?
A) No Impact. According to the “Important Farmland Finder” within the state’s Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP) website, the City has a primary designation of urban and built-up land. The 2007 General Plan EIR further identifies that no agricultural activities are located within the City nor does the City of Paramount General Plan provide for any agricultural land use designation. The City does not contain any soil which is designated as “Prime Farmland”, “Unique Farmland” or farmland of “Statewide Importance.” Implementation of the proposed Project will not result in the conversion of agricultural designated property within the City to a non-agricultural use and in result, the Project will have no impact.
B) No Impact. According to the California Department of Conservation, Williamson Act reports and statistics, there are no Williamson Act Land Conservation Contract lands within the City including any Inventory Sites or surrounding areas (DOC 2020b). The lands within the City are classified as Urban and Built-Up Land. Therefore, the General Plan EIR found there would be no impacts related to the loss of land under Williamson Act contract. The proposed Project will not result in the rezoning or re-designation of any Inventory Sites to agricultural uses or zones as analyzed in the General Plan EIR. Future development consistent with the proposed Project will be subject to General Plan Policies related to the orderly development of undeveloped properties and will be subject to City review and approval. Therefore, implementation of the Project will not Environmental Impact Evaluation
28 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND result in increased impacts as analyzed in the General Plan EIR. There will be no impacts related to the loss of land under Williamson Act contract and no mitigation is required.
C-D) No Impact. Public Resources Code Section 12220(g) identifies forest land as ‘land that can support 10 percent native tree cover of any species, including hardwoods, under natural conditions, and that allows for management of one or more forest resources, including timber, aesthetics, fish and wildlife, biodiversity, water quality, recreation, and other public benefits.
There is no forest land located within the City and in result, the Project will not result in a direct loss or substantial changes to any forest land and no mitigation is required.
E) No Impact. As discussed above, there is no designated farmland or forest land within the City including any Inventory Sites. Therefore, the proposed Project will not result in the indirect conversion of any agricultural or forest land to nonagricultural or non-forest uses. There will be no impact and no mitigation is required.
3. AIR QUALITY
Where available, the significance criteria established by the applicable air quality management or air pollution control district may be relied upon to make the following determinations. Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the
applicable air quality plan?
B) Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase
of any criteria pollutant for which the Project
region is non-attainment under an applicable
federal or state ambient air quality standard?
C) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant
concentrations?
D) Create objectionable odors affecting a substantial
number of people?
The U.S. EPA and CARB are the federal and State agencies charged with maintaining air quality in the nation and California, respectively. The U.S. EPA delegates much of its authority over air quality to CARB which has geographically divided the State into 15 air basins for the purposes of managing air quality on a regional basis. An air basin is a CARB-designated management unit with similar meteorological and geographic conditions.
The Project site is located in the South Coast Air Basin (Basin) which includes portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, and all of Orange County. Air quality in the Basin is managed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). Pursuant to the California Clean Air Act, SCAQMD is responsible for bringing air quality within the basin into conformity with federal and State air quality standards by reducing existing emission levels and ensuring that future emission levels meet applicable air quality standards. SCAQMD works with federal, State, and local agencies to reduce pollutant emissions through adoption and implementation of rules and regulations.
The U.S. EPA has established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six common air pollutants: ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM), which consists of “inhalable coarse” PM (particles with an aerodynamic diameter between 2.5 and 10 microns in diameter, or PM10) and “fine” PM (particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 microns, or PM2.5), CO, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and lead. The U.S. EPA refers to these six common pollutants as “criteria” pollutants because the agency regulates the pollutants on the basis of human health and/or environmentally-based criteria Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 29 and because they are known to cause adverse human health effects and/or adverse effects on the environment (USEPA 2020a and 2020b). CARB has also established California Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) for the six criteria air pollutants regulated by the federal Clean Air Act (the CAAQS are more stringent than the NAAQS).
A) Less Than Significant Impact. Future development under the General Plan, and the Project, will be required to demonstrate compliance with the current SCAQMD regional and local significance thresholds and, in some cases, prepare site-specific studies of criteria air pollutants. Pursuant to the methodology provided in Chapter 12 of the SCAQMD CEQA Air Quality Handbook (SCAQMD 1993), this analysis will show compliance with the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) if a project: is consistent with the growth assumptions in the AQMP (Criterion 1) and does not increase the frequency or severity of an air quality standards violation or cause a new one (Criterion 2).
The 2007 General Plan EIR identified that the adoption of the 2007 General Plan would not lead to any unavoidable impact, including air quality impacts. The air quality impacts associated with the proposed General Plan’s implementation will not directly result in any short-term (construction-related) and long-term (operational) emissions. Impacts from future development, contemplated as part of the implementation of the General Plan elements will not be significantly higher than the existing structures in the City. The impacts associated with the proposed Project would be less than what was previously analyzed in the 2007 General Plan EIR (which identified the 2007 General Plan impacts would not be significantly higher than the existing structures I the City) and as such, the impact would be less than significant.
B) Less Than Significant Impact. The effects of future housing development on regional air quality could result in potentially significant impacts on the health of residents if it is determined that a project’s individual contribution to cumulative air pollution levels is considerable by exceeding the annual emissions thresholds established by the SCAQMD in its CEQA Air Quality Analysis Handbook (SCAQMD 1993) and, furthermore, would be determined to potentially conflict with implementation of the AQMP. The City of Paramount General Plan contains the following policies related to air quality:
• Transportation Element Policy 6: The City of Paramount will continue to support the development and expansion of the region’s public and mass transit system.
• Transportation Element Policy 8: The City of Paramount will promote shared parking in its commercial areas, where feasible.
• Transportation Element 9: The City of Paramount will continue to support the maintenance and expansion of the existing public transit system.
• Transportation Element 10: The City of Paramount will encourage new and existing businesses to include those improvements that will promote the use of alternative forms of transit. • Transportation Element 11: The City of Paramount will continue to support the local public transit system and ongoing efforts to improve connections with other regional transit facilities and services (MTA bus service, Long Beach Transit, Green Line, etc.).
• Resource Management Element Policy 21: The City of Paramount will continue to cooperate with the other agencies that are charged with improving air and water quality in the region. • Resource Management Element Policy 22: The City of Paramount will continue to cooperate with surrounding cities in the formulation and implementation of regional resource management plans and programs.
The 2007 General Plan EIR concluded that growth within the City consistent with the General Plan would not have a significant and cumulatively impact in terms of air quality. Therefore, the proposed Project is consistent with the findings of the General Plan EIR, will not create a new or significantly increased impact.
Future housing developed in accordance with the goals and policies of the Project (specifically the Housing Element) will have the effect of contributing incrementally to the mobile, energy, and area sources that cumulatively contribute to criteria pollutant levels and associated air pollution in the Basin. The SCAQMD is responsible for preparing the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) for the Basin (SCAQMD 2016). The AQMP includes strategies and control measures to reduce and/or maintain the effects that construction and operation of various uses within the Basin have on regional air quality. The effects of future Environmental Impact Evaluation
30 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND housing development on regional air quality could result in potentially significant impacts on the health of residents if it is determined that a project’s individual contribution to cumulative air pollution levels is considerable by exceeding the annual emissions thresholds established by the SCAQMD in its CEQA Air Quality Analysis Handbook (SCAQMD 1993) and, furthermore, would be determined to potentially conflict with implementation of the AQMP. Criteria pollutants can directly damage the environment, both natural and man-made. Impacts to human health include a variety of acute and chronic respiratory illnesses. Development of future housing will be subject to environmental review pursuant to CEQA upon application for entitlement permits.
The 2007 General Plan EIR concluded that build out of the General Plan will be consistent with the air district’s air quality management plan and will not result in substantial increases in criteria pollutant emissions within the air basin. The proposed Project does not propose any land use changes or designate any Inventory Sites that were not already analyzed in the General Plan EIR. Therefore, long term air quality impacts in the City have already been contemplated, and the Project will not result in impacts that are greater than those contemplated in the General Plan EIR. In addition, future development of the proposed Inventory Sites will be subject to the Goals and Policies of the General Plan and will be subject to environmental review pursuant to CEQA. Impacts related to implementation of the proposed Project will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
C) Less Than Significant Impact. Common sensitive receptors include children under age 14, the elderly over age 65, athletes, and people with cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases. Future housing projects are not considered uses that emit substantial levels of hazardous air pollutants that could have an effect on the environment. In addition, industrial processes with state or federal toxic emissions must prepare health risk assessments and/or obtain various permits (depending on the process) from the SCAQMD, minimizing impacts to surrounding uses. With implementation of existing regulatory requirements and project specific review of future development projects, impacts to sensitive receptors will be less than significant and no separate mitigation for the Housing Element Update is required.
D) Less Than Significant Impact. Residential land uses do not generate objectionable odors that could impact a substantial number of people, therefore, future housing development will not result in effects related to odors that could impact a substantial number of people. There are no sources of objectionable odors located in the vicinity of any Inventory Site identified in the proposed Housing Element. As discussed in the General Plan EIR, future industrial uses could be sources of odors that affect sensitive land uses such as residential areas. Implementation of the General Plan will ensure that incompatible land uses are not co-located, minimizing odor impacts. Therefore, impacts in this regard relative to the Housing Element Update will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 31
4. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly
or through habitat modifications, on any species
identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special
status species in local or regional plans, policies,
or regulations, or by the California Department of
Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?
B) Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian
habitat or other sensitive natural community
identified in local or regional plans, policies,
regulations, or by the California Department of
Fish and Game or US Fish and Wildlife Service?
C) Have a substantial adverse effect on federally
protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of
the Clean Water Act (including, but not limited to,
marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct
removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other
means?
D) Interfere substantially with the movement of any
native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species
or with established native resident or migratory
wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native
wildlife nursery sites?
E) Conflict with any local policies or ordinances
protecting biological resources, such as a tree
preservation policy or ordinance?
F) Conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat
Conservation Plan, Natural Community
Conservation Plan, or other approved local,
regional, or state habitat conservation plan?
A) Less Than Significant Impact. Per the General Plan EIR, the City is urbanized and does not contain any listed or sensitive species of plants or animals, or critical habitat for any such species. While the City does contain a number of drainage/flood control channels (Los Angeles River to the west and the San Gabriel River to the north) they contain little or no riparian (streamside) or wetland resources subject to the jurisdiction of various federal or state agencies (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality control Board, or California Department of Fish and Wildlife). The 2007 General Plan EIR also indicates there is little or no potential for these species or other important biological resources to be present within the City. The City has been largely developed for many years so no populations of rare or sensitive species are known to occur within the City limits. Due to the overall level of disturbance within the City, no sensitive plant species are expected to be encountered, and no vegetation is primarily ruderal (weedy). Wildlife expected within the City would be non-sensitive wildlife that generally inhabit urban areas (such as racoons, squirrels, coyotes, rats, common bird species, etc). All listed or otherwise sensitive species have low or no potential to occur within the City due to the marginal suitable habitat available or lack or habitat (City of Paramount 2020).
Environmental Impact Evaluation
32 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND The proposed Project does not include any changes to the General Plan land use designations of the Inventory sites or any other land use changes that were not previously analyzed in the 2007 General Plan EIR; thus, impacts associated with potential of the Inventory Sites will remain within the scope of analysis certified in the 2007 General Plan EIR. Future development of the Inventory Sites will be subject to project-specific environmental review pursuant to CEQA, as applicable.
Considering that the General Plan EIR analyzed impacts to sensitive species and impacts were found to be less than significant, and that the proposed Project will not result in increased impacts than previously contemplated in the General Plan EIR, impacts will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
B-C) Less than Significant Impact. According to the General Plan EIR and the National Wetlands Inventory, there are no riparian or wetland resources within the City of Paramount (City 2005), (City 2020). The Los Angeles River is located to the west of the Project site; and contains wetland and riparian habitat; however, the Los Angeles River is a drainage channel and no impact would occur through the implementation of the proposed Project. In addition, the General Plan determined that implementation of General Plan Policies will prevent any potential impacts resulting from the direct and indirect effects of future development within the City to less than significant levels. The Project does not include any changes to the land use designations of the Inventory Sites, thus, impacts associated with potential development of the Inventory Sites will remain within the scope of analysis certified in the General Plan EIR. Incorporation of the General Plan policies discussed above will ensure that impacts to riparian and wetland resources resulting from future development of housing will be less than significant and no mitigation measures are required.
D) Less than Significant Impact. The 2007 General Plan EIR concluded that the City did not contain any regional wildlife movement corridors and that impacts to wildlife movement will be less than significant with the implementation of the applicable General Plan policies. Wildlife corridors and the movement of animals are important in maintaining genetic diversity, accommodating matting patterns, and ensuring that sessional behavior is not interrupted. Future development of Inventory Sites will not result in significant impacts to any creeks, rivers, or other water bodies with incorporation of General Plan Policies, thus, creeks, rivers, and other water courses will remain open as wildlife corridors. Impacts will be less than significant and no mitigation measures are required.
E) No Impact. The City has not adopted local ordinances or regulations pertaining to biological resources, therefore, implementation of the Project will not conflict with any locally adopted ordinance or regulation. No impact will result and no mitigation is required.
F) No Impact. There are no established Natural Community Conservation Plans (NCCPs) or Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) within or adjacent to the City of Paramount. Therefore, implementation of the proposed Project will not conflict with any NCCP or HCP. No impact will occur and no mitigation is required. -
Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 33
5. CULTURAL RESOURCES
Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Cause a substantial adverse change in the
significance of a historical resource as defined in
Section15064.5?
B) Cause a substantial adverse change in the
significance of an archaeological resource
pursuant to Section 15064.5?
C) Disturb any human remains, including those
interred outside of formal cemeteries?
A) Less Than Significant Impact. Based on information obtained from the Cultural Resources impacts section of the 2007 General Plan EIR, prior to the incorporation of the City of Paramount, the area was compromised of two smaller communities which were referred to as Hynes and Clearwater. The two communities were considered the center of Southern California’s dairy industry, and were known as both “The Milk Shed of Los Angeles” and the “The World’s Largest Hay Market.” In 1948, after discussions dating back to 1925, the two communities unified under the name of Paramount and the City was officially incorporated in 1957. Since the incorporation of the City in 1957, land uses have transitioned from agricultural to residential, commercial, and industrial land uses. Per the Cultural Resources section of the 2007 General Plan EIR, three (3) local historic resources within the City were identified and include the Hay Tree (located at Paramount Boulevard near Harrison Street), the Iceland ice skating rink (located at the corner of Jackson Street and California Avenue), and Paramount Library (located at 16244 Colorado Avenue). The “Hay Tree” (California Historical Landmark No. 1038), an old, 50-foot-high camphor tree standing in downtown Paramount, was used in the 1930s as a space where the day’s price of hay was set and then quoted around the world. The Iceland (Zamboni) Ice Skating Rink is a local landmark ice skating rink opened by Frank Zamboni in 1940. The privately owned and operated facility has been the training ground for professional skaters and Mr. Zamboni is also well-known for inventing the Zamboni Ice-Resurfacing machine which is used in ice rinks around the world. Finally, the Paramount Library was founded in 1913, when the area was referred to as Hynes-Clearwater. Of the three resources listed, the Hay Tree is also listed as a California Historical Landmark (No. 1038). However, none of the Inventory Sites are located on any of the resource sites and as such, implementation of the proposed Project will not cause substantial adverse change to a historical resource.
B) Less Than Significant Impact. Similar to potential impacts resulting from the effects of future housing development on historical resources, impacts to archaeological resources can result in the loss of information important to the history (and potentially the pre-history) of California and the people who created and/or used the materials. The potential for uncovering significant resources at Inventory Site locations during construction activities is unknown given that no such resources have been discovered and/or recorded previously. The General Plan states that archaeological and historical resources shall be protected and preserved to the maximum extent feasible.
In addition, two state laws (SB 18 and AB 52) require cities to consult directly with local Native American tribes to determine if any tribal cultural resources will be impacted by private development or public works projects proposed in the City. All future development of the Inventory Sites will be required to prepare Cultural Resource Assessments (CRAs) to determine if there are any impacts to cultural or tribal cultural resources as required by the General Plan. This is considered regulatory compliance and not specific mitigation under CEQA.
The 2007 General Plan EIR concluded that build out of the General Plan will not result in less than significant impacts related to the substantial adverse change in the significance of archaeological resources. The proposed Project does not propose any Environmental Impact Evaluation
34 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND land use changes or designate any Inventory Sites that were not already analyzed in the General Plan EIR. Therefore, longterm impacts in the City have already been contemplated, and the proposed Project will not result in impacts that are greater than those contemplated in the General Plan EIR. In addition, future development of the proposed Inventory Sites will be subject to the Goals and Policies of the General Plan and will be subject to compliance with CEQA requirements. Impacts related to implementation of the proposed Project will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
C) Less Than Significant Impact. Future development of the proposed Inventory Sites that require site preparation and earthmoving activities have the unlikely potential to uncover buried or surficial human remains outside of a recognized cemetery or other burial location. Construction activities that result in disturbing or destroying human remains could result in impacts to our knowledge of the burial practices of the people who were buried, the people who buried the remains, and the pre-historic or historic context and circumstances under which the buried became deceased. Should human remains be discovered, project proponents are required to comply with State Health and Safety Code §7050.5. This requires halting work in the immediate area of the find and notifying the County Coroner, who must then determine whether the remains are of forensic interest. If the Coroner, with the aid of a supervising archaeologist, determines that the remains are or appear to be of Native American origin, the Coroner is required to contact the Native American Heritage Commission for further investigations and proper recovery of such remains, if necessary. Implementation of existing regulations will ensure that any discovered remains are appropriately collected and examined for any significant information that can be elicited. Potential impacts due to effects on human remains will be less than significant with implementation of existing regulations and no mitigation is required.
6. ENERGY
Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Result in potentially significant environmental
impact due to wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary
consumption of energy resources, during project
construction or operation?
B) Conflict with or obstruct a state or local plan for
renewable energy or energy efficiency?
A) Less Than Significant Impact. Energy is primarily categorized into three areas: electricity, natural gas, and fuels used for transportation. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (USEIA), California is the most populous state in the United States, representing 12 percent of the total national population, has the largest economy, and is second only to Texas in total energy consumption. However, California has one of the lowest per capita energy consumption levels in the U.S. This is a result of California’s mild climate, extensive efforts to increase energy efficiency, and implementation of alternative technologies. California leads the nation in electricity generation from solar, geothermal, and biomass resources (USEIA 2018).
Electricity. In 2018, almost half of California’s net electricity generation was from renewable resources, including hydropower (U.S. EIA, 2019). In 2018 the California electric system used 281,120 GWh of electricity, nearly 71% of which (199,595 GWh) was produced in-state (CEC 2019a). Southern California Edison (SCE) is the utility provider in Paramount. In the 2018 fiscal year, SCE sold approximately 87,143 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity (SCE 2019a); approximately 46% of the electricity that SCE delivered to customers came from carbon-free resources, including solar energy (approximately 13%), wind energy (approximately 13%), and geothermal energy (approximately 8%) (SCE 2019b).
Natural Gas. California accounts for less than 1% of total U.S. natural gas reserves and production; however, almost twothirds of California households use natural gas for home heating (U.S. EIA 2019). In 2018, California consumed about 12,638 Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 35 million therms3 of natural gas. Approximately 35% of natural gas was consumed by the residential sector which makes up approximately two-thirds of county-wide consumption (CEC 2019b). The Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) provides natural gas service to the City SoCalGas is the principal distributor of natural gas in Southern California and provides natural gas for residential, commercial, and industrial markets.
Transportation. California’s transportation sector consumed 80.6 million Btu of energy per capita in 2017, which ranked 31st in the nation (U.S. EIA 2017). Most gasoline and diesel fuel sold in California for motor vehicles is refined in California to meet state-specific formulations required by the California Air Resources Board.
Future housing developed in accordance with the goals and policies of the Project (specifically the Housing Element Update) will have the effect of contributing to increased energy consumption in the City which will be part of regional growth in energy use as the surrounding communities continue to grow as well. Future growth in the City will be required to be consistent with the state’s energy conservation regulations as codified in Title 24 of the CCR and the California Green Building Code. As long as future development adheres to these multiple energy conservation plans and requirements, the Project will have less than significant impacts relative to energy consumption and efficiency and no mitigation is required. The Environmental Justice Element also includes policies and actions to support climate resilience. Development implemented through the Project would not use energy in a wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary manner.
B) Less Than Significant Impact. The analysis in Section 6.A above demonstrates that the proposed Project would not conflict with nor obstruct a state or local plan adopted for the purposes of increasing the amount of renewable energy or energy efficiency. As discussed above, future development under the Project would be subject to the California Title 24 Building Code energy efficiency standards for residential and non-residential buildings, which would help reduce energy consumption overall within the City.
Equipment and vehicles associated with construction and operation of new development would also be subject to fuel standards at the state and federal level. Truck traffic from some new non-residential development would inherently benefit from programs implemented to achieve the goals of the state’s Sustainable Freight Plan, such as the turnover of older, less fuel-efficient trucks, as fuel economy standards are rolled out and zero emission vehicles (ZEV) trucks and vehicles in general becomes more widely available and cost effective for businesses and residents. Therefore, the Project would not conflict with nor obstruct a state or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency. Impacts would be less than significant, and no mitigation is required.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
36 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND
7. GEOLOGY AND SOILS
Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Expose people or structures to potential
substantial adverse effects, including the risk of
loss, injury, or death involving:
i) Rupture of a known earthquake fault, as
delineated on the most recent Alquist-Priolo
Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the
State Geologist for the area or based on
other substantial evidence of a known fault?
Refer to Division of Mines and Geology
Special Publication 42.
ii) Strong seismic ground shaking?
iii) Seismic-related ground failure, including
liquefaction?
iv) Landslides?
B) Result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of
topsoil?
C) Be located on a geologic unit or soil that is
unstable, or that would become unstable as a
result of the project, and potentially result in on- or off-site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence,
liquefaction or collapse?
D) Be located on expansive soil, as defined in Table
18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1997),
creating substantial risks to life or property?
E) Have soils incapable of adequately supporting the
use of septic tanks or alternative wastewater
disposal systems where sewers are not available
for the disposal of wastewater?
F) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique
paleontological resource or site or unique
geologic feature?
A.i) Less Than Significant Impact (Fault Rupture). Major active faults are located to the south and west of the City. Based on current mapping available from the California Geological Survey (CGS), there are no known Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones within the City limits. However, a number of faults are located in the vicinity of the City, including the NewportInglewood Fault and the Compton-Los Alamitos Fault, located approximately six and ten miles southwest of the City, respectively. The Newport-Inglewood Fault is capable of a maximum credible magnitude of 7.10 and the Compton-Los Alamitos Fault is capable of a maximum credible magnitude of 7.20.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 37 New housing that would be built under the Project (specifically the Housing Element) would still be within the growth limits identified in the General Plan and evaluated in its EIR. New housing would be subject to state seismic safety requirements of the California Building Code as adopted by the City. In addition, new development is required to prepare a geotechnical hazards assessment to identify site specific design and construction guidelines to protect occupants and structures from anticipated seismic impacts. Therefore, impacts related to fault rupture would be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
A.ii) Less Than Significant Impact (Groundshaking). Seismicity is a well-known hazard of Southern California. The San Andreas Fault represents the boundary between two tectonic plates, the northwest-moving Pacific plate and southeasttrending North American plate. Movement along this boundary has resulted in many earthquakes from the region’s numerous faults (CGS 2020a). According to the current California Building Code, the City of Paramount is within Seismic Zone 4 (CBC 2019) which indicates moderate to severe groundshaking is possible.
New housing that would be built under the Project (specifically the Housing Element) would still be within the growth limits identified in the General Plan and evaluated in its EIR. New housing would be subject to state seismic safety requirements of the California Building Code as adopted by the City. In addition, new development is required to prepare a geotechnical hazards assessment to identify site specific design and construction guidelines to protect occupants and structures from anticipated seismic impacts. Therefore, impacts related to seismic groundshaking would be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
A.iii) Less Than Significant Impact (Liquefaction). Liquefaction occurs when water-saturated sediment temporarily loses strength and acts as a fluid. Liquefaction-induced ground failure historically has been a major cause of earthquake damage in Southern California. Liquefaction potential and severity depends on several factors, including soil and slope conditions, proximity to fault, earthquake magnitude, and type of earthquake. According to the CGS, the Project site is located within the South Gate and Whittier Quadrangles, the entire City of Paramount lies within a liquefaction zone (CGS 2020b). New housing that would be built under the Project (specifically the Housing Element implantation) would be subject to state seismic safety requirements of the California Building Code as adopted by the City. In addition, new development is required to prepare a geotechnical hazards assessment to identify site specific design and construction guidelines to protect occupants and structures from anticipated seismic impacts, including liquefaction. Therefore, impacts related to seismic groundshaking would be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
A.iv) No Impact (Landslides). The City is underlain by deep alluvial soils consisting of gravel, sand, silt, and clay derived mainly from runoff out of the San Gabriel Mountains to the north. No areas in the City are prone to landslides due to the lack of steep natural slopes (i.e. foothills or mountains) where fractured and steep slopes. Therefore, there would be no impact related to landslides and no mitigation is required.
B) Less Than Significant Impact. Natural forces, both chemical and physical, are continually at work breaking down and moving rocks, minerals, and soils. Erosion poses environmental hazards through the effect of removing soils that can undermine roads and buildings and destabilize slopes. Erosion can also result in environmental damage by depositing soils in downstream reservoirs, lakes, and drainage structures that can result in impacts to wildlife and human health by changing the ecological properties or the physical boundaries of the water body or drainage control device. Future developments on proposed Inventory Sites are subject to Federal and State regulations limiting erosion pursuant to NPDES requirements..
Therefore, impacts will be less than significant and no mitigation is required. Impacts will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
C) Less Than Significant Impact. The City is underlain by deep alluvial soils consisting of gravel, sand, silt, and clay derived mainly from runoff out of the San Gabriel Mountains to the north. The City of Paramount, similar to the entire Los Angeles Basin, is subject to moderate to severe groundshaking from frequent earthquakes. In addition to liquefaction, strong groundshaking can trigger other seismic hazards including lateral spreading, landslides, subsidence, or collapse. The California Geological Survey (CGS) mapping indicate this portion of the Basin is underlain by Quaternary or Recent Alluvium (Qal) which consists of “recent clay, silt, sand and gravel, unconsolidated, poorly stratified to well stratified, including alluvial Environmental Impact Evaluation
38 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND fan, flood-plain, and streambed deposits” (CGS 2020a). No areas in the City are prone to landslides due to the lack of steep natural slopes (i.e., foothills or mountains) where fractured and steep slopes.
New housing that would be built under the Project (specifically the Housing Element) would still be within the growth limits identified in the General Plan and evaluated in its EIR. New housing would be subject to state seismic safety requirements of the California Building Code as adopted by the City. In addition, new development is required to prepare a geotechnical hazards assessment to identify site specific design and construction guidelines to protect occupants and structures from anticipated seismic impacts, including liquefaction, lateral spreading, landslides, subsidence, or collapse. Therefore, impacts related to unstable geology or soils would be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
D) Less Than Significant Impact. Expansive soils are those that greatly increase in volume when they absorb water and shrink when they dry out. Expansion is measured by shrink-swell potential defined by the relative volume change in soil while gaining in moisture. If the shrink-swell potential is rated moderate to high, damage to buildings, roads, and other structures can occur. Although the City is generally underlain by sandy and silty alluvial soils, there may be areas with soils exhibiting a high to moderately high shrink-swell potential which are considered expansion.
Future housing developed pursuant to the policies of the proposed Project (specifically the Housing Element) will be subject to the requirements of the California Building Code (CBC) as adopted by the City, including preparation of a soils report. The CBC requires analysis of soils and application of engineering standards to ensure project sites are made suitable for building construction, particularly in regard to foundation design. Foundation and structural design for proposed development of the Inventory Sites will be subject to analysis and design recommendations by a licensed geotechnical engineer for review and approval by the City. In addition, the General Plan requires the preparation of preliminary soil, geotechnical, or seismic reports. Therefore, impacts due to geological and soils hazards will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
E) Less Than Significant Impact. The City has existing sewer infrastructure and the 2007 General Plan EIR update identified that development on soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative wastewater disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of wastewater. Such approvals would require approval for the use of septic systems from appropriate county and state agencies. Compliance with county and state requirements will assure that potential impact would be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
F) Less Than Significant Impact. According to the 2007 General Plan EIR, there are no known geological resources and/or unique geological features located within the City including any of the Inventory Sites. The General Plan EIR concluded that development in the City would not have adverse effects on paleontological resources. The proposed Project does not propose any land use changes or designate any Inventory Sites that were not already analyzed in the General Plan EIR. Therefore, long term impacts have already been evaluated and the proposed Project will not result in impacts that are greater than those contemplated in the General Plan EIR. In addition, future development of the proposed Inventory Sites will be subject to the Goals and Policies of the General Plan and will be subject to environmental evaluation pursuant to CEQA. Therefore, potential impacts on the resources related to implementation of the proposed Elements will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 39
8. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either
directly or indirectly, that may have a significant
impact on the environment?
B) Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or
regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the
emissions of greenhouse gases?
A) Less than Significant Impact. Climate change is the distinct change in measures of climate for a long time period.
Climate change is the result of numerous, cumulative sources of greenhouse gas emissions all over the world. Natural changes in climate can be caused by indirect processes such as changes in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun or direct changes within the climate system itself (i.e., changes in ocean circulation). Human activities can affect the atmosphere through emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and changes to the planet’s surface. Human activities that produce GHGs are the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas for heating and electricity, gasoline and diesel for transportation); methane from landfill wastes, raising livestock, and deforestation activities; and some agricultural practices. 4 Greenhouse gases differ from other emissions in that they contribute to the “greenhouse effect.” The greenhouse effect is a natural occurrence that helps regulate the temperature of the planet. The majority of radiation from the sun hits the Earth’s surface and warms it. The surface in turn radiates heat back towards the atmosphere, known as infrared radiation. Gases and clouds in the atmosphere trap and prevent some of this heat from escaping back into space and re-radiate it in all directions.
This process is essential to supporting life on Earth because it warms the planet by approximately 60° Fahrenheit. Emissions from human activities since the beginning of the industrial revolution (approximately 250 years ago) are adding to the natural greenhouse effect by increasing the gases in the atmosphere that trap heat, thereby contributing to an average increase in the Earth’s temperature. Greenhouse gases occur naturally and from human activities. Greenhouse gases produced by human activities include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Since 1750, it is estimated that the concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere have increased over 36 percent, 148 percent, and 18 percent, respectively, primarily due to human activity. Emissions of greenhouse gases affect the atmosphere directly by changing its chemical composition while changes to the land surface indirectly affect the atmosphere by changing the way the Earth absorbs gases from the atmosphere.
The 2007 General Plan EIR did not evaluate GHG impacts as that environmental issue was not considered in CEQA documents at that time. However, the growth anticipated under the Project is no greater than that evaluated in the General Plan EIR which concluded overall development would have a less than significant impact to what was previously analyzed in the General Plan EIR.
B) Less than Significant Impact. In August 2008, the SCAQMD adopted the Climate Action Plan (CAP) which required the development of guidance to assist Lead Agencies, project proponents, permit applicants, and interested parties in assessing and reducing project-specific contributions of greenhouse gas emissions and resulting cumulative impacts due global climate change. Future housing will be constructed on undeveloped and currently developed, underutilized properties. GHG emissions will be evaluated during the City’s standard environmental review process as required by CEQA. Applicable measures will be incorporated into future projects, ensuring GHG emissions are reduced to levels that will not be considered cumulatively considerable in the context of global climate change and resulting impacts. Some projects may be required to identify a GHG 4 United States Environmental Protection Agency. Frequently Asked Questions About Global Warming and Climate Change. Back to Basics. April 2009.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
40 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND emissions inventory using regulatory and industry standard methodologies and measures. Therefore, impacts will be less than significant at this program level and no programmatic mitigation is needed. However, it is likely that future projects, especially larger ones, will require project-specific mitigation for their estimated GHG emissions.
9. HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Create a significant hazard to the public or the
environment through the routine transport, use, or
disposal of hazardous materials?
B) Create a significant hazard to the public or the
environment through reasonably foreseeable
upset and accident conditions involving the
release of hazardous materials into the
environment?
C) Emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous
or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or
waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or
proposed school?
D) Be located on a site which is included on a list of
hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to
Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a
result, would it create a significant hazard to the
public or the environment?
E) For a project located within an airport land use
plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted,
within two miles of a public airport or public use
airport, would the project result in a safety hazard
or excessive noise for people residing or working
in the project area?
F) Impair implementation of or physically interfere
with an adopted emergency response plan or
emergency evacuation plan?
G) Expose people or structures, either directly or
indirectly, to a significant risk of loss, injury or
death involving wildland fires?
A-D) Less than Significant Impact. Residential and mixed-use housing development do not cause or contribute substantially to potential hazards to the public or the environment because these uses do not involve the use, transport, or disposal of appreciable amounts of hazardous materials or wastes. For purposes of the following analysis, a “significant hazard to the public or the environment” is characterized by the effects of exposure to hazardous materials and/or wastes from a facility or facilities that are subject to operations-specific federal, state, regional, or local regulations and implementation processes (including permitting, accident contingency, and clean-up requirements) based on the amount of material or waste undergoing use, transport, or disposal and the resulting impacts to human health or ecosystem functions. Residential uses are Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 41 characterized by the use of common, widely available hazardous materials including paints and other solvents, cleaners, and pesticides. The remnants of these and other products are disposed of as household hazardous waste (HHW) that includes batteries, electronic wastes, and other wastes that are prohibited or discouraged from being disposed of at local landfills. Use of common household hazardous materials are not subject to federal or state permitting at the consumer level and it is reasonably foreseeable that upset and accident conditions cannot be met by the use, transport, and disposal of such materials and wastes from future residences. Consumer-level household hazardous materials and wastes are not subject to federal or state permitting by the consumer, and their use is at such levels as to not have the potential to result in risk of upset or accident that could harm a substantial number of people, including children attending schools in the area, or have a substantial effect on the functions of the local or regional ecosystem.
Hazardous Sites: The proposed Inventory Sites are not listed as hazardous waste and substances sites, leaking underground storage tank sites, solid waste disposal sites, hazardous waste facilities subject to corrective action, or sites regulated by the Regional Water Quality Board. 5 There are no Cleanup Program Sites located within the City of Paramount at this time. The General Plan requires that residential projects and other sensitive receptors be located an adequate distance from existing and potential sources of toxic emissions. In addition, CEQA requires the assessment of risk involving the transportation, disposal, manufacture, storage, and handling of any hazardous materials for new development. Therefore, development of future housing on proposed Inventory Sites will be required to assess impacts due to the accidental release of hazardous materials as part of standard environmental review procedures pursuant to CEQA and City policy.
Materials and Wastes Transport: According to the General Plan EIR, hazardous materials pass through the City in route to other destinations via surface streets and freeways. The City has no direct authority to regulate the transport of hazardous materials on local and regional roadways or railways; however, under upset and accident conditions, it is reasonably foreseeable that most of the spill would be contained within the right-of-way of a roadway with minimal chance of hazardous materials or wastes reaching adjacent homes. Transportation of hazardous materials and wastes by truck is regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). DOT regulations establish criteria for safe handling procedures. Federal safety standards are also included in the California Administrative Code. The California Health Services Department also regulates the haulers of hazardous waste but does not regulate all hazardous materials. Although there is some reasonably foreseeable potential for exposure of future residents to hazardous materials and wastes under upset and accident conditions, federal and state regulations are in place with a focus on prevention of accidental releases and measures for appropriate containment and cleanup when accidents occur.
Facilities: According to the Envirostor 6 website of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, the City of Paramount has 22 total facilities listed within Paramount although fifteen of them require further action (testing or remediation).
These sites are spread throughout the City. Both the federal government and the State of California require all businesses that handle hazardous materials or extremely hazardous materials to submit a business risk management plan to the local Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA). The CUPA with responsibility for the City is the County’s Environmental Health Department. The business risk management plan must include an inventory of the hazardous materials and emergency response plans and procedures to be used in the event of a significant release of a hazardous material. Implementation of federal and state requirements for the operation of these types of facilities will ensure that exposure to residential uses will be minimized or avoided.
Considering the preceding analysis, the proposed Project will not result in effects from the use, transport, or disposal of hazardous or acutely hazardous materials or wastes, under normal or upset and accident conditions, which could impact human health or the environment with implementation of existing regulations, standards, and General Plan Policy. Impacts will be less than significant.
5 California Environmental Protection Agency. Cortese List Data Resources. http://www.calepa.ca.gov/SiteCleanup/CorteseList/ [December 7, 2020]
6 DTSC envirostor website https://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/ Environmental Impact Evaluation
42 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND E) No Impact. Airport safety issues and their connection with land use planning are generally associated with hazards posed by departing and landing aircraft crashes and the effects those crashes could have on uses and people on the ground.
Development within the approach and departure zones of an airport or airstrip are subject to the effects of potentially widespread, although rare, aircraft crashes; therefore, the denser the development and population within these zones, the greater the risk of impacts to human health. Aircraft crashes can result in the substantial loss of property and life depending on the size of the aircraft, its velocity, the pitch, yaw, and roll at the moment of impact, and the type of cargo it is carrying.
Development within the vicinity of an airport can result in increased potential for impact due to height, glare, and electronic interference that can disrupt flight patterns and pilots operating out of the airport.
The Los Angeles County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) is responsible for ensuring that development within the vicinity of an airport does not cause undue risk to airport operations or the safety of persons on the ground. The commissioners represent the county, its cities, and the public. Legislation passed in 1982 established a direct link between airport land use plans and the land use plans and regulations adopted by cities and counties, as established in California Public Utilities Code Section 21676. In accordance with this legislation, the ALUC must review the general and specific plans of local jurisdictions for consistency with the county's airport comprehensive land use plan (CLUP). Primary and Secondary Review Areas must be identified for each facility. Projects proposed within the geographic boundaries of the Primary Review Area are referred to the ALUC for review and evaluation. Within the Secondary Review Area, only those projects involving a structure or other object with a height that would exceed that permitted under adopted land use zoning would be referred to the ALUC for review.
The closest airports to the City is the Compton-Woodley airport which is located approximately five miles to the west and the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) which is located approximately 14 miles to the northwest of the City. Per the 2007 General Plan EIR, it was identified that the City does not fall within the Planning Boundary/Airport Influence Area for either airport. Therefore, no impact to airport related safety hazards or excessive noise would occur and no mitigation is required.
F) No Impact. The City Office of Emergency Management coordinates disaster response and recovery efforts in the City of Paramount. The City’s goal is to respond to emergency situations with a coordinated system of emergency service providers and facilities. The City has planned responses to extraordinary emergency situations associated with natural disasters, technological incidents, terrorist activities, and war-related operations. The City is part of a county and statewide emergency management system that addresses evacuation and movement of people in the event of an emergency. It should be noted that the City’s plans are flexible in order to respond to the inherent chaos associated with disasters in a manner that is coordinated but responsive to the immediate needs of the situation. The proposed Project does not include any land use, circulation, or safety changes that could conflict with implementation of the Office of Emergency Management or other emergency response programs. No impact will occur.
G) Less than Significant Impact. As noted by CALFIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps, the City is not located in an area of high fire threat (CSG 2020). Because Paramount is an urbanized community, structural fires rather than wildland fires represent the greatest fire risk in the City. The California Building Code (CBC) focuses on the construction and materials used in roofs, attic ventilation, exterior walls, decking, floors and underfloors, and ancillary buildings, structures, and appendages.
Therefore, impacts will be less than significant with implementation of existing regulations.
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City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 43
10. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY
Would the project: Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporation
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Violate any water quality standards or waste
discharge requirements or otherwise substantially
degrade surface or ground water quality?
B) Substantially decrease groundwater supplies or
interfere substantially with groundwater recharge
such that the project may impede sustainable
groundwater management of the basin?
C) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of
the course of a stream or river or through the
addition of impervious surfaces, in a manner that
would:
(i) result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or
off-site;
(ii) substantially increase the rate or amount of
surface runoff in a manner which would result in
flooding on- or off-site;
(iii) create or contribute runoff water which would
exceed the capacity of existing or planned
stormwater drainage systems or provide
substantial additional sources of polluted runoff;
or
(iv) impede or redirect flood flows.
D) In flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones, risk
release of pollutants due to project inundation?
E) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of a water
quality control plan or sustainable groundwater
management plan?
A) Less Than Significant Impact. The City of Paramount has prepared a Stormwater Management Plan to support the City’s application for a Municipal Storm Water (MS4) Permit to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. The Plan represents the five-year management strategy for controlling the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable in storm water runoff during the first NPDES storm water permit term. Paramount’s Municipal Code implement’s the City’s storm water quality management strategies consistent with its General Construction permit from the Regional Water Quality Control Board. These regulations are applicable to all storm water generated on any developed or undeveloped land within the City.
Housing is a common type of urban development and is addressed in the City waste discharge requirements for construction and operational sources of pollutants that can affect downstream surface water bodies by discharge into the local storm drain system. Discharge of pollutants into water bodies can result in effects on the beneficial uses of the water body. Beneficial uses include water for agricultural uses, special areas for biological resources, cold freshwater habitat, commercial and sport fishing, multitudes of habitats, freshwater replenishment sources, areas of artificial or natural groundwater recharge, water for industrial supply and process, water for domestic uses, waters used for navigation, areas where rare or endangered species Environmental Impact Evaluation
44 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND could occur, fish spawning grounds, migration, shellfish harvesting, and recreational activities. 7 The resulting impacts due to effects on water quality and associated beneficial uses include disruption of the ecosystem due to the loss of habitat, potential harm or death to sensitive species, and a narrowing of migratory options and species’ gene pools. Impacts to humans range from quality of life issues such as the loss of recreational waters to potential health impacts due to contamination of drinking water supplies and contamination of fish and other marine life farmed and sold for food.
The proposed Project does not include any policies or programs that would conflict with implementation of the NPDES program such that future residential development could result in exceedance of the waste discharge requirements and thus will not substantially impact downstream water quality. Furthermore, future housing development will be subject to environmental inquiry and potential review pursuant to CEQA. Impacts related to violation of water quality standards and waste discharge requirements will be less than significant with implementation of existing permit regulations.
B) Less Than Significant Impact. The proposed Project can accommodate projected housing demand over the next eight years (the period of the 6th Cycle Housing Element), which will require potable water for drinking, food preparation, cleaning, and bathing as well as water for landscape irrigation. Future housing will generate demand for water in addition to the demand of existing uses and the incremental increase in demand as growth occurs in the area; therefore, the future housing will contribute to cumulative, long-term increases in demand for groundwater and other water resources. The City is situated between the San Gabriel and Los Angeles Rivers both of which are for most part currently contained within improved flood control channels.
Water is essential to the proper function of an ecosystem and human life and activities; thus, water shortages can impact the health and wellbeing of humans and the quality of the environment. According to state law, local water agencies must regularly update their Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) every 5 years and large development projects must prepare a separate water supply assessment (WSA) to identify how to avoid or reduce impacts on surface or groundwater supplies over a 20-year period even under drought conditions.
The proposed Housing Element Update does not include any changes to the land use designations including the Inventory Sites; thus, impacts associated with potential development of the Inventory Sites will remain within the scope of analysis in the 2007 General Plan EIR. Future development of the Inventory Sites will be subject to environmental inquiry and possible project-specific environmental review pursuant to CEQA. Considering the proposed Housing Element is consistent with the analysis documented in the General Plan EIR and will not increase surface or groundwater demand beyond that assessed in the General Plan EIR, the HEU will result in equivalent or less than significant impacts related to the decline in groundwater levels when compared to the analysis and conclusions in the General Plan EIR.
C) Less Than Significant Impact. The City is situated between the San Gabriel and Los Angeles Rivers both of which are fully improved flood control channels. Future development of housing will occur on currently or previously developed sites and undeveloped sites but would not alter existing drainage channels or patterns. Development on currently or previously developed sites is unlikely to substantially change the hydrological conditions of the site that was undoubtedly graded and engineered to convey on-site flows to local storm drains or water quality basins in accordance with the City standard requirements for drainage and flood control, as specified in the Municipal Code. Development on previously undeveloped sites may result in more substantial changes to the site topography and drainage conditions as cut and fill activity occurs to balance the site for building construction. The concern with changes in on-site drainage is the potential for flooding, erosion, siltation, pollutant loading, and exceedance of storm drain capacity due to the lack of or improperly designed conveyance of runoff. The effects of changes in drainage patterns can result in impacts to human health and quality of life and the environment through damage or destruction of structures, sedimentation of downstream water bodies and the resulting impact to aquatic biological resources, decreased water quality with similar impacts to aquatic biological resources, and storm water backup that can result in similar types of flooding impacts.
7 Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control District. Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan)(CWB 2018) Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 45 According to the 2007 General Plan EIR, implementation of the General Plan will reduce potential impacts related to additional runoff such as erosion and flooding to less than significant levels and requires the maintenance of adequate facilities for water and storm drain services. Therefore, impacts due to the effects of changes in drainage patterns or potential erosion relative to the HEU will be less than significant with implementation of existing regulations and General Plan Policies.
D) Less Than Significant Impact. Most of Paramount faces minimal flood hazards, as outlined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hazard maps. The City is adjacent to the Los Angeles River and San Gabriel Rivers which are susceptible to 100-year flooding events but they are contained within the improved banks of their respective channels.
However, none of the proposed Housing Element Inventory Sites are located within a 100-year flood hazard area. Inundation from the Hoover Reservoir and Whittier Narrows Dam located 13 miles northeast of Paramount poses the greatest threat from dam inundation for the City. The dam was built as a flood risk management and water conservation project in 1957 and creates a reservoir capacity of 9.75 million gallons of water. In 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determined the dam is structurally unsafe and poses a potentially catastrophic risk to the communities along the San Gabriel River floodplain. In addition, engineers found that the mile-long earthen structure could fail if water were to flow over its crest or if seepage eroded the sandy soil underneath. Measures to permanently address these issues are currently being developed and evaluated (as of 2020). The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has determined that inundation from dam failure would affect all the commercial, industrial, and residential areas of the City (USACE 1985).
For future housing under the HEU, the General Plan requires each project to demonstrate it is not impacted by a 100-year flood zone or what steps it will take to eliminate that risk. CEQA also requires projects identify specific criteria and conditions that must be met to avoid potential impacts from flood hazards such as application of flood hazard regulations, evaluation of development sites for flood hazard potential, and application of flood-proofing strategies. Therefore, impacts will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
Seiche is the process by which water sloshes outside its containing boundaries, generally due to an earthquake. Seiche can result in localized flooding that can result in property damage or personal injury. This could occur within an open reservoir, lake, or other large waterbody (see discussion regarding the Hoover Reservoir). The City does not contain any sizeable open reservoirs, lakes, or other large bodies of water, therefore, impacts resulting from the effects of seiche in the City will be less than significant and no mitigation is required. A tsunami is a large wave that generates in the ocean, generally from an earthquake, and builds intense strength and height before impacting a coast. Tsunami can result in significant property damage and loss of life due to the intense, destructive nature of the wave and the often-sudden occurrence with little chance for warning. The City would likely experience minimal impacts from the effects of a tsunami because it is located a minimum of 12 miles inland of the Pacific Ocean. In addition, according to the General Plan EIR, the City is relatively flat and risk of hazard due to mudflow is less than significant.
Therefore, the potential impacts of flooding, tsunami, or seiche and any related release of pollutants would be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
E) Less Than Significant Impact. This assessment is for both surface water management planning and sustainable groundwater management plans.
Water Quality Control Plan. The Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region, Basin Plan for the Coastal Watersheds of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties (Basin Plan) 8 is the water quality control plan for the greater Los Angeles Basin, including the City of Paramount. The Basin Plan designates beneficial uses, establishes water quality objectives, and contains implementation programs and policies to achieve those objectives for all waters addressed through the Basin Plan (CWB 2018). The Basin Plan is continually being updated to include amendments related to implementation of the total maximum daily load9 (TMDL) of specific potential pollutants or water quality stressors, revisions of programs and policies within the Los 8 https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/losangeles/water_issues/programs/basin_plan/ 9 TMDL is a regulatory term in the U.S. Clean Water Act, describing a plan for restoring impaired waters that identifies the maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water can receive while still meeting water quality standards Environmental Impact Evaluation
46 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND Angeles RWQCB region, and changes to beneficial use designations and associated water quality objectives. The General Plan requires future development to be consistent with the Basin Plan. Therefore, the HEU will not conflict with or obstruct implementation of a water quality control plan.
Groundwater Management Plan. In 2014 the governor signed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) into law which requires governments and water agencies of high and medium priority basins to halt overdraft and bring groundwater basins into balanced levels of pumping and recharge. SGMA empowers local agencies to form Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to manage basins sustainably and requires those GSAs to adopt Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) for crucial groundwater basins in California.
The City of Paramount Public Works Department, Utilities Division, maintain three water well sites and two imported water connections to provide domestic water service to the City residents and businesses. Currently two water utilities serve the community: Golden State Water Company and the City’s Water Department (Water Division of the Public Works Department).
The City overlies the Central (groundwater) Basin which was adjudicated in 1965 and the Central Basin Watermaster manages groundwater supplies and replenishment. The City Utilities Division coordinates with the Watermaster to assure adequate water service to the City.
New housing growth under the Project will not exceed that identified in the General Plan and evaluated in the General Plan EIR. The master groundwater planning of the Watermaster is based on adopted land use plans in the General Plans of the cities that utilize Central Basin groundwater. Therefore, the Project will not conflict with or obstruct implementation of a sustainable groundwater management plan. Impacts will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
11. LAND USE AND PLANNING
Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
a) Physically divide an established community?
b) Cause a significant environmental impact due to a
conflict with any land use plan, policy, or regulation
adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an
environmental effect?
A) No Impact. Communities form neighborhoods within a broader assemblage of land uses, acting as physically bounded and social networks that often define a person’s local sense of place and help shape an individual’s social and cultural perspective. A significant impact would occur if proposed Inventory Sites are sufficiently large or configured in such a way so as to create a physical barrier within an established community.
The proposed Housing Element identifies Inventory Sites throughout the City of Paramount. The Inventory Sites rely on existing land use designations to accommodate new residential and mixed-use development, and no changes are proposed as part of the Project. The General Plan does not designate any established communities that would be affected by implementation of the proposed Project; therefore, implementation of the proposed Project will not create any physical barrier within the community. Furthermore, project implementation will not require new infrastructure systems such as roadways or flood control channels not already planned and previously considered in the General Plan EIR. As such, the Housing Element Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 47 update will not divide or disrupt neighborhoods or any other established community elements. No impact will occur and no mitigation is required.
B) No Impact. The Housing Element update sets forth policies to encourage housing development consistent with adopted land use policies established in the General Plan. No changes in General Plan land use or development intensities are proposed. The Project does not include any goals, policies, or actions that would conflict with adopted General Plan goals and policies to mitigate impacts due to effects generated by development within the Planning Area, as specified in the certified General Plan EIR. The Project would not impact nor conflict with an existing land use plan or policy. No impact will occur and no mitigation is required.
12. MINERAL RESOURCES
Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Result in the loss of availability of a known
mineral resource that would be of value to the
region and the residents of the state?
B) Result in the loss of availability of a locally
important mineral resource recovery site
delineated on a local general plan, specific plan or
other land use plan?
A-B) Less Than Significant Impact. Minerals refer to aggregate resources, or rock, sand, and gravel, energy-producing fields, including oil, gas, and geothermal substances, and related mining operations. The California Department of Conservation (DOC) classifies land in the state into mineral resource zones based on the known or inferred mineral resource potential of that land (DOC, 2020a). Land in the City has been classified by the California Division of Mines and Geology (CDMG) according to the presence or absence of significant sand and gravel deposits (suitable for use in construction-grade aggregate). The land classification is presented in the form of maps showing Mineral Resource Zones (MRZ). There are four MRZ classifications, MRZ-1 through MRZ-4 as described below:
• MRZ-1 are areas where adequate information indicates that no significant mineral deposits are present, or where it is judged that little likelihood exists for their presence. • MRZ-2 are areas where adequate information indicates that significant mineral deposits are present or where it is judged that a high likelihood for their presence exists. • MRZ-3 are areas containing mineral deposits the significance of which cannot be evaluated from available data. • MRZ-4 are areas where availability information is inadequate for assignment to any other MRZ-zone.
The General Plan EIR identifies that the City is not located within a Significant Mineral Aggregate Resource Area nor it is located in an area with active mineral extraction activities. As a result, no conflict with any existing City-wide resource management and conservation plan is expected with future development.
The Project does not propose changes to land use designations of the Inventory Sites and does not propose Inventory Sites that were not already analyzed in the General Plan EIR. In addition, none of the Inventory Sites have currently active oil or gas wells (as no oil or mineral extraction activities are currently located in the City). Finally, any new development under the Project would require an assessment of hazards such as onsite oil or gas wells as part of the CEQA process. Therefore, impacts will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
48 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND
13. NOISE
Would the project result in:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Generation of a substantial temporary or
permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the
vicinity of the project in excess of standards
established in the local general plan or noise
ordinance, or applicable standards of other
agencies?
B) Generation of excessive groundborne vibration or
groundborne noise levels?
C) For a project located within the vicinity of a private airstrip or an airport land use plan or, where such
a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a
public airport or public use airport, would the
Project expose people residing or working in the
project area to excessive noise levels?
A) Less Than Significant Impact. The City is bounded by the 710 Freeway and the Los Angeles River to the west, East 70th Street to the south, Lakewood Boulevard, Rosecrans Avenue, and Downey Avenue to the east, and the 105 Freeway to the north. The main existing noise sources within Paramount include vehicular traffic on neighboring freeways as well as a number of major arterial streets in the City including Garfield Avenue, Paramount Boulevard, Rosecrans Avenue, and Alondra Boulevard.
To ensure that noise producers do not adversely affect sensitive receptors, the City of Paramount identifies land use compatibility standards within the General Plan to use for planning and development decisions. The General Plan Noise Element includes policies, standards, criteria, programs, diagrams, and maps related to protecting public health and welfare from excessive noise exposure. General Plan Goals and Policies together with Municipal Code standards for noise control are incorporated into the land use planning process to reduce noise and land use incompatibilities.
According to the 2007 General Plan EIR, construction activity is typically short-term in nature and is generally not considered to have a significant impact on noise sensitive uses as long as construction activity is limited to daylight hours. Acoustical analyses for future housing development projects under the Project will address construction noise impacts on sensitive noise receptors and identify mitigation if required.
Future housing developments on the proposed Inventory Sites are subject to the policies of the existing General Plan designed to minimize noise impacts to noise-sensitive properties as well as the City’s Noise Ordinance. The General Plan requires noise studies as part of the standard environmental review process for housing developments. These studies will evaluate noise levels and incorporate design features or mitigation measures necessary to minimize adverse noise impacts.
The proposed Project update does not include any changes to the land use designations of the Inventory Sites; thus, impacts associated with potential development of the Inventory Sites will remain within the scope of analysis in the General Plan EIR.
Future housing development will be subject to preliminary environmental review pursuant to CEQA and if found not to be exempt, subject to full environmental analysis at which time all environmental issues will be vetted and appropriate project- Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 49 level mitigation incorporated, if needed. Potential impacts will be less than significant with implementation of existing policies, standards and regulations.
B) Less Than Significant Impact. Vibration is sound radiated through the ground. The rumbling sound caused by the vibration of room surfaces is called groundborne noise. The ground motion caused by vibration is measured as particle velocity in inches per second, and in the U.S. is referenced as vibration decibels (VdB). The background vibration velocity level in residential and educational areas is usually around 50 VdB while the vibration velocity level threshold of perception for humans is approximately 65 VdB. A vibration velocity level of 75 VdB is the approximate dividing line between barely perceptible and distinctly perceptible levels for many people. Sources within buildings such as operation of mechanical equipment, movement of people, or the slamming of doors cause most perceptible indoor vibration. Typical outdoor sources of perceptible groundborne vibration are construction equipment, steel-wheeled trains, and traffic on rough roads. If a roadway is smooth, the groundborne vibration from traffic is rarely perceptible. The range of interest is from approximately 50 VdB, which is the typical background vibration velocity level, and 100 VdB, which is the general threshold where minor damage can occur in fragile or historic buildings.
Typical construction vibration mitigation includes routing and placement of equipment to maximize distance to receptors and use of alternative equipment, such as use of drilled pile drivers as opposed to impact drivers. Subsurface dampeners can also be utilized to reduce groundborne vibration. Short-term Impacts related to groundborne vibration during construction would be expected to be less than significant with implementation of local environmental review procedures. Typical mitigation for longterm vibration impacts related to occupied buildings include setbacks from vibration sources or building construction to minimize transmission of vibration.
No short- or long-term impacts will be associated with vibration at a programmatic level for this Project as no policy changes, developments, or specific infrastructure improvements are proposed as part of the Project. Impacts will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
Cumulative Impacts. Residential land uses typically do not produce excessive noise either individually or cumulatively that could substantially increase existing, ambient noise levels. The future development of the Inventory Sites could increase ambient noise levels due to increased traffic generation in the project vicinity. Thus, development of the Inventory Sites will partially contribute to the noise volumes identified in the General Plan EIR. The City reviews all new development proposals per CEQA which includes the analysis of vehicular traffic noise. The proposed Project does not include changes to land uses and intensities designated in the current General Plan and analyzed in its EIR. The Project does not propose any specific development or any land use changes that would invalidate this prior finding or further increase traffic levels beyond those analyzed in the General Plan EIR. Project-specific increases in ambient noise levels due to future development on each Inventory Site will be evaluated as development is proposed over the long term pursuant to existing policies and procedures.
With these existing policies and procedures in place, impacts related to increases in ambient noise levels will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
C) No Impact. The City of Paramount is not located within two miles of an airport or within a comprehensive land use plan for any public or private airport. In addition, no private airstrips are located within the City. No specific new development is associated with the proposed Project.
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50 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND
14. POPULATION AND HOUSING
Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Induce substantial unplanned population growth
in an area, either directly (for example, by
proposing new homes and businesses) or
indirectly (for example, through extension of roads
or other infrastructure)?
B) Displace substantial numbers of existing people
or housing, necessitating the construction of
replacement housing elsewhere?
A) No Impact. Adoption and implementation of the Project will not, in and of itself, directly result in population growth that has not already been evaluated in the 2007 General Plan EIR. Population growth is a complex interaction of immigration, emigration, births, deaths, land use, and economic factors of which the General Plan Amendments are only a part. Regional models of population growth and change, accounting for these complexities, are developed by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Los Angeles County Council of Governments (COGs). The proposed Project (specifically the Housing Element) is designed to guide and accommodate the City’s share of the projected regional population growth and associated housing over the next eight years. Pursuant to Government Code 65584, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is required to determine the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), by income category, for Council of Governments (COGs) throughout the State. The RHNA is based on the California Department of Finance population projections and regional population forecasts used in preparing regional transportation plans. COGs are required to allocate to each locality a share of housing need totaling the RHNA for each income category.
The Project is a policy document setting forth the City’s plan to accommodate its share of regional housing needs, as determined by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). For the 2021-2029 planning period, the City of Paramount’s share is 364 housing units. This allocation is referred to as the Regional Housing Needs Assessment, or RHNA.
The Housing Element identifies adequate land and planning mechanisms to accommodate the future housing needs of the growing population derived directly from the population growth estimates for the region, so the proposed Project would not induce unplanned population growth. No impact will occur.
B) No Impact. The Project (specifically the Housing Element) is intended to encourage and facilitate housing development and preserve and enhance existing housing stock. The natural recycling of land will not result in the loss of housing units because such redevelopment will result in the development of new housing units. Thus, the availability of residential units in response to increases in population is supported by the Project. Considering residential units will increase naturally as guided by the goals and policies of the proposed Project, no impacts related to the displacement of housing or people would occur and no mitigation is required.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 51
15. PUBLIC SERVICES
Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for any of the public services:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Fire protection?
B) Police protection?
C) Schools?
D) Parks?
E) Other public facilities?
A) Less Than Significant Impact. The City of Paramount contracts with the Los Angeles County Department (LACFD) for fire protection and prevention services in the City. The City of Paramount is served by two fire stations. Station 31, located at 7521 East Somerset Boulevard, has two fire engines and one paramedic squad. Station 57 is located at 5720 Gardendale Street in South Gate and has one fire engine.
New development under the Project will result in the incremental increase in need for fire protection services as the City’s population grows and the number of residential units increases. The City collects Development Impact Fees to offset the impact of new development, as it occurs. Construction and operation of a new fire station will be subject to preliminary environmental review pursuant to CEQA and if found not to be exempt, subject to full environmental analysis at which time all environmental issues will be vetted and appropriate mitigation incorporated, if needed. Potential impacts resulting from the effects of operating the fire department as well as constructing and operating future fire facilities will be less than significant with implementation of existing regulations.
B) Less Than Significant Impact. The Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department provides law enforcement services throughout the City of Paramount. The Sherriff’s Department assigned to the City of Paramount is staffed with 42 personnel, including patrol deputies, a detective team, and a deputy district attorney. The City is served by the Lakewood Station at 5130 Clark Avenue in the City of Lakewood and by a substation located near the intersection of Paramount and Somerset Boulevards in Paramount. Emergency response times are approximately three minutes throughout the City. The 2007 General Plan EIR does not identify the construction or expansion of a police station as part of the 2007 or current General Plan update.
The impact to police services will be no greater than what was previously analyzed in the 2007 General Plan EIR and the impact will be less than significant.
C) Less Than Significant Impact. The City is served by the Paramount Unified School District (PUSD), which serves kindergarten through twelfth grades and overall, consists of nine elementary schools, two intermediate schools, one high school, a continuation school, and an adult education school. The effects of schools that can result in environmental impacts are specific and include peak traffic levels occurring in the morning and early afternoon, playground noise, and field lighting.
Furthermore, analyses of school impacts are unique in that any impacts resulting from the effects of schools are considered fully mitigated through the payment of development impact fees pursuant to the Leroy F. Greene School Facilities Act, therefore, pursuant to State law and the payment of development impact fees, impacts will be less than significant.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
52 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND D) Less Than Significant Impact. In accordance with State law, the City imposes parkland dedication or in-lieu fees on new development equivalent to four acres of parkland per 1,000 new residents. The proposed Project (specifically the Housing Element) will generate new or relocated residents that will require park and recreation facilities and associated programs, either through expansion of existing facilities or construction of new facilities. Construction or expansion of parks can result in nominal effects such as pollutant emissions from construction activities and operational trip generation potentially resulting in similarly nominal impacts to the environment. The City will continue to collect in-lieu fees or require construction of new or expanded parks from proponents of new housing to compensate for incremental increases in parks and recreation service demand, thus providing adequate, per-capita facilities for future residents. The City also collects Development Impact Fees to offset the impact of new development, as it occurs. Construction and operation of new or expanded parks and recreation facilities will be subject to preliminary environmental review pursuant to CEQA and if found not to be exempt, subject to full environmental analysis at which time all environmental issues will be vetted and appropriate mitigation incorporated, if needed. Potential impacts resulting from the effects of constructing and operating future parks and recreation facilities will be less than significant with implementation of existing regulations.
E) Less Than Significant Impact. Residents generated by the provision of new housing guided by the goals and policies of the proposed Project (specifically the Housing Element) will generate the incremental need for a variety of public and quasipublic services including libraries, medical clinics, urgent care facilities, hospitals, social service centers, senior centers, and other facilities. Construction and operation of new or expanded public service facilities will be subject to preliminary environmental review pursuant to CEQA and if found not to be exempt, subject to full environmental analysis at which time all project-level environmental issues will be vetted and appropriate mitigation incorporated, if needed. Potential impacts resulting from the effects of constructing and operating future public service facilities will be less than significant with implementation of existing regulations.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 53
16. RECREATION
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Would the project increase the use of existing
neighborhood and regional parks or other
recreational facilities such that substantial
physical deterioration of the facility would occur or
be accelerated?
B) Does the project include recreational facilities or
require the construction or expansion of
recreational facilities that might have an adverse
physical effect on the environment?
A) Less Than Significant Impact. Pursuant to State law, the City imposes parkland dedication or in-lieu fees on new development equivalent to four acres of parkland per 1,000 new residents. The proposed Project (specifically the Housing Element) will generate new or relocated residents that will require park and recreation facilities and associated programs, either through expansion of existing facilities or construction of new facilities. However, such increase is consistent with the estimated population increase evaluated under the 2007 General Plan EIR and will not result in any new impacts that have not been evaluated. Construction or expansion of parks can result in nominal effects such as pollutant emissions from construction activities and operational trip generation potentially resulting in similarly nominal impacts to the environment. The City will continue to collect in-lieu fees or require construction of new or expanded parks from proponents of new housing to compensate for incremental increases in parks and recreation service demand, thus providing adequate, per-capita facilities for future residents.
B) Less Than Significant Impact. Construction and operation of new or expanded parks and recreation facilities will be subject to preliminary environmental review pursuant to CEQA and if found not to be exempt, subject to full environmental analysis at which time all environmental issues will be vetted and appropriate mitigation incorporated, if needed. Potential impacts resulting from the effects of constructing and operating future parks and recreation facilities will be less than significant with implementation of existing regulations.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
54 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND
17. TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC
Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Conflict with a program, plan, ordinance or policy
addressing the circulation system, including
transit, roadway, bicycle and pedestrian facilities?
B) Would the project conflict or be inconsistent with
CEQA Guidelines section 15064.3 subdivision
(b)?
C) Substantially increase hazards due to a geometric
design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous
intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm
equipment)?
D) Result in inadequate emergency access?
A) Less than Significant Impact. The City is served by local transportation facilities including streets and bus routes in addition to non-motorized transportation facilities such as sidewalks, trails, and bikeways. These facilities provide options for travel modes that include passenger vehicles, trains, buses, bikes, and walking. These facilities and modes of travel comprise the circulation system for the City, and the broader system, designed with the goals of efficiently moving people and goods throughout the region by providing ease of access to multiple modes of travel.
Future housing development will primarily generate passenger vehicle trips that will disperse during the morning as residents drive to commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities for a variety of reasons but primarily for work and school. Some trips may be to transit centers, such that a portion of a resident’s trip may include alternative transportation modes, while others may simply walk to their destination or to other transit options. The return leg of a trip is generally anticipated to be the reverse of the initial leg of the trip during the afternoon, albeit with higher likelihood of a portion of the trip being dedicated to accessing shopping, entertainment, or other uses.
The concern regarding transportation facilities and their counterpart modes of travel is excessive use throughout the day or during morning and/or afternoon peak hours and the resulting effects on the performance of the facilities’ ability to move people and goods. The direct effects of reduced circulation system performance are annoyance and stress, thereby decreasing the quality of life for the user. Direct failure or accelerated deterioration of circulation system facilities can also occur if the facility was not designed to function under increased loading. A variety of indirect impacts to human health and the environment are attributed specifically to excessive use of vehicles on local and regional roadways including effects related to air pollution and ambient noise.
SCAG Plans. Two planning efforts guide the long-term improvement of the circulation system at the regional and local levels.
The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS), was last updated in September 2020 (Connect SoCal) is administered by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to meet the needs of travel and goods movement through the year 2045.
CMP. Urbanized areas within the state of California such as Los Angeles County are required to adopt a Congestion Management Program (CMP). The goals of the CMP are to reduce traffic congestion and to provide a mechanism for coordinating land use development and transportation improvement decisions. Los Angeles County compiles the data and submits the results to the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) for a finding of regional consistency. The I- Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 55 5, I-605 and I-105 freeways and SR-19 are roadway components of the Congestion Management Plan system. The Los Angeles County Congestion Management Program (CMP) is administered by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro 2010). The CMP addresses congestion management through a process developed cooperatively throughout the metropolitan region that provides for safe and effective management and operation of existing and future transportation facilities through demand reduction and operations strategies.
While the RTP/SCS addresses the broader goals of the transportation network, the CMP focuses on specific, regional facilities requiring funding for maintenance and improvements in order to meet the goals of the RTP/SCS. The CMP relies on local jurisdiction standards in determining the performance of the CMP network. The final effort is the City’s General Plan Circulation Element that identifies long-term transportation improvements for local facilities. The General Plan includes goals and policies aimed to provide an efficient multi-modal circulation system in the city. General Plan policies also encourage the development of an efficient and safe bikeway and public transportation system. The City of Paramount identifies that major intersections currently operate at Level E or better during peak hours for existing traffic conditions.
Summary. These local and regional planning efforts are designed to reduce the direct and indirect effects of travel so as to minimize or avoid resulting impacts on human health and the environment. The proposed Project is consistent with the growth assumptions used in the development of the RTP/SCS and CMP and the Project does not include any land use changes to the General Plan, therefore, the Project will not conflict with the goals or transportation planning efforts of the City or SCAG.
Based on this preceding analysis, the proposed Project will not impede local or regional efforts to ensure an efficient circulation system. Future housing development will be subject to preliminary environmental review pursuant to CEQA and if found not to be exempt, subject to full environmental analysis at which time all environmental issues will be vetted and appropriate mitigation incorporated, if needed, should transportation impacts be identified that are not covered under existing or future development impact fees. Potential impacts resulting from conflicts with local and regional transportation plans and performance requirements will be less than significant with implementation of existing standards and regulations.
B) Less Than Significant Impact. In response to Senate Bill (SB) 743, the California Natural Resource Agency certified and adopted new CEQA Guidelines in December 2018, which now identify Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) as the most appropriate metric to evaluate a project's transportation impact under CEQA (Section 15064.3). Effective July 1, 2020, the previous CEQA metric of level of service (LOS), typically measured in terms of automobile delay, roadway capacity and congestion, will no longer constitute a significant environmental impact.
Although VMT is now the accepted methodology for evaluating potential transportation impacts of a project, the City General Plan identifies standards for maintaining an adequate level of service (LOS) for City streets and intersections. To be consistent with the 2020 State CEQA Guidelines, a LOS analysis is no longer required for purposes of this Initial Study impact analysis and determination of significant impacts under CEQA. However, an evaluation of the overall circulation network and services available to the City is still appropriate and is provided under Impact A, above.
Transit. The public transportation system in the City of Paramount provides non-auto options for commute, utility, and recreational travel, with connections to downtown Los Angeles, LAX, and other regional cities and destinations. The City of Paramount is served by a number of bus line(s) and shuttle and paratransit services. The following agencies provide regional connectivity, providing an alternative to driving a personal vehicle:
• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). Metro provides rail and bus services throughout Los Angeles County, with a number of express and regular bus routes serving Paramount. • Long Beach Transit: Long Beach Transit offers current Fixed Route and College Bound bus routes which circulate through the City of Paramount and neighboring communities.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
56 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND Bus transit generally runs every 30 to 45 minutes during the peak periods, with certain routes running every 25 minutes or better. Generally, transit users prefer reliable wait times of less than 15 minutes when making trip choices.
Bicycle Routes. Los Angeles County has established bikeways in various locations throughout the City. A Class I bikeway (offroad) provides a completely separated right-of-way designated for the exclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians. Crossflows with motorized vehicles are minimized. Very few opportunities for Class I bikeways are available in the City of Paramount.
However, The Los Angeles River bicycle trail, a 24 mile trail extending from Los Angeles to Long Beach, runs along the western boundary of the Project site, in a northerly to southerly direction.
A Class II bikeway (on-road) provides a restricted right-of-way on a roadway’s shoulder designated for the exclusive or semiexclusive use of bicycles. Through travel by motor vehicles or pedestrians is prohibited. Crossflows by pedestrians and motorists are permitted. Vehicle parking is prohibited. Opportunities for Class II bikeways exist on some of the less heavily utilized arterial roadways in the City of Paramount and there is an existing bike lane which runs along Orange Street in a northerly to southerly direction, which circulates to the City of Long Beach, and the bike lane runs in a westerly to easterly direction along 70th Street in the City of Paramount. The goal is to link residential areas, schools, parks, and commercial centers so that residents can travel within the community without driving. New Development projects will be required to include safe and attractive sidewalks, walkways, and bike lanes, and homeowner associates will be encouraged to construct links to adjacent areas and communities where appropriate.
Pedestrian Facilities. The City of Paramount has sidewalks and crosswalks on most streets. Bicycle movement is accommodated on a developing system of local bikeways that connect to regional facilities.
The Project will result in the future development of additional housing in the City through the anticipated growth will be within the limits identified in the existing General Plan and its EIR. Although, VMT is now the required metric for evaluating transportation impacts for CEQA projects, and the General Plan EIR, prepared prior to current VMT requirements, uses an LOS metric, this Project is consistent with the analysis in the EIR because land use designations are unchanged: VMT under the General Plan EIR and this project are the same or similar. Therefore, any impacts will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
C) No Impact. The proposed Project does not authorize the construction of any roadway and will result in no effects on the design of existing or future streets. Therefore, it will not substantially increase hazards due to a geometric design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment). There will be no impact and no mitigation is required.
D) Less Than Significant Impact. The proposed Project does not involve any road construction or any development activity and thus will not obstruct or restrict emergency access to or through the City. Future housing development facilitated by implementation of the Project (specifically the Housing Element) policies will be subject to site plan review and approval during entitlement review and/or application for building permits. The Fire Department reviews all plans to ensure compliance with all applicable emergency access and safety requirements. Impacts involving emergency access will be less than significant with continued implementation of development review procedures. Therefore, any impacts will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 57
18. TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
Would the Project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource, defined in Public Resources Code section 21074 as either a site, feature, place, cultural landscape that is geographically defined in terms of the size and scope of the landscape, sacred place, or object with cultural value to a California Native American tribe, and that is:
A) Listed or eligible for listing in the California
Register of Historical Resources, or in a local
register of historical resources as defined in
Public Resources Code section 5020.1(k), or
B) A resource determined by the lead agency, in its
discretion and supported by substantial evidence,
to be significant pursuant to criteria set forth in
subdivision (c) of Public Resources Code Section
5024.1. In applying the criteria set forth in
subdivision (c) of Public Resource Code Section
5024.1, the lead agency shall consider the
significance of the resource to a California Native
American tribe?
A) Less Than Significant Impact. Based on information obtained from the Cultural Resources impacts section of the 2007 General Plan EIR, prior to the incorporation of the City of Paramount, the area was compromised of two smaller communities which were called Hynes and Clearwater. The two communities were considered the center of Southern California’s dairy industry, and were known as both “The Milk Shed of Los Angeles” and the “The World’s Largest Hay Market.” In 1948, after discussions dating back to 1925, the two towns unified under the name of Paramount and the City was officially incorporated in 1957. Since the incorporation of the City in 1957, land uses have transitioned from agricultural to residential, commercial, and industrial land uses. Per the Cultural Resources section of the 2007 General Plan EIR, three (3) local historic resources within the City which include the Hay Tree (located at Paramount Boulevard near Harrison Street), the Iceland ice skating rink (located at the corner of Jackson Street and California Avenue), and Paramount Library (located at 16244 Colorado Avenue).
The “Hay Tree” was used in the 1930s as a space where the day’s price of hay was set and then quoted around the world.
The Iceland (Zamboni) Ice Skating Rink is a local landmark ice skating rink opened by Frank Zamboni in 1940. The privately owned and operated facility has been the training ground for professional skaters and Mr. Zamboni is also well-known for inventing the Zamboni Ice-Resurfacing machine which is used in ice rinks around the world. Finally, the Paramount Library was founded in 1913, when the area was referred to as Hynes-Clearwater. Of the three resources listed, the Hay Tree is also listed as a California Historical Landmark (No. 1038). However, none of the Inventory Sites are located on any of the resource sites and as such, implementation of the proposed Project will not cause substantial adverse change to a designated Tribal Cultural resource.
B) Less than Significant Impact. Similar to potential impacts resulting from the effects of future housing development on historical resources, impacts to archaeological resources can result in the loss of information important to the history (and potentially the pre-history) of California and the people who created and/or used the materials. The potential for uncovering significant resources at Inventory Site locations during construction activities is unknown given that no such resources have been discovered and/or recorded previously. The General Plan states that archaeological and historical resources shall be protected and preserved to the maximum extent feasible.
Two changes to state law (SB 18 and AB 52) require cities to consult directly with local Native American tribes to determine if any tribal cultural resources will be impacted by private development or public works projects proposed in the City. The City conducted SB 18 and AB 52 consultation for this proposed Project. One tribe submitted comments but did not request a Environmental Impact Evaluation
58 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND consultation. All future development of the Inventory Sites will be required to prepare Cultural Resource Assessments (CRAs) to determine if there are any impacts to cultural or tribal cultural resources as required by the General Plan Conservation Element. This is considered regulatory compliance and not specific mitigation under CEQA.
The General Plan EIR concluded that build out of the General Plan will result in less than significant impacts related to the substantial adverse change in the significance of archaeological resources. The proposed Project does not propose any land use changes or designate any Inventory Sites that were not already analyzed in the General Plan EIR. Therefore, long-term impacts in the City have already been contemplated, and the proposed Project will not result in impacts that are greater than those contemplated in the 2007 General Plan EIR. In addition, future development of the proposed Inventory Sites will be subject to General Plan requirements and review in accordance with CEQA requirements. Impacts related to implementation of the proposed Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element will be less than significant and no mitigation is required at this programmatic level.
19. UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Require or result in the relocation or construction
of new or expanded water, wastewater treatment
or storm water drainage, electric power, natural
gas, or telecommunications facilities, the
construction or relocation of which could cause
significant environmental effects?
B) Have sufficient water supplies available to serve
the Project and reasonably foreseeable future
development during normal, dry and multiple dry
years?
C) Result in a determination by the wastewater
treatment provider which serves or may serve the
Project that it has adequate capacity to serve the
Project’s projected demand in addition to the
provider’s existing commitments?
D) Generate solid waste in excess of state or local
standards, or in excess of the capacity of local
infrastructure, or otherwise impair the attainment
of solid waste reduction goals?
E) Comply with federal, state, and local management
and reduction statutes and regulations related to
solid waste?
A) No Impact. The City Public Works Department, Utilities Division, manages water service and wastewater collection services to City residents and businesses. Wastewater treatment is provided by the County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County. The City also operates and maintains storm drains within its boundaries, although downstream flows are handled by the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. On October 24, 2017 the City Council authorized the City of Paramount to join a local consortium, the Clean Power Alliance (CPA) to purchase wholesale electrical power for residents and businesses at competitive rates. CPA began serving the City in 2019 by purchasing electricity generated from renewable sources and Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 59 delivering that electricity through the same Southern California Edison (SCE) power poles and power lines that previously supplied City customers. Natural gas is provided by the Southern California Gas Company.
Future housing under the HEU will consume additional water, electricity, and natural gas while producing additional wastewater for conveyance and treatment. The new housing is consistent with the General Plan growth projections which were evaluated in the 2007 General Plan EIR. The various involved utility agencies and companies develop master service plans based on anticipated land uses outlined in the General Plans of the various jurisdictions they serve. Therefore, these master plans have already taken into account the growth anticipated under the HEU. In addition, future development is required to assure adequate utility service during the development review and CEQA process. Therefore, utility impacts will have no impacts that have not already been analyzed in the General Plan EIR and no mitigation is required.
Future housing under the Project (specifically the Housing Element) will consume additional water, electricity, and natural gas while producing additional wastewater for conveyance and treatment. The new housing is consistent with the General Plan growth projections which were evaluated in the General Plan EIR. The various involved utility agencies and companies develop master service plans based on anticipated land uses outlined in the General Plans of the various jurisdictions they serve. Therefore, these master plans have already taken into account the growth anticipated under the Project. In addition, future development is required to ensure adequate utility service during the development review and CEQA process.
Therefore, utility impacts will have no impacts that have not already been analyzed in the General Plan EIR and no mitigation is required.
B) No Impact. The City of Paramount Public Works Department, Utilities Division, maintain three deep groundwater wells sites and one MWD imported water connections to provide domestic water service to City residents and businesses. The City overlies the Central (groundwater) Basin which was adjudicated in 1965 and the Central Basin Watermaster manages groundwater supplies and replenishment. The City Utilities Division regularly reviews and updates its Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and coordinates with the Central Basin Watermaster and MWD to assure it can provide adequate water service to the City under all anticipated conditions.
New housing growth under the Project will not exceed that identified in the General Plan and evaluated in the 2007 General Plan EIR. The City’s UWMP is based on the General Plan and the MWD’s master water planning is based on adopted land use plans in the General Plans of the cities that utilize Central Basin groundwater. Therefore, the HEU will not conflict with or obstruct implementation of a sustainable groundwater management plan. Impacts will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
C) No Impact. Wastewater treatment is provided by the County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (CSDLAC). The City also operates and maintains storm drains within its boundaries, although downstream flows are handled by the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. Future housing under the Project will generate additional wastewater for conveyance and treatment. The new housing is consistent with the General Plan growth projections which were evaluated in the 2007 General Plan EIR. The CSDLAC has a master service plans based on anticipated land uses outlined in the General Plans of the various jurisdictions they serve. The CSDLAC master plan has already taken into account the growth anticipated under the HEU. In addition, future development is required to assure adequate wastewater service during the development review and CEQA process. Therefore, there will be no wastewater treatment impacts that have not already been analyzed in the General Plan EIR and no mitigation is required.
D) No Impact. Los Angeles County Sanitation District No. 18 provides solid waste management for its residents and businesses within the City and waste services are contracted with the Metropolitan Waste Disposal. Metropolitan Waste Disposal then hauls waste to the Puente Hills Landfill. Non-recyclable and non-composting wastes are then sent to nearby County landfills for disposal. Future development under the Project would be required to comply with established solid waste regulations and procedures. Therefore, the HEU will have no solid waste impacts at this programmatic level and no mitigation is required.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
60 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND E) No Impact. All new development will be required to comply with State mandates and City regulations regarding reduction/recycling of household waste. None of the housing strategies in the proposed Housing Element update will have any effect upon or result in any conflicts with solid waste disposal regulations, as the scope of these revisions does not increase development capacity. No impact will occur, and no mitigation is required.
20. WILDFIRE
Would the project:
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
A) Substantially impair an adopted emergency
response plan or emergency evacuation plan?
B) Due to slope, prevailing winds, and other factors,
exacerbate wildfire risks, and thereby expose
project occupants to, pollutant concentrations
from wildfire or the uncontrolled spread of a
wildfire?
C) Require the installation or maintenance of
associated infrastructure (such as roads, fuel
breaks, emergency water resources, power lines
or other utilities) that may exacerbate fire risk or
that may result in temporary or ongoing impacts
to the environment?
D) Expose people or structures to significant risks,
including downslope or downstream flooding or
landslides, as a result of runoff, post-fire slope
instability, or drainage changes?
A) Less Than Significant Impact. The City Office of Emergency Management coordinates disaster response and recovery efforts in the City of Lancaster. The City’s goal is to respond to emergency situations with a coordinated system of emergency service providers and facilities. The City has planned responses to extraordinary emergency situations associated with natural disasters, technological incidents, terrorist activities, and war-related operations. The City is part of a county and statewide emergency management system that addresses evacuation and movement of people in the event of an emergency.
The Project does not involve any road construction or any development activity and thus will not obstruct or restrict emergency access to or through the City. The Health and Safety Element includes evacuation route maps, goals, policies, and actions.
Future housing development facilitated by implementation of Project policies will be subject to site plan review and approval during entitlement review and/or application for building permits. The City Fire Department reviews all plans to ensure compliance with all applicable emergency access and safety requirements. Impacts involving emergency access will be less than significant with continued implementation of development review procedures. Therefore, any impacts will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
B) Less Than Significant Impact. The City is relatively flat and urbanized so there is little chance of a wildfire event affecting the City. However, the area does experience strong dry seasonal winds called “Santa Ana” winds that can sometime exacerbate the spread of structural urban fires or grass fires. No conditions in the City would lead residents to be exposed to pollutant concentrations in excess of those regional conditions that result in large wildfires in the more remote/forested portions of the County.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 61 The Project will allow the eventual construction of new housing in the City that may be subject to urban fires. However, there are no conditions in the City that would exacerbate wildfire risks and expose project occupants to pollutant concentrations from wildfire or the uncontrolled spread of a wildfire due to slope, prevailing winds, and other factors. Impacts will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
C. No Impact. The City of Project is in a fully urbanized setting and is not located within an area susceptible to wildfires and in a Local Responsibility Area for fire preservation and protection. The City has full infrastructure (roads, water lines with fire hydrants, etc.) to support fire protection services and requires installation of such in conjunction with new developments.
Therefore, the Project would not require the installation or maintenance of associated infrastructure (such as roads, fuel breaks, emergency water resources, power lines or other utilities) that may exacerbate fire risk or that may result in temporary or ongoing impacts to the environment. There are no impacts and no mitigation is required.
D. Less Than Significant Impact. Sections 9.C and 9.D of this Initial Study concluded that future housing in the City under the Project would not experience significant impacts from flooding. Therefore, the Project would not expose people or structures to significant risks, including downslope or downstream flooding or landslides, as a result of runoff, post-fire slope instability, or drainage changes. The Impacts will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
21. MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
a) Does the project have the potential to degrade the
quality of the environment, substantially reduce
the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a
fish or wildlife population to drop below selfsustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce the number or restrict
the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal
or eliminate important examples of the major
periods of California history or prehistory?
b) Does the project have impacts that are
individually limited, but cumulatively
considerable?
("Cumulatively considerable" means that the
incremental effects of a project are considerable
when viewed in connection with the effects of past
projects, the effects of other current projects, and
the effects of probable future projects)?
c) Does the project have environmental effects
which would cause substantial adverse effects on
human beings, either directly or indirectly?
A) Less Than Significant Impact. The results of the preceding analysis indicate that the proposed project will have less-thansignificant impacts to sensitive biological, historical, archaeological, and paleontological resources. Impacts to scenic vistas and visual character and resources will be less than significant. Considering the programmatic level of analysis will not authorize any development plan, redevelopment of any existing sites, or construction of new infrastructure, and will not change existing City land use policy, it will not result in any effects that would degrade the quality of the environment. The City finds that impacts related to degradation of the environment will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
Environmental Impact Evaluation
62 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND B) Less Than Significant Impact. Cumulative effects resulting from full implementation of City land use policies were evaluated in the General Plan EIR. The proposed Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element will not change any of these policies and does not propose any specific development or redevelopment project that could contribute to short-term or long-term cumulative impacts that were not addressed sufficiently in the General Plan EIR. The proposed project does not include any changes to land use designations and thus is consistent with the project analyzed in the General Plan EIR. The City hereby finds that the proposed Project’s individual contribution to potentially significant cumulative impacts is not considerable and no mitigation is required.
C) Less Than Significant Impact. As supported by the preceding environmental evaluation, the project will not result in substantial adverse effects on human beings. It has been determined through quantitative and qualitative analysis supported by substantial evidence that the proposed Project has been determined to have little or no adverse impacts on people or the environment as evaluated in the 19 preceding environmental topics. The City hereby finds that direct and indirect impacts on human beings will be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
City of Paramount 63
5 LIST OF PREPARERS
LEAD AGENCY
John King
Assistant Planning Director
16400 Colorado Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
T 562-220-2036
Email: [email protected]
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSTS
MIG
1650 Spruce Street, Suite 106
Riverside, California 92507
951-787-9222
Bob Prasse, Director of Environmental Services
Kent Norton, Senior Environmental Project Manager
Peter Lange, Environmental Analyst
Amanda North, Editing/Word Processing
List of Preparers
64 Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND This Page Intentionally Left Blank
List of Preparers
City of Paramount Housing Element, Safety Element, and Environmental Justice Element ND 65 6 REFERENCES
Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) 2017. California Environmental Quality Act Air Quality Guidelines. San Francisco, CA. June 2010, updated May 2017.
California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA). 2017a. CalEEMod User Manual Appendix A Calculation Details. Prepared for CAPCOA. Prepared by Trinity Consultants, Dallas TX.
October 2017.
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H:\ADMINSERVICES\ANDREW V\CITY COUNCIL\AGENDA ITEMS\2022\RESO NO. 22-011- POLICY UPDATES (CELL PHONE AND BILINGUAL)\MS- RESO.
NO. 22.011.DOC
MARCH 1, 2022
RESOLUTION NO. 22:011
“A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARAMOUNT AMENDING THE CITY’S PERSONNEL MANUAL TO INCORPORATE A
CELLPHONE STIPEND FOR CITY USE POLICY AND BILINGUAL SKILL PAY POLICY.”
MOTION IN ORDER:
READ BY TITLE ONLY AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 22:011.
MOTION:
MOVED BY: _________________
SECONDED BY: ______________
[ ] APPROVED
[ ] DENIED
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: __________________
NOES: __________________
ABSENT: ________________
ABSTAIN:________________
To: Honorable City Council
From: John Moreno, City Manager
By: Andrew Vialpando, Assistant City Manager
Nicole Lopez, Human Resources Manager
Date: March 1, 2022
Subject: RESOLUTION NO. 22:011
AMENDING THE CITY’S PERSONNEL MANUAL TO INCORPORATE A
CELLPHONE STIPEND FOR CITY USE POLICY AND BILINGUAL SKILL
PAY POLICY
At its meeting on December 15, 2020, the City Council adopted the City’s Personnel Manual (Policy), which serves as the organization’s comprehensive administrative policy.
The City’s Policy contains numerous sections that establish regulatory directives for City employees in compliance with federal, State, and local laws, such as Equal Employment Opportunity, Benefits and Compensation, and Ethics regulations.
From time to time, staff reviews the Policy for updates to personnel laws and to ensure the City remains consistent with industry best practices and standards. During a recent review, staff discovered that the Policy is silent on two active employee programs and recommends that they be incorporated into the City’s Policy.
Pursuant to the Paramount Municipal Code, the City Manager may revise the Policy in their capacity as the City’s Personnel Officer. However, modifications to the Policy that impact the City’s Budget (i.e. compensation or benefits) must be approved by the City Council. All changes to the Policy are reviewed by the City Attorney, and Human Resources is responsible for disseminating updates to all employees.
The proposed policies and benefits are described below.
Cellphone Stipend for City Use
To compensate employees for business-related phone calls, the City currently provides employees two options. The first option is a $20 stipend per month for use of a personal cellphone for business related purposes. The second option involves providing employees $250 towards the purchase of a personal cellphone of their choice every two years, with the City paying for the phone bill. This practice has been in place since 2013, and there is no formal City policy. As of this report, 65 employees receive a cellphone stipend and 25 employees have received a $250 reimbursement this year.
Agenda Report March 1, 2022
RESOLUTION NO. 22:011 AMENDING THE PERSONNEL MANUAL Page 2 Staff recommends establishing a Cellphone Stipend policy for the use of cellphones to conduct City-related business, and increasing the monthly stipend from $20 to $50 per month for eligible full-time employees. To compensate executive staff for additional data devices required as part of their roles in and out of the office, it is also recommended that Assistant Directors and Directors receive an additional $25 per month ($75 per month in total) towards supplemental data plans or devices (i.e. personal hotspot, upgraded data plans, etc.). Increasing the cellphone stipend will align the City more closely with current consumer cellphone bill costs and comparable industry standards.
A formal cellphone policy would create clear lines of ownership and accountability, ensure applicable laws are being followed, and meet best practices under government auditing standards. Moreover, a formal City policy regarding the use of cellphones to conduct Cityrelated business establishes internal controls that protect the City.
Not all employees will be eligible to participate in the cellphone stipend program. To be eligible for the Program, employees must meet one or more of the following criteria:
• Functional responsibilities of the position require cellphone communications for City-related business needs on a regular basis.
• Position responsibilities require immediate communications after regular business hours, on weekends, and on holidays.
• Position responsibilities require support for services on a 24-hour, 7-day basis including emergency responses.
Staff also recommends discontinuing the cellphone reimbursement program. This program is burdensome for staff to administer, and creates discrepancies for staff when reviewing monthly billing statements. Under the Stipend program, employees will receive a larger benefit than the bi-annual reimbursement program.
The following is a survey of cellphone programs in neighboring cities:
Cities Cellphone Program
Bellflower None
Cerritos $50 Stipend only
Downey City issued cellphone only
Hawaiian Gardens $60 Stipend only
La Mirada $40 Stipend only
Lakewood City issued cellphone only
Norwalk City issued cellphone only for executives
Pico Rivera $150 Stipend for executives / City issued
only device for everyone else
Signal Hill City issued cellphone only
South Gate $100 for managers, $120 for executives
Agenda Report March 1, 2022
RESOLUTION NO. 22:011 AMENDING THE PERSONNEL MANUAL Page 3 The City currently expends $23,250 per year in cellphone reimbursements and stipends to eligible employees, and about $37,000 per year in bill payments. The proposed changes would result in approximately $50,000 per year for cellphone stipends. This updated annual amount was reflected in the FY 22 Mid-Year Budget review approved by the City Council at its meeting on February 15, 2022.
Although the City will discontinue administering individual plans as part of the cellphone program, some lines will remain assigned for operational purposes.
Bilingual Skill Pay
Paramount is a community with a significant Spanish speaking population. City employees frequently encounter situations in the work place that require the need to communicate in Spanish. Moreover, the City is required by State law to provide bilingual information to the public when conducting certain governmental activities. To compensate employees for utilizing their bilingual skills for business-related needs, bilingual employees currently receive $15 per month in skill pay. There is no formal City Policy that addresses this important skillset. As of this report, 51 employees receive bilingual pay.
Staff recommends establishing a Bilingual Pay policy for qualifying employees. A formal Bilingual Pay policy would incorporate industry best practices and reward bilingual City employees for their ability to deliver important public service.
Under the Bilingual Skill Pay Program, monthly skill pay will increase to align more closely with the industry median and be a based on a three-tiered system. • Tier 1: $35 per month to speak and understand Spanish. Certain full-time and parttime position classifications will be eligible to qualify for Tier 1. Tier 1 will compensate employees who speak and understand Spanish, but do not interact regularly with the public during the course of their day-to-day responsibilities.
Certain part-time positions will qualify based on a minimum hours worked per month and position responsibilities.
• Tier 2: $75 per month to speak and understand Spanish. Certain full-time position classifications will be eligible to qualify for Tier 2. Tier 2 will compensate employees who speak and understand Spanish, and regularly interact with the public during the course of their day-to-day responsibilities. Only full-time employees are eligible to qualify for Tier 2 Bilingual Skill Pay.
• Tier 3: $150 per month to speak, read, write, and understand. A limited number of employees will be designated to receive Tier 3 skill pay, subject to passing a proficiency exam administered by Human Resources and approval by the City Manager. Tier 3 will compensate specific employees who augment the City’s translation services through reading and writing Spanish correspondence, and communicating public information in Spanish on City publications and the reverse 911 system.
Agenda Report March 1, 2022
RESOLUTION NO. 22:011 AMENDING THE PERSONNEL MANUAL Page 4 The following is a survey of bilingual pay amounts in neighboring cities:
Cities Monthly Skill Pay
Bell $175.00
Bellflower 1 to 5% of base salary
Cerritos None
Downey $140.00
Lakewood $50.00
Norwalk $50.00
Pico Rivera $50.00 speak
$100.00 speak, read, and write
Santa Fe Springs $100 speak/understand
$250 to speak, read, and write
The City currently expends $9,200 per year in bilingual skill pay. The proposed changes would result in approximately $65,000 per year for bilingual skill pay, including costs for including newly eligible part-time position classifications. This updated annual amount was reflected in the FY 22 Mid-Year Budget review approved by the City Council at its meeting on February 15, 2022.
Both of the proposed policies described above were shared with the City’s only labor union, Teamsters Local 911, on February 4, 2022 as part of the meet and confer process.
No feedback was received from the Teamsters representation regarding the proposed policies.
It is recommended that the proposed employee policies and benefit amounts be approved by the City Council. If approved, the City Manager, in his capacity as the City’s Personnel Officer, will direct staff to work with the City Attorney to develop appropriate policies to be incorporated into the City’s Policy.
VISION, MISSION, VALUES, AND STRATEGIC OUTCOMES
The City’s Vision, Mission, and Values set the standard for the organization; establish priorities, uniformity and guidelines; and provide the framework for policy decision making. The Strategic Outcomes were implemented to provide a pathway to achieving the City’s Vision. This item aligns with Strategic Outcome No. 6: Efficient, Effective, and Fiscally Responsible – Deliver an efficient and effective City government in a fiscally responsible, transparent, and collaborative manner.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
It is recommended that the City Council read by title only and adopt Resolution No. 22:011 amending the City’s Personnel Manual to incorporate a Cellphone Stipend for City Use Policy and Bilingual Skill Pay Policy.
CITY OF PARAMOUNT
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
RESOLUTION NO. 22:011
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARAMOUNT AMENDING THE CITY’S PERSONNEL MANUAL TO INCORPORATE A
CELLPHONE STIPEND FOR CITY USE POLICY AND BILINGUAL SKILL
PAY POLICY
WHEREAS, At its meeting on December 15, 2020, the City Council adopted the City’s Personnel Manual (Policy), which serves as the organization’s comprehensive administrative policy; and
WHEREAS, From time to time, staff reviews the Policy for updates to personnel laws and to ensure the City remains consistent with industry best practices and standards; and
WHEREAS, It is the City’s policy to evaluate its market competitiveness with regard it compensation and benefits based on data from updated surveys and analyses; and
WHEREAS, Pursuant to the Paramount Municipal Code, the City Manager may revise the Policy in their capacity as the City’s Personnel Officer; and WHEREAS, Changes to the Policy are reviewed by the City Attorney, and Human Resources is responsible for disseminating updates to all employees.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARAMOUNT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The above recitations are true and correct.
SECTION 2. The following proposed City benefit programs will be developed into formal policies, be incorporated in the City Personnel Manual, and will take effect retroactive to January 29, 2022.
Cellphone Stipend for City Use
Eligible City employees may qualify for a Cellphone Stipend of $50 for the use of cellphones to conduct City-related business. To compensate executive staff for additional data devices required as part of their roles in and out of the office, Assistant Directors and Directors shall receive an additional $25 per month ($75 per month in total) towards supplemental data plans or devices (i.e. personal hotspot, upgraded data plans, etc.).
RESOLUTION NO. 22:011
To be eligible for the stipend, employees must meet one or more of the following criteria:
• Functional responsibilities of the position require cellphone communications for City-related business needs on a regular basis. • Position responsibilities require immediate communications after regular business hours, on weekends, and on holidays.
• Position responsibilities require support for services on a 24-hour, 7-day basis including emergency responses.
The practice of cellphone reimbursements and issuance of City-owned cellphone devices will be discontinued.
Bilingual Skill Pay
Eligible City employees may qualify for Bilingual Skill Pay. Paramount is a community with a significant Spanish speaking population. City employees frequently encounter situations in the work place that require the need to communicate in Spanish. Moreover, the City is required by State law to provide bilingual information to the public when conducting certain governmental activities. To compensate employees for utilizing their bilingual skills for business-related needs, bilingual employees will received Bilingual Skill Pay based on a tiered system. A formal Bilingual Pay policy would incorporate industry best practices and reward bilingual City employees for their ability to deliver important public service.
Under the Bilingual Skill Pay Program, monthly skill pay will increase to align more closely with the industry median and be a based on a three-tiered system. • Tier 1: $35 per month to speak and understand Spanish. Certain full-time and part-time position classifications will be eligible to qualify for Tier 1.
Tier 1 will compensate employees who speak and understand Spanish, but do not interact regularly with the public during the course of their dayto-day responsibilities. Certain part-time positions will qualify based on a minimum hours worked per month, and position responsibilities. • Tier 2: $75 per month to speak and understand Spanish. Certain full-time position classifications will be eligible to qualify for Tier 2. Tier 2 will compensate employees who speak and understand Spanish, and regularly interact with the public during the course of their day-to-day responsibilities. Only full-time employees are eligible to qualify for Tier 2 Bilingual Skill Pay.
RESOLUTION NO. 22:011