PARAMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED MEETING
APRIL 11, 2022
City of Paramount, 16400 Colorado Avenue, Paramount, CA 90723 CALL TO ORDER: The adjourned meeting of the Paramount City Council was called to order by Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings
at 5:03 p.m. at City Hall, Council Chambers, 16400
Colorado Avenue, Paramount, California.
ROLL CALL OF
COUNCILMEMBERS
Present: Councilmember Laurie Guillen
Councilmember Peggy Lemons
Councilmember Brenda Olmos
Vice Mayor Isabel Aguayo
Mayor Vilma Cuellar Stallings
STAFF PRESENT: John Moreno, City Manager
John E. Cavanaugh, City Attorney
Andrew Vialpando, Assistant City Manager
John Carver, Planning Director
Adriana Figueroa, Public Works Director
Heidi Luce, City Clerk
Anthony Martinez, Management Analyst II
Ivan Reyes, Associate Planner
Elida Zaragoza, Information Technology Specialist
PUBLIC COMMENTS
CF 10.3 There were none.
NEW BUSINESS
Councilmember Lemons announced that she will not
be participating in the discussions or vote regarding
this item due to a conflict of interest, as preliminarily deemed by the Fair Political Practices Commission,
relative to the proximity of the proposed sound wall
associated with the project to her property.
Councilmember Lemons left the dais
1. PUBLIC HEARING
AltAir Paramount, LLC –
Refinery Conversion to
Renewable Fuels
AltAir Paramount, LLC – Refinery Conversion to
Renewable Fuels – Amendment to Conditional Use
Permit No. 757 and Zone Variance No. 409.
Minutes of an Adjourned Meeting of the
PARAMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
April 11, 2022; Page 2
A) RESOLUTION NO.
22:021
Approving
amendment to
Conditional Use
Permit No. 757, a
request by AltAir
Paramount, LLC to
complete the
conversion of a
refinery to
manufacture only
renewable fuels at
14700 Downey
Avenue in the M-2
(Heavy
Manufacturing) zone,
including certification
of the Final
Subsequent
Environmental Impact
Report, adoption of a
Mitigation Monitoring
and Reporting
Program, and
adoption of statement
of overriding
considerations
CF 101 CUP 757
Greg Chittick, Senior Project Engineer and Luis Perez,
Project Manager with MRS Environmental, Inc.
presented a PowerPoint presentation providing a
detailed overview of the environmental analysis
associated with the project, including a review of the
timeline for the environmental review and public
participation process. The presentation also provided
a detailed review of the final subsequent
environmental impact report (SEIR), including the
impacts and mitigation measures and the statement of
overriding consideration.
Richard Corey, Executive Officer, California Air
Resources Board, provided an overview of the State’s
interest in biofuels as a tool for reducing greenhouse
gas emissions and achieving the objectives of the
State’s low carbon fuel standards.
Planning Director Carver gave the report and
presented a PowerPoint, including an overview of the
project and the conditions of approval. He reported the following two amendments to Resolution 22:021 that
were made after the staff report was published. He
noted that copies of these changes have also been
placed on the dais for the City Council’s consideration:
p. 3 – adding the following finding:
The City of Paramount City Council has considered
significant impacts remaining after application of all
feasible mitigation measure(s), and has reviewed the
alternatives identified in the Final SEIR, including the appendices and responses to comments. In adopting
these findings on alternatives for the Project, the City considers only those significant environmental
impacts that cannot be avoided or substantially
lessened through implementation of mitigation
measures. The SEIR concluded that the Proposed
Project will result in unavoidable significant direct
impacts as described in Section 5 below. Accordingly,
the City has considered the three alternatives to the
Proposed Project analyzed in the SEIR: (1) the No
Project Alternative; (2) the Relocated Gas Pipeline
Alternative; and (3) the Pipeline Transportation of
Refinery Products Alternative. Detailed information
and analysis concerning these alternatives are set
forth in the Final SEIR in Section 5.3.2, Chapter 5. The Minutes of an Adjourned Meeting of the
PARAMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
April 11, 2022; Page 3
City finds these alternatives are not feasible. While
some of the Project’s potentially significant impacts
are reduced under the alternatives, none of the
alternatives eliminate the Project’s potentially
significant impacts, as shown in the Final SEIR Table
5.2. Additionally, none of these alternatives meet all of the Project objectives, and thus would not provide the
City and the region with all of the benefits described
below in the Statement of Overriding Considerations
in Section 7.
p. 15 – amending Condition 13:
To the greatest extent possible, all material, including finished product, for which it is operationally, legally and economically feasible to transport by pipeline to
off-site locations, shall be transported by pipeline. All finished product that can be delivered by underground
pipeline shall be delivered by underground pipeline.
Mayor Cuellar Stallings opened the public hearing and
asked if there was anyone wishing to testify.
The following individuals addressed the City Council in support of the project in person: Leeor Alpern, Senior
Director of Government Affairs and Public Relations,
World Energy (on behalf of applicant); Diane Martinez,
Vice President, PUSD School Board; Marcelina Garcia
Bridges; Chris Hannan Executive Secretary. Los
Angeles/Orange County Building and Construction
Trades Council; Tommy Faavael, IBEW Local 11; Ana
Bardales; Mike Kufchak, Director of Government
Affairs, IBEW Local 11; Tracy Vernado; Jim Kennedy,
Healthy Air Alliance; Alfred Becera. Additionally, the
following individuals addressed the City Council in
support of the project via teleconference: Alicia
Valadez, President, Paramount Chamber of
Commerce; Eli Lipman, MoveLA.
The following individuals addressed the City Council in opposition to the project in person: Sandra DeKay;
Rodolfo; Jose de Leon; and the following individuals
addressed the City Council in opposition to the project via teleconference: Stephanie Ferrequr; Oscar Espino
Padron, Earth Justice; Shana Emile, Earth Justice.
Elizabeth Jones submitted a request to speak but did
not answer when called. Additionally, the following
Minutes of an Adjourned Meeting of the
PARAMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
April 11, 2022; Page 4
individual submitted a written statement in opposition
to the project: Alfredo Banuelos.
The applicant was given an opportunity to provide
comments in rebuttal to the opposition but did not
provide any rebuttal comments.
Councilmember Olmos requested clarification on
several aspects of the SEIR and mitigation plan to
which Mr. Chittick and Mr. Perez responded. She
expressed concern regarding the timeline for the
applicant to work with the other agencies to construct
the sound wall. She commented that two years is not
enough time given that the construction timeline for the refinery project is three years. Lastly, she commented
that if this project is not approved, the refinery could go back to producing petroleum and asphalt products.
.
Councilmember Guillen commented that although she
respects the unions, she does not support this project
in Paramount due to the following concerns: the
proximity of the refinery to residential properties and schools; the potential for explosions due to faulty
pipelines; the impact on air quality for the nearby
homeowners; and potential traffic impacts in the
vicinity of the refinery.
Vice Mayor Aguayo requested clarification on several
aspects of the SEIR and mitigation plan to which Mr.
Chittick and Mr. Perez responded. She also
commented on the required air quality testing and
suggested the test results be made available to the
public in summary form. She also expressed concern
regarding the timeline for the construction of the sound wall.
Mayor Cuellar Stallings asked for clarification
regarding the concerns raised by Councilmember
Guillen related pipeline explosions. Mr. Chittick
responded that there are federal and state
requirements regarding testing and monitoring of
pipelines. She commented that she is supportive of the
project given its overall benefit to the community.
There being no further public testimony, it was moved
by Councilmember Olmos and seconded by
Councilmember Guillen to close the public hearing.
Minutes of an Adjourned Meeting of the
PARAMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
April 11, 2022; Page 5
The motion was passed by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Guillen, Olmos;
Vice Mayor Aguayo; and
Mayor Cuellar Stallings
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Lemons (Recused)
Discussion ensued concerning the condition regarding
the sound wall with the City Council expressing its
desire to increase the amount of time the applicant is
required to work with the other related agencies to
construct the sound wall. Following discussion, the
City Council concurred, and the applicant agreed, to
amend the condition regarding the sound wall to
extend the time to resolve the issues with the other
agencies regarding construction of the sound from
three years to five years, with the increase in rail
deliveries being permitted once construction of the
refinery is complete.
It was moved by Councilmember Olmos and seconded
by Councilmember Aguayo to read by title only and
adopt Resolution No. 22:021 as amended above, “A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PARAMOUNT SETTING FORTH ITS
FINDINGS OF FACT AND DECISION RELATIVE TO
AN AMENDMENT TO CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
NO. 757, A REQUEST BY ALTAIR PARAMOUNT,
LLC TO COMPLETE THE CONVERSION OF THE
REFINERY TO MANUFACTURE ONLY
RENEWABLE FUELS; CERTIFY THE FINAL
SUBSEQUENT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
REPORT; APPROVE THE MITIGATION
MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM; AND
ADOPT THE STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING
CONSIDERATIONS AT 14700 DOWNEY AVENUE IN
THE M-2 (HEAVY MANUFACTURING) ZONE.” The
motion was passed by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmember Olmos;
Vice Mayor Aguayo; and
Mayor Cuellar Stallings
NOES: Guillen
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Lemons (Recused)
Minutes of an Adjourned Meeting of the
PARAMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
April 11, 2022; Page 6
B) RESOLUTION NO.
22:022
Approving Zone
Variance No. 409, a
request by AltAir
Paramount, LLC for a
variance to exceed
the 55-foot height
limit for the
installation of various
pieces of equipment,
including process
vessels, a hydrogen
generation unit, and a
pretreat unit at 14700
Downey Avenue in
the M-2 (Heavy
Manufacturing) zone
CF 104 VAR 409
Planning Director Carver gave the report and
presented a PowwerPoint presentation.
Mayor Cuellar Stallings opened the public hearing and
asked if there was anyone in the audience wishing to
testify.
There being no further public testimony, it was moved
by Councilmember Aguayo and seconded by
Councilmember Olmos to close the public hearing.
The motion was passed by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Guillen, Olmos;
Vice Mayor Aguayo; and
Mayor Cuellar Stallings
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Lemons (Recused)
It was moved by Councilmember Olmos and seconded
by Councilmember Aguayo to read by title only and
adopt Resolution No. 22:022 as amended, “A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PARAMOUNT SETTING FORTH ITS
FINDINGS OF FACT AND DECISION RELATIVE TO
ZONE VARIANCE NO. 409, A REQUEST BY ALTAIR
PARAMOUNT, LLC FOR A VARIANCE TO EXCEED
THE 55-FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT IN THE M-2 (HEAVY
MANUFACTURING) ZONE TO ALLOW THE
INSTALLATION OF VARIOUS PIECES OF
EQUIPMENT RELATED TO THE ALTAIR
PARAMOUNT, LLC REFINERY CONVERSION
PROJECT AT 14700 DOWNEY AVENUE.” The
motion was passed by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmember Olmos;
Vice Mayor Aguayo; and
Mayor Cuellar Stallings
NOES: Guillen
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Lemons (Recused)
Minutes of an Adjourned Meeting of the
PARAMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
April 11, 2022; Page 7
COMMENTS/COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilmembers
Councilmember Olmos commented that this was a
long process getting to this point and encouraged
World Energy to continue to work with the City to
address any concerns that may come up.
Vice Mayor Aguayo commented that this was a long
process but the result is a better solution for the
community.
Mayor Cuellar Stallings commented that this was a
very detailed process with many documents to read
and the City Council has only the best interest of the
community in mind.
Staff
There were none.
CLOSED SESSION
None.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the
City Council, Mayor Cuellar Stallings adjourned the
meeting at 7:48 p.m. to a meeting on April 19, 2022 at
5:00 p.m.
/s/ Vilma Cuellar Stallings
Vilma Cuellar Stallings, Mayor
ATTEST:
/s/ Heidi Luce
Heidi Luce, City Clerk
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