Item No. 13.
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA – OCTOBER 1, 2024
SUBJECT: Approval of Community Civic Event – Porterville First Baptist Church – Mother’s United Against Gang Violence “United by Kindness” - November 2, 2024
SOURCE: Finance
COMMENT: The Porterville First Baptist Church is requesting approval to hold the Mother’s United Against Gang Violence “United by Kindness” event on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Centennial Park. This event is a community outreach event to celebrate our youth and to promote kindness throughout our community. The event will include performing arts and a talent show festival. The Application requests the closure of Main Street from East Harrison Avenue to East Putnam Avenue, North Second Street from East Thurman Avenue to East Cleveland Ave, West Thurman Avenue and West Cleveland Avenue from North Division to North Main Street, and East Thurman Avenue and East Cleveland Avenue from North Main Street to North Second Street, as indicated on the attached map, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
The Committee also requests barricades, street sweeping, and refuse pickup. An outside amplifier permit has been approved from 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
This request is being made under the Community Civic Events Ordinance No. 1326, as amended. The application has been routed according to the Ordinance regulations and reviewed by all City Departments involved. The requirements and restrictions are listed on the attached copy of the Application and Agreement, Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C, and Outside Amplifier Permit.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council approve the Community Civic Event application from Porterville First Baptist Church to hold the Mother’s United Against Gang Violence “United by Kindness” event on November 2, 2024, at Centennial Park, subject to the requirements and restrictions contained in the Application and Agreement, Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C and Outside
Amplifier Permit.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Application and Agreement, Map, Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C, and Outside Amplifier Permit
Appropriated/Funded:
Review By:
Department Director:
Item No. 13.
Janie Rodriguez, Finance Director
Final Approver: Patrice Hildreth, City Manager
Requirements for Community Civic Event
Porterville 1st Baptist Church
Untied by Kindness
November 2, 2024
City Engineer: No comments.
D. Cervantez
Community Development Director: No comments.
C. Calderon
Public Works Director: No comments.
M. Knight
Fire Marshal: Please see Exhibit C.
C. Dignam
Parks and Leisure Services Director: Vehicles to remain off grass.
D. Moore
Police Lieutenant: Please see Exhibit B.
A. Acevedo
Administrative Service Director: Risk Management requires $1M in Y. Andrade general commercial liability coverage,
naming the City of Porterville as an
additional insured. The certificate of
. insurance must include the attached
endorsement page evidencing the name
insured. If the event has bounce houses
houses or inflatables, the City would
require $2M in general commercial
liability coverage, naming the City as
additional insured and waivers must be
signed.
Exhibit A, Page 1
Field Services Superintendent: We will deliver 5 black 64G containers B. Spry and 5 blue 64G containers Centennial
Park prior to the event. The Coordinator
was instructed to leave the containers in
in the same place as they were dropped
off, at the conclusion of the event.
Field Services Superintendent – Streets: Street department will set up street J. Baeza closure before event and remove
closure after event.
Exhibit A, Page 2
Requirements for Community Civic Event
Sponsor: Porterville 1st Baptist Church
Event: United by Kindness
Event Chairman: Lloyd Johnson
Location: Centennial Park, Porterville Ca
Date of Event: November 2, 2024
RISK MANAGEMENT: Conditions of Approval
That Porterville 1st Baptist Church provide a Certificate of Commercial General Liability Insurance Coverage evidencing coverage of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence, and having the appropriate Endorsement naming the City of Porterville, its Officers, Employees, Agents and Volunteers as ‘Additional Insured’ against all claims arising from, or in connection with, the Permitted operation and sponsorship of the aforementioned Community Civic Event.
A. The Certificate shall be signed by an agent authorized to bind insurance coverage with the carrier, and the deductible, if any, shall not be greater than $1,000.
B. Said insurance shall be primary to the insurance held by the City of Porterville, be with a company having an A.M. Best Rating of no less that A: VII, and the insurance company must be an ‘admitted’ insurer in the State of California.
Exhibit A, Page 3
CITY OF PORTERVILLE/POLICE DEPARTMENT
Community Civic Event Application
United by Kindness Talent Show Festival
November 2, 2024, 11 am – 4 pm
Location: Centennial Park
Proposed Conditions/Requirements for Downtown Event:
City Council approval is required for all street closures. On all streets approved for closure, ensure adequate barricades/barriers are used to warn motorists of non-access and prevent vehicle access to those designated areas. If event organizers anticipate the need for removal of parked vehicles from public roadways related to the event, the affected public roadways must be posted by organizer with appropriate signage no less than 24 hours in advance of the event. Said signs and associated posting must meet minimum requirements as established by the California Vehicle Code. (Recommend event organizers contact Sergeant Maria Aguillon of the Porterville Police Department/Traffic Unit in order to ensure that signs meet the requirements as established by law).
Food vendors should provide inspection certificates from the Tulare County Health Department to members of the organizing committee, to ensure food product safety. An Outside Amplifier Permit has been approved and granted. However, event organizers shall not allow music to be played so loud as to unreasonably disturb the peace and good order of any residents or business establishments in the surrounding area.
At conclusion of event, event organizers shall ensure streets are promptly cleared of any vehicles, equipment, booths or anything that could present a hazard to pedestrians or vehicles traveling through this area.
Event organizers shall contact Sergeant Maria Aguillon no less than 10 days before the event to coordinate and discuss the proposed road closures.
Mark Azevedo, Lieutenant
Porterville Police Department
Exhibit B
City of Porterville/Fire Department
Community Civic Event
Untied by Kindness
November 2, 2024 11:00AM-4:00PM
Centennial Park, Porterville
Proposed Conditions/Requirements for community civic event:
Proper spacing between canopies, tents and tarps. All tents, canopies, tarps shall all be fire resistance rated with an affixed and legible tag. see attached document. Fire extinguishers available and within 75' travel distance to generators and booths. Food trailers shall be disconnected from the towing vehicle and level with towing vehicle disconnected and moved to a parking area. Food vans or trucks should be parked and keys removed from the ignition. All food trucks and trailers with an installed fire extinguisher system shall have a current inspection tag on the fixed extinguishing system (within the last 6 months) and have both a K extinguisher, and a 2A:10BC fire extinguisher (tagged within the last year). There shall be no cooking or frying producing grease laden vapors inside, or under, any tent, tarp, or canopy.
Clayton Dignam
Fire Marshal
Exhibit C, Page 1
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT ∙ Fire Prevention Division ∙ 40 W Cleveland. Ave. (559) 782-7526 ∙ Fax (559) 791-7834 ∙ [email protected]
OUTDOOR FOOD BOOTH REQUIREMENTS
Authority cited: 2019 California Fire Code (CFC)
These standards apply to individual tents, temporary structures, or membrane structures less than 200 square feet in area, and canopies less than 400 square feet in area used as outdoor carnival and fair booths.
A permit is required before any tent or membrane structure larger than 400 square feet can be erected. (California Fire Code 3103.2)
Tents and membrane structures having an area in excess of 400 square feet shall not be erected, operated or maintained for any purpose without first obtaining a permit and approval from the building official and fire code official.
Exceptions:
1. Tents used exclusively for recreational camping purposes.
2. Tents open on all sides which comply with all the following:
a. Individual tents having a maximum size of 700 square feet. b. Aggregate area of multiple tents placed side by side without 12 feet clearance, not exceeding 700 square feet total. c. A minimum clearance of 12 feet to all structures and other tents.
Definitions
Cooking Booth – Booth where food is prepared by a heating or cooking process such as, but not limited to, grilling, frying, barbecuing, flambe′, deep fat frying, baking, warming, or boiling. Deep fat frying – Any cooking operation or process whereby the product floats or is submerged in hot oil during the cooking process.
Vendor Booth – Any booth other than a cooking booth.
Cooking Booth Construction and Location
• All fabrics or membranes covering cooking booths shall be California State Fire Marshal certified flame retardant and be labeled as such.
• Decorative materials shall be inherently fire resistive or shall be treated with a fire-retardant spray. • Flooring materials used within cooking booths and cooking equipment shall be non-combustible or California State Fire Marshal certified fire-retardant. (Exception 3/8” plywood or similar material.) • Each cooking booth shall have at least one exit-way, a minimum 3’ wide and 6’8” high. Booth frames shall not obstruct exit paths. • Cooking booths shall have a minimum clearance of 10’ on at least two sides with clearance of at least 10’ from any vendor booth. • Minimum 12’ separation required between cooking booths with an aggregate size of 400 sq.ft. with sides, or 700 sq.ft. without sides.
Cooking Equipment
• All interior cooking equipment shall be of an approved type, and open-flame cooking shall be located a minimum of 18” from booth back/side drop materials.
• Compressed gas (butane, propane, or natural) equipment shall conform to the following:
• Shut off valves shall be provided at each fuel source; • Cooking appliances shall have an ON-OFF valve located far enough away from the appliance to be safely shut off in case of fire; • Manufactured cooking appliances shall be equipped with a Thermocouple Valve to shut off fuel if flame is extinguished; • The booth operator shall test all connections for leaks with soap and water solution; • Fuel tanks shall be protected from damage and secured in an upright position; • Hoses shall be of a type approved for use with the equipment and fuel type; • Tanks not in use shall be turned off;
• Extra fuel tanks shall not be stored in booths;
• Unused fuel cylinders shall be stored in a secured position.
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT ∙ Fire Prevention Division ∙ 40 W Cleveland. Ave. (559) 782-7526 ∙ Fax (559) 791-7834 ∙ [email protected]
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION
Wood, Charcoal (Solid Fuels) Cooking
• Use only an electric starter or commercially sold lighter fluid. • Charcoal cooking and storage of lighter fluid is prohibited inside booths. • Charcoal cooking shall be located a minimum of ten 10’ away from booths and in areas away from public access. • Charcoal cooking shall be located at least ten 10’ away from combustible structures and parked vehicles. • Coals shall be disposed of in metal containers with lids approved by the Fire Marshal.
Deep Fat Frying, Flambé, and Wok
• Deep fat frying, flambé, and wok shall be located no closer than 18” from any combustible material. • Cooking areas shall not be accessible to the public.
• Deep fat frying equipment shall be equipped with a temperature regulating device or other method of regulating temperatures approved by the Fire Marshal.
• Separation shall be maintained with a minimum of 3’ clearance between deep fat frying and flambé or open flame cooking.
Vendor Booth Construction and Location
• Each vendor booth shall have at least one exit-way, a minimum of 3’ wide by 6’8” high. Booth frames shall not obstruct exit paths.
• Vendor booths shall have a minimum clearance of 20’ on at least one side, with clearance of at least 10’ from any cooking booth.
Electrical Power
• Generators shall be placed only in locations approved for festival use. • Generators shall not be refueled during event hours. Extra fuel shall not be stored during event hours. • Smoking and open flames shall be prohibited within 25’ of refueling operations. • Extension cords shall be of a grounded type and approved for exterior use.
Fire Extinguishers
• Each cooking booth shall be equipped with a fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2A: 10BC. Booths with deep fat frying or flambé cooking shall be equipped with an extinguisher rated for class “K” fires. • Cooking booths shall be equipped with visible and accessible fire extinguishers mounted adjacent to the exit. • For vendor booths, the maximum travel distance to a fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2A: 10BC shall not exceed 75’ • Each generator shall be provided with a fire extinguisher with a minimum 40BC rating. The extinguisher shall be located near the generator and accessible at all times.
• All fire extinguishers shall be serviced and tagged annually by a State-licensed contractor.
Miscellaneous
• The Porterville Fire Department shall be provided with a site plan showing emergency access. • All booths are subject to inspection by the Fire Department and any discrepancies will require immediate action. • All cooking areas shall be cleaned regularly to prevent the build-up of grease. • There shall be a competent adult in cooking booths at all times to ensure safety. • Seating shall be a minimum of 15’ from booths with open flame devices or cooking appliances. • The Fire Department shall be provided with a telephone number of the responsible party to contact in case of emergency on a 24 hour basis.
Fire Safety Tips
• Know where fire extinguishers are and how to use them. • Do not leave cooking unattended.
• Do not wear loose-fitting clothing while cooking.
• Remove trash accumulation regularly.
• Keep combustible materials away from heat sources.
• In case of an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The attached “Food Booth Vendor Agreement” must be on site at all times and presented upon request of any Porterville Fire Department Personnel.
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT ∙ Fire Prevention Division ∙ 40 W Cleveland. Ave. (559) 782-7526 ∙ Fax (559) 791-7834 ∙ [email protected] Cooking Booth Vendor Agreement
Booth/Space # Business Name
On Site Contact Name Contact Phone #
Cooking Booth Construction and Location
1. Tents, canopies, and decorative material shall be inherently flame-resistive and proof of certification shall be on site at all times.
2. Cooking booth floors may be concrete, asphalt, or plywood over grass and dirt.
3. An emergency access of 36” shall be maintained between the back of each cooking booth and any fencing at all times. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Cooking Equipment
1. Cooking with charcoal, wood, or other solid fuel shall be located a minimum of 10’ away from booths, canopies, combustible material or any public access.
2. Deep fat frying shall be located a minimum of 3’ away from booths, canopies, open flame cooking, combustible material or any public access.
3. Any open flame cooking shall be located a minimum of 18” away from any vertical surface, combustible material or any public access.
4. Extra fuel tanks shall NOT be stored in booths or within 5’ of cooking equipment.
5. All cooking, gas powered, or electrically energized equipment shall meet manufacturer specifications and shall be free of excess cooking oils or any other combustible materials.
Miscellaneous
1. A visible and accessible, 2A:10BC fire extinguisher with a current (within the last 12 months) State Fire Marshall tag must be provided within 20’ of travel in all cooking areas.
2. A visible and accessible Class K portable fire extinguisher with a current (within the last 12 months) State Fire Marshall tag must be provided in all cooking areas with deep fat frying.
3. All cooking areas shall be cleaned regularly to prevent build-up of combustible substances.
4. Extension cords shall be of a grounded type, approved for exterior use, and in good working order.
5. Smoking is not allowed at any time within food booths or within 25’ of any fuel source.
6. Specialized cooking equipment is subject to approval by the Fire Marshal.
Additional Requirements:
The Porterville Fire Department has established these requirements in accordance with the California Fire Code. Your cooperation is required to maintain a high level of fire safety throughout the event. All booths are subject to fire department inspection prior to and at any time during the event. Any discrepancies to the above requirements or any conditions considered a threat to fire and life safety by the Fire Inspector may result in the immediate cessation of cooking.
By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to comply with all requirements of this contract.
Signature Date
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT ∙ Fire Prevention Division ∙ 40 W Cleveland. Ave. (559) 782-7526 ∙ Fax (559) 791-7834 ∙ [email protected]
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT ∙ Fire Prevention Division ∙ 40 W Cleveland. Ave. (559) 782-7526 ∙ Fax (559) 791-7834 ∙ [email protected]
Item No. 14.
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA – OCTOBER 1, 2024
SUBJECT: Approval of Community Civic Event - Veterans Homecoming Committee - Veterans Day Parade - November 11, 2024
SOURCE: Finance
COMMENT: The Veterans Homecoming Committee is requesting approval to hold its annual Veterans Day Parade on Monday, November 11, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, continuing the patriotic tradition of honoring veterans and showing gratitude for their service. The Application requests the closure of Main Street from Henderson Avenue to Orange Avenue, along with the side streets along Main Street that are indicated on the attached map, from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
The Committee also requests barricades, Police protection, street sweeping, and refuse pickup. An outside amplifier permit has been approved from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
This request is made under the Community Civic Events Ordinance No. 1326, as amended. The Application has been routed according to the Ordinance regulations and reviewed by all City Departments involved. The requirements and restrictions are listed on the attached copy of the Application and Agreement, Exhibit A, Exhibit B and Outside Amplifier Permit.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council approve the Community Civic Event Application and Agreement submitted by the Veterans
Homecoming Committee for the annual Veterans Day Parade on November 11, 2024, subject to the requirements and restrictions contained in the Application and Agreement, Exhibit A, Exhibit B and Outside Amplifier Permit.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Application and Agreement, Map, Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Outside Amplifier Permit, and Certificate of Liability
Insurance
Appropriated/Funded:
Review By:
Department Director:
Janie Rodriguez, Finance Director
Final Approver: Patrice Hildreth, City Manager
Requirements for Community Civic Event
Veterans Homecoming Committee & American Legion Post 20 Veterans Day Parade
November 11, 2024
City Engineer: No comments.
D. Cervantez
Community Development Director: No comments.
C. Calderon
Public Works Director: No comments.
M. Knight
Fire Marshal: Cleveland shall not be closed directly
C. Dignam in front of Fire Station 71.
Parks and Leisure Services Director: Parks will be coordinating with event D. Moore chairperson on event logistics.
Police Lieutenant: Please see Exhibit B.
M. Azevedo
Administrative Service Director: The certificate and endorsement page Y. Andrade are sufficient for what is proposed on
the application.
Field Services Superintendent: We will take care of trash services.
B. Spry
Field Services Superintendent – Streets: Street department will take care of the J. Baeza set up and take down of the street
closure.
Exhibit A, Page 1
Requirements for Community Civic Event
Sponsor: Veterans Homecoming Committee & American Legion Post 20 Event: Veterans Day Parade
Event Chairman: Bob Atchley
Location: Main Street, Porterville CA
Date of Event: November 11, 2024 (10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.) RISK MANAGEMENT: Conditions of Approval
That Veterans Homecoming Committee or American Legion Post 20 provide a Certificate of Commercial General Liability Insurance Coverage evidencing coverage of not less than $2,000,000 per occurrence, and having the appropriate Endorsement naming the City of Porterville, its Officers, Employees, Agents and Volunteers as ‘Additional Insured’ against all claims arising from, or in connection with, the Permitted operation and sponsorship of the aforementioned Community Civic Event.
A. The Certificate shall be signed by an agent authorized to bind insurance coverage with the carrier, and the deductible, if any, shall not be greater than $1,000.
B. Said insurance shall be primary to the insurance held by the City of Porterville, be with a company having an A.M. Best Rating of no less than A: VII, and the insurance company must be an ‘admitted’ insurer in the State of California.
Exhibit A, Page 2
CITY OF PORTERVILLE/POLICE DEPARTMENT
Community Civic Event Application
Veterans’ Day Parade
November 11, 2024 / 6:00AM – 4:00PM
Proposed Conditions/Requirements:
City Council approval is required for all street closures. Ensure adequate barricades/barriers are used to warn motorists of non-access and prevent vehicle access to those designated areas.
Parade Committee should meet with street vendors to coordinate rules regarding their activities, such as:
Staying off the parade route and crossing in front of floats or groups Shall not sell silly string, snap caps or party poppers Ensure each vendor has properly obtained a City business license Food vendors should be situated where they minimally block the sidewalk. Food vendors should provide inspection certificates from the Tulare County Health Department to ensure safe food products.
Throwing candy from vehicles, floats, or any parade entry is prohibited. This results in children scampering to catch or find candy in a crowded environment, and causes others to run out into the street. This practice creates significant and unnecessary risk for parade goers. All registered parade entrants should be informed of this prohibition and efforts taken to cease this practice. An Outside Amplifier Permit has been requested and granted. However, event organizers shall not allow music or other amplifications to be played so loud as to unreasonably disturb the peace and good order of the business establishments or neighborhoods in the area.
Event organizers shall coordinate all policing/traffic/parking/posting concerns with Lieutenant Orlando Ortiz and Sergeant Maria Aguillon well in advance of the event.
They can be contacted at 559-782-7410/559-782-7400.
Lieutenant Mark Azevedo
Porterville Police Department
Exhibit B
08/21/2024
Item No. 15.
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA – OCTOBER 1, 2024
SUBJECT: Approval of Community Civic Event - Tule River Tribe Powwow Committee - Tule River Veterans Powwow Overnight Camping - November 7 - 11, 2024 SOURCE: Finance
COMMENT: The Tule River Tribe is holding its annual Tule River Powwow at the Eagle Mountain Casino Event Center from Friday, November 8, 2024, to Sunday, November 10, 2024, and is requesting approval to allow overnight camping for participants from Thursday, November 7, 2024, to Monday, November 11, 2024, at the Porterville Sports Complex. Camping is proposed to begin on Thursday at 5:00 P.M. and conclude on Monday at 12:00 P.M., and would not interfere with scheduled City sports activities.
This request is made under the Community Civic Events Ordinance No. 1326, as amended. The Application has been routed according to the Ordinance regulations and reviewed by all City Departments involved. All requirements and restrictions are listed on the attached Application and Agreement, Exhibit A, Exhibit B, and Exhibit C.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council approve the Community Civic Event Application submitted by the Tule River Tribe Powwow
Committee to use the Porterville Sports Complex for overnight camping during the Tule River Powwow on November 7, 2024 through November 11, 2024, subject to the restrictions and requirements contained in the Application and Agreement, Exhibit A, Exhibit B, and Exhibit C.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Application and Agreement, Map, Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C, and Certificate of Liability Insurance
Appropriated/Funded:
Review By:
Department Director:
Janie Rodriguez, Finance Director
Final Approver: Patrice Hildreth, City Manager
11/7/2024-11/11/2024
11/7-11/24
Requirements for Community Civic Event
Tule River Powwow Committee
Tule River Powwow
November 7-11, 2024
City Engineer: No comments.
D. Cervantez
Community Development Director: No comments.
C. Calderon
Public Works Director: No comments.
M. Knight
Fire Marshal: Please see Exhibit C.
C. Dignam
Parks and Leisure Services Director: Parks will coordinate with event D. Moore chairperson the logistics at the
Sports Complex.
Police Lieutenant: Please see Exhibit B.
A. Acevedo
Administrative Service Director: Risk Management requires $2M in Y. Andrade general commercial liability coverage
naming the City of Porterville as an
additional insured. The certificate must
also include the endorsement page
reflecting the same coverage.
Field Services Superintendent: No comments.
B. Spry
.
Field Services Superintendent – Streets: No comments.
J. Baeza
Exhibit A, Page 1
Requirements for Community Civic Event
Sponsor: Tule River Powwow Committee
Event: Tule River Powwow
Event Chairman: Adam Christman
Location: Sports Complex, Porterville Ca
Date of Event: November 7-11, 2024
RISK MANAGEMENT: Conditions of Approval
That the Tule River Powwow Committee provide a Certificate of Commercial General Liability Insurance Coverage evidencing coverage of not less than $2,000,000 per occurrence, and having the appropriate Endorsement naming the City of Porterville, its Officers, Employees, Agents and Volunteers as ‘Additional Insured’ against all claims arising from, or in connection with, the Permitted operation and sponsorship of the aforementioned Community Civic Event.
A. The Certificate shall be signed by an agent authorized to bind insurance coverage with the carrier, and the deductible, if any, shall not be greater than $1,000.
B. Said insurance shall be primary to the insurance held by the City of Porterville, be with a company having an A.M. Best Rating of no less that A: VII, and the insurance company must be an ‘admitted’ insurer in the State of California.
Exhibit A, Page 2
CITY OF PORTERVILLE/POLICE DEPARTMENT
Community Civic Event Application
Tule River Pow Wow
November 7-11, 2024
Porterville Sports Complex
Proposed Conditions/Requirements for Event:
At conclusion of event, event organizers shall ensure the park is promptly cleared of any equipment, booths, or waste
Event organizers should contact the Patrol Watch Commander (Lieutenant Gurule, Lieutenant Hatch, Lieutenant Ibarra, or Lieutenant Ortiz) to discuss any potential policing needs. They can be reached at (559) 782-7400.
Mark Azevedo, Lieutenant
Porterville Police Department
Exhibit B
CITY OF PORTERVILLE/FIRE DEPARTMENT
COMMUNITY CIVIC EVENT APPLICATION
TULE RIVER POWWOW
NOVEMBER 7-11, 2024
PORTERVILLE SPORTS COMPLEX
Proposed Conditions/Requirements for Event:
All spacing for tents, tarps and canopies shall comply with the attached requirements for spacing. All booths using electricity, preparing food, or using a generator shall have at a minimum a 2A:10B,C fire extinguisher that is properly tagged for use. All trailers shall be separated from the towing vehicle and levelled. There shall be a minimum of 12' between units.
All food truck/trailers with a fixed extinguishing system shall have a current inspection tag on the system and the required K series extinguisher, along with the 2A:10B,C fire extinguisher.
Clayton Dignam
Fire Marshal
Exhibit C, Page 1
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT ∙ Fire Prevention Division ∙ 40 W Cleveland. Ave. (559) 782-7526 ∙ Fax (559) 791-7834 ∙ [email protected]
OUTDOOR FOOD BOOTH REQUIREMENTS
Authority cited: 2019 California Fire Code (CFC)
These standards apply to individual tents, temporary structures, or membrane structures less than 200 square feet in area, and canopies less than 400 square feet in area used as outdoor carnival and fair booths.
A permit is required before any tent or membrane structure larger than 400 square feet can be erected. (California Fire Code 3103.2)
Tents and membrane structures having an area in excess of 400 square feet shall not be erected, operated or maintained for any purpose without first obtaining a permit and approval from the building official and fire code official.
Exceptions:
1. Tents used exclusively for recreational camping purposes.
2. Tents open on all sides which comply with all the following:
a. Individual tents having a maximum size of 700 square feet. b. Aggregate area of multiple tents placed side by side without 12 feet clearance, not exceeding 700 square feet total. c. A minimum clearance of 12 feet to all structures and other tents.
Definitions
Cooking Booth – Booth where food is prepared by a heating or cooking process such as, but not limited to, grilling, frying, barbecuing, flambe′, deep fat frying, baking, warming, or boiling. Deep fat frying – Any cooking operation or process whereby the product floats or is submerged in hot oil during the cooking process.
Vendor Booth – Any booth other than a cooking booth.
Cooking Booth Construction and Location
• All fabrics or membranes covering cooking booths shall be California State Fire Marshal certified flame retardant and be labeled as such.
• Decorative materials shall be inherently fire resistive or shall be treated with a fire-retardant spray. • Flooring materials used within cooking booths and cooking equipment shall be non-combustible or California State Fire Marshal certified fire-retardant. (Exception 3/8” plywood or similar material.) • Each cooking booth shall have at least one exit-way, a minimum 3’ wide and 6’8” high. Booth frames shall not obstruct exit paths. • Cooking booths shall have a minimum clearance of 10’ on at least two sides with clearance of at least 10’ from any vendor booth. • Minimum 12’ separation required between cooking booths with an aggregate size of 400 sq.ft. with sides, or 700 sq.ft. without sides.
Cooking Equipment
• All interior cooking equipment shall be of an approved type, and open-flame cooking shall be located a minimum of 18” from booth back/side drop materials.
• Compressed gas (butane, propane, or natural) equipment shall conform to the following:
• Shut off valves shall be provided at each fuel source; • Cooking appliances shall have an ON-OFF valve located far enough away from the appliance to be safely shut off in case of fire; • Manufactured cooking appliances shall be equipped with a Thermocouple Valve to shut off fuel if flame is extinguished; • The booth operator shall test all connections for leaks with soap and water solution; • Fuel tanks shall be protected from damage and secured in an upright position; • Hoses shall be of a type approved for use with the equipment and fuel type; • Tanks not in use shall be turned off;
• Extra fuel tanks shall not be stored in booths;
• Unused fuel cylinders shall be stored in a secured position.
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT ∙ Fire Prevention Division ∙ 40 W Cleveland. Ave. (559) 782-7526 ∙ Fax (559) 791-7834 ∙ [email protected]
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION
Wood, Charcoal (Solid Fuels) Cooking
• Use only an electric starter or commercially sold lighter fluid. • Charcoal cooking and storage of lighter fluid is prohibited inside booths. • Charcoal cooking shall be located a minimum of ten 10’ away from booths and in areas away from public access. • Charcoal cooking shall be located at least ten 10’ away from combustible structures and parked vehicles. • Coals shall be disposed of in metal containers with lids approved by the Fire Marshal.
Deep Fat Frying, Flambé, and Wok
• Deep fat frying, flambé, and wok shall be located no closer than 18” from any combustible material. • Cooking areas shall not be accessible to the public.
• Deep fat frying equipment shall be equipped with a temperature regulating device or other method of regulating temperatures approved by the Fire Marshal.
• Separation shall be maintained with a minimum of 3’ clearance between deep fat frying and flambé or open flame cooking.
Vendor Booth Construction and Location
• Each vendor booth shall have at least one exit-way, a minimum of 3’ wide by 6’8” high. Booth frames shall not obstruct exit paths.
• Vendor booths shall have a minimum clearance of 20’ on at least one side, with clearance of at least 10’ from any cooking booth.
Electrical Power
• Generators shall be placed only in locations approved for festival use. • Generators shall not be refueled during event hours. Extra fuel shall not be stored during event hours. • Smoking and open flames shall be prohibited within 25’ of refueling operations. • Extension cords shall be of a grounded type and approved for exterior use.
Fire Extinguishers
• Each cooking booth shall be equipped with a fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2A: 10BC. Booths with deep fat frying or flambé cooking shall be equipped with an extinguisher rated for class “K” fires. • Cooking booths shall be equipped with visible and accessible fire extinguishers mounted adjacent to the exit. • For vendor booths, the maximum travel distance to a fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2A: 10BC shall not exceed 75’ • Each generator shall be provided with a fire extinguisher with a minimum 40BC rating. The extinguisher shall be located near the generator and accessible at all times.
• All fire extinguishers shall be serviced and tagged annually by a State-licensed contractor.
Miscellaneous
• The Porterville Fire Department shall be provided with a site plan showing emergency access. • All booths are subject to inspection by the Fire Department and any discrepancies will require immediate action. • All cooking areas shall be cleaned regularly to prevent the build-up of grease. • There shall be a competent adult in cooking booths at all times to ensure safety. • Seating shall be a minimum of 15’ from booths with open flame devices or cooking appliances. • The Fire Department shall be provided with a telephone number of the responsible party to contact in case of emergency on a 24 hour basis.
Fire Safety Tips
• Know where fire extinguishers are and how to use them. • Do not leave cooking unattended.
• Do not wear loose-fitting clothing while cooking.
• Remove trash accumulation regularly.
• Keep combustible materials away from heat sources.
• In case of an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The attached “Food Booth Vendor Agreement” must be on site at all times and presented upon request of any Porterville Fire Department Personnel.
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT ∙ Fire Prevention Division ∙ 40 W Cleveland. Ave. (559) 782-7526 ∙ Fax (559) 791-7834 ∙ [email protected] Cooking Booth Vendor Agreement
Booth/Space # Business Name
On Site Contact Name Contact Phone #
Cooking Booth Construction and Location
1. Tents, canopies, and decorative material shall be inherently flame-resistive and proof of certification shall be on site at all times.
2. Cooking booth floors may be concrete, asphalt, or plywood over grass and dirt.
3. An emergency access of 36” shall be maintained between the back of each cooking booth and any fencing at all times. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Cooking Equipment
1. Cooking with charcoal, wood, or other solid fuel shall be located a minimum of 10’ away from booths, canopies, combustible material or any public access.
2. Deep fat frying shall be located a minimum of 3’ away from booths, canopies, open flame cooking, combustible material or any public access.
3. Any open flame cooking shall be located a minimum of 18” away from any vertical surface, combustible material or any public access.
4. Extra fuel tanks shall NOT be stored in booths or within 5’ of cooking equipment.
5. All cooking, gas powered, or electrically energized equipment shall meet manufacturer specifications and shall be free of excess cooking oils or any other combustible materials.
Miscellaneous
1. A visible and accessible, 2A:10BC fire extinguisher with a current (within the last 12 months) State Fire Marshall tag must be provided within 20’ of travel in all cooking areas.
2. A visible and accessible Class K portable fire extinguisher with a current (within the last 12 months) State Fire Marshall tag must be provided in all cooking areas with deep fat frying.
3. All cooking areas shall be cleaned regularly to prevent build-up of combustible substances.
4. Extension cords shall be of a grounded type, approved for exterior use, and in good working order.
5. Smoking is not allowed at any time within food booths or within 25’ of any fuel source.
6. Specialized cooking equipment is subject to approval by the Fire Marshal.
Additional Requirements:
The Porterville Fire Department has established these requirements in accordance with the California Fire Code. Your cooperation is required to maintain a high level of fire safety throughout the event. All booths are subject to fire department inspection prior to and at any time during the event. Any discrepancies to the above requirements or any conditions considered a threat to fire and life safety by the Fire Inspector may result in the immediate cessation of cooking.
By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to comply with all requirements of this contract.
Signature Date
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT ∙ Fire Prevention Division ∙ 40 W Cleveland. Ave. (559) 782-7526 ∙ Fax (559) 791-7834 ∙ [email protected]
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT ∙ Fire Prevention Division ∙ 40 W Cleveland. Ave. (559) 782-7526 ∙ Fax (559) 791-7834 ∙ [email protected]
Item No. 15.
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA – MAY 7, 2024
SUBJECT: Status and Review of Declaration of Local Flood Emergency SOURCE: City Manager's Office
COMMENT: On March 13, 2023, Mayor Martha A. Flores in conjunction with the Acting City Manager Patrice Hildreth declared the existence of a local emergency within the City of Porterville. Said Declaration was made pursuant to Chapter 9 of the Porterville Municipal Code, and in response to the increasing threat to life and property in the city caused by a series of storm systems striking California and in particular the Porterville area, impacting Success Lake and significantly increasing flows of the Tule River. Pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act (California Government Code 8558 et seq.), emergency declarations must be ratified by the governing body within seven days of being declared. At its Special Meeting on March 17, 2023, the City Council acted to ratify the Declaration of Local Emergency. The Act also requires that the emergency declaration be renewed every sixty (60) days to remain in effect, which at its meeting on April 16, 2024, the Council reviewed and acted to renew the emergency declaration. Staff continues to work with FEMA for resolution of the City's claims and will continue to work to identify a timeline and critical path forward.
Chronology:
On March 10, 2023, due to the volume of water added to Success Lake from significant storm activity, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Bourdreaux issued an Evacuation Warning for both the north and south sides of the Tule River, and the Tulare County Office of Emergency Services (TCOES) established a Temporary Evacuation Point (TEP) and Emergency Shelter in the gymnasium at Porterville College.
On March 15, 2023, due to the water level of Success Lake rising to the point of running over the spillway of the Richard L. Schafer Dam, Sheriff Boudreaux issued a Mandatory Evacuation Order for the residences, businesses and structures between Schafer Dam and Road 284, east of the city of Porterville.
On March 18, 2023, due to water levels dropping on the Tule River, Sheriff Boudreaux reduced the Mandatory Evacuation Order back to an Evacuation Warning.
On March 15, 2023, due to rising flood waters, Sheriff Boudreaux issued a Mandatory Evacuation Order for the area between Olive Avenue (Avenue 152) to Avenue 144 and the Friant-Kern Canal and the Tule River and Westwood Street, west of the city of Porterville. On March 25, 2023, Sheriff Boudreaux reduced the Mandatory Evacuation Order back to an Evacuation Warning.
Item No. 15.
On March 15, 2023, due to rising water levels of the Tule River, City Public Works Department staff took extraordinary measures to protect the neighborhood north of River Springs Drive, avoiding potentially catastrophic flooding of the area.
On March 16, 2023, due to the historic water levels and flows of the Tule River causing erosion to the river banks, Police Chief Jake Castellow issued a Mandatory Evacuation Order for eight residences along Rio Vista Avenue, providing information on the TEP and Emergency Shelter established at Porterville College. City Public Works Department staff took extraordinary measures over the next several days to mitigate and protect the river banks from affecting the residences. On March 24, 2023, Chief Castellow reduced the Mandatory Evacuation Order of the eight residences back to an Evacuation Warning.
On March 19, 2023, due to continued erosion of the banks of the Tule River and the performance of immediate necessary mitigation efforts by Public Works Department personnel, Chief Castellow issued a Mandatory Evacuation Order for both the north and south banks of the Tule River within City limits (not including permanent structures with a designated address), and provided information on the TEP and Emergency Shelter established at Porterville College. The Public Works Department continues to work diligently in shoring the banks of the Tule River.
To accommodate upcoming ceremonies and events in the gymnasium at Porterville College, the TEP and Emergency Shelter at the College closed at noon on April 11, 2023, and thirty (30) individuals were successfully transitioned to the new TEP at the Porterville Army National Guard Armory. A Special Meeting of the Council was scheduled for April 14, 2023, to consider a draft License agreement for the City's temporary use of the State facility. The American Red Cross continued to provide shelter services at the TEP, but transitioned out on May 5, 2023. With the authority granted to the City Attorney and City Manager at its meeting on April 18, 2023, the City and County drafted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in an effort to continue TEP shelter services until May 5, 2023, while the Mandatory Evacuation Order remained in place along the banks of the Tule River in city limits. On April 14, 2023, the County transmitted a letter to the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), requesting continued financial support for the Armory TEP, which the County reported that Cal OES did not approve. At its meeting on July 11, 2023, the County Board of Supervisors approved the MOU for TEP shelter services between the City and the County, retroactive from April 11, 2023 to May 5, 2023.
Given the lack of continued financial support by Cal OES, the County notified the City that it would discontinue its support of the Armory TEP at noon on May 5, 2023, and American Red Cross would vacate the facility as well, leaving the City alone to determine the function of the Armory TEP after noon on May 5th. The significant threat of local emergency continued to exist with Item No. 15.
the estimated over three hundred percent (300%) of normal snow pack in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the potential for a warm storm or heat wave this Spring to again inundate the Tule River, described as a "loaded locomotive at the top of the hill." Given the forecasts of potential widespread flooding damage to west Tulare County and significant portions of Kings County later this Spring and early Summer, Red Cross representatives strongly believe they will be returning to the Armory TEP and other Tulare County locations (e.g.
Porterville Developmental Center) to assist those displaced from homes due to flooding. Until such time that Cal OES makes the determination that emergency conditions again exist in Tulare County, the Council was left to determine if local emergency conditions existed to continue operating the Armory TEP, which expenditures would not be reimbursable given the lack of approval by Cal OES.
Given the continued mandatory evacuation order along the Tule River in city limits and the legal implications of the Martin v. Boise federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision (2018), and the announced departure of the American Red Cross and County support at noon on May 5, 2023, City staff developed an operational plan for the Armory TEP, cognizant of the lack of federal and State reimbursement of costs. As of April 27, 2023, eighteen (18) individuals were receiving shelter services at the Armory TEP, with most individuals only at the facility in the evening. Given the limited daytime TEP population, and daily meal services provided at the nearby Porterville Welcome Center, staff recommended to limit the Armory TEP hours from 7:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. daily, providing temporary staffing of two individuals (including a security guard). Temporary staffing had been quoted at $25 per hour, for a daily expense of $600 (or $18,000 per month). At its meeting on May 2, 2023, the Council authorized the continued operation of the Armory TEP for a 12-hour operational period over the evenings, and also directed that the Armory restrooms and shower facilities be used by the individuals at the TEP, which although not ADA-compliant, are not required for non-reimbursable shelter activities while under a Declaration of Local Emergency. The contract for the on-site mobile shower and portable restroom facilities that are ADA-compliant expired on May 11, 2023, which the rental cost was approximately $18,000 per month. However, the City Attorney recommended maintaining a single ADAportable restroom at the facility. Beginning at noon on May 5, 2023, the City assumed administrative and financial responsibility for the Armory, which has established operational hours of 8:00 P.M. to 8:00 A.M. and averaged twenty (20) individuals each evening (please see attached daily census).
On May 4, 2023, the City received an updated draft License agreement for the use of the Armory, proposing a 1-year lease for exclusive use by the City effective May 5, 2023, through May 4, 2024. The draft agreement proposes no fee for the use of the facility, but that the City assume responsibility for the facility's utilities. On Monday, May 8th, the last remaining Army personnel left the facility, with the City now having complete exclusive use of the facility. At its meeting on May 16, 2023, the Council approved the updated draft License agreement for the 1-year exclusive use of the Armory.
Item No. 15.
On March 31, 2023, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-6-23 to support Tulare Lake Basin flood response, which streamlines State preparation, response and recovery actions and supports local flood response efforts and assist in preparing communities for the impacts of snowmelt runoff in the months ahead.
On April 3, 2023, President Biden granted a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of California, triggering the release of Federal funds to help individuals and communities recover from Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides that occurred February 21, 2023, and continuing. Monterey and Tulare counties were designated in the Major Disaster Declaration for both Individual and Public Assistance, as well as Hazard Mitigation. On July 14, 2023, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) made the determination to close the incident period effective July 10, 2023. Although the incident period has been closed, businesses and individuals may still apply for federal disaster assistance through September 1, 2023.
On May 17, 2023, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-7-23 to support Tulare Lake Basin flood response, which extends flood diversion and groundwater recharge flexibilities implemented for the Tulare Lake Basin, including Kern River floodwater to be allowed into the California Aqueduct.
On August 4, 2023, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-10-23 to streamline levee repairs and debris removal to help local communities recover from flooding and prepare for the next wet season.
At its meeting on April 4, 2023, the Council approved Resolution No. 15-2023, which authorized the appropriation of funds from the Catastrophic/Emergency Reserve Fund for the costs associated with the response to the local emergency including personnel, equipment, services and other necessary expenditures. At its meeting on April 18, 2023, the Council approved two emergency expenditures that exceeded $5,000 in their acquisition, which included additional Water Rescue Equipment for the Fire Department ($6,417.70) and the 30-day rental of two mobile shower/restroom units ($13,151) for the Armory TEP due to the facility's restrooms and showers not being compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). At its meeting on May 2, 2023, the Council approved two additional emergency expenditures that exceeded $5,000 in their acquisition, which included a trailer-mounted 6" dewatering and sewage pump ($77,396.67), and local trucking services of riprap material ($5,436.00), both for the Public Works Department.
In support of two private personnel providing nightly security at the Armory as it continues to function as a temporary evacuation point and shelter, City staff has secured TopKnotch Security, Inc. as the security services provider.
TopKnotch provided an agreement for security services for approximately $18,000 per month (2 personnel at $25/hour for 12 hours per day for 30 days per month), which the Council approved at its meeting on June 6, 2023. Due to violations by TopKnotch Security of its agreement with the City for security services, City staff terminated the agreement effective immediately on Friday, Item No. 15.
July 14, 2023, causing the Police Department to provide security services at the Armory on Friday, July 14 through Sunday, July 16, 2023. Beginning on Monday, July 17, 2023, Good Guard Security, Inc. began providing security services, which at its meeting on July 18, 2023, the Council approved an agreement for security services for approximately $21,000 per month (2 personnel at $28.95/hour for 12 hours per day for 30 days per month).
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council receive the report of status and review of the Declaration of Local Emergency and determine the need exists to continue said Declaration.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Declaration of Local Emergency - March 13, 2023
2. Resolution No. 11-2023
3. Rio Vista Avenue Mandatory Evacuation Order - March 16, 2023
4. Tule River Banks Mandatory Evacuation Order - March 19, 2023
5. Governor Newsom Executive Order N-6-23
6. Governor Newsom Executive Order N-7-23
7. Governor Newsom Executive Order N-10-23
8. Federal Disaster Declaration Fact Sheet - April 3, 2023
9. License to Use State Military Property - April 14, 2023
10. City and County Memorandum of Understanding for
Shelter Support
11. County of Tulare CalOES Shelter Support Request Letter - April 14, 2023
12. License to Use State Military Property - May 16, 2023
13. Federal Disaster Declaration Notice - July 14, 2023
14. Resolution No. 15-2023
15. Rescue Source & Rescue 3 Invoice: Water Rescue
Equipment
16. Royal Restrooms Invoice: Mobile Shower-Restroom Units
17. Rain for Rent Pump Invoice
18. Mike Clark Trucking Invoice
19. TopKnotch Security, Inc. Agreement
20. Good Guard Security, Inc. Agreement
21. Municipal Code Chapter 9 - Civil Defense and Disaster
22. California Government Code 8558
23. Armory Daily Census
Appropriated/Funded:
Review By:
Department Director:
Patrice Hildreth, City Manager
Final Approver: Patrice Hildreth, City Manager
Police Department
350 North "D" Street
Porterville, CA 93257
(559) 782-7400/FAX (559) 784-1070
www.PortervillePolice.com
Porterville Police Department Mission Statement
Jake Castellow
Chief of Police
The members of the Porterville Police Department are committed to the safety and security of the community while providing quality service with excellence, honesty and integrity.
Police Department
350 North "D" Street
Porterville, CA 93257
(559) 782-7400/FAX (559) 784-1070
www.PortervillePolice.com
Porterville Police Department Mission Statement
Jake Castellow
Chief of Police
The members of the Porterville Police Department are committed to the safety and security of the community while providing quality service with excellence, honesty and integrity.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
EXECUTIVE ORDER N-6-23
WHEREAS on March 1, 2023, March 8, 2023, March 12, 2023, March 14, 2023, and March 28, 2023, I proclaimed a State of Emergency to exist in 47 counties, cumulatively, as a result of a series of ongoing winter storms that initially struck California beginning in late February and continue to significantly impact the counties identified in my Proclamations; and WHEREAS the State has experienced over a dozen atmospheric rivers since December 2022, resulting in compounding and cumulative impacts across California, including what are expected to be record amounts of snow in the Sierra Nevada, in particular in the southern Sierra, and current and forecasted precipitation are expected to add to historic snowpack levels already composed of several million acre-feet of snow water content; and WHEREAS reservoirs into which the Sierra snowpack runoff would flow are already impacted by runoff, which is expected to greatly exceed available storage capacity in the reservoirs in and around the Tulare Lake Basin and the San Joaquin River Basin, and much of the ground in the area has reached saturation due to the series of ongoing winter storms; and WHEREAS the Tulare Lake Basin is the terminal point for the Kings, Kaweah, Tule, and Kern Rivers, and several smaller streams, meaning that water from additional expected rains and Sierra snowpack runoff that cannot be stored in reservoirs or absorbed into the ground will flow into the basin; and WHEREAS recent storms have already caused flooding in the Tulare Lake Basin, leading to emergency rescues and evacuation orders in Allensworth, Alpaugh, and other communities in Tulare and Kings Counties, and leading to dozens of levee breaks and local agencies directing strategic cuts to canals and levees to prevent further flooding of communities; and WHEREAS runoff from the snowpack caused by the winter storms could result in flood conditions in the Tulare Lake Basin resembling those last experienced in the historic floods of 1969 and 1983, following historic snowpacks in those years; and
WHEREAS local flood control districts and other local governments generally have flood control responsibility in the Tulare Lake Basin, but state agencies such as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the California Department of Water Resources, and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services are actively engaged in supporting this local effort, and state agencies will continue to provide technical advice and other resources and support as needed, with a particular priority on protecting the lives and health of local communities; and
WHEREAS stretches of the San Joaquin River have been or are at flood stage this spring, river stages are expected to stay high throughout the spring as snowpack melts, and multiple levee repairs are underway on the lower San Joaquin River; and
WHEREAS the Tulare Lake Basin is hydrologically connected to the San Joaquin River Basin and that connection has the potential to exacerbate the flood risk in the San Joaquin River Basin, and so further emergency response efforts may become necessary in the San Joaquin River Basin as well; and WHEREAS heavy accumulation of snowfall on the roof of Bear Valley Elementary School, located in Alpine County, currently renders instructional space unsafe for use; and
WHEREAS frequent flooding and flood evacuation orders have resulted in school closures and low student attendance in Pajaro Middle School, Hall District Elementary School and Ohlone Elementary, located in Pajaro Valley Unified School District in Santa Cruz County; and
WHEREAS it is critical that displaced students are back in school facilities as quickly as possible to ensure continuity in education; and WHEREAS the State of California and local governments, in collaboration with the Federal government, continue sustained efforts to respond to and mitigate the effects of these storms; and
WHEREAS on March 9, 2023, I requested a Presidential Emergency Declaration related to these late winter storms, which was expeditiously approved by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.; and
WHEREAS on March 15, 2023, I requested the addition of 9 counties to the existing Presidential Emergency Declaration related to these late winter storms, which was expeditiously approved by the President; and
WHEREAS on March 28, 2023, I also requested the President issue a Major Disaster Declaration related to these late winter storms for counties that met the validated damage threshold; and
WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8571, I find that strict compliance with various statutes and regulations specified in this order would prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of these ongoing winter storms.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes, and in particular, Government Code sections 8567, 8571, and 8627, do hereby issue the following Order to become effective immediately:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. All provisions contained in the above-referenced Proclamations of a State of Emergency shall remain in full force and effect.
2. To protect health, safety, and the environment, and to reduce the risks of local catastrophic flooding in the Tulare Lake Basin, Chapter 6 (commencing with section 1600) of Division 2 of the Fish and Game Code, and regulations adopted pursuant to that Chapter, are suspended for activities that meet all of the requirements in Paragraph
3. 3. The suspension created by Paragraph 2 shall apply to floodwater diversion, debris removal, and levee repair and breech in the Tulare Lake Basin, on the condition that the actions cease when the flood conditions have abated to the point there is no longer flooding outside of defined streambeds and levees. Additionally, the suspension created by Paragraph 2 shall apply to floodwater diversion only if all of the following additional conditions are met:
a. The diversion of floodwater from the Tulare Lake Basin or rivers or streams flooding the Tulare Lake Basin must occur between March 31, 2023, and August 1, 2023, for flood management purposes.
b. For diversions directly from rivers or streams, a local or regional flood control agency, city, or county has given notice via its internet website, electronic distribution list, emergency notification service, or another means of public notice that flows downstream of the point of diversion are at imminent risk of flooding and inundation of land, roads, or structures.
c. For diversion of floodwaters in the Tulare Lake Basin (that is, waters no longer contained within a defined streambed or levee), a local or regional flood control agency, city, or county has given notice via its internet website, electronic distribution list, emergency notification service, or another means of public notice that areas from which the floodwaters are diverted are either at imminent risk of flooding or already flooded, with potential or existing inundation of land, roads, or structures. d. Any water diverted is not diverted to and will not be applied to any area that has not been in active irrigated agricultural cultivation within the past three years, including grazing lands, annual grasslands, and natural habitats. This limitation does not apply to facilities already constructed for the purposes of groundwater recharge or managed wetlands.
4. In addition to the mandatory conditions set forth in Paragraph 3, any person conducting planned levee breaches or controlled inundation to prevent further catastrophic flooding pursuant to the suspension created by Paragraph 2 should take care, wherever feasible, to protect above-ground infrastructure and drinking water and wastewater infrastructure such as drinking water well field sites, wastewater discharge ponds, and other water resources that are necessary for the protection of human health and the recovery of impacted communities.
5. For purposes of conducting emergency flood preparation and response activities, for any (a) actions taken by state agencies, (b) actions taken by a local agency where the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency concurs that local action is required, and (c) permits necessary to carry out actions under (a) and (b), Public Resources Code, Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) and regulations adopted pursuant to that Division, are suspended to the extent necessary to address flood impacts in the Tulare Lake Basin.
6. To support adequate state staffing for all state agencies and departments with an assigned response and/or recovery role related to flooding in the Tulare Lake Basin, consistent with applicable federal law, work hour limitations for retired annuitants, permanent and intermittent personnel, and state management and senior supervisors are suspended. Furthermore, reinstatement and work hour limitations in Government Code sections 21220, 21224(a), and 7522.56(b), (d), (f), and (g), and the time limitations in Government Code section 19888.1 and California Code of Regulations, title 2, sections 300-303 are suspended. All other restrictions must be adhered to for retired annuitants. The Director of the California Department of Human Resources must be notified of any individual employed in state government pursuant to these suspensions. The suspension of statutes identified in this Paragraph shall also apply to local governments, as applicable, to ensure adequate staffing to appropriately respond to the flooding in the Tulare Lake Basin. Local governmental agencies shall notify the California Public Employees' Retirement System of any individual employed by an agency pursuant to this Paragraph.
7. The limitation for the period of employment for State Personnel Board emergency appointments, as provided in Government Code section 19888.1, is suspended for positions required for emergency response and/or recovery operations related to flooding in the Tulare Lake Basin.
The requirements and period of employment for such appointments will be determined by the Office of Emergency Services but shall not extend beyond the termination date of the State of Emergency.
8. To the extent the Alpine County Office of Education and Alpine County Unified School District are required to use temporary facilities such as the Alpine County Public Library due to extraordinary snowpack on the roof of Bear Valley Elementary School, rendering instructional space unsafe, the requirements of Education Code sections 17280, et seq., 17365, et seq., and Government Code sections 4453 and 14963 are suspended with respect to those temporary facilities. The requirements of the California Building Code (codified in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), as adopted and enforced by the local building and fire agencies with jurisdiction over the area, shall apply to these temporary facilities.
9. To the extent the Alpine County Office of Education and Alpine County Unified School District are required to temporarily use buildings, as defined in the California Building Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2, Chapter 2, section 202), such as the Alpine County Public Library due to extraordinary snowpack on the roof of the Bear Valley Elementary School, rendering instructional space unsafe, local planning and zoning regulations shall be suspended to allow immediate occupancy of such buildings for use as public school facilities. In addition, the requirements of the California Building Code, as adopted and enforced by the local building and fire agencies with jurisdiction over the area, shall apply, except that the requirements relating to Change of Use or Occupancy Classification in the California Building Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2, Chapter 1, section 111) shall not trigger immediate code upgrades, and a Certificate of Occupancy shall not be withheld for such immediate and temporary use of the facilities as a public school, as long as such facilities met building code requirements at the time of their construction, are accessible to individuals with disabilities, and are judged safe for use by the local building official.
10.Education Code section 60641(a) requiring that all pupils be administered academic assessments in mathematics, English language arts, and science, as provided for in Education Code section 60640, is suspended for the 2022-2023 school year for Pajaro Middle School, Hall District Elementary School and Ohlone Elementary School of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, if a federal waiver is approved by the United States Department of Education.
I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Order.
This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have
hereunto set my hand and caused
the Great Seal of the State of
California to be affixed this 31st day
of March 2023.
________________________________
GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California
ATTEST:
________________________________
SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.
Secretary of State
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
EXECUTIVE ORDER N-7-23
WHEREAS on March 1, March 8, March 12, March 14, March 28, April 20, and May 15, 2023, I proclaimed a State of Emergency to exist in 52 counties, cumulatively, as a result of a series of winter storms that initially struck California beginning in late February and continue to significantly impact the counties identified in my Proclamations; and
WHEREAS on March 31, 2023, I issued Executive Order N-6-23 to further bolster the emergency response to this Late Winter Storms event, particularly in the Tulare Lake Basin that continues to be plagued by historic flooding; and WHEREAS on April 21, May 10, July 8, and October 19, 2021, I proclaimed States of Emergency to exist due to drought conditions; and WHEREAS on March 10, 2023, I issued Executive Order N-4-23 to address evolving drought conditions due to the winter storms and to mitigate flooding by facilitating groundwater recharge; and
WHEREAS due to the complexity of the impacts from over a dozen Atmospheric River events since December 2022, including the accumulation of a record snowpack in the Sierra Nevada that is likely to yield record snowmelt runoff, especially in the Tulare Lake Basin, I previously issued Executive Orders identified herein to respond to and recover from the winter storms, and those orders now require updating in-light of the most recent runoff conditions and the State’s more robust and recent modeling of likely flood impacts; and WHEREAS the Tulare Lake Basin includes portions of Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern counties and is the terminal point for the Kaweah, Tule, and Kern Rivers as well as a portion of the Kings River and several smaller streams, meaning that water from Sierra snowpack runoff that cannot be stored in reservoirs or absorbed into the ground will flow into the basin; and
WHEREAS the Tulare Lake Basin is hydrologically connected to the San Joaquin River Basin via the James Bypass and Fresno Slough and that connection has the potential to exacerbate the flood risk in the San Joaquin River Basin, and so further emergency response efforts may become necessary in the San Joaquin River Basin; and
WHEREAS stretches of the San Joaquin River, Chowchilla and Eastside Bypasses, San Joaquin River mainstem and tributaries (Fresno River, Chowchilla River, Merced River, Stanislaus River, and Tuolumne River, hereafter, San Joaquin River Tributaries), and Fresno Slough/James Bypass have been or are at flood stage this spring, river stages are expected to stay high or increase throughout the spring and summer as snowpack melts, and multiple levee repairs are underway on the lower San Joaquin River; and
WHEREAS the Kern River – California Aqueduct Intertie exists to move floodwaters safely from the Kern River into the California Aqueduct, and the Kern River Watermaster on May 10, 2023, requested the use of the Intertie to prevent Kern River floodwater from exacerbating flooding in the Tulare Lake Basin, and state agencies have begun actions to safely enable the diversion of these flood flows; and
WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8571, I find that strict compliance with various statutes and regulations specified in this Order would prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of these ongoing winter storms.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes, and in particular, Government Code sections 8567, 8571, and 8627, do hereby issue the following Order to become effective immediately:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. All provisions contained in the above-referenced Proclamations of a State of Emergency and Executive Orders shall remain in full force and effect except as modified in this Order.
2. Paragraph 2 of Executive Order N-6-23 is withdrawn and replaced by the following:
To protect health, safety, and the environment, and to reduce the risks of local catastrophic flooding in the Tulare Lake or San Joaquin River Basins, the following are suspended for activities that meet the requirements in Paragraph 3.
a. Chapter 6 (commencing with section 1600) of Division 2 of the Fish and Game Code, and regulations adopted pursuant to that Chapter; and
b. Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code, and regulations adopted pursuant to that division.
3. Paragraph 3 of Executive Order N-6-23 is withdrawn and replaced by the following, except that any diversion in the Tulare Lake Basin that is operational as of June 1, 2023, may continue to operate under Paragraph 3 of Executive Order N-6-23 until August 31, 2023:
The suspensions created by Paragraph 2 shall apply to floodwater diversion, floating vegetation and debris removal, and levee repair and breach, in the Tulare Lake or San Joaquin River Basins, on the condition that the actions cease when the flood conditions have abated to the point there is no longer a risk of, or existing, flooding causing inundation of land, roads, or structures at or downstream of the point of diversion.
4. Additionally, the suspensions created by Paragraph 2 shall apply to floodwater diversion only if all the following additional conditions are met:
a. Any diversion of floodwaters directly from the (i) Tulare Lake Basin or rivers or streams or bypasses flooding the Tulare Lake Basin or (ii) the San Joaquin River or San Joaquin River tributaries (including Fresno Slough and James Bypass) or San Joaquin River bypasses must occur between March 31, 2023, and August 31, 2023, for flood management purposes.
b. With respect to diversions of floodwaters directly from rivers or streams or bypasses, a local or regional flood control agency, city, or county has given notice via its internet website, electronic distribution list, emergency notification service, or another means of public notice, that flows downstream of the point of diversion are at imminent risk of flooding and inundation of land, roads, or structures.
c. With respect to diversions of floodwaters that are no longer contained within a defined streambed or levee, a local or regional flood control agency, city, or county has given notice via its internet website, electronic distribution list, emergency notification service, or another means of public notice that areas from which the floodwaters are diverted are either at imminent risk of flooding or already flooded, with potential or existing inundation of land, roads, or structures, or are on lands inundated as a result of actions within subparagraph (a). d. Any floodwater diverted is not diverted to and will not be applied to:
i. Any barn, ponds, or lands to which manure or waste from an animal facility that generates waste from the feeding and housing of animals for more than 45 days per year in a confined area that is not vegetated are applied;
ii. Any agricultural field where pesticide or fertilizer application has occurred in the prior 30 days or in the period prohibited by applicable law, whichever is longer; iii. Any area that could cause damage to critical levees, infrastructure, wastewater and drinking water systems,
drinking water wells or drinking water supplies, or
exacerbate the threat of flood and other health and
safety concerns; or
iv. Any area that has not been in active irrigated agricultural cultivation within the past three years including grazing lands, annual grasslands, and natural habitats. This
limitation does not apply to facilities already constructed for the purposes of groundwater recharge or managed
wetlands.
e. With respect to diversions of floodwaters from waters tributary to the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Delta as defined in Water Code section 12220 (Delta), water rights holders are not making releases of stored water or reoperating facilities to provide flow for the purposes of meeting water quality control plan or endangered species requirements in the Delta at the time of the diversion.
f. With respect to diversions of floodwaters directly from the San Joaquin River or San Joaquin River Tributaries, the diversion uses:
i. either existing diversion infrastructure or temporary pumps; ii. no new permanent infrastructure or permanent
construction; and
iii. simple screens installed on temporary pump intakes to minimize the impacts of diversion to salmon and other
aquatic life.
5. Paragraph 4 of Executive Order N-6-23 is withdrawn and replaced by the following:
In addition to the mandatory conditions set forth in Paragraph 3, any person conducting planned levee breaches or controlled inundation to prevent further catastrophic flooding pursuant to the suspensions created by Paragraph 2 should, wherever feasible, protect aboveground infrastructure and water sources that are necessary for the protection of human health and the recovery of impacted communities.
6. Paragraph 5 of Executive Order N-6-23 is withdrawn and replaced by the following:
For purposes of conducting emergency flood preparation and response activities beyond those provided for in Paragraphs 2 and 3, for any (a) actions taken by state agencies, (b) actions taken by a local agency where the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency concurs that local action is required, and (c) permits necessary to carry out actions under (a) and (b), Public Resources Code, Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) and regulations adopted pursuant to that Division, are suspended to the extent necessary to address flood impacts in the Tulare Lake or San Joaquin River Basins.
7. Paragraph 6 of Executive Order N-6-23 is withdrawn and replaced by the following:
To support adequate state staffing for all state agencies and departments with an assigned response and/or recovery role related to flooding in the Tulare Lake or San Joaquin River Basins, consistent with applicable federal law, work hour limitations for retired annuitants, permanent and intermittent personnel, and state management and senior supervisors are suspended. Furthermore, reinstatement and work hour limitations in Government Code sections 21220, 21224(a), and 7522.56(b), (d), (f), and (g), and the time limitations in Government Code section 19888.1 and California Code of Regulations, title 2, sections 300-303 are suspended. All other restrictions must be adhered to for retired annuitants. The Director of the California Department of Human Resources must be notified of any individual employed in state government pursuant to these suspensions. The suspension of statutes identified in this Paragraph shall also apply to local governments, as applicable, to ensure adequate staffing to appropriately respond to the flooding in the Tulare Lake Basin. Local governmental agencies shall notify the California Public Employees' Retirement System of any individual employed by an agency pursuant to this Paragraph.
8. Paragraph 6 of Executive Order N-6-23 is withdrawn and replaced by the following:
The limitation for the period of employment for State Personnel Board emergency appointments, as provided in Government Code section 19888.1, is suspended for positions required for emergency response and/or recovery operations related to flooding in the Tulare Lake or San Joaquin River Basins. The requirements and period of employment for such appointments will be determined by the Office of Emergency Services, but shall not extend beyond the termination date of the State of Emergency.
9. Paragraph 3 of Executive Order N-4-23 is withdrawn and replaced by the following, except that any diversion that is operational as of June 1, 2023, may continue to operate under Paragraph 3 of Executive Order N-4-23 until August 31, 2023:
The suspensions created by Paragraph 2 of Executive Order N-4-23 shall apply to diversions of floodwaters as to which all the following conditions are met:
a. Diversions of floodwaters directly from rivers, streams, or bypasses must occur between March 10, 2023, and August 31, 2023, for flood management and associated groundwater recharge.
b. Diversions of floodwaters no longer contained within a defined streambed must prevent imminent risk of flooding or relieve flooding pressure from land, roads, or structures, already inundated, including as a result of actions within subparagraph (a).
c. A local or regional flood control agency, city, or county has given notice via its internet website, electronic distribution list, emergency notification service, or another means of public notice, that waters at or downstream of the point of diversion are at imminent risk of flooding and inundation of land, roads, or structures.
d. The diversions cease when the flood conditions have abated to the point there is no longer a risk of, or existing, flooding causing inundation of land, roads, or structures at or downstream of the point of diversion.
e. Any floodwater diverted is not diverted to and will not be applied to:
i. Any barn, ponds, or lands, to which manure or waste from an animal facility that generates waste from the feeding and housing of animals for more than 45 days per year in a confined area that is not vegetated are applied;
ii. Any agricultural field where pesticides or fertilizer application has occurred in the prior 30 days or in the period prohibited by applicable law, whichever is longer; iii. Any area that could cause damage to critical levees, infrastructure, wastewater and drinking water systems,
drinking water wells or drinking water supplies, or
exacerbate the threat of flood and other health and
safety concerns; or
iv. Any area that has not been in active irrigated agricultural cultivation within the past three years, including grazing lands, annual grasslands, and natural habitats. This
limitation does not apply to facilities already constructed for the purpose of groundwater recharge or managed
wetlands.
f. With respect to diversions of floodwaters from waters tributary to the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Delta (Delta) as defined in Water Code section 12220 (Delta), water rights holders are not making releases of stored water or reoperating facilities to provide flow for the purposes of meeting water quality control plan or endangered species supporting regulatory requirements in the Delta at the time of the diversion.
g. The diversion uses:
i. Either existing diversion infrastructure or temporary pumps; ii. Existing groundwater recharge locations, where available; iii. No new permanent infrastructure or permanent
construction; and
iv. Simple screens installed on temporary pump intakes to minimize the impacts of diversion to salmon and other
aquatic life.
h. The person or entity availing itself of suspensions created by Paragraph 2 of Executive Order N-4-23 files a preliminary report with the Water Board and any applicable Groundwater
Sustainability Agency (GSA) or GSAs for the basin, no later than 14 days after initially commencing diversion of flood flows for groundwater recharge, and a final report with the Water Board and any applicable GSA or GSAs for the basin no later than September 15, 2023. The preliminary and final reports required by this subparagraph shall:
i. Identify the person or entity utilizing the suspensions created by Paragraph 2 of Executive Order N-4-23;
ii. Identify the triggering condition from subparagraph (c) of this paragraph;
iii. Provide the GPS coordinates for the point of diversion, a map identifying the approximate area inundated by the
flood flows, and the corresponding assessor parcel
number(s);
iv. Identify the time when diversions of floodwaters to groundwater recharge commenced, and for final reports,
when diversions ceased; and
v. Provide an estimate, as of the report's date, of the amount of floodwaters diverted utilizing the suspensions created by Paragraph 2 of Executive Order N-4-23.
The Water Board shall post on its internet website all reports received pursuant to this subparagraph.
10. To mitigate the effects of the Late Winter Storms, including by reducing the risks of local catastrophic flooding in the Tulare Lake Basin, Part 2 (commencing with section 1200) of division 2 of the Water Code, exclusive of section 1225, and regulations adopted pursuant to that part, are suspended for diversions of flood flows into the Kern Intertie and ultimately into the California Aqueduct until August 31, 2023, such that applications and permits for water rights shall not be required for such diversions, nor shall such diversions create new water rights or modify existing water rights, to the extent applications or permits would have been required or water rights would have been affected absent this suspension.
11. The Department of Water Resources and State Water Resources Control Board shall (i) communicate to water systems and others any additional information or actions necessary for those systems and others to monitor and be prepared for the addition of Kern River floodwater in the California Aqueduct, and (ii) collaborate on longterm actions that align water rights and flood response, including actions that maximize in-basin groundwater recharge.
I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Order.
This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have
hereunto set my hand and caused
the Great Seal of the State of
California to be affixed this 17th day
of May 2023.
_________________________
GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California
ATTEST:
_____________________________
SHIRLEY WEBER, PH.D
Secretary of State
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
EXECUTIVE ORDER N-10-23
WHEREAS the State has experienced over thirty atmospheric rivers since December 2022, resulting in compounding and cumulative impacts across California, including record or near record amounts of snow in the Sierra Nevada;and
WHEREAS on January 4, 2023, I proclaimed a State of Emergency to exist in California as a result of severe winter storms related to an atmospheric river event beginning on December 27, 2022; and
WHEREAS on March 1, March 8, March 12, March 14, March 28, April 20, May 15, and June 16, 2023, I proclaimed a State of Emergency to exist in 53 counties, cumulatively, as a result of a series of winter storms that initially struc k California beginning in late February and continue to significantly impact the counties identified in my Proclamations; and
WHEREAS on April 21, May 10, July 8, and October 19, 2021, I proclaimed States of Emergency to exist due to drought conditions, and on February 13, 2023, I issued Executive Order N-3-23 and on March 10, 2023, I issued Executive Order N-4-23, to address evolving drought conditions due to the 2022-2023 Winter Storm Events and mitigate flooding by facilitating groundwater recharge; and
WHEREAS on March 31, 2023, I issued Executive Order N-6-23 to bolster the emergency response to the 2022-2023 Winter Storm Events, particularly in the Tulare Lake Basin that continues to be affected by historic flooding; and WHEREAS on May 17, 2023, and on June 16, 2023, I issued Executive Order N-7-23 and N-9-23, respectively, to further bolster the emergency response to the 2022-2023 Winter Storm Events, in both the San Joaquin River and the Tulare Lake Basins; and
WHEREAS there remains a need for remova l of floating vegetation and debris throughout impacted counties, including stretches of the Salinas River mainstem and tributaries, stretches of the Pajaro River mainstream and tributaries, and coastal streams along the Central Coast region from Santa Cruz County to Ventura County, and that removal must expeditiously occur before the next rainy season begins in fall 2023 in order to mitigate th e risk of additional flooding and allow for continued recovery efforts; and
WHEREAS emergency repairs, debris removal, sediment removal, and vegetation management within waters of the United States are subject to federal approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pursuant to section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1344), and the State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) has previously issued state water quality certifications corresponding to the Corps Regional General Permits 8, 5, or 63 for Repair and Protection Activities in Emergency Situations and the Nationwide Permit 3 for Maintenance Part ( a) for repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of structure of fill (collectively Emergency or Repair Corps Orders), which provide a pathway for emergency activities in many instances (hereinafter referred to as Water Board Emergency or Repair 401 Certification Orders); and WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8571, I find that strict compliance with various statutes and regulations specified in this Order would prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of the 2022- 2023 Winter Storm Events.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes, and in particular, Government Code sections 8567, 8571, and 8627, do hereby issue the following Order to become effective immediately:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. All provisions contained in the above-referenced Proclamations of a State of Emergency and Executive Orders shall remain in full force and effect, except as modified or withdrawn in subsequent proclamations and orders.
2. To protect health, safety, and the environment, and to redu ce the risks of local catastrophic flooding, with respect to activities that _ take place in the San Joaquin River and tributaries, the Tulare Lake Basin and tributaries, including, but not limited to, the Kings, Tule, Kaweah, and Kern Rivers, the Salinas River and tributaries, the Pajaro River and tributaries, and other coastal streams between the Pajaro River (Santa Cruz/Monterey/San Benito Counties), to and including the Ventura River (Santa Barbara/Ventura County), but excluding tributaries to such other coastal streams, the following are suspended, subject to the conditions in Paragraphs 3 and 4, as applicable:
a. Chapter 6 (commencing with section 1600) of Division 2 of the Fish and Game Code, and regulations adopted pursuant to that Chapter.
b. Certain statutes, rules, and requirements applicable to activities under the jurisdiction of the Water Board and the California Regional Water Quality Control Boards (Regional Water Boards) as follows:
i. For an activity in a water of the United States that receives an authorization by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers pursuant to section 404 of the Clean Water
Act, any enrollment criteria that may limit the
permitting of the activity under a Water Board
Emergency or Repair 401 Certification Order, including
criteria limiting the scope to only the Emergency or
Repair Corps Orders, conditioned on compliance with
all other provisions set forth in the relevant Water Board Emergency or Repair 40 1 Certification Order.
ii. For an activity not covered by paragraph 2.b.i, sections 13260 and i 3263 of the Water Code, and regulations
adopted pursuant to those sections.
c. Division 13 (commencing with section 21000) of the Public Resources Code, and regulations adopted pursuant to that division.
3. The suspensions in Paragraph 2 apply only to (i) the repair or replacement of existing levees, weirs, and other conveyance and flood-control infrastructure, (ii) debris removal, (iii,) sediment removal, and (iv) vegetation management, provided that the activity meets all of the following conditions, as applicable:
a. The activity is necessary to respond to conditions caused by the 2022-2023 Winter Storm Events and is necessary to avoid future damage from high streamflow events in the upcoming rainy season.
b. Removal of sediment or vegetation or both serves to either reestablish a functional low flow channel or reestablish channel capacity, or clear sediment and debris from the river channel near structures such as bridges.
c. Removal of sediment or vegetation or both is carried out in a manner that (i) does not involve excavation resulting in the establishment of a new low flow channel that did not exist prior to the 2022-2023 Winter Storm Even-ts, (ii) maintains the natural contour of the stream, (iii) maintains the downstream slope of the stream flow line, and (iv) does not impede fish passage or cause fish stranding.
d. Removal of sediment or vegetation or both is limited to portions of the cha nnel that are dry.
e. No more than 30% of the total native vegetation within the stream channel and bank is removed from each river mile. f. Levees are either set back from their previous location (increasing channel capacity) or are rebuilt as configured prior to the 2022-2023 Winter Storm Events.
g. The activity does not involve disposal or placement of flooddelivered sediments into waters of the state or at locations or in a manner where sediments may be washed into waters of the state by rainfall or runoff.
h. The activity minimizes impacts.to beneficial uses of the water body.
i. The activity is completed by November 1, 2023.
4. The suspensions in Paragraph 2.b.ii apply only if the activity meets all of the following further conditions:
a. Th e project proponent shall provide notice to the appropriate Regional Water Board as· early as possible, and no less than forty- _eight (48) hours prior to initiating the project, that includes the scope and location of the activity, a description of the infrastructure, debris, sediment, and vegetation conditions relevant to the·activity, with representative photos, and,_as applicable, a description of how the activity serves to establish a functional low flow channel or reestablish channel capacity.
b. Following a ny accidental discharge of a reportable quantity of a hazardous material (as defined in Health and Safety Code section 25501), sewage, or an unk~own material, the project proponent shall follow the notification and reporting procedures set forth in condition A.3.c of Wafer Quality Order No.' 2019-0044-Exec Clean Water Act Section 401 Water · Quality Certification and Order.
c. The activity shall be undertaken so as to avoid causing a violation of any applicable water quality standards, including impairment of designated beneficial uses for receiving
waters, as adopted in any applicable Regional Water Board or Water Board water quality control plan or state policy for water quality control, but in the event of a violation of water quality standards, the project proponent shall eliminate the source of any such discharge as soon as practicable. Water diversion activities must not result in the degradation of beneficial uses or exceedances of water quality objectives of any of the receiving waters. Any temporary dam or other constructed obstruction must only be built from materials that will cause little or no siltation (e.g., clean gravel). Normal flows must be restored to the affected water immediately upon completion of work at that location.
d. If there is a violation of a water quality standard, the project proponent shall notify the applicable Regional Water Board of any event causing a violation of compliance with water quality standards. Notification may be via telephone, e-mail, delivered written notice, or other verifiable means. This notification must be followed within three (3) working days by submission of a written report that includes the cause of the violation; the location shown on a map; and the period of the noncompliance including exact dates and times. If the
noncompliance has not been corrected, include: the
anticipated time it is expected to continue; the steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate, and prevent reoccurrence of the noncompliance; and a ny monitoring results.
e. If surface water is present, the project proponent shall conduct continuous visual surface water monitoring to detect accidental discharge of construction-related pollutants (e.g., oil and grease, turbidity plume, or uncured concrete).
f. Th e project proponent shall keep all repairs and construction to the minimum necessary to alleviate the emergency
caused by the 2022- 2023 Winter Storm Events and limited to in-kind replacement or refurbishment of on-site features, although the project may undertake minor upgrading if ' bioremediation or other environmentally sensitive solutions are used.
g. The project proponent shall impler:nent effective best management practices to control erosion and runoff from areas associated with the activity, including access roads. All areas of temporary impacts and all other areas of temporary disturbance that could result in a discharge or a threatened discharge to waters of the U.S. and/or state must be restored.
Restoration must include grading of disturbed areas to preproject contours and revegetation with native species. h. Notification of completion, including representative photos showing completion, shall be submitted to the appropriate Regiona l Water Board within 30 days of completion of the activity.
5. To support adequate state staffing for a ll state agencies assigned response and/or recovery role related to the 2022-2023 Winter Storm Events in coastal streams including and between the Pajaro River (Santa Cruz/Monterey/San Benito Counties) and the Ventura River (Santa Barbara/Ventura County), consistent with applicable federal law, work hour limitations for retired annuitants, permanent and intermittent personnel, and state management and senior s·upervisors are suspended. Fur·thermore, reinstatement and work hour limitations in Government Code sections 21220, 21224( a), and 7522.56(b), (d), (f), and (g), and the time limitations in Government Code section 19888.1 and California Code of Regulations, title 2, sections 300-303 are suspended. All other restrictions must be adhered to for retired annuitants. The Director of the California Department of Human_Resources must be notified of any individual employed in state government pursuant to these suspensions. The suspension of statutes identified in this Paragraph shall also apply to local governments, as applicable, to ensure adequate staffing to appropriately respond to the damage from the 2022-2023 Winter Storm Events in coastal streams including and between the Pajaro River (Santa Cruz/Monterey/San Benito Counties) and the Ventura River (Santa Barbara/Ventura County). Local governmental agencies shall notify the California Public Employees' Retirement System of any individual employed by an agency pursuant to this Paragraph.
6. The limitation for the period of employment for State Personnel _ Board emergency appointments, as provided in Government Code section 19888.1, is suspended for positions required for emergency response and/or recovery operations related to the 2022-2023 Winter Storm Events in coastal streams including and between the Pajaro River (Santa Cruz/Monterey/San Benito Counties) and the Ventura River (Santa Barbara/Ventura County). The requirements and period of employment for such appointments will be
determined by the Office of Emergency Services but shall not extend beyond the termination date of the State of Emergency.
I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed with the Office of the Secretory of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given to this Order.
This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I hove hereunto set
my hand and caused the Great Seal of the
State of California to be affixed this 4th day
of August 2023.
-
ATTEST:
SHIRLEY N. WEBER, PH.D.
Secretary of State
Office of Emergency Services
5957 South Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, California 93277
(559) 624-7495 Telephone (559) 737-4692 Facsimile
April 14, 2023
Ms. Nancy Ward
Director, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
3650 Schriever Avenue
Mather, CA 95655
Dear Director Ward,
Tulare County appreciates the Office of Emergency Services’ tireless work to support the response to and recovery from DR-4699 in our County and the surrounding region.
Specifically, your negotiation of an ongoing incident period and the expeditious approval of individual assistance programs have been particularly valuable to the affected communities as we continue to recover from storm damages, repair distressed and weakened waterways, and prepare for the impending historic snowmelt runoff.
As current snow moisture content in local watersheds is estimated at over 300% of the historical average, total inflows to local reservoirs through April and July are expected to exceed three times the reservoir capacity. Local reservoir and waterway operators continue to aggressively release water at or near full capacity to make space for the anticipated inflows and prevent a return to spillway flows, while balancing needs of downstream operators to conduct emergency repairs. As a result, a number of homes, agricultural properties, and public spaces remain inundated with floodwater, and more homes may be affected because of the new snowmelt conditions. Specifically, we anticipate similar or worse conditions as a result of the snowmelt.
Tulare County is concerned that current sheltering for individuals affected by inundation and/or evacuation orders, including previously displaced individuals who remain under an evacuation order, may be limited in duration, especially during the current intervening period between storm and snowmelt-induced flooding incidents within the disaster.
Tulare County has entered into an agreement with the City of Porterville to maintain the last remaining emergency evacuation shelter site in the County. The California Department of Social Services and Volunteer Emergency Services Team have pledged support to provide staff and services for only two weeks at this shelter. Forty Tulare County residents who have been displaced due to flood activities are staying at this site. Because the support from CDSS and VEST is limited, the County is concerned that it may not be able to continually fund and staff the ongoing shelter projects. Our concern is the ongoing financial and logistical burden to the County and the incorporated cities therein.
As we are sure that you are aware, emergency protective measures, flood control activities, and damage assessments are being conducted because of the flood conditions in Tulare County. These efforts go hand-in-hand with ensuring that County residents are safe, Office of Emergency Services
5957 South Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, California 93277
(559) 624-7495 Telephone (559) 737-4692 Facsimile
fed, and warm. The State’s cooperation in keeping funding and support from the Department of Social Services and VEST beyond the initial two weeks available for emergency sheltering of Tulare County Residents is vital. Your support in ensuring ongoing funding and logistical support for these critical emergency protective measures is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Andrew Lockman
Office of Emergency Services Manager
Calwen Inc. dba Rescue Source & Rescue 3
P.O. Box 1050
Wilton, CA 95693
Phone: 916-687-6556
Fax: 916-687-6717
Email: [email protected]
Calwen Inc. dba Rescue Source &
Rescue 3 Intl
Invoice
Order # Date
131282 03/20/2023
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
40 W CLEVELAND
PORTERVILLE, CA 93257
Phone: 559-782-7526
Email: [email protected] Contact: JANIE RODRIGUEZ PO Number: 23-22733
Bill To: Ship To:
PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
40 W CLEVELAND
PORTERVILLE, CA 93257
Customer: PORTERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Sales Rep Payment Terms FOB Point Carrier Ship Service Date Scheduled MELISSA NET 30 Origin UPS Next Day Air 03/20/2023
Item
# Type Number Description Unit Price
Qty
Ordered Total Price
1 Kit KT2210 PFD TYPE V PACKAGE $250.00 20 ea $ 5,000.00 2 Sale PF4026R NRS 2022 RAPID RESCUER RED $0.00 20 ea $ 0.00 3 Sale KN2556OR NRS PILOT KNIFE ORANGE $0.00 20 ea $ 0.00 4 Sale WH7905 WHISTLE-RESCUE 3 LOGO WITH COIL $0.00 20 ea $ 0.00 5 Sale HL7050HVL/XL RQ3 STORM PRO HELMET HI VIS
LARGE/XLARGE
$32.00 20 ea $ 640.00
6 Shipping Freight Freight Out $256.00 1 ea $ 256.00
7 Sale Tax Expense Tax Expense $521.70 1 ea $ 521.70
Total:
Subtotal:
Sales Tax:
$6,417.70
$0.00
$6,417.70
March 20, 2023 10:55:08 AM PDT Page 1 of 1
Thank you for your order.
If you have any questions please call 800-457-3728
or e-mail [email protected].
Rain For Rent
Bakersfield
4001 State Rd
Bakersfield CA 93308
United States
661-399-1724
24/7 Emergency 800-742-7246
www.rainforrent.com
Your sales person
JESSE PINTOR
REMIT PAYMENTS TO:
RAIN FOR RENT
FILE 52541
LOS ANGELES, CA 90074-2541
INVOICE Rain for Rent
3/30/2023 23-22734
112354
CITY OF PORTERVILLE
PAYMENT
DUE
PO or JOB#
1854595 4/29/2023
PLEASE PAY
ADDRESS
ADDRESS
NAME
CUSTOMER #
CUSTOMER
CONTRACT # 1169502
CITY OF PORTERVILLE
NAME CITY OF PORTERVILLE
SHIPPED TO JOBSITE:
291 N MAIN ST
PORTERVILLE CA 93257
INVOICE# INVOICE DATE
Corporation Yard
555 N Prospect St
Porterville CA 93257
$77,396.67
PHONE PHONE
Notes:
Requested by: Michael Knight
PO Number: 23-22734
QTY UOM DESCRIPTION PRODUCT # STATUS DATE
OUT
BILLED
THRU
DAYS PRICE AMOUNT TAXABLE
BILLED
1.00 EA Pump BA150E D285 Tlr Mt Diesel 0.00 $65,685.06 Y Eng Hatz 4H50TIC
1022734 SALES $65,685.06
1.00 EA Shipping/Handling 0.00 $5,158.57 Y
Freight
M240 SERVICES $5,158.57
TOTAL RENTALS:
TOTAL SALES:
TOTAL SERVICES:
SUBTOTAL:
$65,685.06
$5,158.57
$70,843.63
$0.00
TOTAL OTHER: $0.00
TAX: $6,553.04
FOR PROPER CREDIT, PLEASE INCLUDE INVOICE NUMBER ON YOUR PAYMENT.
PAST DUE AMOUNTS ARE SUBJECT TO A SERVICE CHARGE OF 1.50% CUSTOMER, (RENTEE OR BUYER as context requires), shall be deemed to accept all terms, conditions and provisions hereof upon execution of this agreement; ordering; or delivery of equipment to customer, whichever comes first.
SIGNATURE: _____________________________ DATE: ___________________ TOTAL: $77,396.67
PAYMENT TERMS: NET 30
Printed Date: 3/30/2023 Page 1 of 1
AG
5/5/23
X*
*Payment to be issued upon completion of a City of Porterville Business License Application AG
AG 5/5/23
5/5/23
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www.GoodGuardSecurity.com1-800-651-0491
Client Service Address: 29 N Plano St, Porterville, CA 93257 Client Billing Address: 29 N Plano St, Porterville, CA 93257 Service Hours: 7 Day(s) / 07:30 PM - 08:30 AM / 13 Hours / Monday - Sunday Location Contact &
Telephone Number:
Email:
Amy Graybehl
559-782-7521
[email protected]
Rate (U.S. Dollars):
Holiday Rate
$28.95 (Per Hour Per Guard)
$43.45 (Per Hour Per Guard)
Service Commencement
Date:
07/17/2023
@ 07:30 PM
Payment Terms: Bi-weekly
Permanent/Temporary: Permanent 3 Month Minimum (30 Day Cancellation Notice) Uniform: Professional Security Uniform
Additional Charges: N/a
Security Service
Description:
2 Professional Unarmed Guard(s)
1 Guard will be intaking clients and the other guard will be patrolling the facility.
Note: Providing a visual deterrent to any outside danger. Security officers will make sure there isn’t anyone vandalizing the premises, or trying to break into the property. Loss prevention.
This SECURITY SERVICES AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into upon mutual execution hereof by and between GOOD GUARD SECURITY, a California corporation, Private Patrol Operator (PPO) License #120362 (hereinafter, “Company”) and City of Porterville (hereinafter, “Client”), with respect to the following:
1. RATES: Service Rates are subject to adjustment for any change in any law, causing a change in work hours, wage rates, working conditions or other costs to Company.
2. PAYMENT: Invoices will be submitted either bi-weekly or monthly, upon mutual agreement between Company and Client, and are payable on receipt at the address on the invoice. A late charge of 1 ½ % per month will be added to balances not paid within seven days.
3. EMPLOYEES: (a) Personnel supplied by Company are its employees and not Client’s. Company is solely responsible for social security, unemployment and similar taxes applicable to its employees.
(b) Company is a Federal Government Contractor and complies with Executive Order 11246, as amended: Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended: Section 402 of Vietnam era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 and related regulations. Company’s employees will be assigned without regard to race, color, creed, sex, and national origin, handicap conditions that do not impair job performance or veteran status. (c) Client may reasonably remove any employee assigned provided such removal is not in violation of law. In the event any employee is removed at Client’s request, Client agrees to indemnify and hold Company harmless from any claims, demands, liabilities, judgments, losses, suits, damages, fines, penalties, and expenses including reasonable attorney’s fees and defense costs (hereinafter collectively “Claim(s)”) that may arise there from.
4. OVERTIME: Overtime rates shall apply to work on New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas; work on any additional holidays listed and any extra hours exceeding 8-hours a day or 40-hours per week. Coverage for labor disputes, civil disorders or natural disaster, or special assignment or agreement is not included except as described in the Service Rate Classification. Additional overtime rates shall not apply to situations where an employee of Company already on-duty covers hours for a “called-off” employee and thus works over 8-hours in his/her shift.
5. PROPERTY/EQUIPMENT: All property and equipment furnished by Company for performance of its services under this Agreement, regardless of whether portable or stationary, shall be considered the personal property of Company, and shall remain the personal property of Company after termination of this Agreement. Upon the termination of this Agreement, the Company shall have reasonable access and time to remove its property from Client’s property. Client shall not be responsible for any of Company’s personal property which is stolen, damaged or missing from the property in the absence of Company’s supervision.
6. KEYS/ACCESS: Company shall not be provided a master key (or its equivalent) to the property or any portion thereof, except for such location(s) that are to be exclusively used by Company’s guards or other personnel. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Company shall not be responsible for any damages including, without limitation, any costs incurred in re-keying or changing locks caused by the loss or theft of such key(s).
7. NON-COMPETITION: Client, its affiliates, agents, and other related persons or entities hereby agree not to hire any Company staff, employees, or personnel for a period of at least one (1) year after such person has terminated his/her employment with Company. Client further agrees not to prepare to engage in competition with Company, solicit, 2 | Page
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divert, poach, or encourage any of the Company staff, employees, or personnel to stop working with Company, or to solicit, divert, poach, encourage, or facilitate them to work with Client, any affiliate of Client, or any related person or entity of Client. Client recognizes that Company has a significant investment in the recruitment and training of it employees and guards to be providing services under this Agreement, and that these personnel are a valuable asset to Company. As it is impractical and extremely difficult to fix the actual damages which may result from the loss of such employees and guards, Client agrees that if Client (or its affiliates, agents, and other related persons or entities) is in breach of this section of the Agreement, then Client shall be required to pay to Company for each such employee (or former employee employed by Company) the sum of $7,500.00. Such fee is expressly agreed to be considered liquidated damages, and not a penalty.
8. LIABILITY AND INDEMNITIES: (a) Client agrees that Company is not an insurer and that the amounts payable hereunder are based upon the value of service offered and not the value of Client’s interests being protected or the property of Client or others located on Client’s premises. Accordingly, Company undertakes no liability to Client and makes no representation, express or implied, that its service will prevent occurrences or their consequences, which result in loss or damage. (b) Client agrees that Company shall not be liable for any claims incurred or asserted by Client, irrespective of origin, to persons or property, whether directly or indirectly caused by performance or nonperformance of obligations imposed by this agreement or by negligent acts or omissions, including those relating to the hiring, training, supervision or retention of personnel, of Company, its agents or employees. (c) The services provided under this Agreement are solely for the benefit of Client and neither this Agreement nor any services rendered hereunder confer any rights on any other party as a third-party beneficiary or otherwise and Client agrees to indemnify and hold Company harmless from and against any claims made by a third party(s), including, but not limited to, injury, death or damage or loss of property, arising from the negligent acts or omissions, including those relating to the hiring, training, supervision or retention of personnel, of Company, its agents or employees. (d) If, at Client’s request, Company employees undertake duties or are requested to use equipment or vehicles other than as agreed to in writing by Company, Client shall be solely responsible for and shall indemnify and hold Company harmless from and against any claims arising there from, including, but not limited to, claims arising from the negligent acts or omissions including those relating to the hiring, training, supervision or retention of personnel, of Company, its agents or employees. (e) Client hereby waives any and all rights of subrogation that any insurer of Client may have against Company. (f) Where Company is entitled to indemnification, Company shall have the right to tender defense of the claim to Client.
9. FORCE MAJEURE: The obligations of Company hereunder may be suspended during any period where performance is prevented by acts of God, civil or labor disturbances, or events beyond Company’s reasonable economic control.
10. HAZARDOUS OR DEFECTIVE CONDITIONS/MATERIALS: (a) Client agrees that it will comply with OSHA Hazard Communication Standards and will indemnify and hold Company harmless from all claims, including injuries to Company’s employees arising out of a condition existing at Client’s premises or Client’s violation of any safety or health related law or regulation. (b) Client further agrees to: (1) make available to Company the Material Safety Data Sheet for each hazardous chemical to which Company’s employees may be exposed at Client’s premises; (2) inform company of (A) precautionary measures that need to be taken to protect Company’s employees and (B) Client’s hazardous material labeling system.
11. INSURANCE: Client agrees to assume all risk of loss or damage to its premises, business and property of others on Client’s premises occurring as a result of fire, theft or other casualty and Client agrees that it will maintain insurance to fully protect Client against such loss or damage. Accordingly, Client waives its right of recovery against Company of any such loss or damage, however caused.
12. TERMINATION OF SERVICES: Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, this Agreement may be terminated for non-performance by either party, provided that such party has given the others reasonable time to correct any instances of such non- performance. If either party fails to correct such non-performance, the Agreement may be terminated, provided that such party has given the others at least thirty (30) days advance written notice of such intention. Notwithstanding the foregoing and for all other intentions, termination of services by Client must be preceded by at least thirty (30) days advance written notice of such intention to terminate services. Minimum 3-Month Service Agreement from start date.
13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND INTERPRETATION: This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the parties, and no representations, inducements, promises or agreements not embodied herein shall be of any force or effect. This Agreement shall be governed under the law of the State of its performance and if any provision shall conflict therewith, such provision shall be interpreted to remove such conflict, so that this Agreement and all its other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
14. DEFAULT: Company may terminate this Agreement immediately and exercise such other rights and remedies as permitted by law, if Client fails to pay any amount when due or if any proceeding is commenced or threatened by or against Client under the Bankruptcy Code or any other Debtor’s law, or if Client makes or threatens to make an assignment for the benefit of creditors.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties by their duly authorized representatives have signed this Agreement as of the date first above written:
By GOOD GUARD SECURITY:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Authorized Representative Signature) (Print Name & Title) By CLIENT:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Authorized Representative Signature) (Print Name & Title) 3 | Page
www.GoodGuardSecurity.com 1-800-651-0491
Brady Osorto / Business Development Manager
State of California
GOVERNMENT CODE
Section 8558
8558. Three conditions or degrees of emergency are established by this chapter:
(a) “State of war emergency” means the condition that exists immediately, with or without a proclamation thereof by the Governor, whenever this state or nation is attacked by an enemy of the United States, or upon receipt by the state of a warning from the federal government indicating that an enemy attack is probable or imminent. (b) “State of emergency” means the duly proclaimed existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the state caused by conditions such as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, drought, cyberterrorism, sudden and severe energy shortage, electromagnetic pulse attack, plant or animal infestation or disease, the Governor’s warning of an earthquake or volcanic prediction, or an earthquake, or other conditions, other than conditions resulting from a labor controversy or conditions causing a “state of war emergency,” which, by reason of their magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of any single county, city and county, or city and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat, or with respect to regulated energy utilities, a sudden and severe energy shortage requires extraordinary measures beyond the authority vested in the Public Utilities Commission.
(c) (1) “Local emergency” means the duly proclaimed existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of a county, city and county, or city, caused by conditions such as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, drought, cyberterrorism, sudden and severe energy shortage, deenergization event, electromagnetic pulse attack, plant or animal infestation or disease, the Governor’s warning of an earthquake or volcanic prediction, or an earthquake, or other conditions, other than conditions resulting from a labor controversy, which are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of that political subdivision and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat, or with respect to regulated energy utilities, a sudden and severe energy shortage or deenergization event that requires extraordinary measures beyond the authority vested in the Public Utilities Commission. (2) A local emergency proclaimed as the result of a deenergization event does not trigger the electric utility obligations set forth in Public Utilities Commission Decision 19-07-015 or its successor decisions as related to deenergization events. A local emergency proclaimed as the result of a deenergization event does not alter the electric utilities’ Public Utilities Commission-approved cost-recovery mechanisms for their own costs associated with deenergization events.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 537, Sec. 1. (SB 468) Effective January 1, 2023.) Porterville Army National Guard Armory
Temporary Evacuation Point and Shelter
Daily Census
Date: Adults: Youth: Dogs:
Friday, May 5, 2023 12 0 1
Saturday, May 6, 2023 10 0 0
Sunday, May 7, 2023 10 0 0
Monday, May 8, 2023 15 0 1
Tuesday, May 9, 2023 12 0 0
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 8 0 0
Thursday, May 11, 2023 9 0 0
Friday, May 12, 2023 9 0 0
Saturday, May 13, 2023 7 0 0
Sunday, May 14, 2023 6 0 0
Monday, May 15, 2023 13 0 0
Tuesday, May 16, 2023 11 3 4
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 11 3 4
Thursday, May 18, 2023 16 3 4
Friday, May 19, 2023 11 0 3
Saturday, May 20, 2023 14 0 5
Sunday, May 21, 2023 12 0 4
Monday, May 22, 2023 14 0 3
Tuesday, May 23, 2023 14 5 3
Wednesday, May 24, 2023 16 3 3
Thursday, May 25, 2023 13 1 6
Friday, May 26, 2023 18 4 3
Saturday, May 27, 2023 16 5 5
Sunday, May 28, 2023 16 1 3
Monday, May 29, 2023 18 1 3
Tuesday, May 30, 2023 19 1 6
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 17 1 3
Thursday, June 1, 2023 19 1 7
Friday, June 2, 2023 17 1 7
Saturday, June 3, 2023 16 1 4
Sunday, June 4, 2023 20 1 8
Monday, June 5, 2023 20 1 6
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 22 1 10
Wednesday, June 7, 2023 23 1 9
Thursday, June 8, 2023 22 1 7
Friday, June 9, 2023 22 1 10
Saturday, June 10, 2023 15 1 6
Sunday, June 11, 2023 26 1 9
Monday, June 12, 2023 18 1 7
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 24 1 4
Wednesday, June 14, 2023 21 1 7
Thursday, June 15, 2023 20 1 4
Friday, June 16, 2023 28 1 6
Saturday, June 17, 2023 20 1 7
Sunday, June 18, 2023 24 1 4
Monday, June 19, 2023 21 0 8
Tuesday, June 20, 2023 28 0 6
Wednesday, June 21, 2023 28 0 4
Thursday, June 22, 2023 22 0 4
Friday, June 23, 2023 27 0 4
Saturday, June 24, 2023 26 0 4
Sunday, June 25, 2023 24 0 3
Monday, June 26, 2023 23 0 4
Tuesday, June 27, 2023 30 0 5
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 26 0 6
Thursday, June 29, 2023 27 0 5
Friday, June 30, 2023 25 0 5
Saturday, July 1, 2023 27 0 9
Sunday, July 2, 2023 25 3 3
Monday, July 3, 2023 24 3 3
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 20 3 4
Wednesday, July 5, 2023 28 2 6
Thursday, July 6, 2023 28 2 5
Friday, July 7, 2023 27 2 6
Saturday, July 8, 2023 28 2 5
Sunday, July 9, 2023 36 2 3
Monday, July 10, 2023 28 2 3
Tuesday, July 11, 2023 34 2 4
Wednesday, July 12, 2023 35 2 2
Thursday, July 13, 2023 47 2 7
Friday, July 14, 2023 27 2 0
Saturday, July 15, 2023 24 2 2
Sunday, July 16, 2023 24 2 3
Monday, July 17, 2023 26 2 1
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 26 2 2
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 21 2 1
Thursday, July 20, 2023 21 2 1
Friday, July 21, 2023 22 0 0
Saturday, July 22, 2023 22 0 0
Sunday, July 23, 2023 22 0 0
Monday, July 24, 2023 21 0 0
Tuesday, July 25, 2023 22 0 0
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 20 0 0
Thursday, July 27, 2023 27 0 0
Friday, July 28, 2023 25 0 0
Saturday, July 29, 2023 22 0 0
Sunday, July 30, 2023 22 0 0
Monday, July 31, 2023 24 0 0
Tuesday, August 1, 2023 21 0 0
Wednesday, August 2, 2023 19 0 0
Thursday, August 3, 2023 20 0 0
Friday, August 4, 2023 19 0 0
Saturday, August 5, 2023 26 0 0
Sunday, August 6, 2023 22 0 0
Monday, August 7, 2023 20 0 0
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 25 0 3
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 23 0 3
Thursday, August 10, 2023 20 0 3
Friday, August 11, 2023 23 0 5
Saturday, August 12, 2023 22 0 5
Sunday, August 13, 2023 29 0 6
Monday, August 14, 2023 25 0 5
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 21 0 5
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 23 0 6
Thursday, August 17, 2023 23 0 5
Friday, August 18, 2023 22 0 5
Saturday, August 19, 2023 23 0 5
Sunday, August 20, 2023 21 0 4
Monday, August 21, 2023 25 0 5
Tuesday, August 22, 2023 22 0 5
Wednesday, August 23, 2023 27 0 5
Thursday, August 24, 2023 22 0 5
Friday, August 25, 2023 25 0 5
Saturday, August 26, 2023 23 0 4
Sunday, August 27, 2023 25 0 5
Monday, August 28, 2023 23 1 5
Tuesday, August 29, 2023 24 1 6
Wednesday, August 30, 2023 22 2 6
Thursday, August 31, 2023 18 2 5
Friday, September 1, 2023 17 2 5
Saturday, September 2, 2023 20 2 5
Sunday, September 3, 2023 20 2 5
Monday, September 4, 2023 21 2 5
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 22 2 5
Wednesday, September 6, 2023 15 2 3
Thursday, September 7, 2023 16 2 4
Friday, September 8, 2023 18 2 4
Saturday, September 9, 2023 19 2 4
Sunday, September 10, 2023 20 2 5
Monday, September 11, 2023 20 2 5
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 24 2 5
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 24 2 5
Thursday, September 14, 2023 21 2 5
Friday, September 15, 2023 26 2 5
Saturday, September 16, 2023 28 2 5
Sunday, September 17, 2023 26 2 5
Monday, September 18, 2023 22 2 5
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 24 2 5
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 26 2 5
Thursday, September 21, 2023 30 2 5
Friday, September 22, 2023 23 2 5
Saturday, September 23, 2023 20 2 5
Sunday, September 24, 2023 26 2 5
Monday, September 25, 2023 20 2 4
Tuesday, September 26, 2023 20 2 4
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 24 2 4
Thursday, September 28, 2023 22 2 4
Friday, September 29, 2023 17 2 4
Saturday, September 30, 2023 20 2 4
Sunday, October 1, 2023 23 2 4
Monday, October 2, 2023 20 2 4
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 18 2 4
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 22 2 4
Thursday, October 5, 2023 24 2 7
Friday, October 6, 2023 21 2 5
Saturday, October 7, 2023 18 2 5
Sunday, October 8, 2023 19 2 5
Monday, October 9, 2023 20 2 5
Tuesday, October 10, 2023 19 2 5
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 22 2 5
Thursday, October 12, 2023 27 2 5
Friday, October 13, 2023 21 2 5
Saturday, October 14, 2023 21 2 5
Sunday, October 15, 2023 19 2 5
Monday, October 16, 2023 24 2 5
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 22 2 5
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 22 2 5
Thursday, October 19, 2023 30 2 5
Friday, October 20, 2023 17 2 5
Saturday, October 21, 2023 15 2 5
Sunday, October 22, 2023 22 2 5
Monday, October 23, 2023 22 2 5
Tuesday, October 24, 2023 20 2 5
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 19 2 5
Thursday, October 26, 2023 21 1 5
Friday, October 27, 2023 21 1 3
Saturday, October 28, 2023 21 1 3
Sunday, October 29, 2023 18 1 3
Monday, October 30, 2023 24 1 3
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 20 1 3
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 25 1 3
Thursday, November 2, 2023 24 1 3
Friday, November 3, 2023 22 1 3
Saturday, November 4, 2023 22 1 3
Sunday, November 5, 2023 19 1 3
Monday, November 6, 2023 23 1 3
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 27 1 3
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 22 1 3
Thursday, November 9, 2023 22 1 3
Friday, November 10, 2023 23 1 3
Saturday, November 11, 2023 21 1 3
Sunday, November 12, 2023 24 1 3
Monday, November 13, 2023 27 1 3
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 24 1 3
Wednesday, November 15, 2023 29 1 3
Thursday, November 16, 2023 29 0 3
Friday, November 17, 2023 25 0 3
Saturday, November 18, 2023 29 0 3
Sunday, November 19, 2023 29 0 3
Monday, November 20, 2023 29 0 3
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 29 0 3
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 29 0 3
Thursday, November 23, 2023 21 0 3
Friday, November 24, 2023 29 0 3
Saturday, November 25, 2023 27 0 3
Sunday, November 26, 2023 27 0 3
Monday, November 27, 2023 26 0 3
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 27 0 3
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 29 0 3
Thursday, November 30, 2023 27 0 3
Friday, December 1, 2023 22 0 3
Saturday, December 2, 2023 25 0 3
Sunday, December 3, 2023 25 0 3
Monday, December 4, 2023 20 0 3
Tuesday, December 5 2023 25 0 3
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 30 0 3
Thursday, December 7, 2023 30 0 3
Friday, December 8, 2023 29 0 3
Saturday, December 9, 2023 25 0 3
Sunday, December 10, 2023 31 0 3
Monday, December 11, 2023 30 0 3
Tuesday, December 12, 2023 32 0 3
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 32 0 3
Thursday, December 14, 2023 35 0 3
Friday, December 15, 2023 30 0 3
Saturday, December 16, 2023 31 0 3
Sunday, December 17, 2023 29 0 3
Monday, December 18, 2023 26 0 3
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 25 1 3
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 31 0 3
Thursday, December 21, 2023 28 0 3
Friday, December 22, 2023 32 0 3
Saturday, December 23, 2023 29 0 3
Sunday, December 24, 2023 30 0 3
Monday, December 25, 2023 28 0 3
Tuesday, December 26, 2023 23 0 3
Wednesday, December 27, 2023 24 0 3
Thursday, December 28, 2023 28 0 3
Friday, December 29, 2023 23 0 3
Saturday, December 30, 2023 25 0 3
Sunday, December 31, 2023 28 0 3
Monday, January 1, 2024 24 0 3
Tuesday, January 2, 2024 24 0 3
Wednesday, January 3, 2024 29 0 3
Thursday, January 4, 2024 21 0 3
Friday, January 5, 2025 22 0 3
Saturday, January 6, 2024 32 0 3
Sunday, January 7, 2024 29 0 3
Monday, January 8, 2024 26 0 3
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 27 0 3
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 34 0 3
Thursday, January 11, 2024 33 0 3
Friday, January 12, 2025 36 0 3
Saturday, January 13, 2024 35 0 3
Sunday, January 14, 2024 34 0 3
Monday, January 15, 2024 39 0 3
Tuesday, January 16, 2024 38 0 4
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 33 0 4
Thursday, January 18, 2024 33 0 4
Friday, January 19, 2025 33 0 4
Saturday, January 20, 2024 36 0 4
Sunday, January 21, 2024 38 0 4
Monday, January 22, 2024 36 1 4
Tuesday, January 23, 2024 34 1 4
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 32 1 4
Thursday, January 25, 2024 38 1 4
Friday, January 26, 2025 35 1 4
Saturday, January 27, 2024 32 1 4
Sunday, January 28, 2024 36 1 4
Monday, January 29, 2024 34 1 4
Tuesday, January 30, 2024 40 1 5
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 36 1 5
Thursday, February 1, 2024 36 1 5
Friday, February 2, 2024 36 1 5
Saturday, February 3, 2024 27 1 5
Sunday, February 4, 2024 33 1 5
Monday, February 5, 2024 29 1 5
Tuesday, February 6, 2024 33 1 5
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 37 1 5
Thursday, February 8, 2024 34 1 5
Friday, February 9, 2024 37 0 5
Saturday, February 10, 2024 38 0 5
Sunday, February 11, 2024 39 0 5
Monday, February 12, 2024 35 0 5
Tuesday, February 13, 2024 38 0 5
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 37 0 5
Thursday, February 15, 2024 35 0 5
Friday, February 16, 2024 38 0 5
Saturday, February 17, 2024 40 0 5
Sunday, February 18, 2024 38 0 5
Monday, February 19, 2024 41 0 5
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 43 0 5
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 36 0 5
Thursday, February 22, 2024 39 0 5
Friday, February 23, 2024 36 0 5
Saturday, February 24, 2024 36 0 5
Sunday, February 25, 2024 38 0 5
Monday, February 26, 2024 37 0 5
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 41 0 5
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 41 0 9
Thursday, February 29, 2024 33 0 9
Friday, March 1, 2024 34 0 9
Saturday, March 2, 2024 33 0 9
Sunday, March 3, 2024 33 0 9
Monday, March 4, 2024 35 0 9
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 38 0 9
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 35 0 9
Thursday, March 7, 2024 36 0 9
Friday, March 8, 2024 37 0 9
Saturday, March 9, 2024 37 0 9
Sunday, March 10, 2024 41 0 9
Monday, March 11, 2024 41 0 9
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 42 0 9
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 40 0 9
Thursday, March 14, 2024 40 0 9
Friday, March 15, 2024 42 0 9
Saturday, March 16, 2024 39 0 9
Sunday, March 17, 2024 39 0 9
Monday, March 18, 2024 40 0 9
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 42 0 9
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 38 0 9
Thursday, March 21, 2024 35 0 9
Friday, March 22, 2024 37 0 9
Saturday, March 23, 2024 42 0 9
Sunday, March 24, 2024 42 0 9
Monday, March 25, 2024 41 0 9
Tuesday, March 26, 2024 41 0 9
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 44 0 9
Thursday, March 28, 2024 40 0 9
Friday, March 29, 2024 45 0 9
Saturday, March 30, 2024 46 0 9
Sunday, March 31, 2024 34 0 9
Monday, April 1, 2024 46 0 9
Tuesday, April 2 2024 34 0 9
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 38 0 9
Thursday, April 4, 2024 38 0 9
Friday, April 5, 2024 31 0 9
Saturday, April 6, 2024 28 0 9
Sunday, April 7, 2024 33 0 9
Monday, April 8, 2024 38 0 9
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 41 0 9
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 39 0 9
Thursday, April 11, 2024 34 0 9
Friday, April 12, 2024 33 0 9
Saturday, April 13, 2024 38 0 9
Sunday, April 14, 2024 36 0 9
Monday, April 15, 2024 31 0 9
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 34 0 9
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 34 0 9
Thursday, April 18, 2024 33 0 9
Friday, April 19, 2024 29 0 9
Saturday, April 20, 2024 28 0 9
Sunday, April 21, 2024 29 0 9
Monday, April 22, 2024 28 0 9
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 28 0 9
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 28 0 9
Thursday, April 25, 2024 29 0 9
Friday, April 26, 2024 32 0 9
Saturday, April 27, 2024 30 0 9
Sunday, April 28, 2024 34 0 9
Monday, April 29, 2024 29 0 9
Tuesday, April 30, 2024 28 0 8
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 27 0 9
Thursday, May 2, 2024 26 0 9
Friday, May 3, 2024 29 0 9
Saturday, May 4, 2024 29 0 9
Sunday, May 5, 2024 34 0 9
Monday, May 6, 2024 30 0 9
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 30 0 9
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 30 0 9
Thursday, May 9, 2024 35 0 9
Friday, May 10, 2024 32 0 9
Saturday, May 11, 2024 30 0 9
Sunday, May 12, 2024 30 0 9
Monday, May 13, 2024 32 0 9
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 32 0 9
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 32 0 9
Thursday, May 16, 2024 33 0 9
Friday, May 17, 2024 36 0 9
Saturday, May 18, 2024 33 0 9
Sunday, May 19, 2024 38 0 9
Monday, May 20, 2024 34 0 8
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 30 0 9
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 30 0 9
Thursday, May 23, 2024 29 0 7
Friday, May 24, 2024 34 0 8
Saturday, May 25, 2024 35 0 9
Sunday, May 26, 2024 38 1 9
Monday, May 27, 2024 36 0 9
Tuesday, May 28, 2024 35 0 8
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 32 0 7
Thursday, May 30, 2024 31 0 7
Friday, May 31, 2024 29 0 8
Saturday, June 1, 2024 30 0 9
Sunday, June 2, 2024 34 0 10
Monday, June 3, 2024 33 0 9
Tuesday, June 4, 2024 27 0 8
Wednesday, June 5, 2024 32 0 9
Thursday, June 6, 2024 31 0 9
Friday, June 7, 2024 30 0 8
Saturday, June 8, 2024 33 0 9
Sunday, June 9, 2024 36 0 9
Monday, June 10, 2024 35 0 9
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 34 0 8
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 25 0 8
Thursday, June 13, 2024 30 0 10
Friday, June 14, 2024 39 0 10
Saturday, June 15, 2024 34 0 8
Sunday, June 16, 2024 34 0 8
Monday, June 17, 2024 32 0 9
Tuesday, June 18, 2024 34 0 10
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 33 0 9
Thursday, June 20, 2024 33 0 11
Friday, June 21, 2024 30 0 9
Saturday, June 22, 2024 27 0 8
Sunday, June 23, 2024 33 0 10
Monday, June 24, 2024 16 0 7
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 20 0 7
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 30 0 9
Thursday, June 27, 2024 30 0 9
Friday, June 28, 2024 33 0 10
Saturday, June 29, 2024 34 0 10
Sunday, June 30, 2024 34 0 10
Monday, July 1, 2024 30 0 10
Tuesday, July 2, 2024 35 0 11
Wednesday, July 3, 2024 27 0 9
Thursday, July 4, 2024 27 0 9
Friday, July 5, 2024 30 0 9
Saturday, July 6, 2024 29 0 9
Sunday, July 7, 2024 32 0 10
Monday, July 8, 2024 36 0 11
Tuesday, July 9, 2024 34 0 10
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 35 0 9
Thursday, July 11, 2024 35 0 9
Friday, July 12, 2024 26 0 8
Saturday, July 13, 2024 31 0 9
Sunday, July 14, 2024 35 0 10
Monday, July 15, 2024 36 0 11
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 33 0 10
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 29 0 9
Thursday, July 18, 2024 19 0 7
Friday, July 19, 2024 20 0 7
Saturday, July 20, 2024 22 0 8
Sunday, July 21, 2024 22 0 8
Monday, July 22, 2024 24 0 8
Tuesday, July 23, 2024 26 0 8
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 23 0 7
Thursday, July 25, 2024 24 0 8
Friday, July 26, 2024 22 0 7
Saturday, July 27, 2024 22 0 7
Sunday, July 28, 2024 23 0 7
Monday, July 29, 2024 23 0 7
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 21 0 7
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 21 0 7
Thursday, August 1, 2024 20 0 7
Friday, August 2, 2024 22 0 7
Saturday, August 3, 2024 18 0 7
Sunday, August 4, 2024 21 0 7
Monday, August 5, 2024 20 0 7
Tuesday, August 6, 2024 22 0 5
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 25 0 6
Thursday, August 8, 2024 25 0 8
Friday, August 9, 2024 20 0 4
Saturday, August 10, 2024 16 0 4
Sunday, August 11, 2024 23 0 5
Monday, August 12, 2024 31 0 7
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 23 0 5
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 24 0 4
Thursday, August 15, 2024 20 0 3
Friday, August 16, 2024 18 0 3
Saturday, August 17, 2024 23 0 4
Sunday, August 18, 2024 23 0 3
Monday, August 19, 2024 21 0 4
Tuesday, August 20, 2024 24 0 3
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 23 0 3
Thursday, August 22, 2024 24 0 3
Friday, August 23, 2024 29 0 3
Saturday, August 24, 2024 18 0 2
Sunday, August 25, 2024 30 0 3
Monday, August 26, 2024 16 0 2
Tuesday, August 27, 2024 21 0 3
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 23 0 2
Thursday, August 29, 2024 24 0 3
Friday, August 30, 2024 23 0 3
Saturday, August 31, 2024 27 0 2
Sunday, September 1, 2024 27 0 3
Monday, September 2, 2024 27 0 2
Tuesday, September 3, 2024 21 0 3
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 22 0 3
Thursday, September 5, 2024 27 0 3
Friday, September 6, 2024 33 0 4
Saturday, September 7, 2024 37 0 4
Sunday, September 8, 2024 28 0 3
Monday, September 9, 2024 32 0 4
Tuesday, September 10, 2024 33 0 3
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 22 0 3
Thursday, September 12, 2024 27 0 3
Friday, September 13, 2024 37 0 4
Saturday, September 14, 2024 33 0 4
Sunday, September 15, 2024 38 0 4
Monday, September 16, 2024 33 0 4
Tuesday, September 17, 2024 34 0 4
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 30 0 3
Thursday, September 19, 2024 33 0 4
Friday, September 20, 2024 20 0 2
Saturday, September 21, 2024 21 0 2
Sunday, September 22, 2024 22 0 3
Monday, September 23, 2024 35 0 4
Item No. 17.
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA – OCTOBER 1, 2024
SUBJECT: Consideration of General Plan Amendment, Rezone, Master Plan, and Environmental Impact Report Pertaining to the South of Tule River District Master Plan
SOURCE: Community Development
BACKGROUND: The SoTu Master Plan was initiated by the City of Porterville with the overall purpose of guiding the development of the 447-acre SoTu District as it transitions from a predominantly agricultural and rural residential area to an innovative mixed-use multi-modal district that is attractive to residents and visitors alike to live, work, explore, and shop. The development of the Master Plan was made possible by LEAP grant funding awarded to the City of Porterville by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in 2021.
The Master Plan serves as the planning tool and process to provide the bigpicture vision for land use and development of the Plan Area. Although no physical development is currently proposed as part of the Master Plan, it outlines the overall vision and identifies concepts that would be implemented in the area. The Master Plan serves as the dynamic and longterm planning document to conceptually lay out future development and growth for the Plan Area.
The Master Plan is organized by chapters, or key elements, that cover land uses, circulation systems, open space, utilities, infrastructure, and public service systems within the District. Each element includes goals and policies to identify how future development will be carried out. Ultimately, the Master Plan will ensure that future development of the Plan Area is consistent with the vision and intent for the area as well as the Guiding Policies and regulations of the Porterville 2030 General Plan and Porterville Development Ordinance. The Master Plan is organized as follows. • Introduction
• Vision, Goals, and Objectives
• Land Use
• Circulation Plan
• Open Space and Landscape
• Infrastructure and Public Utilities
Item No. 17.
• Administration and Implementation
The Land Use element of the Master Plan outlines the mix of land uses that are proposed and addresses the requirements outlined for land uses in Article 206 of the Porterville Development Ordinance. Residential uses are provided at densities that are consistent with the Porterville 2030 General Plan, and public parks and non-residential uses are provided at ratios and locations consistent with the requirements of Article 206. The neighborhood center of the Plan Area is proposed in a centrally located area and is planned for mixed uses as required by Article 206.
The Circulation Element outlines the street systems and pedestrian and bike networks for the Plan Area. The element depicts a continuous street system which provides pedestrian and bicycle facilities and connects to all adjacent planned neighborhoods within the Plan Area. This is further explained in Chapter 4 of the Master Plan.
The Infrastructure and Public Utilities Element provide discussion and metrics for all future and planned public utility infrastructure of the Plan Area including, but not limited to, location and placement of utility lines that will be necessary to provide for the residents of the Plan Area.
COMMENT: The South of Tule River (SoTu) District Master Plan Area (Plan Area) comprises approximately 447 acres (gross) and 19 parcels located directly southwest of the city limits, bound to the north by the Tule River, south by State Route 190, east by State Route 65, and west by Westwood Street.
ANALYSIS: PROJECT LOCATION: The SoTu Master Plan Area (Plan Area) is comprised of approximately 447 acres (gross) and 19 parcels located directly southwest of the city limits, bound to the north by the Tule River, south by State Route 190, east by State Route 65, and west by Westwood Street. The regional location of the Plan Area is shown in the Regional Location Map and in the APN Map of the Plan Area.
The parcels are identified as Assessors’ Parcel Numbers:
259-150-001
259-030-011
259-030-031
259-270-004
259-040-041
259-040-044
259-040-028
259-040-027
259-040-026
259-040-025
259-040-043
259-040-042
259-040-045
259-040-046
259-040-010
259-040-039
259-320-001
259-320-002
259-370-058
Item No. 17.
The Plan Area is located outside city limits, but is within Porterville’s General Plan Planning Area, or the “Urban Area Boundary” (UAB) and the LAFCo-adopted sphere of influence. The eastern half of the Plan Area is within the City’s Urban Development Boundary (UDB); the western half of the Plan Area is outside the UDB.
SPECIFIC REQUEST: The project includes General Plan Amendment 2024-002, Rezone 2024-001, Master Plan 2024-001, and Environmental Impact Report (SCH #2024030738).
CURRENT GENERAL PLAN: The existing Porterville 2030 General Plan land use designations within the Plan Area are contained in the General Plan Maps. The acreage of each land use designation is shown in the table below. The Plan Area is predominately planned for Low Density Residential land uses (60.9%), followed by Parks and Recreation (23.6%), Retail Center (8.7%), and Public Institutional (2.3%).
General Plan Total Acreage
Land Use
Designation
Acres (#) Percent of Total
(%)
Low Density
Residential
272.41 60.9
Parks and Recreation 105.63 23.6
Public Institutional 10.16 2.3
Retail Center 38.89 8.7
Tule River (No
Assigned Use)
20.16 4.5
Total 447.25 100
CURRENT ZONING: The Plan Area is currently zoned as a mix A-1, AE20, and R-1-20 by the County of Tulare. Although the Plan Area is outside the city limits, the City has pre-zoned the area consistent with the General Plan land uses. The existing pre-zoning within the Plan Area is shown in the attached Zoning District Maps. The acreage of each zone district is shown in the table below. The Plan Area is predominantly zoned RS-2 (Low Density Residential) (56.5%), followed by RS-1 (Very Low Density Residential) (41.2%), PK (Parks and Public Recreation Facilities) (1.17%), and CR (Retail Centers) (0.9%).
Item No. 17.
Total Acreage
Zoning District Acres (#) Percent of Total
(%)
RS-1 (Very Low
Density Residential)
184.48 41.2
RS- 2 (Low Density
Residential)
253.22 56.6
PK (Parks and Public
Recreation Facilities)
5.25 1.17
CR (Retail Centers) 4.3 0.9
Total 447.25 100
PRESENT USE: Most of the Plan Area has historically been used for agriculture, including orchard and row crops, for at least the past 50 years.
The Plan Area is predominantly occupied by agricultural operations with a few single-family residential dwellings. Aerial imagery of the Plan Area is shown in the attached Aerial Map.
SURROUNDING LAND USE AND ZONING: The predominant existing land uses within the Plan Area are agriculture and rural residences. Existing land uses to the north of the Plan Area beyond the Tule River and to the east are single-family residential uses. Existing land uses to the south and west include a mix of residential, services, vacant, and agriculture uses. As referenced in the table below, all properties to the north, east, and west are planned and zoned for residential and public uses, and properties to the south are planned and zoned with a mix of industrial, retail, residential, and office uses.
Direction from
the Project
Site
Existing Land
Use
Planned Land
Use
Zone District
North Tule River,
Single-Family
Residential
Parks, Low
Density
Residential
RS-1 - Very
Low Density
Residential, RS2- Low Density
Residential
PD- Planned
Development,
PK-Parks and
Public
Recreation
Facilities
Item No. 17.
South SR 190,
Agriculture,
Residential,
Healthcare
Center
Industrial Park,
Retail Center,
Low Density
Residential,
Professional
Office
IP-Industrial
Park, CR-Retail
Centers, RS-1-
Very Low
Residential,
PO-Professional
Office
East SR 65, Single
Family
Residential
Low Density
Residential,
Public
Insitution
Pk- Parks and
Public
Recreation
Facilities, PDPlanned
Development
West Agriculture,
Single Family
Residential
Very Low
Density
Residential,
Parks
RS-1- Very
Low Density
Residential
PROJECT PROPOSAL: The project components include General Plan Amendment 2024-002, Rezone 2024-001, and Master Plan 2024-001, described as follows.
1. General Plan Amendment 2024-002: The Master Plan proposes to amend the General Plan Land Use Map and Circulation Map. The proposed General Plan Amendment would amend the General Plan Land Use Map to change the planned land use designations as described below and shown in the General Plan Maps. The General Plan Amendment would also amend the Circulation Map to include two (2) collectors, A Street and B Street, to improve connectivity of the Plan Area to Westwood Street and Newcomb Street as shown in the General Plan Maps.
The proposed land use changes are shown in the General Plan Maps and summarized in the table below. The Master Plan would result in reductions in acreage of Low Density Residential and Retail Centers, and modest increases in Medium Density Residential, High Density Residential, Commercial Mixed-Use, Neighborhood Commercial, Professional Office, Industrial Park, Park and Recreation, and Public Institutional. The land use changes are proposed to facilitate the transition of the Plan Area from a predominately agricultural and rural residential area to a mixed-use district, allowing varying uses at varying densities and intensities.
Item No. 17.
General Plan
Land Use
Designation
Current
Acreage by
General Plan
Proposed
Acreage by
Master Plan
Net Change in
Acreage
Low Density
Residential
272.41 51.88 -220.53
Medium
Density
Residential
-- 43.94 +43.94
High Density
Residential
-- 31.18 +31.18
Commercial
Mixed-Use
-- 33.11 +33.11
Neighborhood
Commercial
-- 8.53 +8.53
Retail Centers 38.89 24.64 -14.25
Professional
Office
-- 32.57 +32.57
Industrial Park -- 59.51 +59.51
Parks and
Recreation
105.63 112.47 +6.84
Public
Institutional
10.16 15.89 +5.73
Tule River (No
Assigned Land
Use)
20.16 20.16 0
Right-of-Way -- 33.61 +33.61
Total 447.30 447.30 0
2. Rezone 2024-001: The Master Plan proposes to change the underlying zoning districts to the RN (Residential Neighborhood) zone district to implement the neighborhood centers as shown on the General Plan Maps, as proposed to be amended by General Plan Amendment 2024-002. The proposed zoning within the Plan Area is shown in the attached Zoning Maps.
As detailed in the Master Plan, although the Plan Area will be zoned RN, the uses permitted, and the development standards required for future development will be those contained within the corresponding zone district in accordance with the land use and zoning consistency table identified below.
Item No. 17.
General Plan Land Use
Designation
Implementing Zoning District
Low Density Residential RS-2 – Low Density Residential
Medium Density Residential RM-2 – Medium Density
Residential
High Density Residential RM-3 – High Density Residential Commercial Mixed-Use CMX – Commercial Mixed Use
Neighborhood Commercial CN – Neighborhood Commercial
Retail Centers CR – Retail Centers
Professional Office PO – Professional Office
Industrial Park IG – General Industrial
Parks and Recreation PK – Parks & Public Recreation
Facilities
Public Institutional PS – Public and Semi-Public
3. Master Plan 2024-001: The Master Plan is being implemented by the Residential Neighborhood (RN) zone district. Article 206 of the Porterville Development Ordinance provides the purpose of the Residential Neighborhood District and the required elements for a master plan for a Residential Neighborhood District. The elements of a Master Plan must include, but are not limited to, land use, street system, pedestrian and bike network, and utilities. Each required element has additional requirements that must be met for compliance with Article 206.
The Master Plan is consistent with Article 206, including the following:
• Consistency with the Porterville 2030 General Plan: Land uses reflect the required land use mix in the General Plan Land Use Diagram as amended. Amendments maintain consistency with the General Plan. The mix of land uses that are proposed are provided at densities and intensities that are consistent with the General Plan. • Residential Uses: Residential uses are provided at densities consistent with the proposed General Plan designations for the Plan Area. The proposed mix of land uses allows for a minimum of 20% of units to be small-lot, detached homes, townhouse, or multi-family units within walking distance of the neighborhood center. • Public Parks: The Plan Area will accommodate a minimum of 112.47 acres of open space concentrated along the Tule River, which would be accessible to future homes in the Plan Area.
Additional pocket and neighborhood parks could be provided as residential development occurs. Future development may require Item No. 17.
dedicating parkland per Quimby Act requirements.
• Non-Residential Uses: At least four (4) percent of land area is designated for non-residential uses, including public and semipublic uses and neighborhood-serving commercial uses. • Neighborhood Centers: The Plan Area includes a defined, centrally located, neighborhood center composed of a mix of retail, civic, and service-oriented uses, in addition to a dedicated future school site. • Park Design: The Master Plan Park and Open Space Plan establishes requirements, classifications, and goals and policies to ensure future development meets minimum park size, park frontage and
accessibility, landscaped area, and detention basin requirements. • Street/Transportation System Requirements: The Master Plan Circulation Element establishes policies related to continuous street system, connection to adjacent areas, dead-end streets, intersections, maximum block length, sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle paths, traffic calming, and street trees. The Master Plan Circulation Map also proposes include two (2) collectors, A Street and B Street, to improve connectivity of the Plan Area to Westwood Street and Newcomb Street as shown in the General Plan Maps.
• Variety in Housing Design: The Master Plan Land Use Element establishes a policy requiring variety in housing design, including characteristics such as building envelope, front porch, window pattern, or roof shape.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY: The Porterville 2030 General Plan provides the framework to guide future land use development in the City of Porterville. It addresses state-mandated topics, or elements, that have legal standing and provides the foundation and vision for how a community will grow. The elements in the 2030 Porterville General Plan include Land Use, Economic Development, Circulation, Parks/Schools/Community Facilities, Open Space and Conservation, Public Health & Safety, Public Utilities, and Noise.
The intent of the Master Plan is to build upon and compliment several guiding land use policies of the Porterville 2030 General Plan including:
• Policy LU-G-1: Promote a sustainable, balanced land use pattern that responds to existing needs and future needs of the City. • Policy LU-G-9: Provide sufficient land with appropriate parcel sizes to support a full range of housing types and prices. • Policy LU-G-10: Foster viable, pedestrian-oriented neighborhood centers with vertically and horizontally mixed-use development.
The proposed Master Plan would help facilitate future development of the Plan area with residential, employment, and public uses. Future residential development will provide needed housing in conformance with the City’s General Plan Land Use and Housing Elements, as well as help meet the Item No. 17.
City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation.
ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW:
The proposed project has been reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The City prepared an Environmental Impact Report EIR (SCH #2024030738). Key components of the requested action related to the environmental review include the following.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT: An EIR is the highest level of environmental review under CEQA, which describes and analyzes the significant environmental effects of a project and discussing ways to mitigate or avoid the effects. The term “EIR” may mean either a draft or a final EIR, depending on the context. As further described in EIR & MMRP, the Final EIR consists of the Draft EIR plus the Response to Comments document, in which the City must address all comments received and propose changes to the Draft EIR if needed.
RESPONSE TO COMMENT: This document provides responses to comments received on the Draft EIR and revises the Draft EIR, as necessary, in response to those comments or to make clarifications in the Draft EIR. This document, together with the Draft EIR, constitutes the Final EIR for the proposed project. Four (4) comment letters were received, and the letters and responses are contained in the response to comment (RTC), which is provided in the Final EIR (EIR & MMRP).
MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM: The
MMRP contains a table with the required mitigation measures, the responsible party or parties for implementing the measure, and the timing of implementation. The MMRP is contained in the EIR & MMRP.
FINDINGS OF FACT AND STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING
CONSIDERATIONS: When an EIR has been certified that identifies one or more significant environmental impacts, the approving agency must make one or more findings, accompanied by a brief explanation of the rationale, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15091, for each identified significant impact, refer to the Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations.
CERTIFICATION OF THE EIR: The City Council will hold a public hearing to consider the adequacy and completeness of the EIR under CEQA and will make a determination regarding certifying the EIR and adopting the necessary Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations.
The City Council will consider adopting a resolution regarding its determination of the proposed project (EIR SCH# 2024030738).
EIR PROCESS/PUBLIC INPUT AND NOTICING: The City, as the lead agency under CEQA, has engaged in extensive public input and noticing including:
1. Notice of Preparation and Scoping Meeting: The environmental Item No. 17.
review process began with a brief notice, “Notice of Preparation” or “NOP”, sent by the City to notify the responsible agencies, trustee agencies, the Office of Planning and Research, and the public that the City plans to prepare an EIR for the proposed Project. The purpose of the NOP was to solicit guidance from those agencies as to the scope and content of the environmental information to be included in the EIR. The NOP was distributed on March 20, 2024, to responsible agencies, trustee agencies, the Office of Planning and Research, and private organizations and individuals that may have interest in the Project. The NOP was made available at Porterville City Hall and online. Responses to the NOP have been incorporated into the Draft EIR. A public scoping meeting was held virtually on April 3, 2024, at 5:30 pm. Zero (0) members of the public attended the scoping meeting.
2. Draft EIR: The Draft EIR (“DEIR”) was circulated for a forty-fiveday (45) public review and comment period commencing on July 26, 2024, a copy of the DEIR was circulated through the State Clearinghouse (SCH #2024030738), posted on the City’s website, and was available at the Porterville City Hall.
3. Final EIR/Response to Comments: The Final EIR (“FEIR”) consists of the DEIR plus the Response to Comments document in which the City must address all comments and possibly propose changes to the DEIR, if needed. After the close of the public review period for the DEIR, the City prepared formal responses to the written comments received. CEQA Guidelines, Section 15088(b), requires the City’s responses to comments to be provided to commenting public agencies ten (10) days prior to final certification of the FEIR. As noted above, four (4) comment letters were received, and the letters are contained in the Response to Comments, which are provided in the FEIR.
STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS: As detailed in the EIR, there are some significant and unavoidable impacts associated with this project related to certain components of air quality. In this regard, CEQA requires decision makers to balance the benefits of the proposed project against its unavoidable environmental risks when determining whether to approve the project. If the benefits of the project outweigh the unavoidable adverse effects, those effects may be considered "acceptable" (CEQA Guidelines Section 15093[a]). CEQA requires the lead agency to support, in writing, the specific reasons for considering a project acceptable when significant impacts are infeasible to mitigate. Such reasons must be based on substantial evidence in the FEIR or elsewhere in the administrative record (CEQA Guidelines Section 15093[b]). The agency's statement is referred to as a Statement of Overriding Considerations, and would be recommended as part of the approval of the resolution. Refer to Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations.
TRIBAL CONSULTATION: Prior to approval of any amendment to a Item No. 17.
General Plan, Government Code Section 65352.2 requires that the City notify any California Native American Tribe identified by the California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) as having a historical or cultural affiliation with the area and provides those tribes 90 days to comment on the proposal. Following receipt of a tribal contact list from the NAHC, the City notified five tribal contacts about the project on March 31, 2023. Comment from the Tule River Tribe was received on April 27, 2023, requesting continued consultation.
PUBLIC NOTICE: Public notice of this hearing was provided in accordance with Government Code Sections 65090 and 65091 and Development Ordinance, Article 604.3(b). The procedures prescribed therein are the standard for hearings involving amendments to the General Plan or zoning and for conditional use permits.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:
1. Hold the public hearing to receive comments on the South of Tule River District Master Plan project, and then:
2. Adopt the Draft Resolution to adopt the findings required by CEQA, certify the EIR, adopt the Mitigation
Monitoring and Reporting Program, and adopt a
Statement of Overriding Considerations; and
3. Adopt the Draft Resolution to approve General Plan
Amendment 2024-002; and
4. Introduce by title only an Ordinance to amend the Zoning Map to rezone the SoTu Master Plan Area; and
5. Adopt the Draft Resolution to approve Master Plan 2024- 001, adopting the South of Tule River District Master
Plan.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Regional Location Map
2. APN Map
3. Aerial Map
4. Draft Resolution - EIRSCH #2024030738
5. EIR & MMRP
6. Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding
Considerations
7. General Plan Maps
8. Draft Resolution - General Plan Amendment 2024-002n
9. Zoning Maps
10. Draft Ordinance - Rezone 2024-001
11. SoTu Master Plan
12. Draft Resolution - Master Plan 2024-001
Item No. 17.
Appropriated/Funded:
Review By:
Department Director:
Claudia Calderon, Community Development Director
Final Approver: Patrice Hildreth, City Manager
REGIONAL LOCATION MAP
APN MAP
AERIAL MAP
RESOLUTION NO.__2024
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORTERVILLE TO 1)
ADOPT THE FINDINGS REQUIRED BY CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) GUIDELINES, SECTION 15091;2) CERTIFY THE FOCUSED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (SCH #2024030738) FOR THE PROPOSED SOTU MASTER PLAN;3) ADOPT THE PROPOSED MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM AND 4) ADOPT A STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING
CONSIDERATIONS PURSUANT TO CEQA
WHEREAS: the City of Porterville has initiated the project known as the South of Tule River District Master Plan (“SoTu Master Plan”), a master plan, located on approximately 447.30 acres and 19 parcels (APNs 259-150-001, 259-030-011, -031, 259- 270-004, 259-040-041, -044, -028, -027, -026, -025, -043, -042, -045, -046, -010, -039, 259-320-001, -002, and 259-370-058) directly southwest of city limits generally bound to the north by the Tule River, to the south by State Route 190, to the east by State Route 65, and to the west by Westwood Street (“Plan Area”); and WHEREAS: approval of the master plan would require approval of General Plan Amendment 2024-002, Rezone 2024-001, and Master Plan 2024-001 (adopting the Master Plan); and
WHEREAS: pursuant to the authority and criteria contained in the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 (“CEQA”), the City, as the Lead Agency, has analyzed the proposed Project, including the General Plan Amendment, Rezone, and Master Plan, and has prepared an Environmental Impact Report (SCH #2024030738) (as further defined below, the “EIR”) in order to evaluate the proposed Project; and WHEREAS: in compliance with CEQA Section 21080.4, a Notice of Preparation (“NOP”) was prepared by the City and distributed for public comment to the State Clearinghouse, Office of Planning and Research, responsible agencies, and other interested parties for a 30-day public review and comment period commencing on March 20, 2024, after which a public scoping meeting was held during the NOP review period on April 3, 2024; and,
WHEREAS: the Draft EIR (“DEIR”) was circulated for a 45-day public review and comment period commencing on July 26, 2024, a copy of the Draft EIR (DEIR) was circulated through the State Clearinghouse (SCH #2024030738), posted on the City’s website, and was available at the Porterville City Hall; and WHEREAS: the public review period for the DEIR ended on September 9, 2024; and
Resolution No. ____2024
WHEREAS: a Final EIR (FEIR) was prepared on the proposed Project consistent with CEQA Guidelines Section 15088(b), which addressed comments received on the DEIR, responses to those comments, as well as any appropriate revisions and clarifications to the DEIR; and
WHEREAS: the City of Porterville published a legal notice in compliance with State law concerning City Council consideration of the EIR in the local newspaper of general circulation, which included the date and time of the City Council consideration of certification of the EIR. In addition, a public hearing notice was mailed to each property owner within at least 300 feet of the Plan Area, as well as to all property owners within the Plan Area, indicating the date and time of the public hearing regarding the proposed Project (including the EIR) in accordance with State law; and WHEREAS: on October 1, 2024, the City Council conducted a duly noticed public hearing on the EIR as defined below, at which time it received input from City Staff; public comment portion was opened, and public testimony and evidence, both written and oral, was considered by the City Council, after which public testimony was closed; and WHEREAS: the City Council has reviewed the EIR and all associated documents prepared for the project, the staff reports pertaining to the EIR, and all of the evidence received by the City Council; and
WHEREAS: Section 21000 of the Public Resources Code and Section 15000 et. seq. of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations (“CEQA Guidelines”) which govern the preparation, content, and processing of EIRs, have been fully implemented in the preparation of the EIR; and
WHEREAS: the EIR identified certain significant and potentially significant adverse effects on the environment caused by the Master Plan; and WHEREAS: the City Council declares that, despite the occurrence of significant environmental effects that cannot be substantially lessened or avoided through adoption of feasible mitigation measures or feasible alternatives, there exist certain overriding economic, social, technical, and other considerations for approving the project that the Council believes justify the occurrence of those impacts; and WHEREAS: CEQA Guidelines Section 15043 affirms the City Council’s authority to approve a project even though it may cause significant effects on the environment so long as the Council makes a fully informed and publicly disclosed decision that there is no feasible way to lessen or avoid the significant effects (CEQA Guidelines Section 15091) and that there are specifically identified expected benefits from the project that outweigh the policy of reducing or avoiding significant environmental impacts of the project (CEQA Guidelines Section 15093); and
Resolution No. ____2024
WHEREAS: after deliberation and consideration of all relevant items, the City Council desires to (1) adopt the findings required by CEQA Guidelines, section 15091; (2) certify the EIR; (3) adopt the proposed mitigation monitoring and reporting program (“MMRP”), and (4) adopt a statement of overriding considerations, pursuant to CEQA; and
WHEREAS: all legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Porterville resolves as follows:
1. Recitals. The City Council hereby specifically finds that all the facts set forth in the recitals above are true and correct and incorporated herein.
2. EIR Contents. The EIR consists of the Final EIR including any attached appendices, the Draft EIR including attached appendices, the Notice of Preparation and comments received in response to the Notice of Preparation, the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, additions and corrections in the remaining portions of the Draft EIR that have been made pursuant to public comments and Draft EIR review including all appendices attached thereto, comments received on the Draft EIR with responses to each of the comments made, the Notice of Completion and Notice of Availability of the Draft EIR for public review, and any other information added by the Lead Agency, all hereafter collectively referred to as the “EIR” and attached hereto as Exhibit A of this Resolution.
3. Accompanying Documents to the EIR. Documents that shall accompany and be part of the EIR are the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (Exhibit A) and Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations (Exhibit B).
4. Certification of Compliance with CEQA. The City Council does hereby find that the EIR (Exhibit A), the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (Exhibit A), and Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations (Exhibit B) have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of CEQA.
5. CEQA Findings of Fact, Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, and Statement of Overriding Considerations.
a. Adopt Findings of Fact. The City Council approves, accepts as its own, incorporates as if set forth in full herein, and makes each and every one of the findings contained in the Findings of Fact (Exhibit B).
Resolution No. ____2024
b. Certify Environmental Impact Report. The City Council certifies that 1) the EIR has been completed in accordance with CEQA, 2) the City Council reviewed and considered information contained in the EIR prior to approving the project, and 3) the EIR reflects the City Council’s independent judgment and analysis. c. Feasible and Binding Effect of Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.
The City Council finds that the mitigation measures described and specifically identified in the attached Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program are feasible and shall become binding upon the entity (such as the project proponent or the City) assigned thereby to implement the particular mitigation measures as identified in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program. d. Adopt Statement of Overriding Considerations. Even after the adoption of all feasible mitigation measures, certain significant or potentially significant environmental effects caused by the proposed modified Project directly, or cumulatively, will remain. The proposed Project has been carefully reviewed and the policies included in the proposed Project along with the mitigation measures identified in the EIR have avoided or substantially lessened several environmental impacts, to the extent feasible. Nonetheless, the proposed Project may have certain environmental effects which cannot be avoided or substantially lessened. The City has carefully considered all the environmental impacts that have not been mitigated to an insignificant level. Therefore, the City Council issues and approves the attached Statement of Overriding Considerations which identifies the specific economic, legal, social, technological and other considerations that render the unavoidable significant adverse environmental effects acceptable.
e. Adopt Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program. The City Council adopts the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program. The City Council finds that the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program is designed to ensure that during Project implementation, the City and any other responsible parties implement the Project components and comply with the mitigation measures identified in the Findings of Fact and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.
/ / /
/ / /
/ / /
Resolution No. ____2024
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this October 1st, 2024.
_____________________
Martha A. Flores, Mayor
ATTEST:
Patrice Hildreth, City Clerk
By: ______________________
Fernando Gabriel-Moraga,
Acting Chief Deputy City Clerk
FINAL EIR
SEPTEMBER 2024
South of Tule River Master Plan
FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
(SCH # 202403738)
SEPTEMBER 2024
City of Porterville
Community Development Department
291 N. Main Street
Porterville, CA 93257
FINAL EIR
SEPTEMBER 2024
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Purpose of the Final EIR ...............................................................................................................3
1.2 CEQA Requirements.....................................................................................................................3
1.3 Environmental Review Process.....................................................................................................3
1.3.1 Notice of Preparation...............................................................................................................3
1.3.2 Draft EIR...................................................................................................................................4
1.4 Use of the Final EIR ......................................................................................................................4
1.5 Organization of Document...........................................................................................................5 2 DRAFT EIR COMMENTERS .....................................................................................................................6
2.1 Organization of Comment Letters and Responses........................................................................6
2.2 List of Commenters......................................................................................................................6 3 DRAFT EIR COMMENTS AND RESPONSES.............................................................................................. 7 4 FEIR REVISIONS TO THE DEIR...............................................................................................................19
2.11 Other Public Agencies Whose Approval is Required .....................................................................19
4.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES.................................................................................................................19 5 MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM ....................................................................22 6 ATTACHMENTS TO THE FINAL EIR........................................................................................................43 City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 3 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose of the Final EIR
This Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) has been prepared to respond to comments received during the public review period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) prepared for the City of Porterville’s South of the Tule River (“SoTu”) Master Plan.
The Draft EIR is an informational document intended to disclose to the decision makers of the City of Porterville (“City”) and the public the environmental consequences of approving and implementing the SoTu Master Plan or one of the alternatives to the Project, which are described in the Draft EIR.
The Final EIR contains the public and agency comments received on the Draft EIR. The responses in the Final EIR clarify, correct, and/or amplify text in the Draft EIR. Also included in the Final EIR are minor text changes made at the initiative of the City (the Lead Agency) and in response to comments. The Final EIR was prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code 21000-21177).
1.2 CEQA Requirements
Under CEQA, the Lead Agency must prepare and certify a Final EIR prior to a proposed project being approved. The contents of a Final EIR are specified in CEQA Guidelines Section 15132, which states that a Final EIR must consist of the following:
1. The Draft EIR or a revision of the Draft EIR
2. Comments and recommendations received on the Draft EIR either verbatim or in summary
3. A list of persons, organizations, and public agencies commenting on the Draft EIR
4. The responses of the Lead Agency to significant environmental points raised in the review and consultation process
5. Any other information added by the Lead Agency
The Lead Agency must provide each agency that commented on the Draft EIR with a copy of the Lead Agency’s response to such comments a minimum of 10 days before certifying the Final EIR.
Consistent with CEQA Guidelines Section 15132, the Final EIR incorporates the following documents and information by reference:
• The Draft EIR and its appendices.
• The Notice of Preparation and Comments on the NOP.
• The Notice of Completion and Notice of Availability of the Draft EIR. • Any other information added by the Lead Agency.
1.3 Environmental Review Process
1.3.1 Notice of Preparation
In accordance with CEQA, the City released a Notice of Preparation (NOP) on March 20, 2024, for a review period that closed on April 19, 2024. The purpose of the NOP was to provide notification that an EIR for the proposed Project was being prepared and to solicit guidance on the scope and content of the document.
The City received three (3) comment letters during the NOP review period. NOP letters were received from:
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 4 • California Department of Conservation - Division of Land Resource Protection (April 12, 2024):
providing general comments and recommendations regarding mitigating agricultural land loss or conversion
• California Department of Transportation – Aeronautics Program (April 18, 2024): Providing general comments and recommendations regarding the portions of the Project site identified as being with the Tulare County Comprehensive Airport Land Use Plan (CALUP). • Native American Heritage Commission (March 21, 2024): Provided applicable tribal consultation guidelines and requirements associated with the Project.
1.3.2 Draft EIR
The Draft EIR was properly noticed and circulated for public review and comment for 45 days, from July 26, 2024, to September 9, 2024. The Notice of Availability was published on July 26, 2024. The Draft EIR and appendices were sent to the State Clearinghouse for distribution. Copies of the Draft EIR were made available on the City’s website and at City Hall. The webpage is located at, www.ci.porterville.ca.us/departments/community_development/planning.php.
All written comments received during the 45-day public review period (July 26, 2024 to September 9, 2024) of the Draft EIR are addressed in this Final EIR. The City received four (4) comment letters. Copies of comments received are included in Chapter 3 of this Final EIR, with responses shown after each letter. The full letters are provided in the Appendix. The comments and responses that make up the Final EIR, in combination with the Draft EIR constitute the EIR that will be considered for certification by the decision makers of the City of Porterville.
1.4 Use of the Final EIR
The Final EIR allows the public and the City an opportunity to review revisions to the Draft EIR and the responses to comments received during the Draft EIRs public review period. The Final EIR serves as the environmental document to inform the City of the environmental consequences of the proposed project, either in whole or in part, or one of the alternatives to the project discussed in the Draft EIR.
As required by CEQA Guidelines Sections 15090(a)(1)-(3), a Lead Agency, in certifying a Final EIR, must make the following three determinations:
1. The Final EIR has been completed in compliance with CEQA.
2. The Final EIR was presented to the decision-making body of the Lead Agency, and the decisionmaking body reviewed and considered the information in the Final EIR prior to approving the project.
3. The Final EIR reflects the Lead Agency’s independent judgement and analysis.
As required by CEQA Guidelines Section 15091, a public agency cannot approve or carry out a project for which an EIR has been certified that identifies one or more significant environmental effects of the project unless the public agency makes one or more written findings (Findings of Fact) for each of those significant effects, accompanied by a brief explanation of the rationale to reach findings supported by substantial evidence in the record. The possible findings are as follows:
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 5
1. Changes or alterations have been required in or incorporated into the project that avoid or substantially lessen the significant environmental effect as identified in the Final EIR.
2. Such changes or alterations are within the responsibility and jurisdiction of another public agency and not the agency making the finding. Such changes have been adopted by such other agency or can and should be adopted by such other agency.
3. Specific economic, legal, social, technological, or other considerations, including provision of employment opportunities for highly trained workers, make infeasible the mitigation measures or project alternatives identified in the Final EIR.
Additionally, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15093(b), when a Lead Agency approves a project that would result in significant unavoidable impacts that are disclosed in the Final EIR, the agency must state in writing the reasons supporting the approval. The Statement of Overriding Considerations must be supported by substantial evidence in the Lead Agency’s administrative record.
If the City approves the project, and as part of that action adopts mitigation measures, the City will also adopt a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (see Public Resources Code Section 21081.6).
1.5 Organization of Document
The Final EIR contains the following chapters:
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Draft EIR Commenters
• Chapter 3: Comments and Responses
• Chapter 4: Draft EIR Text Revisions
• Chapter 5: Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program • Chapter 6: Attachments to the Final EIR
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 6 2 DRAFT EIR COMMENTERS
2.1 Organization of Comment Letters and Responses
A response to comments received during the 45-day public review period on the Draft EIR is contained in Chapter 3. Comment letters are provided in the Appendix. Comments are organized in alphabetical order and numbered consecutively and hyphenated (e.g., 1-, 2-, 3-), with each individual comment numbered consecutively after the hyphen (e.g., 1-1, 1-2).
2.2 List of Commenters
The list of agencies, organizations, and interested parties that commented on the Draft EIR within the 45- day public review period are listed below.
No. Person, Firm, or Agency (A-Z) Letter Dated
1 California Department of Fish and Wildlife September 9, 2024 2 California Department of Toxic Substances Control August 9, 2024 3 California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics September 9, 2024 4 Central Valley Flood Protection Board September 9, 2024 City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 7 3 DRAFT EIR COMMENTS AND RESPONSES
In accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15088, the Final EIR contains written responses to comments on the environmental issues received during the public review period of the Draft EIR. The table on the following page includes all CEQA-related comments received on the Draft EIR and a response to each comment. The text of each comment has been provided in Table 1. The comment letters in their entirety are provided in the Appendix. Text revisions to the Draft EIR are summarized in Chapter 4.
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 8 Table 1. Draft EIR Comments and Responses
Letter/Comment No. Comment Response
1 - California Department of Fish and Wildlife
1-1 The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) received a focused DEIR from the City of Porterville for the above-referenced Plan pursuant the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and CEQA Guidelines.
This comment introduces the comment
letter and does not address the adequacy or
completeness of the Draft EIR, does not raise
environmental issues, and does not request
the incorporation or additional information
relevant to environmental issues. Further
response is not necessary.
1-2 Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments and recommendations regarding those activities involved in the Plan that may affect California fish and wildlife. Likewise, CDFW appreciates the opportunity to provide comments regarding those aspects of the Plan that CDFW, by law, may be required to carry out or approve through the exercise of its own regulatory authority under the Fish and Game Code.
This comment describes the review authority
of CDFW and does not address the adequacy
or completeness of the Draft EIR, does not
raise environmental issues, and does not
request the incorporation or additional
information relevant to environmental
issues. Further response is not necessary.
1-3 After reviewing the provided focused DEIR and associated Initial Study (IS), CDFW has determined that the survey recommendations and mitigation measures proposed are sufficient to identify and/or mitigate for impacts to fish and wildlife (biological) resources. As such, CDFW recommends that the biological resource survey and mitigation measures in the IS and Table 1-2 of the DEIR be included within the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Plan. Please note that changes to the Plan and/or Plan description and/or modification of the measures proposed in the focused DEIR may necessitate the need to include additional measures to identify and mitigate for potential impacts to biological resources.
This comment provides a determination by
CDFW that the survey recommendations and
mitigation measures are sufficient to identify
and/or mitigate impacts to biological
resources. In this comment, CDFW
recommends that the biological survey,
mitigation measures, and Table 1-2 of the
DEIR be included in the Final EIR, and
specifies that any changes to the Plan,
project description, or mitigation measures
may necessitate the need to include
additional measures. No changes have been
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 9 made to the Plan, project description, or
mitigation measures. The biological survey,
mitigation measures, and Table 1-2 of the
DEIR are included in the Final EIR.
1-4 CEQA requires that information developed in environmental impact reports and negative declarations be incorporated into a database, which may be used to make subsequent or supplemental environmental determinations (Pub. Resources Code, § 21003, subd. (e)). Accordingly, please report any special-status species and natural communities detected during surveys to the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). The CNNDB field survey form can be found at the following link:
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/CNDDB/Submitting-Data. The completed form can be mailed electronically to CNDDB at the following email address: [email protected]. The types of information reported to CNDDB can be found at the following link:
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/CNDDB/Plants-and-Animals.
This comment provides information related
to reporting requirements and requests that
any species detected during surveys are
reported accordingly. The Mitigation
Monitoring and Reporting Program contains
mitigation measures requiring protocol-level
surveys. However, to ensure that specialstatus species and natural communities that are detected through the surveys are
reported to the CNNDB, Mitigation Measure
BIO-1, BIO-2, BIO-3, and BIO-4 have been
edited to include the following statement,
“Any special-status species and natural
communities detected during surveys shall
be reported to the California Natural
Diversity Database (CNDBB) using the field
survey form or mailed electronically.”
Compliance with these mitigation measures
will be verified by the City. This revision does
not constitute a substantial revision. No new,
avoidable significant effect is identified, and
no mitigation measures or project revisions
are added to reduce the effect to
insignificance.
1-5 If it is determined that the Plan has the potential to impact biological resources, an assessment of filing fees is necessary. Fees are payable This comment provides information related
to the filing fee requirement. This
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 10 upon filing of the Notice of Determination by the Lead Agency and serve to help defray the cost of environmental review by CDFW. Payment of the fee is required in order for the underlying project approval to be operative, vested, and final (Cal. Code Regs, tit. 14, § 753.5; Fish & G.
Code, § 711.4; Pub. Resources Code, § 21089).
requirement will be met by the Lead Agency.
This comment does not address the
adequacy or completeness of the Draft EIR,
does not raise environmental issues, and
does not request the incorporation of
additional information relevant to
environmental issues.
1-6 CDFW appreciates the opportunity to comment on the DEIR to assist the City of Porterville in identifying and mitigating Plan impacts on biological resources. More information on survey and monitoring protocols for sensitive species can be found at CDFW’s website
(https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Survey-Protocols). If you have any questions regarding this letter or need further coordination, please contact Marile Colindres, Environmental Scientist, at the address provided on this letterhead, by telephone at (559) 974-3452, or by electronic mail at [email protected].
This comment provides a closing to the
comment letter and describes where more
information can be found. This comment
does not address the adequacy or
completeness of the Draft EIR, does not raise
environmental issues, and does not request
the incorporation of additional information
relevant to environmental issues. Further
response is not necessary.
2 - California Department of Toxic Substances Control
2-1 The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) received a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the South of Tule River Master Plan (SoTu MP). The proposed SoTu MP and the associated entitlements, including General Plan Amendment (GPA) No. 2024001, and Prezone/Rezone (RZ) No. 2024001, and Master Plan No. 202401, is filed by the City of Porterville (Applicant) and pertains to 19 parcels that are located directly southwest of the city limits of the City of Porterville. The SoTu MP site is bound to the north by the Tule River, to the south by State Route 190, to the east by State Route 65, and to the west by Westwood Street The site totals approximately 447.30 gross acres. GPA No. 2024001 requests amendment of the existing land use designations to the mix of 10 different land uses proposed in the SoTu MP. RZ No. 2024001 requests a rezone from the existing zoning districts to zoning districts that are This comment introduces the comment
letter and provides a project description. This
comment does not address the adequacy or
completeness of the Draft EIR, does not raise
environmental issues, and does not request
the incorporation or additional information
relevant to environmental issues. Further
response is not necessary.
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 11 consistent with the proposed land use designation. No physical development is proposed.
2-2 DTSC recommends and requests consideration of the following comments:
When agricultural crops and/or land uses are proposed or rezoned for residential use, a number of contaminants of concern (COCs) can be present. The Lead Agency shall identify the amounts of Pesticides and Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) historically used on the property. If present, OCPs requiring further analysis are
dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, toxaphene, and dieldrin. Additionally, any level of arsenic present would require further analysis and sampling and must meet HHRA NOTE NUMBER 3, DTSC SLs approved thresholds.
If they are not, remedial action must take place to mitigate them below those thresholds.
This comment provides a request to the City
of Porterville to consider the presence of
contaminants of concern for agricultural
crops and/or land uses, when residential
uses are proposed. The Porterville General
Plan includes an implementing policy (Policy
PHS-I-23) that requires applicants to perform
comprehensive soil and groundwater
contamination assessments in accordance
with regulatory agency testing standards and
if contamination exceeds regulatory action
levels, project applicants are required to take
remediation procedures under the
supervision of appropriate agencies
including DTSC. This policy is included in the
IS. Because this issue is addressed at the
policy level in the General Plan, which future
projects are required to comply with,
revisions to the Draft EIR and ISMND are not
necessary.
2-3 Additional COCs may be found in mixing/loading/storage areas, drainage ditches, farmhouses, or any other outbuildings and should be sampled and analyzed. If smudge pots had been routinely utilized, additional sampling for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and/or Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons maybe required.
This comment provides a request to the City
of Porterville to consider the presence of
additional contaminants of concern for
specific areas. The Porterville General Plan
includes an implementing policy (Policy PHSI-23) that requires applicants to perform comprehensive soil and groundwater
contamination assessments in accordance
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 12 with regulatory agency testing standards and
if contamination exceeds regulatory action
levels, project applicants are required to take
remediation procedures under the
supervision of appropriate agencies
including DTSC. This policy is included in the
IS. Because this issue is addressed at the
policy level in the General Plan, which future
projects are required to comply with,
revisions to the Draft EIR and IS are not
necessary.
2-4 DTSC recommends that all imported soil and fill material should be tested to assess any contaminants of concern meet screening levels as outlined in DTSC's Preliminary Endangerment Assessment (PEA) Guidance Manual. Additionally, DTSC advises referencing the DTSC Information Advisory Clean Imported Fill Material Fact Sheet if importing fill is necessary. To minimize the possibility of introducing contaminated soil and fill material there should be documentation of the origins of the soil or fill material and, if applicable, sampling be conducted to ensure that the imported soil and fill material are suitable for the intended land use.
The soil sampling should include analysis based on the source of the fill and knowledge of the prior land use. Additional information can be found by visiting DTSC’s Human and Ecological Risk Office (HERO) webpage.
This comment provides a recommendation
that imported soil and fill material be tested
to assess contaminants of concern in
accordance with DTSC’s guidance materials.
The SoTu Master Plan includes a
development requirement conditioned
during planning entitlements that
implements Policy PHS-I-23 and requires
applicants to verify through documentation
that the fill source is appropriate and/or has
been analyzed for potential contaminants of
concern in accordance with DTSC’s PEA
Guidance Manual. Because this issue is
addressed at the policy level in the Master
Plan, which future projects are required to
comply with, further revisions to the Draft
EIR and ISMND are not necessary.
2-5 DTSC appreciates the opportunity to comment on the DIER for the South of Tule River Master Plan. Thank you for your assistance in protecting This comment provides a closing to the
comment letter and describes where more
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 13 California’s people and environment from the harmful effects of toxic substances. If you have any questions or would like clarification on DTSC’s comments, please respond to this letter or via email for additional guidance.
information can be found. This comment
does not address the adequacy or
completeness of the Draft EIR, does not raise
environmental issues, and does not request
the incorporation of additional information
relevant to environmental issues. Further
response is not necessary.
3 - California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics 3-1 The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Division of Aeronautics (Division), has reviewed the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the South of Tule River Master Plan (Project). The Division of Aeronautics collaborates with cities, counties, and Airport Land Use Commissions (ALUC) to ensure compliance with the State Aeronautics Act (California Public Utilities Code Section 21001 et seq.). We appreciate the opportunity to participate in the EIR review process.
This comment introduces the comment
letter and the authority of the Division of
Aeronautics and does not address the
adequacy or completeness of the Draft EIR,
does not raise environmental issues, and
does not request the incorporation or
additional information relevant to
environmental issues. Further response is
not necessary.
3-2 The City of Porterville is proposing a master plan, titled the South of Tule River (SoTu) Master Plan, on approximately 447.30 acres adjacent to City limits to facilitate future growth. The Porterville Municipal Airport is located approximately 1.1 miles south of the Project site.
This comment introduces the project, project
area, and location of the Porterville
Municipal Airport. This comment does not
address the adequacy or completeness of
the Draft EIR, does not raise environmental
issues, and does not request the
incorporation or additional information
relevant to environmental issues. Further
response is not necessary.
3-3 The Project site lies entirely within the Airport Influence Area of the Porterville Municipal Airport, with a portion of the southwest corner of the Project site located within Safety Zone 6 (Traffic Pattern Zone).
Therefore, it must adhere to the safety criteria and restrictions outlined This comment explains where the Project
site is in relation to the Airport Influence Area
of the Porterville Municipal Airport and the
applicable requirements and authority of the
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 14 in the 2012 Tulare County Comprehensive Airport Land Use Plan (ALUCP), adopted by the ALUC pursuant to the PUC, Section 21674. The ALUCP is crucial for minimizing noise nuisance and safety hazards around airports while promoting orderly development. The ALUC is responsible for assessing potential risks to aircraft, airspace users, and people on the ground near the airport.
Tulare County Comprehensive Airport Land
Use Plan. This comment does not address
the adequacy or completeness of the Draft
EIR, does not raise environmental issues, and
does not request the incorporation or
additional information relevant to
environmental issues. Further response is
not necessary.
3-4 In accordance with PUC Section 21676 et seq., prior to the amendment of a general plan or specific plan, or the adoption or approval of a zoning ordinance or building regulation within the planning boundary established by the ALUC, the local agency shall first refer the proposed action to the ALUC.
This comment explains the requirements for
referral of a project to the ALUC. Through the
process of developing the Master Plan,
Tulare County and the ALUC have been
consulted with to ensure consistency and
compliance with the 2012 Tulare County
Comprehensive Airport Land Use Plan. The
Master Plan has been deemed consistent
with the Plan. Therefore, revisions and
further response are not necessary.
3-5 Compatibility concerns regarding airport obstructions and hazards to flight (such as wildlife attractants, lighting, or glare i.e., solar, etc.) should also be considered for further review upon site specific updates or projects. Proposed structures that exceed FAA Regulations Part 77 height criteria are subject to an Obstruction Evaluation/Airspace Analysis for determination. Please refer to the FAA website
(https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/portal.jsp) for further information or a copy of the form.
This comment explains compatibility
concerns with FAA height regulations. The
Master Plan does not propose or approve
development. Future development
proposed within the AIA would be required
to be reviewed for consistency with the
Tulare County Comprehensive Airport Land
Use Plan criteria, such as FAA Regulations
Part 77. Therefore, revisions and further
response are not necessary.
3-6 Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment. If you have any questions, please contact me by email at [email protected].
This comment provides a close to the
comment letter. This comment does not
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 15 address the adequacy or completeness of
the Draft EIR, does not raise environmental
issues, and does not request the
incorporation of additional information
relevant to environmental issues. Further
response is not necessary.
4 – Central Valley Flood Protection Board
4-1 The Central Valley Flood Protection Board (Board) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the proposed South of Tule River Master Plan (proposed project).
This comment introduces the comment
letter and does not address the adequacy or
completeness of the Draft EIR, does not raise
environmental issues, and does not request
the incorporation or additional information
relevant to environmental issues. Further
response is not necessary.
The proposed project area, referred to as SoTu Master Plan Area in the DEIR, encompasses a portion of the Tule River, a regulated stream and designated floodway that is within the Board’s permitting authority. Thus, an encroachment permit may be required for individual projects within or adjacent to the Tule River and Tule River designated floodway.
This comment introduces the project area
and regulatory authority of the CVFPC
related to an encroachment permit. This
comment does not address the adequacy or
completeness of the Draft EIR, does not raise
environmental issues, and does not request
the incorporation or additional information
relevant to environmental issues. Further
response is not necessary.
Section 2.11 of the Draft EIR lists potential approvals from other agencies for future redevelopment of the project site. Board staff recommend including an encroachment permit from the Board in this list. Board permit information is available on the Permitting at the Central Valley Flood Protection Board website.
This comment recommends that Section
2.11 of the Draft EIR be modified to include
an encroachment permit from the CVFPC.
Through the Final EIR, revisions have been
made to the Draft EIR to include an
encroachment permit in Section 2.11.
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 16 California Code of Regulations, Title 23 provides standards that govern the design and construction of projects that affect the flood control works and floodways. Board staff recommends that you review Title 23 Standards, including Sections 112 (Streams Regulated and Nonpermissible Work Periods), 116 (Borrow and Excavation Activities – Land and Channel), 121 (Erosion Control), 122 (Irrigation and Drainage Ditches, Tile Drains, and Septic Systems), 123 (Pipelines, Conduits, and Utility Lines), 124 (Abandoned Pipelines and Conduits), 128 (Bridges), 129 (Water, Oil, and Gas Wells), 131 (Vegetation), and 132 (Bicycle Trails).
Any deviation or variation from these standards will require approval from the Board.
This comment describes board approval of
encroachment permits per the California
Code of Regulations and recommends that
the Lead Agency review these standards. This
comment does not address the adequacy or
completeness of the Draft EIR, does not raise
environmental issues, and does not request
the incorporation or additional information
relevant to environmental issues. Further
response is not necessary.
The Board is the State’s regulatory agency responsible for enforcing appropriate standards for the construction, maintenance, and operation of the flood control system that protects life, property, and habitat in California’s Central Valley. The Board serves as the State coordinator between local flood management agencies and the federal government, with the goal of providing the highest level of flood protection possible to California’s Central Valley. The Board operates under authorities as described in California Water Code (Water Code), which requires the Board to oversee future modifications or additions to facilities of the State Plan of Flood Control (SPFC).
This comment describes the responsibility of
the CVFPC. This comment does not address
the adequacy or completeness of the Draft
EIR, does not raise environmental issues, and
does not request the incorporation or
additional information relevant to
environmental issues. Further response is
not necessary.
Per California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Waters, Division 1 (Title 23), Section 6, approval by the Board is required for all proposed work or uses, including the alteration of levees within any area for which there is an Adopted Plan of Flood Control within the Board’s jurisdiction. In addition, Board approval is required for all proposed encroachments within a floodway, on adjacent levees, and within any Regulated Stream identified in Title 23, Table 8.1. Specifically, Board jurisdiction includes the levee section, the waterward area between project levees, a minimum 10-footwide strip adjacent to the landward levee toe, the area within 30 feet This comment describes the responsibility of
the CVFPC as it relates to encroachment
permits. This comment does not address the
adequacy or completeness of the Draft EIR,
does not raise environmental issues, and
does not request the incorporation or
additional information relevant to
environmental issues. Further response is
not necessary.
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 17 from the top of bank(s) of Regulated Streams, and inside Board’s Designated Floodways. Activities outside of these limits which could adversely affect Federal-State flood control facilities, as determined by Board staff, are also under the Board’s jurisdiction. Permits may also be required for existing unpermitted encroachments or where it is necessary to establish the conditions normally imposed by permitting, including where responsibility for the encroachment has not been clearly established or ownership or uses have been changed.
Pursuant to Section 15 of Title 23, the Board may deny an encroachment permit if the proposed project could:
• Jeopardize directly or indirectly the physical integrity of levees or other works
• Obstruct, divert, redirect, or raise the surface level of design floods or flows, or the lesser flows for which protection is provided • Cause significant adverse changes in water velocity or flow regimen • Impair the inspection of floodways or project works
• Interfere with the maintenance of floodways or project works • Interfere with the ability to engage in flood fighting, patrolling, or other flood emergency activities
• Increase the damaging effects of flood flows
• Be injurious to, or interfere with, the successful execution, functioning, or operation of any adopted plan of flood control
• Adversely affect the State Plan of Flood Control, as defined in the California Water Code
This comment describes the reasons for
board denial of encroachment permits. This
comment does not address the adequacy or
completeness of the Draft EIR, does not raise
environmental issues, and does not request
the incorporation or additional information
relevant to environmental issues. Further
response is not necessary.
The potential risks to public safety, including increased flood risks, need to be considered when developing proposed projects that seek to modify flood control works or the hydrology of the water ways. Board staff is available to discuss any questions you have regarding the above comments. Please contact Jordan Robbins at (916) 524-3454, or via email at [email protected] if you have any questions.
This comment provides a closing to the
comment letter and describes where more
information can be found. This comment
does not address the adequacy or
completeness of the Draft EIR, does not raise
environmental issues, and does not request
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 18 the incorporation of additional information
relevant to environmental issues. Further
response is not necessary.
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 19 4 FEIR REVISIONS TO THE DEIR
The following revisions to the IS and Draft EIR are made because of comments and/or responses to those comments as identified in Chapter 2 of the Final EIR. Added text is indicated with underlined text. The revisions clarify, amplify, or make minor modifications. No significant changes have been made to the information contained in the IS and Draft EIR as a result of the comments received, and no significant new information has been added that would require recirculation of the Draft EIR pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15088.5. These revisions do not result in a greater number of impacts or impacts of a greater severity than those set forth in the Draft EIR, nor do the revisions constitute significant new information requiring recirculation.
2.11 Other Public Agencies Whose Approval is Required
The Project would require approval by the City of Porterville City Council, including approval of a Conditional Use Permit, General Plan Amendment, and Rezone/Pre-zone. No permits would be required from other agencies for approval of the Project. However, future redevelopment of the Project site would require annexation by Tulare County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo), as well as review, permits, and/or approvals, such as grading, building, encroachment, and sign permits, and flood control works and floodway related permits such as an encroachment permit from the Central Valley Flood Protection Board.
Other approvals may be required as identified through the entitlement review and approval process. In addition, other agencies may have the authority to issues permits prior to implementation including but not limited to:
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW) • California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Fresno Region 5 (RWQCB) • Porterville Unified School District
• San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
• Army Corps of Engineers
• Tulare County LAFCo
• Central Valley Flood Protection Board
4.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Mitigation Measure BIO-1: Special-Status Species Surveys and Avoidance. The Project shall implement the following measures to avoid and minimize for impacts on special-status species due to construction activities.
• Pre-Construction Surveys. The Project shall conduct parcel species biological evaluation(s) to determine the project-specific impacts. The evaluation(s) may require foot surveys and detailed habitat mapping, wetland delineation, special status plant survey(s), and protocol-level surveys for species of concern, including American badger, Northern California legless lizard, Vernal pool fairy shrimp, and San Joaquin adobe sunburst. Any special-status species and natural communities detected during surveys shall be reported to the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDBB) using the field survey form or mailed electronically.
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 20 • Environmental Awareness Training. A qualified biologist shall conduct tailgate meeting to train construction staff on special status species that occur/may occur on the project site. • Biological Monitoring During Construction: In case of the accidental death or injury of a specialstatus species during construction-related activities, USFWS and CDFW will be contacted immediately by phone and notified in writing within three working days.
Mitigation Measure BIO-2: Nesting Bird Surveys and Avoidance. The Project shall implement the following measures to mitigate for loss of nesting habitat of the Project in compliance with the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and relevant Fish and Game Codes:
• Avoidance. In order to avoid impacts to nesting raptors and migratory birds, the Project will be constructed, if feasible, from September 16th and January 31st, which is outside the avian nesting season.
• Preconstruction Surveys. If Project activities must occur during the nesting season (February 1- September 15), a qualified biologist will conduct preconstruction surveys for active raptor and migratory bird nests within 10 days prior to the start of these activities. The qualified biologist will conduct pre-construction surveys per the Recommended Timing and Methodology for Swainson’s Hawk Nesting Surveys in California’s Central Valley (2000). The survey will include the proposed work area(s) and surrounding lands within 500 feet, where accessible, for all nesting raptors and migratory birds. If no active nests are found within the survey area, no further mitigation is required.
Any special-status species and natural communities detected during surveys shall be reported to the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDBB) using the field survey form or mailed electronically.
• Establish Buffers. Should any active nests be discovered near proposed work areas, no disturbance buffers of 250 feet around active nests of non-listed bird species and 500 feet around active nests of non-listed raptors will be established. If work needs to occur within these no disturbance buffers, a qualified biologist will monitor the nest daily for one week, and thereafter once a week, throughout the duration of construction activity. Should the nature of construction activity significantly change, such that a higher level of disturbance will be generated, monitoring will occur daily for one week and then resume the once-a-week regime. If, at any time, the biologist determines that construction activity may be compromising nesting success, construction activity within the designated buffer will be altered or suspended until the biologist determines that the nest site is no longer susceptible to deleterious disturbance.
Mitigation Measure BIO-3: Swainson’s Hawk Surveys and Avoidance. If Project activities must occur during the Swainson’s hawk nesting season (February 15 to August 31), pre-construction surveys shall be conducted for Swainson’s hawk nests in accordance with the Recommended Timing and Methodology for Swainson’s Hawk Nesting Surveys in California’s Central Valley, Swainson’s Hawk Technical Advisory Committee (CDFG, 2000). The surveys would be conducted on the Project site plus a 0.5-mile buffer. To meet the minimum level of protection for the species, surveys shall be conducted during at least two survey periods.
1. If no Swainson’s hawk nests are found, no further action is required.
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 21
2. If an active Swainson’s hawk nest is discovered at any time within 0.5 miles of active construction, a qualified biologist shall complete an assessment of the potential for current construction activities to impact the nest. The assessment would consider the type of construction activities, the location of construction relative to the nest, the visibility of construction activities from the nest location, and other existing disturbances in the area that are not related to the construction activities of this Project. Based on this assessment, the biologist will determine if construction activities can proceed and the level of nest monitoring required. Construction activities shall not occur within 500 feet of an active nest, but this distance may be reduced depending upon conditions at the site. Full-time monitoring to evaluate the effects of construction activities on nesting Swainson’s hawks may be required. The qualified biologist shall have the authority to stop work if it is determined that Project construction is disturbing the nest. These buffers may need to increase depending on the sensitivity of the nesting Swainson’s hawk to disturbances and at the discretion of the qualified biologist. Any special-status species and natural communities detected during surveys shall be reported to the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDBB) using the field survey form or mailed electronically.
Mitigation Measure BIO-4: San Joaquin Kit Fox Surveys and Avoidance. Pre-construction surveys shall be conducted by a qualified biologist within 10 days prior to the start of any construction activities. Qualified biologist shall conduct pre-construction surveys in accordance with USFWS Standard Recommendations for Protection of the Endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox Prior to or During Ground Disturbance (2011).
1. If no active or potential den is detected in or adjacent to work area during the survey, no further action is required.
2. If active or potential den is detected in or adjacent to work area during the pre-construction survey, the den shall not be disturbed or destroyed. Compliance with USFWS Recommendations for Protection of the Endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox Prior to or During Ground Disturbance (2011) required. USFW and CDFW will be immediately contacted to determine best course of action.
Construction activities shall be carried out in a manner that minimizes disturbance to kit foxes.
3. In case of the accidental death or injury of a San Joaquin kit fox during construction-related activities, USFWS and CDFW will be contacted immediately by phone and notified in writing within three working days.
Any special-status species and natural communities detected during surveys shall be reported to the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDBB) using the field survey form or mailed electronically.
Note: the same revisions have been carried over into the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program contained in the ISand Table 1-2 of the Draft EIR, and the MMRP in this Final EIR.
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 22 5 MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM
CEQA Guidelines Section 15097 requires that a public agency adopts a monitoring program for mitigation measures that have been incorporated into the approved project to reduce or avoid significant effects on the environment. The purpose of the monitoring program is to ensure compliance with environmental mitigation during project implementation and operation. Since there are potentially significant impacts requiring mitigation associated with the project, a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program is included herein on the following pages.
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 23
SOUTH OF THE TULE RIVER MASTER PLAN
MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM
SEPTEMBER 2024
This mitigation measure monitoring and reporting checklist was prepared pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15097 and Section 21081.6 of the Public Resources Code (PRC). The timing of implementing each mitigation measure is identified in in the checklist, as well as identifies the entity responsible for verifying that the mitigation measures applied to a project are performed. Project applicants are responsible for providing evidence that mitigation measures are implemented. As lead agency, the City of Porterville is responsible for verifying that mitigation is performed/completed.
Mitigation Measures
Method of
Verification
Timing of
Verification
Responsible for
Verification
Verification of Completion
Date Initials
Air Quality
Mitigation Measure AIR-2a: The following measure shall be applied to all development under the proposed Master Plan to reduce emissions from construction.
Prior to the issuance of a grading permit for the proposed project, the project applicant, project sponsor, or construction contractor shall provide reasonably detailed compliance with the following requirements to the City of Porterville Planning Department:
• Where portable diesel engines are used during
construction, all off-road equipment with engines
greater than 75 horsepower shall have engines that
meet either EPA or ARB Tier 4 Final off-road emission
standards except as otherwise specified herein. If
engines that comply with Tier 4 Final off-road emission standards are not commercially available, then the
construction contractor shall use the next cleanest
piece of off-road equipment (e.g., Tier 4 Interim) that City of Porterville
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is commercially available. For purposes of this
mitigation measure, “commercially available” shall
mean the equipment at issue is available taking into
consideration factors such as (i) critical-path timing of construction; and (ii) geographic proximity to the
project site of equipment. If the relevant equipment is determined by the project applicant to not be
commercially available, the contractor can confirm
this conclusion by providing letters from at least two
rental companies for each piece of off-road
equipment that is at issue.
Mitigation Measure AIR-2b: Prior to issuance of building permits for non-single-family residential and mixed-use residential development projects in the proposed Master Plan planning area, the project applicant shall indicate on the building plans that the following features have been incorporated into the design of the building(s). Proper installation of these features shall be verified by the City of Porterville prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. • Electric vehicle charging shall be provided as specified in Section A4.106.8.2 (Residential Voluntary
Measures) of the California Green Building Standards
Code (CALGreen).
• Bicycle parking shall be provided as specified in
Section A4.106.9 (Residential Voluntary Measures) of
the CALGreen Code.
• Retrofit off-road diesel equipment with Verified Diesel Emissions Control Strategy (VDECS) like Diesel
Particulate Filters (DPF). Particulate Matter level 3
City of Porterville
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VDECS can provide at least an 85 percent reduction
(CARB 2015).
• Use alternatively fueled (e.g., natural gas) diesel
construction equipment, including all off-road and
portable diesel-powered equipment.
• Use electrically driven equipment that is not powered by a portable generator set.
• Limit the hours of operation for heavy-duty equipment and/or limit the quantity of heavy-duty equipment
operating at the same time.
Mitigation Measure AIR-2c: Prior to the issuance of building permits for nonresidential development projects in the
planning area, project applicants shall indicate on the building plans that the following features have been incorporated into the design of the building(s). Proper installation of these features shall be verified by the City of Porterville prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. • For buildings with more than 10 tenant -occupants,
changing/shower facilities shall be provided as
specified in Section A5.106.4.3 (Nonresidential
Voluntary Measures) of the California Green Building
Standards Code (CALGreen).
• Preferential parking for low-emitting, fuel-efficient, and carpool/van vehicles shall be provided as
specified in Section A5.106.5.1 (Nonresidential
Voluntary Measures) of the CALGreen Code.
• Facilities shall be installed to support future electric vehicle charging at each nonresidential building with
30 or more parking spaces. Installation shall be
City of Porterville
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consistent with Section A5.106.5.3 (Nonresidential
Voluntary Measures) of the CALGreen Code.
Mitigation Measure AIR-2d: The following measure shall be applied to all development under the proposed Master Plan during construction to facilitate the use of electric landscaping equipment during project operations: • Provide electrical outlets on the outside of buildings or in other accessible areas to facilitate the use of
electrically powered landscape equipment.
Mitigation Measure AIR-3a: Prior to future discretionary approval for proposed implementing development projects, the City of Porterville shall evaluate potential impacts from localized emissions of criteria pollutants. The project applicant, project sponsor, or construction contractor shall submit an analysis demonstrating that the project would not result in a localized impact from criteria pollutants that follows SJVAPCD guidance. Options for relevant analyses to fulfill this mitigation measure are provided below: • Provide a localized screening analysis demonstrating the project would not exceed 100 pounds per day of
any criteria pollutant.
• Provide an Ambient Air Quality Analysis (AAQA) for the proposed project. An AAQA uses air dispersion
modeling to determine if emission increases from a
project will cause or contribute to a violation of State or National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The
SJVAPCD recommends an AAQA be performed for the
City of Porterville
-South of Tule River Master Plan | 27
Project if emissions exceed 100 pounds per day of any
pollutant.
• Supporting documentation approved by the SJVAPCD
demonstrating that the proposed project would not
have the potential to result in a significant impact from localized criteria pollutant emissions.
Mitigation Measure AIR-3b: Prior to future discretionary approval for commercial or commercial mixed-use projects, the City of Porterville shall evaluate potential health risk impacts from new development proposals for any individual development projects within 1,000 feet of an existing or planned sensitive land use (e.g., residential, schools, day cares, hospitals, or nursing homes), as measured from the property line of the project to the property line of the nearest sensitive use. Such projects shall submit the following to the City of Porterville Planning Department: • A Health Risk Prioritization Screening Analysis or a Health Risk Assessment for the project’s potential to
expose sensitive receptors to elevated levels of Toxic
Air Contaminants during project construction and
operations prepared in accordance with SJVAPCD
guidance. If the Health Risk Assessment shows that
the incremental health risks exceed their respective
thresholds, as established by the SJVAPCD at the time
a project is considered, the project applicant shall be required to identify and incorporate commercially
feasible mitigation including appropriate enforcement
mechanisms to reduce risks to an acceptable level.
The City of Porterville shall submit each Health Risk
City of Porterville
-South of Tule River Master Plan | 28
Screening Analysis or Health Risk Assessment to the
SJVAPCD for review. Development projects that
exceed the applicable thresholds established by the
SJVAPCD shall implement mitigation sufficient to
reduce potential impacts to the extent feasible.
Mitigation Measure AIR-3c: To identify potential implementing development project-specific impacts resulting from the use of diesel trucks, proposed implementing development projects that include an excess of 10 dock doors for a single building, a minimum of 100 truck trips per day, 40 truck trips with Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs) per day, or TRU
operations exceeding 300 hours per week, and that are with 1,000 feet from existing or planned sensitive land uses; shall have a facility-specific Health Risk Assessment performed to assess the diesel particulate matter impacts from mobile source traffic generated by that implementing development project. If applicable, the results of the Health Risk Assessment shall be included in the CEQA documentation for each
implementing development project. Development projects
that exceed the applicable thresholds established by the SJVAPCD shall implement mitigation sufficient to reduce potential impacts to the extent feasible.
Biological Resources
Mitigation Measure BIO-1: Special-Status Species Surveys and Avoidance. The Project shall implement the following
measures to avoid and minimize for impacts on special-status species due to construction activities.
City of Porterville
-South of Tule River Master Plan | 29
• Pre-Construction Surveys. The Project shall conduct
parcel species biological evaluation(s) to determine
the project-specific impacts. The evaluation(s) may
require foot surveys and detailed habitat mapping,
wetland delineation, special status plant survey(s),
and protocol-level surveys for species of concern,
including American badger, Northern California legless
lizard, Vernal pool fairy shrimp, and San Joaquin adobe sunburst. Any special-status species and natural
communities detected during surveys shall be
reported to the California Natural Diversity Database
(CNDBB) using the field survey form or mailed
electronically.
• Environmental Awareness Training. A qualified
biologist shall conduct tailgate meeting to train
construction staff on special status species that
occur/may occur on the project site.
• Biological Monitoring During Construction: In case of the accidental death or injury of a special-status
species during construction-related activities, USFWS
and CDFW will be contacted immediately by phone
and notified in writing within three working days.
Mitigation Measure BIO-2: Nesting Bird Surveys and
Avoidance. The Project shall implement the following
measures to mitigate for loss of nesting habitat of the Project in compliance with the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and relevant Fish and Game Codes: • Avoidance. In order to avoid impacts to nesting raptors and migratory birds, the Project will be constructed, if City of Porterville
-South of Tule River Master Plan | 30
feasible, from September 16th and January 31st,
which is outside the avian nesting season.
• Preconstruction Surveys. If Project activities must
occur during the nesting season (February 1-
September 15), a qualified biologist will conduct
preconstruction surveys for active raptor and
migratory bird nests within 10 days prior to the start
of these activities. The qualified biologist will conduct pre-construction surveys per the Recommended
Timing and Methodology for Swainson’s Hawk Nesting
Surveys in California’s Central Valley (2000). The
survey will include the proposed work area(s) and
surrounding lands within 500 feet, where accessible,
for all nesting raptors and migratory birds. If no active nests are found within the survey area, no further
mitigation is required. Any special-status species and
natural communities detected during surveys shall be
reported to the California Natural Diversity Database
(CNDBB) using the field survey form or mailed
electronically.
• Establish Buffers. Should any active nests be
discovered near proposed work areas, no disturbance
buffers of 250 feet around active nests of non-listed
bird species and 500 feet around active nests of non-
listed raptors will be established. If work needs to
occur within these no disturbance buffers, a qualified
biologist will monitor the nest daily for one week, and thereafter once a week, throughout the duration of
construction activity. Should the nature of
construction activity significantly change, such that a City of Porterville
-South of Tule River Master Plan | 31
higher level of disturbance will be generated,
monitoring will occur daily for one week and then
resume the once-a-week regime. If, at any time, the
biologist determines that construction activity may be
compromising nesting success, construction activity
within the designated buffer will be altered or
suspended until the biologist determines that the nest
site is no longer susceptible to deleterious
disturbance.
Mitigation Measure BIO-3: Swainson’s Hawk Surveys and
Avoidance. If Project activities must occur during the
Swainson’s hawk nesting season (February 15 to August 31), pre-construction surveys shall be conducted for Swainson’s hawk nests in accordance with the Recommended Timing and Methodology for Swainson’s Hawk Nesting Surveys in
California’s Central Valley, Swainson’s Hawk Technical Advisory Committee (CDFG, 2000). The surveys would be conducted on the Project site plus a 0.5-mile buffer. To meet the minimum level of protection for the species, surveys shall be conducted during at least two survey periods.
1. If no Swainson’s hawk nests are found, no further
action is required.
2. If an active Swainson’s hawk nest is discovered at any time within 0.5 miles of active construction, a qualified biologist shall complete an assessment of the
potential for current construction activities to impact the nest. The assessment would consider the type of
construction activities, the location of construction
relative to the nest, the visibility of construction
City of Porterville
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activities from the nest location, and other existing
disturbances in the area that are not related to the
construction activities of this Project. Based on this
assessment, the biologist will determine if
construction activities can proceed and the level of
nest monitoring required. Construction activities shall not occur within 500 feet of an active nest, but this
distance may be reduced depending upon conditions
at the site. Full-time monitoring to evaluate the effects of construction activities on nesting Swainson’s hawks
may be required. The qualified biologist shall have the authority to stop work if it is determined that Project construction is disturbing the nest. These buffers may
need to increase depending on the sensitivity of the
nesting Swainson’s hawk to disturbances and at the
discretion of the qualified biologist.
Any special-status species and natural communities detected during surveys shall be reported to the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDBB) using the field survey form or mailed electronically.
Mitigation Measure BIO-4: San Joaquin Kit Fox Surveys and Avoidance. Pre-construction surveys shall be conducted by a qualified biologist within 10 days prior to the start of any construction activities. Qualified biologist shall conduct pre- construction surveys in accordance with USFWS Standard
Recommendations for Protection of the Endangered San
Joaquin Kit Fox Prior to or During Ground Disturbance (2011).
City of Porterville
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1. If no active or potential den is detected in or adjacent to work area during the survey, no further action is
required.
2. If active or potential den is detected in or adjacent to work area during the pre-construction survey, the den
shall not be disturbed or destroyed. Compliance with
USFWS Recommendations for Protection of the
Endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox Prior to or During
Ground Disturbance (2011) required. USFW and
CDFW will be immediately contacted to determine
best course of action. Construction activities shall be carried out in a manner that minimizes disturbance to
kit foxes.
3. In case of the accidental death or injury of a San
Joaquin kit fox during construction-related activities, USFWS and CDFW will be contacted immediately by
phone and notified in writing within three working
days.
Any special-status species and natural communities detected during surveys shall be reported to the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDBB) using the field survey form or mailed electronically.
Mitigation Measure BIO-5: Wetland Delineation. Prior to the start of ground disturbance activities on APN 256-040-044, the applicant shall consult with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and/or the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to conduct a formal Wetland
Delineation.
City of Porterville
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The NWI maps also show the area along the Tule River as freshwater forested shrub wetland and riverine wetland, which supports the river, adjacent wetlands, and riparian habitat. As discussed in criteria b), the Master Plan designates the riparian habitat area along the Tule River as Open Space land use to protect the riparian habitat from urban
development, tree preservation, clustered development, and establishes wildlife movement corridors through the Project Site. As such, the NWI-identified wetlands along Tule River would have a less than significant impact from future
development of the proposed Project.
Cultural Resources
Mitigation Measure CUL-1: Prior to permit approval for
development on sites with existing buildings and/or structures that are 45 years or older, a historical resources evaluation shall be completed for that individual site to confirm if the existing buildings and/or structures within these sites qualify as historical resources as defined by Section 15064.5(a) of CEQA Guidelines. The evaluation shall be prepared by a
qualified architectural historian or historian who meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards (PQS) in architectural history or history. The qualified architectural historian or historian shall conduct an intensive-level evaluation in accordance with the guidelines and best practices promulgated by the State Office of Historic Preservation to identify any potential historical resources within the proposed project area. All properties 45 years of age or older shall be evaluated within their historic context and documented in a report meeting the State Office of Historic City of Porterville
-South of Tule River Master Plan | 35
Preservation guidelines. All evaluated properties shall be documented on Department of Parks and Recreation Series 523 Forms. The report shall be submitted to the City for review and concurrence.
Any relocation, rehabilitation, or alteration of the resource shall be implemented consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatments of Historic Properties (Standards). In accordance with CEQA, a project that has been determined to conform with the Standards generally would not cause a significant adverse direct or indirect impact to historical resources (14 CCR Section 15126.4[b][1]).
Application of the Standards shall be overseen by a qualified architectural historian or historic architect meeting the PQS. In conjunction with any development application that may affect the historical resource, a report identifying and specifying the treatment of character-defining features and construction activities shall be provided to the City for review and concurrence, in addition to the historical resources evaluation.
If significant historical resources are identified on a development site and compliance with the Standards and or avoidance is not feasible, the applicant or developer shall provide a report explaining why compliance with the
Standards and or avoidance is not feasible for the city’s review and approval. Site-specific mitigation measures shall be established and undertaken, including, but not limited to, documentation of the historical resource in the form of a Historic American Buildings Survey-Like report. The report shall be commissioned by the project applicant or their consultant to comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s City of Porterville
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Standards for Architectural and Engineering Documentation and shall generally follow the Historic American Buildings Survey Level III requirements, including digital photographic recordation, detailed historic narrative report, and compilation of historic research. The documentation shall be completed by a qualified architectural historian or historian who meets the PQS and submitted to the City prior to issuance of any permits for demolition or alteration of the historical resource.
Mitigation Measure CUL-2: In order to avoid the potential for impacts to historic and prehistoric archaeological resources, the following measures shall be implemented, as necessary, in conjunction with the construction of each phase of the
Project:
a. Cultural Resources Alert on Project Plans. The project proponent shall note on any plans that require ground
disturbing excavation that there is a potential for exposing buried cultural resources.
b. Stop Work Near any Discovered Cultural Resources. Should previously unidentified cultural resources be discovered during construction of the project, the project proponent shall cease work within 50 feet of the resources, and City of Porterville shall be notified immediately. The project
archaeologist meeting the SOI’s PQS for archeology shall immediately to evaluate the find pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21083.2.
c. Mitigation for Discovered Cultural Resources. If the professional archaeologist determines that any cultural City of Porterville
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resources exposed during construction constitute a historical resource and/or unique archaeological resource, he/she shall notify the project proponent and other appropriate parties of the evaluation and recommended mitigation measures to
mitigate the impact to a less-than-significant level. If the archaeologist and, if applicable, a Native American monitor or other interested tribal representative determine it is
appropriate, cultural materials collected from the site shall be processed and analyzed in a laboratory according to standard archaeological procedures. The age of the materials shall be determined using radiocarbon dating and/or other
appropriate procedures; lithic artifacts, faunal remains, and other cultural materials shall be identified and analyzed according to current professional standards. The significance of the site(s) shall be evaluated according to the criteria of the CRHR and if applicable, NRHP. The results of the investigations shall be presented in a technical report following the standards of the California Office of Historic Preservation publication “Archaeological Resource Management Reports:
Recommended Content and Format (1990 or latest edition).” Mitigation measures may include avoidance, preservation in- place, recordation, additional archaeological testing and data recovery, among other options. Treatment of any significant cultural resources shall be undertaken with the approval of the City of Porterville. The archaeologist shall document the resources using DPR 523 forms and file said forms with the California Historical Resources Information System, Northwest Information Center (NWIC). The resources shall be photo documented and collected by the archaeologist for submittal to the City of Porterville. The archaeologist shall be required to City of Porterville
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submit to the City of Porterville for review and approval a report of the findings and method of curation or protection of the resources. This report shall be submitted to the NWIC after completion. Recommendations contained therein shall be
implemented throughout the remainder of ground
disturbance activities. Further grading or site work within the area of discovery shall not be allowed until the preceding steps have been taken.
d. Data Recovery. Should the results of item c. yield resources that meet CRHR significance standards and if the resource cannot be avoided by project construction, the project
applicant shall ensure that all feasible recommendations for mitigation of archaeological impacts are incorporated into the final design and approved by the City prior to construction. Any necessary data recovery excavation, conducted to exhaust the data potential of significant archaeological sites, shall be carried out by a qualified archaeologist meeting the SOI’s PQS for archeology. Data recovery shall be conducted in
accordance with a research design reviewed and approved by the City, prepared in advance of fieldwork, and using the appropriate archaeological field and laboratory methods consistent with the California Office of Historic Preservation Planning Bulletin 5, Guidelines for Archaeological Research Design, or the latest edition thereof. If the archaeological resource(s) of concern are Native American in origin, the qualified archaeologist shall confer with the City and local California Native American tribe(s). As applicable, the final Data Recovery reports shall be submitted to the City prior to issuance of any grading or construction permit.
City of Porterville
-South of Tule River Master Plan | 39
Recommendations contained therein shall be implemented
throughout all ground disturbance activities.
Recommendations may include, but would not be limited to, Cultural Resources Monitoring, and/or measures for
unanticipated discoveries. The final report shall be submitted to the NWIC upon completion.
e. Disposition of Cultural Resources. Upon coordination with the City of Porterville, any pre-historic archaeological artifacts recovered shall be donated to an appropriate Tribal custodian or a qualified scientific institution where they would be afforded applicable cultural resources laws and guidelines. f. Cultural Resources Monitoring. If mitigation measures are recommended by reports written under item c. or d., the project applicant shall retain a qualified archaeologist to monitor project-related, ground-disturbing activities which may include the following but not limited to: grubbing, vegetation removal, trenching, grading, and/or excavations.
The archaeological monitor shall coordinate with any Native American monitor as required. Monitoring logs must be
completed by the archaeologist daily. Cultural resources monitoring may be reduced for the project if the qualified archaeologist finds it appropriate to reduce the monitoring efforts. Upon completion of ground disturbance for the
project, a final report must be submitted to the City for review and approval documenting the monitoring efforts, cultural resources find, and resource disposition. The final report shall be submitted to the NWIC.
Geology and Soils
Mitigation Measure GEO-1: If any paleontological resources are encountered during ground-disturbance activities, all work within 25 feet of the find shall halt until a qualified City of Porterville
-South of Tule River Master Plan | 40
paleontologist as defined by the Society of Vertebrate
Paleontology Standard Procedures for the Assessment and Mitigation of Adverse Impacts to Paleontological Resources (2010), can evaluate the find and make recommendations
regarding treatment. Paleontological resource materials may include resources such as fossils, plant impressions, or animal tracks preserved in rock. The qualified paleontologist shall contact the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County or another appropriate facility regarding any discoveries of paleontological resources.
If the qualified paleontologist determines that the discovery represents a potentially significant paleontological resource, additional investigations, and fossil recovery may be required to mitigate adverse impacts from Project implementation. If avoidance is not feasible, the paleontological resources shall be evaluated for their significance. If the resources are not significant, avoidance is not necessary. If the resources are significant, they shall be avoided to ensure no adverse effects or such effects must be mitigated. Construction in that area shall not resume until the resource-appropriate measures are recommended or the materials are determined to be less than significant. If the resource is significant and fossil recovery is the identified form of treatment, then the fossil shall be deposited in an accredited and permanent scientific
institution. Copies of all correspondence and reports shall be submitted to the City of Kerman, Community Development
Department.
Mineral Resources
City of Porterville
-South of Tule River Master Plan | 41
Mitigation Measure MIN-1: If development is proposed within the Project site designated as MRZ-3a, a soils reports and investigation shall be prepared prior to the approval of building permits to ensure that availability of valuable aggregate deposit will not decrease.
Noise
Mitigation Measure NOI-1: Prior to project approval of
residential development within the SoTu Master Plan, the City of Porterville shall ensure that proposed residential structures are located at least 157 feet from the centerline of Westwood Street, 409 feet from the centerline of SR 190 (Poplar Avenue), 137 feet from the centerline of Newcomb Street, and 674 feet from SR 65. If the project does not provide the listed setback for residential structures, sound walls shall be proposed to ensure that exterior noise of the residential site would not exceed 60 dB Ldn. If the project proposes sound walls in place of setbacks from roadway centerlines, a noise study shall be conducted as evidence that the sound wall is sufficient to maintain an exterior noise of 60 dB Ldn or 70 dB Ldn.
Mitigation Measure NOI-2: Prior to ground disturbing activities for projects within the SoTu Master Plan, the City of Porterville shall ensure the following with the Project proponent: • Per the City of Porterville Municipal Code, construction activities should not occur outside the
hours of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. during weekdays and
7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends. Construction
activities that occur outside these hours would be
subject to the stationary noise standards as set forth
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 42 in the City of Porterville Municipal Code Section 18-
90.4. • All construction equipment shall be properly
maintained and muffled as to minimize noise
generation at the source.
• Noise-producing equipment shall not be operating,
running, or idling while not in immediate use by a
construction contractor.
• All noise-producing construction equipment shall be
located and operated, to the extent possible, at the
greatest possible distance from any noise-sensitive
land uses.
• Locate construction staging areas, to the extent
possible, at the greatest possible distances from any
noise-sensitive land uses.
• Signs shall be posted at the construction site and near adjacent sensitive receptors displaying hours of
construction activities and providing the contact
phone number of a designated noise disturbance
coordinator.
Tribal Cultural Resources
See Cultural Resources
City of Porterville-South of Tule River Master Plan | 43 6 ATTACHMENTS TO THE FINAL EIR
State of California – Natural Resources Agency GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CHARLTON H. BONHAM, Director Central Region
1234 East Shaw Avenue
Fresno, CA 93710
(559) 243 - 4005
www.wildlife.ca.gov
Conserving California’s Wildlife Since 1870
September 9, 2024
Claudia Calderon, Community Development Director
City of Porterville Community Development Department
291 N. Main Street
Porterville, California 93257
[email protected]
Subject: South of the Tule River Master Plan (Plan)
Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR)
State Clearinghouse No.: 2024030738
Dear Claudia Calderon:
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) received a focused DEIR from the City of Porterville for the above-referenced Plan pursuant the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and CEQA Guidelines.1
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments and recommendations regarding those activities involved in the Plan that may affect California fish and wildlife. Likewise, CDFW appreciates the opportunity to provide comments regarding those aspects of the Plan that CDFW, by law, may be required to carry out or approve through the exercise of its own regulatory authority under the Fish and Game Code.
After reviewing the provided focused DEIR and associated Initial Study (IS), CDFW has determined that the survey recommendations and mitigation measures proposed are sufficient to identify and/or mitigate for impacts to fish and wildlife (biological) resources.
As such, CDFW recommends that the biological resource survey and mitigation measures in the IS and Table 1-2 of the DEIR be included within the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Plan. Please note that changes to the Plan and/or Plan description and/or modification of the measures proposed in the focused DEIR may necessitate the need to include additional measures to identify and mitigate for potential impacts to biological resources.
1 CEQA is codified in the California Public Resources Code in section 21000 et seq. The “CEQA Guidelines” are found in Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, commencing with section 15000.
Docusign Envelope ID: 92A45A85-7E3B-4B5A-AC13-59D6BC0D2BBA Claudia Calderon, Community Development Director
City of Porterville Community Development Department
September 9, 2024
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
CEQA requires that information developed in environmental impact reports and negative declarations be incorporated into a database, which may be used to make subsequent or supplemental environmental determinations (Pub. Resources Code, § 21003, subd. (e)). Accordingly, please report any special-status species and natural communities detected during surveys to the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). The CNNDB field survey form can be found at the following link:
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/CNDDB/Submitting-Data. The completed form can be mailed electronically to CNDDB at the following email address:
[email protected]. The types of information reported to CNDDB can be found at the following link: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/CNDDB/Plants-and-Animals.
FILING FEES
If it is determined that the Plan has the potential to impact biological resources, an assessment of filing fees is necessary. Fees are payable upon filing of the Notice of Determination by the Lead Agency and serve to help defray the cost of environmental review by CDFW. Payment of the fee is required in order for the underlying project approval to be operative, vested, and final (Cal. Code Regs, tit. 14, § 753.5; Fish & G.
Code, § 711.4; Pub. Resources Code, § 21089).
CONCLUSION
CDFW appreciates the opportunity to comment on the DEIR to assist the City of Porterville in identifying and mitigating Plan impacts on biological resources.
More information on survey and monitoring protocols for sensitive species can be found at CDFW’s website (https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Survey-Protocols). If you have any questions regarding this letter or need further coordination, please contact Marile Colindres, Environmental Scientist, at the address provided on this letterhead, by telephone at (559) 974-3452, or by electronic mail at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Julie A. Vance
Regional Manager
ec: State Clearinghouse
Governor’s Office of Planning and Research
[email protected]
Docusign Envelope ID: 92A45A85-7E3B-4B5A-AC13-59D6BC0D2BBA
SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
August 09, 2024
Claudia Calderon
Acting Community Development Director
City of Porterville
291 N. Main Street
Porterville, CA 93257
[email protected]
RE: DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE SOUTH OF TULE RIVER MASTER PLAN DATED JULY 26, 2024, STATE CLEARINGHOUSE NUMBER 2024030738
Dear Claudia Calderon,
The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) received a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the South of Tule River Master Plan (SoTu MP). The proposed SoTu MP and the associated entitlements, including General Plan Amendment (GPA) No. 2024001, and Prezone/Rezone (RZ) No. 2024001, and Master Plan No. 202401, is filed by the City of Porterville (Applicant) and pertains to 19 parcels that are located directly southwest of the city limits of the City of Porterville. The SoTu MP site is bound to the north by the Tule River, to the south by State Route 190, to the east by State Route 65, and to the west by Westwood Street The site totals approximately 447.30 gross acres. GPA No. 2024001 requests amendment of the existing land use designations to the mix of 10 different land uses proposed in the SoTu MP. RZ No. 2024001 requests a rezone from the existing zoning districts to zoning districts that are Claudia Calderon
August 09, 2024
consistent with the proposed land use designation. No physical development is proposed.
DTSC recommends and requests consideration of the following comments:
1. When agricultural crops and/or land uses are proposed or rezoned for residential use, a number of contaminants of concern (COCs) can be present.
The Lead Agency shall identify the amounts of Pesticides and Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) historically used on the property. If present, OCPs requiring further analysis are dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, toxaphene, and dieldrin. Additionally, any level of arsenic present would require further analysis and sampling and must meet HHRA NOTE NUMBER 3, DTSCSLs approved thresholds. If they are not, remedial action must take place to mitigate them below those thresholds.
2. Additional COCs may be found in mixing/loading/storage areas, drainage ditches, farmhouses, or any other outbuildings and should be sampled and analyzed. If smudge pots had been routinely utilized, additional sampling for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and/or Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons may be required
3. DTSC recommends that all imported soil and fill material should be tested to assess any contaminants of concern meet screening levels as outlined in DTSC's Preliminary Endangerment Assessment (PEA) Guidance Manual.
Additionally, DTSC advises referencing the DTSC Information Advisory Clean Imported Fill Material Fact Sheet if importing fill is necessary. To minimize the possibility of introducing contaminated soil and fill material there should be documentation of the origins of the soil or fill material and, if applicable, sampling be conducted to ensure that the imported soil and fill material are suitable for the intended land use. The soil sampling should include analysis based on the source of the fill and knowledge of the prior land use. Additional information can be found by visiting DTSC’s Human and Ecological Risk Office (HERO) webpage.
Claudia Calderon
August 09, 2024
DTSC appreciates the opportunity to comment on the DIER for the South of Tule River Master Plan. Thank you for your assistance in protecting California’s people and environment from the harmful effects of toxic substances. If you have any questions or would like clarification on DTSC’s comments, please respond to this letter or via email for additional guidance.
Sincerely,
Tamara Purvis
Associate Environmental Planner
HWMP Permitting Division – CEQA Unit
Department of Toxic Substances Control
[email protected]
cc: (via email)
Governor’s Office of Planning and
Research State Clearinghouse
[email protected]
Dave Kereazis
Associate Environmental Planner
HWMPPermitting Division – CEQA Unit
Department of Toxic Substances Control
[email protected]
Scott Wiley
Associate Governmental Program Analyst
HWMP Permitting Division – CEQA Unit
Department of Toxic Substances Control
[email protected]
“Provide a safe and reliable transportation network that serves all people and respects the environment” DIVISION OF AERONAUTICS - M.S. #40
1120 N STREET
P. O. BOX 942874
SACRAMENTO, CA 94274-0001
PHONE (916) 654-4959
FAX (916) 653-9531
TTY 711
www.dot.ca.gov
September 9, 2024
Claudia Calderon Electronically Sent <[email protected]> Acting Community Development Director
City of Porterville
291 N. Main Street
Porterville, CA 93257
Re: SCH #2024030738 - South of Tule River Master Plan
Dear Ms. Calderon:
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Division of Aeronautics (Division), has reviewed the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the South of Tule River Master Plan (Project). The Division of Aeronautics collaborates with cities, counties, and Airport Land Use Commissions (ALUC) to ensure compliance with the State Aeronautics Act (California Public Utilities Code Section 21001 et seq.). We appreciate the opportunity to participate in the EIR review process.
The City of Porterville is proposing a master plan, titled the South of Tule River (SoTu) Master Plan, on approximately 447.30 acres adjacent to City limits to facilitate future growth. The Porterville Municipal Airport is located approximately 1.1 miles south of the Project site.
The Project site lies entirely within the Airport Influence Area of the Porterville Municipal Airport, with a portion of the southwest corner of the Project site located within Safety Zone 6 (Traffic Pattern Zone). Therefore, it must adhere to the safety criteria and restrictions outlined in the 2012 Tulare County Comprehensive Airport Land Use Plan (ALUCP), adopted by the ALUC pursuant to the PUC, Section 21674. The ALUCP is crucial for minimizing noise nuisance and safety hazards around airports while promoting orderly development. The ALUC is responsible for assessing potential risks to aircraft, airspace users, and people on the ground near the airport.
In accordance with PUC Section 21676 et seq., prior to the amendment of a general plan or specific plan, or the adoption or approval of a zoning ordinance or building regulation within the planning boundary established by the ALUC, the local agency shall first refer the proposed action to the ALUC.
Ms. Claudia Calderon, Acting Community Development Director September 9, 2024
“Provide a safe and reliable transportation network that serves all people and respects the environment” Compatibility concerns regarding airport obstructions and hazards to flight (such as wildlife attractants, lighting, or glare i.e., solar, etc.) should also be considered for further review upon site specific updates or projects. Proposed structures that exceed FAA Regulations Part 77 height criteria are subject to an Obstruction Evaluation/Airspace Analysis for determination.
Please refer to the FAA website (https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/portal.jsp) for further information or a copy of the form.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment. If you have any questions, please contact me by email at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Tiffany Martinez
Associate Transportation Planner
Division of Aeronautics
c: State Clearing House <[email protected]>, Matthew Friedman, Chief Office of Aviation Planning, <[email protected]>, Nirupama Stalin, Senior Transportation Planner <[email protected]> STATE OF CALIFORNIA – CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY GAVIN NEWSOM, GOVERNOR
CENTRAL VALLEY FLOOD PROTECTION BOARD
3310 El Camino Ave., Ste. 170
SACRAMENTO, CA 95821
(916) 574-0609
September 9, 2024
Claudia Calderon
Acting Community Development Director
City of Porterville
291 N. Main Street
Porterville, CA 93257
[email protected]
Subject: Comments for the Draft Environmental Impact Report, South of Tule River Master Plan, SCH# 2024030738, Tulare County
Dear Claudia Calderon,
The Central Valley Flood Protection Board (Board) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the proposed South of Tule River Master Plan (proposed project).
The proposed project area, referred to as SoTu Master Plan Area in the DEIR, encompasses a portion of the Tule River, a regulated stream and designated floodway that is within the Board’s permitting authority. Thus, an encroachment permit may be required for individual projects within or adjacent to the Tule River and Tule River designated floodway.
Section 2.11 of the Draft EIR lists potential approvals from other agencies for future redevelopment of the project site. Board staff recommend including an encroachment permit from the Board in this list. Board permit information is available on the Permitting at the Central Valley Flood Protection Board website.
California Code of Regulations, Title 23 provides standards that govern the design and construction of projects that affect the flood control works and floodways. Board staff recommends that you review Title 23 Standards, including Sections 112 (Streams Regulated and Nonpermissible Work Periods), 116 (Borrow and Excavation Activities – Land and Channel), 121 (Erosion Control), 122 (Irrigation and Drainage Ditches, Tile Drains, and Septic Systems), 123 (Pipelines, Conduits, and Utility Lines), 124 (Abandoned Pipelines and Conduits), 128 (Bridges), 129 (Water, Oil, and Gas Wells), 131 (Vegetation), and 132 (Bicycle Trails). Any deviation or variation from these standards will require approval from the Board.
Responsibility of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board The Board is the State’s regulatory agency responsible for enforcing appropriate standards for the construction, maintenance, and operation of the flood control system that protects life, property, and habitat in California’s Central Valley. The Board serves as the State coordinator between local flood management agencies and the federal government, with the goal of providing the highest level of flood protection possible to California’s Central Valley.
Docusign Envelope ID: 965BDAA6-908B-4C4B-94BD-D62D06681A92 City of Porterville
September 9, 2024
The Board operates under authorities as described in California Water Code (Water Code), which requires the Board to oversee future modifications or additions to facilities of the State Plan of Flood Control (SPFC).
Encroachment Permit
Per California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Waters, Division 1 (Title 23), Section 6, approval by the Board is required for all proposed work or uses, including the alteration of levees within any area for which there is an Adopted Plan of Flood Control within the Board’s jurisdiction. In addition, Board approval is required for all proposed encroachments within a floodway, on adjacent levees, and within any Regulated Stream identified in Title 23, Table 8.1. Specifically, Board jurisdiction includes the levee section, the waterward area between project levees, a minimum 10-foot-wide strip adjacent to the landward levee toe, the area within 30 feet from the top of bank(s) of Regulated Streams, and inside Board’s Designated Floodways. Activities outside of these limits which could adversely affect Federal-State flood control facilities, as determined by Board staff, are also under the Board’s jurisdiction. Permits may also be required for existing unpermitted encroachments or where it is necessary to establish the conditions normally imposed by permitting, including where responsibility for the encroachment has not been clearly established or ownership or uses have been changed.
Flood Impacts Analysis
Pursuant to Section 15 of Title 23, the Board may deny an encroachment permit if the proposed project could:
• Jeopardize directly or indirectly the physical integrity of levees or other works • Obstruct, divert, redirect, or raise the surface level of design floods or flows, or the lesser flows for which protection is provided
• Cause significant adverse changes in water velocity or flow regimen • Impair the inspection of floodways or project works
• Interfere with the maintenance of floodways or project works • Interfere with the ability to engage in flood fighting, patrolling, or other flood emergency activities
• Increase the damaging effects of flood flows
• Be injurious to, or interfere with, the successful execution, functioning, or operation of any adopted plan of flood control
• Adversely affect the State Plan of Flood Control, as defined in the California Water Code Closing
The potential risks to public safety, including increased flood risks, need to be considered when developing proposed projects that seek to modify flood control works or the hydrology of the water ways. Board staff is available to discuss any questions you have regarding the above Docusign Envelope ID: 965BDAA6-908B-4C4B-94BD-D62D06681A92 City of Porterville
September 9, 2024
comments. Please contact Jordan Robbins at (916) 524-3454, or via email at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Jamie Silva
Environmental Program Manager
cc: Office of Planning and Research
[email protected]
Docusign Envelope ID: 965BDAA6-908B-4C4B-94BD-D62D06681A92
FOCUSEDENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
JULY 2024
City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 1 South of Tule River Master Plan
FOCUSED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
JULY 2024
Prepared for
City of Porterville
Community Development Department
291 N. Main Street
Porterville, CA 93257
FOCUSEDENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
JULY 2024
City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 2 Table of Contents
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY........................................................................................................................... 6
1.1 Summary Project Description.......................................................................................................6
1.1.1 Project Location and Setting ....................................................................................................6
1.1.2 Background and Need for the Project......................................................................................6
1.1.3 Project Objectives....................................................................................................................6
1.1.4 Project Characteristics.............................................................................................................7
1.2 Permits and Approval Required....................................................................................................8
1.3 Summary of Alternatives..............................................................................................................8
1.3.1 Environmentally Superior Alternative......................................................................................8
1.4 Areas of Controversy and Issues to be Resolved ..........................................................................9
1.5 Summary of Environmental Impacts and Recommended Mitigation Measures........................10
1.5.1 Effects Found Not to be Significant........................................................................................10 2 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................22
2.1 Purpose and Intended Uses of this Focused EIR ........................................................................22
2.2 Environmental Review Process...................................................................................................23
2.3 Scope of the Draft EIR ................................................................................................................25
2.4 Draft EIR Organization................................................................................................................25 3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................................26
3.1 Project Area ...............................................................................................................................26
3.1.1 Location .................................................................................................................................26
3.1.2 Setting and Surrounding Uses................................................................................................26
3.1.3 Existing Circulation Network..................................................................................................31
3.1.4 Existing Land Uses..................................................................................................................31
3.2 Project Background....................................................................................................................34
3.3 Project Objectives......................................................................................................................35
3.4 Land Use and Zoning..................................................................................................................36
3.4.1 Existing Land Use Designations..............................................................................................36
3.4.2 Existing Zoning Districts.........................................................................................................37
3.4.3 Development Capacity...........................................................................................................37
3.5 Project Characteristics................................................................................................................40
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3.5.1 Organization of the Master Plan ............................................................................................40
3.5.2 Features of the Master Plan ..................................................................................................41
3.6 Permits and Approvals Required ................................................................................................56
3.7 Subsequent Entitlements and Approvals ...................................................................................56 4 SETTINGS, IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURES.............................................................................58
4.1 Baseline Conditions....................................................................................................................58
4.2 Determination of Significance....................................................................................................58
4.3 Air Quality ..................................................................................................................................58
4.3.1 Environmental Setting............................................................................................................58
4.3.2 Regulatory Setting..................................................................................................................59
4.3.3 Existing Air Quality Conditions...............................................................................................67
4.3.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures .........................................................................................69 5 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ........................................................................................................................87
5.1 Cumulative Impact Approach.....................................................................................................87
5.2 Cumulative Setting .....................................................................................................................87
5.2.1 Geographic Scope of Affected Area .......................................................................................87
5.2.2 Regional Planning Environment.............................................................................................87
5.3 Cumulative Impact Analysis .......................................................................................................87
5.3.1 Air Quality..............................................................................................................................88 6 ALTERNATIVES......................................................................................................................................90
6.1 Selection of Reasonable Alternatives.........................................................................................90
6.2 Analysis of Alternatives..............................................................................................................92
6.2.1 Alternative 1: No Project (No Build) Alternative ....................................................................92
6.2.2 Alternative 2: No Project/Existing General Plan Land Use Alternative...................................92
6.2.3 Reduced Density Alternative..................................................................................................93
6.3 Environmentally Superior Alternative ........................................................................................94 7 CEQA-REQUIRED CONCLUSIONS..........................................................................................................95
7.1 Significant and Unavoidable Impacts.........................................................................................95
7.1.1 Air Quality..............................................................................................................................95
7.2 Significant Irreversible Environmental Changes .........................................................................95
7.3 Growth Inducing Impact ............................................................................................................95 8 LIST OF PREPARERS..............................................................................................................................97
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 4
8.1 City of Porterville (Lead Agency) ................................................................................................97
8.2 Precision Civil Engineering (CEQA Compliance) .........................................................................97
8.3 Johnson, Johnson & Miller Air Quality Consultants (Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas)....................97
8.4 Argonaut Ecological Consulting, Inc. (Biological Resources).......................................................97
8.5 Peak & Associates (Cultural Resources) .....................................................................................97
8.6 WJV Acoustics, Inc. (Noise).........................................................................................................97 JLB Traffic Engineering, Inc. (Traffic Study and VMT) ...............................................................................97 9 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................98
9.1 Chapter 1. Executive Summary ..................................................................................................98
9.2 Chapter 2. Introduction..............................................................................................................98
9.3 Chapter 3. Project Description ...................................................................................................98
9.4 Chapter 4. Settings, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures.............................................................98
9.5 Chapter 5. Cumulative Impacts..................................................................................................98
9.6 Chapter 6. Alternatives ..............................................................................................................98
9.7 Chapter 7. CEQA-Required Conclusions.....................................................................................98 10 Appendices.....................................................................................................................................99
10.1 Initial Study and Appendices....................................................................................................100
10.2 Notice of Preparation and Comment Letters ...........................................................................101
10.3 Draft SoTu Master Plan.............................................................................................................102 List of Figures
Figure 3-1 Regional Location .......................................................................................................................28 Figure 3-2 APN Map ....................................................................................................................................29 Figure 2-2 Aerial Image of Plan Area ...........................................................................................................30 Figure 3-4 Crop Mapping of the Plan Area ..................................................................................................33 Figure 3-4 City of Porterville General Plan Land Use Designation Map of Plan Area (Existing)....................38 Figure - City of Porterville Zoning District Map of Plan Area (Existing Pre-Zoning).......................................39 Figure - City of Porterville General Plan Land Use Designation Map/ SoTu Land Use Map (Proposed)........44 Figure 3-7 City of Porterville Zoning District Map (Proposed) .....................................................................49 List of Tables
Table 1-1 Required Project Approvals............................................................................................................8 Table 1-2 Impact Summary and Mitigation Measures.................................................................................11 Table 3-1 Existing Uses, General Plan Designations, and Zone Districts of Surrounding Properties ............26 Table 3-2 Summary of Existing Land Uses....................................................................................................31
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 5 Table 3-3 Existing Land Use on the Project site ...........................................................................................31 Table 3-4 Existing General Plan Land Use Designations of Plan Area...........................................................36 Table 3-5 Existing Zoning Districts within Plan Area ....................................................................................37 Table 3-6 Proposed Changes to Land Use Designations ..............................................................................41 Table 3-7 General Plan Land Use Designation Descriptions.........................................................................42 Table 3-8 Proposed Changes to Zoning Districts..........................................................................................45 Table 3-9 Zoning District Descriptions.........................................................................................................46 Table 3-10 Buildout Assumptions under Master Plan..................................................................................50 Table 3-11 Assumed Development under Master Plan Compared to Existing Conditions...........................50 Table 3-12 Comparison of Build Out under General Plan (Existing) and Master Plan (Proposed) ...............51 Table 3-13 Required Project Approvals........................................................................................................56 Table 4-1 Description of Air Pollutants ........................................................................................................62 Table 4-2 Air Quality Index and Health Effects from Ozone .........................................................................67 Table 4-3 Air Quality Index and Health Effects of Particulate Pollution........................................................68 Table 4-4 San Joaquin Valley Air Basin Attainment Status............................................................................69 Table 4-5 Construction Air Pollutant Emissions Summary – Annual Average (Unmitigated) .......................73 Table 4-6 Construction Air Pollutant Emissions Summary – Maximum Annual Emissions...........................74 Table 4-7 Operational Air Pollutant Emissions (Non-permitted Sources) ....................................................75 Table 4-8: Screening Levels for Potential Odor Sources...............................................................................85 Table 6-1 Summary of Project Alternatives .................................................................................................91
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 6 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The following executive summary is provided pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15123. According to Section 15123, an EIR shall contain a brief summary of the proposed actions and its consequences, and identify: 1) each significant effect with proposed mitigation measures and alternatives that would reduce or avoid that effect; 3) areas of controversy known to the Lead Agency including issues raised by agencies and the public; and 3) issues to be revolved including the choice among alternatives and whether or how to mitigate the significant effects.
1.1 Summary Project Description
1.1.1 Project Location and Setting
The South of Tule River (“SoTu”) Master Plan Area (“Plan Area”) comprises approximately 447 acres (gross) and 19 parcels located directly southwest of the City Limits, bound to the north by the Tule River, south by State Route 190, east by State Route 65, and west by Westwood Street. The predominant existing land uses within the Plan Area are agriculture and rural residences.
1.1.2 Background and Need for the Project
The City of Porterville (“City”) is proposed to adopt the SoTu Master Plan (“Master Plan”). The Master Plan is intended to facilitate the development of the Plan Area as it transitions from agricultural and rural residential land into a new district with a mix of residential, commercial, public uses, and open spaces. The Master Plan would not only provide overarching guidance and broad policy concepts, but also provide information of the type, location, and intensity of uses; define capacity and design for necessary public improvements; and determine the resources necessary to finance and implement infrastructure needed to support the development of the Plan Area.
1.1.3 Project Objectives
The overarching vision of the Master Plan is to guide development of the 447-acre Plan Area as it transitions from a predominately agricultural and rural residential area to an innovative, mixed-use, multi-modal district that is attractive to residents and visitors alike to live, work, explore, and shop. The objectives that would help realize this vision are as follows.
Goal 1: Implement mixed-use zoning to encourage residential, commercial, industrial, and open space in the plan area to foster a more diverse and balanced development pattern.
Objective 1.1. Designate lands to allow for mixed-use developments incorporating residential, commercial, office, and open space components.
Objective 1.2. Identify key areas within the plan area suitable for mixed-use development based on accessibility to existing and planned infrastructure.
Goal 2: Promote alternative modes of transportation and transit-oriented development that create walkable communities to reduce traffic and air quality impacts.
Objective 2.1. Create complete streets to increase the connectivity of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure to encourage non-motorized transportation options
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 7 Objective 2.2. Create compact neighborhoods with a defined, mixed-use center including public open space, a school or other community facilities, and neighborhood commercial.
Objective 2.3. Create a street system that is well-aligned with and connected to streets in adjacent neighborhoods and allows residents to walk, bike, or drive safely to parks, schools, and neighborhood shopping via a continuous system of streets, sidewalks, and bike routes.
Goal 3: Provide a wide variety of housing types, designs, and lot sizes to serve a range of household types and incomes. The housing mix will be a combination of housing types rather than a combination of residential densities.
Objective 3.1. Develop a land use plan that includes a mix of single-family homes, townhouses, apartments at all affordability levels.
Objective 3.2. Create neighborhood centers with a mix of retail, civic, and service-oriented uses to support local transit and provide places for social interaction for neighborhood residents.
Goal 4: Incorporate policies and partnerships with local conservation groups to protect and enhance the open space areas surrounding the Tule River.
Objective 4.1. Develop and implement land use policies that prioritize the preservation of natural habitats and scenic landscapes.
Objective 4.2. Enhance public access to open space areas through the development of trails and recreational facilities.
Objective 4.3. Educate residents and stakeholders about the ecological value of open spaces and the importance of conservation efforts.
Goal 5: Reduce carbon emissions and prioritize pedestrians through a well-connected trail network and neighborhood supporting commercial uses and development.
Objective 5.1. Develop a comprehensive trail network that connects residential areas, commercial districts, and recreational spaces.
Objective 5.2. Promote mixed-use developments that encourage walking and cycling as primary modes of transportation.
Objective 5.3. Implement green building standards and energy-efficient practices in new developments to reduce carbon footprint.
1.1.4 Project Characteristics
The Master Plan proposes land use designation changes in certain areas within the Plan Area, which requires a General Plan Amendment and concurrent rezoning. The Master Plan would result in reductions in acreage of Low Density Residential and Retail Centers, and modest increases in Medium Density Residential, High Density Residential, Commercial Mixed-Use, Neighborhood Commercial, Professional Office, Industrial Park, Park and Recreation, and Public Institutional.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 8 Overall, build under the Master Plan could yield 2,213 residential units (516 single-family and 1,697 multifamily units), 3,357,864 square feet (sf.) of commercial space, 1,337,717 sf. of employment space (i.e., office uses and industrial uses), and 15.81 acres of public and institutional uses, and 112.14 acres of park and recreational lands. Housing production and mixed-use development (i.e., mix of residential and nonresidential uses) is a primary motivation for the Master Plan. For comparison, build out under the proposed land use designations (assumed density) within the Master Plan would facilitate an additional 579 residential units with a substantial increase in commercial and employment uses as compared to build out under the existing land use designations (maximum density).
1.2 Permits and Approval Required
The Master Plan would require approval by the City of Porterville City Council, including approval of a General Plan Amendment, Rezone/Pre-zone, and Conditional Use Permit, in addition to adoption of the Master Plan and certification of the Final EIR. No permits would be required from other agencies for approval of the Project.
Table 1-1 Required Project Approvals
Project Approval Final Decision
General Plan Amendment 2024-001 City Council
Pre-Zone/Rezone 2024-001 City Council
Master Plan Adoption 2024-001* City Council
EIR Certification City Council
*Per Article 206, Residential Neighborhood District of the Porterville Municipal Code (PMC), a Master Plan shall be accepted and processed in the same manner as a Conditional Use Permit application, pursuant to Chapter 601, Common Procedures, and Chapter 604, Conditional Use Permit.
1.3 Summary of Alternatives
Pursuant to CEQA, alternatives are optional ways that a project could achieve most of its objectives, while also reducing or eliminating the environmental impacts of the proposed project (Public Resources Code (“PRC”) Section 21002). The Lead Agency is required to evaluate and compare the environmental impacts of alternatives to the proposed project in an EIR (CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6(d)). The alternatives evaluated in this Draft Focused EIR are briefly described as follows:
• No Project (No Build) Alternative. This alternative assumes that the Master Plan would not be implemented and no redevelopment of the Project Area would occur. Existing uses would remain. • No Project (Existing General Plan Land Use) Alternative. This alternative assumes that the Master Plan would not be implemented and redevelopment of the Project Area would occur under the existing General Plan land use designations and zoning districts. • Reduced Density Alternative. This alternative assumes that the Master Plan would be implemented, but at a lower or reduced density. The assumed buildout of residential, commercial, and industrial uses within the Project Area would be reduced by 25%. There would be no reduction to the proposed park and recreational lands and public and institutional uses.
1.3.1 Environmentally Superior Alternative
According to CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6(e), if the No Project Alternative is the “environmentally superior alternative,” then the EIR must also identify an environmentally superior alternative among the
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 9 other alternatives. As described above, the No Project (No Build) alternative would reduce significant impacts but would not meet the Project objectives. The No Project (Existing General Plan Land Use) Alternative would not avoid or significantly reduce the significant impacts of the Project and would not meet most of the Project objectives. The Reduced Density alternative would not avoid or significantly reduce the significant impacts of the Project, nor would this alternative meet several of the Project objectives.
1.4 Areas of Controversy and Issues to be Resolved
The environmental review process began with a brief notice (“Notice of Preparation” or “NOP”) sent by the City to notify the responsible agencies, trustee agencies, the Office of Planning and Research, and the public that the City plans to prepare an EIR for the proposed Project. The purpose of the NOP was to solicit guidance from those agencies as to the scope and content of the environmental information to be included in the EIR. The NOP was distributed on March 20, 2024, to responsible agencies, trustee agencies, the Office of Planning and Research, and private organizations and individuals that may have interest in the Project.
The NOP was made available at Porterville City Hall and online. A public scoping meeting was held virtually on April 3, 2024, at 5:30 pm. No members of the public attended the scoping meeting.
Based on the comments received during the NOP comment period, potential areas of controversy associated with the Master Plan are:
• Agricultural Resources
The issue identified by the California Department of Conservation in a letter dated April 12, 2024, is related to the potential for the proposed Project to convert farmland to urban uses. Although the project does have this potential, as discussed in the Related Initial Study, this proposed Focused EIR tiers off of the Porterville 2030 General Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR SCH #2006011033) and related Findings, and Statement of Overriding Considerations. The EIR acknowledged that farmland conversion would occur at full buildout of the General Plan, including approximately 3,050 acres of Prime Farmland soils (of which 2,880 acres are unincorporated lands) and approximately 4,200 acres of Farmland of Statewide Importance and Unique Farmland soils. While the General Plan provides policies to minimize the extent of sprawl associated with future development, the EIR recognizes that the conversion of agricultural lands is still considered significant and unavoidable. To certify the EIR, the City adopted Findings of Fact related to Significant and Unavoidable Impacts as well as Statements of Overriding Considerations pursuant of Section 15093 of CEQA Guidelines which requires the lead agency to balance the benefits of a proposed project against its unavoidable environmental risks in determining whether to approve the project.
Since development of the Project site with urban uses was already contemplated and evaluated by the General Plan EIR and subsequent Statements of Overriding Considerations and Findings of Significant and Unavoidable Impacts, the proposed Master Plan does not result in additional impacts to farmland not previously analyzed.
As Lead Agency, the City has the options to resolve the major issues by: 1) recommending mitigation measures to be adopted or modified, 2) applying additional mitigation measures, or 3) determining whether the Project should or should not be approved, or whether an alternative should be approved instead.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 10 CEQA Guidelines Section 15123(b)(2) mandates that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) addressesissues to be resolved, including the selection of alternatives and strategies for mitigating significant impacts. The primary issues to be addressed for the Project involve the Lead Agency determining whether:
• The Draft EIR sufficiently outlines the Project's environmental impacts. • The proposed mitigation measures should be accepted or adjusted. • Further mitigation measures are necessary.
1.5 Summary of Environmental Impacts and Recommended Mitigation Measures The City prepared an Initial Study to analyze the proposed Project. The Initial Study identified the potential for significant environmental effects in certain resource areas. As defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15382, “significant effect on the environment” means a substantial, or potentially substantial, adverse change in any of physical conditions within the area affected by the project including land, air, water, minerals, flora, ambient noise, and objectives of historic or aesthetic significance.
According to CEQA Guidelines Section 15064(f)(1), preparation of an EIR is required if the Lead Agency determines there is substantial evidence in the record that the project may have a significant effect on the environment. Environmental impacts, including cumulative impacts, that would result from Project implementation are described in Chapter 4. Environmental impacts, their level of significance without mitigation, mitigation measures, and level of significance following implementation of mitigation measures are summarized in Table 1-2.
1.5.1 Effects Found Not to be Significant
CEQA allows a Lead Agency to limit the detail of discussion of the environmental effects that are not considered potentially significant (PRC Section 21100, CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.2(a) and 15128).
Effects dismissed in the Initial Study as clearly insignificant and unlikely to occur need not be discussed further in the EIR unless the Lead Agency subsequently receives information inconsistent with the finding in the Initial Study (CEQA Guidelines Section 15143). Environmental issues that are “scoped out” of the Focused EIR are listed below. Supporting evidence for this determination is provided in the Initial Study. The Focused EIR also includes an explanation for why these issues would not result in significant environmental effects and are not required to be evaluated further. The Initial Study is provided in Appendix A. • Aesthetics
• Agriculture and Forestry Resources
• Biological Resources
• Cultural Resources
• Energy
• Geology and Soils
• Greenhouse Has Emissions
• Hazards and Hazardous Materials
• Hydrology and Water Quality
• Land Use and Planning
• Mineral Resources
• Noise
• Population and Housing
• Public Services
• Recreation
• Transportation
• Tribal and Cultural Resources
• Utilities and Service Systems
• Wildfire
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 11 Table 1-2 Impact Summary and Mitigation Measures
Impact Significance
Before
Mitigation
Mitigation Measures Significance
After
Mitigation
Air Quality
Impact AIR-1. Conflict with or obstruct
implementation of the applicable air quality
plan
PS AIR-2a through AIR-2d (See AIR-2 below) SU
Impact AIR-2. Result in a cumulatively
considerable net increase of any criteria
pollutant for which the project region is
nonattainment under an applicable federal
or state ambient air quality standard.
PS MM AIR-2a: The following measure shall be applied to all development under the proposed Master Plan to reduce emissions from construction.
Prior to the issuance of a grading permit for the proposed project, the project applicant, project sponsor, or construction contractor shall provide reasonably detailed compliance with the following requirements to the City of Porterville Planning Department:
Where portable diesel engines are used during construction, all off-road equipment with engines greater than 75 horsepower shall have engines that meet either EPA or CARB Tier 4 Final off-road emission standards except as otherwise specified herein. If engines that comply with Tier 4 Final off-road emission standards are not commercially available, then the construction contractor shall use the next cleanest piece of off-road equipment (e.g., Tier 4 Interim) that is commercially available. For purposes of this mitigation measure, “commercially available” shall mean the equipment at issue is available taking into consideration factors such as (i) criticalpath timing of construction; and (ii) geographic proximity to the project site of equipment. If the relevant equipment is determined by the project applicant to not be commercially available, the contractor can confirm this conclusion by providing letters from at least two rental companies for each piece of off-road equipment that is at issue.
MM AIR-2b: Prior to issuance of building permits for non-single-family residential and mixed-use residential development projects in the proposed Master Plan planning area, the project applicant shall indicate on the building plans that the following features have been incorporated into the design of the building(s). Proper installation of these features shall be verified by the City of Porterville prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
Electric vehicle charging shall be provided as specified in Section A4.106.8.2 (Residential Voluntary Measures) of the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen).
Bicycle parking shall be provided as specified in Section A4.106.9 (Residential Voluntary Measures) of the CALGreen Code.
SU
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 12 MM AIR-2c: Prior to the issuance of building permits for nonresidential development projects in the planning area, project applicants shall indicate on the building plans that the following features have been incorporated into the design of the building(s).
Proper installation of these features shall be verified by the City of Porterville prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
For buildings with more than 10 tenant-occupants, changing/shower facilities shall be provided as specified in Section A5.106.4.3 (Nonresidential Voluntary Measures) of the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen).
Preferential parking for low-emitting, fuel-efficient, and carpool/van vehicles shall be provided as specified in Section A5.106.5.1 (Nonresidential Voluntary Measures) of the CALGreen Code.
Facilities shall be installed to support future electric vehicle charging at each nonresidential building with 30 or more parking spaces. Installation shall be consistent with Section A5.106.5.3 (Nonresidential Voluntary Measures) of the CALGreen Code.
MM AIR-2d: The following measure shall be applied to all development under the proposed Master Plan during construction to facilitate the use of electric landscaping equipment during project operations:
Provide electrical outlets on the outside of buildings or in other accessible areas to facilitate the use of electrically powered landscape equipment.
Impact AIR-3. Expose sensitive receptors to
substantial pollutant concentrations
PS MM AIR-3a: Prior to future discretionary approval for proposed implementing development projects, the City of Porterville shall evaluate potential impacts from localized emissions of criteria pollutants. The project applicant, project sponsor, or construction contractor shall submit an analysis demonstrating that the project would not result in a localized impact from criteria pollutants that follows SJVAPCD guidance. Options for relevant analyses to fulfill this mitigation measure are provided below:
Provide a localized screening analysis demonstrating the project would not exceed 100 pounds per day of any criteria pollutant.
Provide an Ambient Air Quality Analysis (AAQA) for the proposed project. An AAQA uses air dispersion modeling to determine if emission increases from a project will cause or contribute to a violation of State or National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
The SJVAPCD recommends an AAQA be performed for the Project if emissions exceed 100 pounds per day of any pollutant.
Supporting documentation approved by the SJVAPCD demonstrating that the proposed project would not have the potential to result in a significant impact from localized criteria pollutant emissions.
SU
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 13 MM AIR-3b: Prior to future discretionary approval for commercial or commercial mixed-use projects, the City of Porterville shall evaluate potential health risk impacts from new development proposals for any individual development projects within 1,000 feet of an existing or planned sensitive land use (e.g., residential, schools, day cares, hospitals, or nursing homes), as measured from the property line of the project to the property line of the nearest sensitive use. Such projects shall submit the following to the City of Porterville Planning Department:
A Health Risk Prioritization Screening Analysis or a Health Risk Assessment for the project’s potential to expose sensitive receptors to elevated levels of Toxic Air Contaminants during project construction and operations prepared in accordance with SJVAPCD guidance. If the Health Risk Assessment shows that the incremental health risks exceed their respective thresholds, as established by the SJVAPCD at the time a project is considered, the project applicant shall be required to identify and incorporate commercially feasible mitigation including appropriate enforcement mechanisms to reduce risks to an acceptable level. The City of Porterville shall submit each Health Risk Screening Analysis or Health Risk Assessment to the SJVAPCD for review. Development projects that exceed the applicable thresholds established by the SJVAPCD shall implement mitigation sufficient to reduce potential impacts to the extent feasible.
MM AIR-3c: To identify potential implementing development project-specific impacts resulting from the use of diesel trucks, proposed implementing development projects that include an excess of 10 dock doors for a single building, a minimum of 100 truck trips per day, 40 truck trips with Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs) per day, or TRU operations exceeding 300 hours per week, and that are with 1,000 feet from existing or planned sensitive land uses; shall have a facility-specific Health Risk Assessment performed to assess the diesel particulate matter impacts from mobile source traffic generated by that implementing development project. If applicable, the results of the Health Risk Assessment shall be included in the CEQA documentation for each implementing development project. Development projects that exceed the applicable thresholds established by the SJVAPCD shall implement mitigation sufficient to reduce potential impacts to the extent feasible.
Biological Resources
Impact BIO-1. 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
PS Mitigation Measure BIO-1: Special-Status Species Surveys and Avoidance. The Project shall implement the following measures to avoid and minimize for impacts on special-status species due to construction activities. • Pre-Construction Surveys. The Project shall conduct parcel species biological evaluation(s) to determine the project-specific impacts. The LTS
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 14 regulations, or by the California Department
of Fish and Wildlife or the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service
evaluation(s) may require foot surveys and detailed habitat mapping, wetland delineation, special status plant survey(s), and protocol-level surveys for species of concern, including American badger, Northern California legless lizard, Vernal pool fairy shrimp, and San Joaquin adobe sunburst.
• Environmental Awareness Training. A qualified biologist shall conduct tailgate meeting to train construction staff on special status species that occur/may occur on the project site.
• Biological Monitoring During Construction: In case of the accidental death or injury of a special-status species during construction-related activities, USFWS and CDFW will be contacted immediately by phone and notified in writing within three working days.
Mitigation Measure BIO-2: Nesting Bird Surveys and Avoidance. The Project shall implement the following measures to mitigate for loss of nesting habitat of the Project in compliance with the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and relevant Fish and Game Codes:
• Avoidance. In order to avoid impacts to nesting raptors and migratory birds, the Project will be constructed, if feasible, from September 16th and January 31st, which is outside the avian nesting season. • Preconstruction Surveys. If Project activities must occur during the nesting season (February 1-September 15), a qualified biologist will conduct preconstruction surveys for active raptor and migratory bird nests within 10 days prior to the start of these activities. The qualified biologist will conduct pre-construction surveys per the Recommended Timing and Methodology for Swainson’s Hawk Nesting Surveys in California’s Central Valley (2000). The survey will include the proposed work area(s) and surrounding lands within 500 feet, where accessible, for all nesting raptors and migratory birds. If no active nests are found within the survey area, no further mitigation is required.
• Establish Buffers. Should any active nests be discovered near proposed work areas, no disturbance buffers of 250 feet around active nests of nonlisted bird species and 500 feet around active nests of non-listed raptors will be established. If work needs to occur within these no disturbance buffers, a qualified biologist will monitor the nest daily for one week, and thereafter once a week, throughout the duration of construction activity.
Should the nature of construction activity significantly change, such that a higher level of disturbance will be generated, monitoring will occur daily for one week and then resume the once-a-week regime. If, at any time, the
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 15 biologist determines that construction activity may be compromising nesting success, construction activity within the designated buffer will be altered or suspended until the biologist determines that the nest site is no longer susceptible to deleterious disturbance.
Mitigation Measure BIO-3: Swainson’s Hawk Surveys and Avoidance. If Project activities must occur during the Swainson’s hawk nesting season (February 15 to August 31), pre-construction surveys shall be conducted for Swainson’s hawk nests in accordance with the Recommended Timing and Methodology for Swainson’s Hawk Nesting Surveys in California’s Central Valley, Swainson’s Hawk Technical Advisory Committee (CDFG, 2000). The surveys would be conducted on the Project site plus a 0.5-mile buffer. To meet the minimum level of protection for the species, surveys shall be conducted during at least two survey periods.
1. If no Swainson’s hawk nests are found, no further action is required.
2. If an active Swainson’s hawk nest is discovered at any time within 0.5 miles of active construction, a qualified biologist shall complete an assessment of the potential for current construction activities to impact the nest. The assessment would consider the type of construction activities, the location of construction relative to the nest, the visibility of construction activities from the nest location, and other existing disturbances in the area that are not related to the construction activities of this Project. Based on this assessment, the biologist will determine if construction activities can proceed and the level of nest monitoring required. Construction activities shall not occur within 500 feet of an active nest, but this distance may be reduced depending upon conditions at the site. Full-time monitoring to evaluate the effects of construction activities on nesting Swainson’s hawks may be required. The qualified biologist shall have the authority to stop work if it is determined that Project construction is disturbing the nest.
These buffers may need to increase depending on the sensitivity of the nesting Swainson’s hawk to disturbances and at the discretion of the qualified biologist.
Mitigation Measure BIO-4: San Joaquin Kit Fox Surveys and Avoidance. Preconstruction surveys shall be conducted by a qualified biologist within 10 days prior to the start of any construction activities. Qualified biologist shall conduct preconstruction surveys in accordance with USFWS Standard Recommendations for Protection of the Endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox Prior to or During Ground Disturbance (2011).
1. If no active or potential den is detected in or adjacent to work area during the survey, no further action is required.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 16
2. If active or potential den is detected in or adjacent to work area during the pre-construction survey, the den shall not be disturbed or destroyed.
Compliance with USFWS Recommendations for Protection of the Endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox Prior to or During Ground Disturbance (2011) required. USFW and CDFW will be immediately contacted to determine best course of action. Construction activities shall be carried out in a manner that minimizes disturbance to kit foxes.
In case of the accidental death or injury of a San Joaquin kit fox during constructionrelated activities, USFWS and CDFW will be contacted immediately by phone and notified in writing within three working days.
Impact BIO-3. Have a substantial adverse
effect on state or federally protected
wetlands (including, but not limited to,
marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through
direct removal, filling, hydrological
interruption, or other means?
PS Mitigation Measure BIO-5: Wetland Delineation. Prior to the start of ground disturbance activities on APN 256-040-044, the applicant shall consult with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a formal Wetland Delineation.
LTS
Cultural Resources
Impact CUL-1. Cause a substantial adverse
change in the significance of a historical
resource pursuant to Section 15064.5
PS Mitigation Measure CUL-1: Prior to permit approval for development on sites with existing buildings and/or structures that are 45 years or older, a historical resources evaluation shall be completed for that individual site to confirm if the existing buildings and/or structures within these sites qualify as historical resources as defined by Section 15064.5(a) of CEQA Guidelines. The evaluation shall be prepared by a qualified architectural historian or historian who meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards (PQS) in architectural history or history. The qualified architectural historian or historian shall conduct an intensivelevel evaluation in accordance with the guidelines and best practices promulgated by the State Office of Historic Preservation to identify any potential historical resources within the proposed project area. All properties 45 years of age or older shall be evaluated within their historic context and documented in a report meeting the State Office of Historic Preservation guidelines. All evaluated properties shall be documented on Department of Parks and Recreation Series 523 Forms. The report shall be submitted to the City for review and concurrence.
Any relocation, rehabilitation, or alteration of the resource shall be implemented consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatments of Historic Properties (Standards). In accordance with CEQA, a project that has been determined to conform with the Standards generally would not cause a significant adverse direct or indirect impact to historical resources (14 CCR Section 15126.4[b][1]). Application of the Standards shall be overseen by a qualified LTS
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 17 architectural historian or historic architect meeting the PQS. In conjunction with any development application that may affect the historical resource, a report identifying and specifying the treatment of character-defining features and construction activities shall be provided to the City for review and concurrence, in addition to the historical resources evaluation.
If significant historical resources are identified on a development site and compliance with the Standards and or avoidance is not feasible, the applicant or developer shall provide a report explaining why compliance with the Standards and or avoidance is not feasible for the city’s review and approval. Site-specific mitigation measures shall be established and undertaken, including, but not limited to, documentation of the historical resource in the form of a Historic American Buildings Survey-Like report. The report shall be commissioned by the project applicant or their consultant to comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Architectural and Engineering Documentation and shall generally follow the Historic American Buildings Survey Level III requirements, including digital photographic recordation, detailed historic narrative report, and compilation of historic research.
The documentation shall be completed by a qualified architectural historian or historian who meets the PQS and submitted to the City prior to issuance of any permits for demolition or alteration of the historical resource.
Mitigation Measure CUL-2: In order to avoid the potential for impacts to historic and prehistoric archaeological resources, the following measures shall be implemented, as necessary, in conjunction with the construction of each phase of the Project:
a. Cultural Resources Alert on Project Plans. The project proponent shall note on any plans that require ground disturbing excavation that there is a potential for exposing buried cultural resources.
b. Stop Work Near any Discovered Cultural Resources. Should previously unidentified cultural resources be discovered during construction of the project, the project proponent shall cease work within 50 feet of the resources, and City of Porterville shall be notified immediately. The project archaeologist meeting the SOI’s PQS for archeology shall immediately evaluate the find pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21083.2.
c. Mitigation for Discovered Cultural Resources. If the professional archaeologist determines that any cultural resources exposed during construction constitute a historical resource and/or unique archaeological resource, he/she shall notify the project proponent and other appropriate parties of the evaluation and recommended mitigation measures to mitigate the impact to a less-than-significant level. If the archaeologist and, if applicable, a Native American monitor or other interested tribal representative determine it is appropriate, cultural materials
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 18 collected from the site shall be processed and analyzed in a laboratory according to standard archaeological procedures. The age of the materials shall be determined using radiocarbon dating and/or other appropriate procedures; lithic artifacts, faunal remains, and other cultural materials shall be identified and analyzed according to current professional standards. The significance of the site(s) shall be evaluated according to the criteria of the CRHR and if applicable, NRHP. The results of the investigations shall be presented in a technical report following the standards of the California Office of Historic Preservation publication “Archaeological Resource Management Reports: Recommended Content and Format (1990 or latest edition).” Mitigation measures may include avoidance, preservation in-place, recordation, additional archaeological testing and data recovery, among other options.
Treatment of any significant cultural resources shall be undertaken with the approval of the City of Porterville. The archaeologist shall document the resources using DPR 523 forms and file said forms with the California Historical Resources Information System, Southern San Joaquin Valley Information Center (SSJVIC). The resources shall be photo documented and collected by the archaeologist for submittal to the City of Porterville. The archaeologist shall be required to submit to the City of Porterville for review and approval a report of the findings and method of curation or protection of the resources. This report shall be submitted to the SSJVIC after completion. Recommendations contained therein shall be implemented throughout the remainder of ground disturbance activities. Further grading or sitework within the area of discovery shall not be allowed until the preceding steps have been taken.
d. Data Recovery. Should the results of item c. yield resources that meet CRHR significance standards and if the resource cannot be avoided by project construction, the project applicant shall ensure that all feasible recommendations for mitigation of archaeological impacts are incorporated into the final design and approved by the City prior to construction. Any necessary data recovery excavation, conducted to exhaust the data potential of significant archaeological sites, shall be carried out by a qualified archaeologist meeting the SOI’s PQS for archeology. Data recovery shall be conducted in accordance with a research design reviewed and approved by the City, prepared in advance of fieldwork, and using the appropriate archaeological field and laboratory methods consistent with the California Office of Historic Preservation Planning Bulletin 5, Guidelines for Archaeological Research Design, or the latest edition thereof. If the archaeological resource(s) of concern are Native American in origin, the qualified archaeologist shall confer with the City and local California Native American tribe(s). As applicable, the final Data Recovery reports shall be submitted to the City prior to issuance of any grading or construction permit.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 19 Recommendations contained therein shall be implemented throughout all ground disturbance activities. Recommendations may include, but would not be limited to, Cultural Resources Monitoring, and/or measures for unanticipated discoveries. The final report shall be submitted to the SSJVIC upon completion. e. Disposition of Cultural Resources. Upon coordination with the City of Porterville, any pre-historic archaeological artifacts recovered shall be donated to an appropriate Tribal custodian or a qualified scientific institution where they would be afforded applicable cultural resources laws and guidelines. f. Cultural Resources Monitoring. If mitigation measures are recommended by reports written under item c. or d., the project applicant shall retain a qualified archaeologist to monitor project-related, ground-disturbing activities which may include the following but not limited to: grubbing, vegetation removal, trenching, grading, and/or excavations. The archaeological monitor shall coordinate with any Native American monitor as required. Monitoring logs must be completed by the archaeologist daily. Cultural resources monitoring may be reduced for the project if the qualified archaeologist finds it appropriate to reduce the monitoring efforts.
Upon completion of ground disturbance for the project, a final report must be submitted to the City for review and approval documenting the monitoring efforts, cultural resources find, and resource disposition. The final report shall be submitted to the SSJVIC.
Impact CUL-2. Cause a substantial adverse
change in the significance of an
archaeological resource pursuant to Section
15064.5
PS Mitigation Measure CUL-2 (See above) LTS
Geology and Soils
Impact GEO-6. Directly or indirectly destroy
a unique paleontological resource or site or
unique geologic feature
LTS Mitigation Measure GEO-1: If any paleontological resources are encountered during ground-disturbance activities, all work within 25 feet of the find shall halt until a qualified paleontologist as defined by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Standard Procedures for the Assessment and Mitigation of Adverse Impacts to Paleontological Resources (2010), can evaluate the find and make recommendations regarding treatment. Paleontological resource materials may include resources such as fossils, plant impressions, or animal tracks preserved in rock. The qualified paleontologist shall contact the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County or another appropriate facility regarding any discoveries of paleontological resources.
If the qualified paleontologist determines that the discovery represents a potentially significant paleontological resource, additional investigations, and fossil recovery may be required to mitigate adverse impacts from Project implementation. If LTS
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 20 avoidance is not feasible, the paleontological resources shall be evaluated for their significance. If the resources are not significant, avoidance is not necessary. If the resources are significant, they shall be avoided to ensure no adverse effects or such effects must be mitigated. Construction in that area shall not resume until the resource-appropriate measures are recommended or the materials are determined to be less than significant. If the resource is significant and fossil recovery is the identified form of treatment, then the fossil shall be deposited in an accredited and permanent scientific institution. Copies of all correspondence and reports shall be submitted to the City of Porterville, Community Development Department.
Mineral Resources
Impact MIN-1. 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
PS Mitigation Measure MIN-1: If development is proposed within the Project site designated as MRZ-3a, a soils reports and investigation shall be prepared prior to the approval of building permits to ensure that availability of valuable aggregate deposit will not decrease.
LTS
Noise
Impact NOI-1. 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
in other applicable local, state, or federal
standards
PS Mitigation Measure NOI-1: Prior to project approval of residential development within the SoTu Master Plan, the City of Porterville shall ensure that proposed residential structures are located at least 157 feet from the centerline of Westwood Street, 409 feet from the centerline of SR 190 (Poplar Avenue), 137 feet from the centerline of Newcomb Street, and 674 feet from SR 65. If the project does not provide the listed setback for residential structures, sound walls shall be proposed to ensure that exterior noise of the residential site would not exceed 60 dB Ldn. If the project proposes sound walls in place of setbacks from roadway centerlines, a noise study shall be conducted as evidence that the sound wall is sufficient to maintain an exterior noise of 60 dB Ldn or 70 dB Ldn.
Mitigation Measure NOI-2: Prior to ground disturbing activities for projects within the SoTu Master Plan, the City of Porterville shall ensure the following with the Project proponent:
• Per the City of Porterville Municipal Code, construction activities should not occur outside the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. during weekdays and 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends. Construction activities that occur outside these hours would be subject to the stationary noise standards as set forth in the City of Porterville Municipal Code Section 18-90.4. • All construction equipment shall be properly maintained and muffled as to minimize noise generation at the source.
• Noise-producing equipment shall not be operating, running, or idling while not in immediate use by a construction contractor.
LTS
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 21 • All noise-producing construction equipment shall be located and operated, to the extent possible, at the greatest possible distance from any noisesensitive land uses. • Locate construction staging areas, to the extent possible, at the greatest possible distances from any noise-sensitive land uses.
• Signs shall be posted at the construction site and near adjacent sensitive receptors displaying hours of construction activities and providing the contact phone number of a designated noise disturbance coordinator.
Tribal Cultural Resources
Impact TRI-1. 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
PS Mitigation Measure CUL-1 and MM CUL-2 (See Above) LTS Impact TRI-2. 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.
PS (See Above) LTS
LTS = Less than Significant PS = Potentially Significant SU = Significant and Unavoidable
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 22 2 INTRODUCTION
This Focused Environmental Impact Report (“Focused EIR”) has been prepared on behalf of the City of Porterville to evaluate the environmental impacts of the South of the Tule River (“SoTu”) Master Plan (“Project” or “proposed Project”). The City of Porterville (“City”) is the Lead Agency responsible for ensuring that the proposed Project complies with CEQA. It is the intent of this EIR to provide the City of Porterville, decision makers, and the general public with the relevant environmental information to use in considering the required approval for the proposed Project.
2.1 Purpose and Intended Uses of this Focused EIR
This EIR has been prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 21000, et seq.) and the CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, Chapter 3, Section 15000, et seq.) as amended. The City of Porterville (“City”) is the Lead Agency responsible for ensuring the Project complies with CEQA and for approving the Project.
The environmental analysis contained in the Initial Study and this Focused EIR is tiered from the Porterville 2030 General Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR SCH #2006011033). A copy of the EIR may be reviewed at Porterville City Hall.
Pursuant to PRC Section 21094 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15168(d), this Project has been evaluated in the Initial Study with respect to each item on the environmental checklist to determine whether this project may cause any additional significant effect on the environment which was not previously examined in the General Plan EIR.
Based upon the evaluation guided by the environmental checklist form, it was determined that there are no foreseeable substantial impacts from the Project that are additional to those identified in the General Plan EIR, after the incorporation of project-specific mitigation measures in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, except for impacts related to Air Quality.
The City prepared an Initial Study to analyze the proposed Project. The Initial Study identified the potential for significant environmental effects in certain resource areas. As defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15382, “significant effect on the environment” means a substantial, or potentially substantial, adverse change in any of physical conditions within the area affected by the project including land, air, water, minerals, flora, ambient noise, and objectives of historic or aesthetic significance. According to CEQA Guidelines Section 15064(f)(1), preparation of an EIR is required if the Lead Agency determines there is substantial evidence in the record that the project may have a significant effect on the environment.
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.2(a), the discussion of potential environmental impacts in the EIR shall be focused on those impacts that the Lead Agency has determined may be potentially significant.
In the Initial Study prepared for the proposed Project, the City has determined that the Project could result in potentially significant impacts in the following topic area, which will therefore be further analyzed in the Focused EIR:
• Air Quality: operational emissions for full buildout of the SoTu Master Plan in the earliest operational year exceed the significance thresholds for non-permitted sources, including ROG, NOX,
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 23 CO, PM10, and PM2.5; and development contemplate under the proposed Project would result in emissions of several Toxic Air Contaminants and health risk impacts that could impact existing and future sensitive receptors.
When an EIR identifies one or more significant effects, the Lead Agency shall make a finding under Section 15091 for each significant effect and may need to make a Statement of Overriding Considerations under Section 15093. The Lead Agency must articulate and adopt findings to issue a Statement of Overriding Considerations, which explains in writing the specific economic, social, or other considerations that they believe, based on substantial evidence, make those significant effects acceptable.
CEQA allows a Lead Agency to limit the detail of discussion of the environmental effects that are not considered potentially significant (PRC Section 21100, CEQA Guidelines Sections 15126.2(a) and 15128).
Effects dismissed in the Initial Study as clearly insignificant and unlikely to occur need not be discussed further in the EIR unless the Lead Agency subsequently receives information inconsistent with the finding in the Initial Study (CEQA Guidelines Section 15143). Environmental issues that are “scoped out” of the Focused EIR are listed below. Supporting evidence for this determination is provided in the Initial Study. The Focused EIR also includes an explanation for why these issues would not result in significant environmental effects and are not required to be evaluated further. The Initial Study is provided in Appendix A. • Aesthetics
• Agriculture and Forestry Resources
• Biological Resources
• Cultural Resources
• Energy
• Geology and Soils
• Greenhouse Has Emissions
• Hazards and Hazardous Materials
• Hydrology and Water Quality
• Land Use and Planning
• Mineral Resources
• Noise
• Population and Housing
• Public Services
• Recreation
• Transportation
• Tribal and Cultural Resources
• Utilities and Service Systems
• Wildfire
The purpose of this Focused EIR is to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with implementing the Project ; examine methods of reducing adverse environmental impacts; identify any significant and unavoidable adverse impacts that cannot be mitigated; identify reasonable and feasible alternatives to the proposed project that would eliminate any significant adverse environmental effects or reduce the impacts to a less than significant level; and inform the public and decision makers. The Lead Agency is required to consider the information in the EIR, along with any other relevant information, in making decisions on the proposed Project. This analysis, in and of itself, does not determine whether a project will be approved, but aids the planning and decision-making process by disclosing the potential for significant and adverse impacts.
2.2 Environmental Review Process
The environmental review process began with a brief notice, “Notice of Preparation” or “NOP”, sent by the City to notify the responsible agencies, trustee agencies, the Office of Planning and Research, and the public
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 24 that the City plans to prepare an EIR for the proposed Project. The purpose of the NOP was to solicit guidance from those agencies as to the scope and content of the environmental information to be included in the EIR. The NOP was distributed on March 20, 2024, to responsible agencies, trustee agencies, the Office of Planning and Research, and private organizations and individuals that may have interest in the Project.
The NOP was made available at Porterville City Hall and online. A public scoping meeting was held virtually on April 3, 2024, at 5:30 pm. Responses to the NOP are provided in Appendix B.
The CEQA Guidelines encourage public participation in the planning and environmental review processes.
The City will provide opportunities for the public to present comments and concerns regarding the CEQA document and planning processes. These opportunities will occur during the Draft Focused EIR public review and comment period.
This Focused EIR and Notice of Availability are posted electronically, printed, and are being circulated for agency and public review and comment for 45 days. Comments may be submitted to the Lead Agency within this timeframe. Copies of the Draft Focused EIR, Notice of Availability, and proposed Master Plan may be downloaded at, www.ci.porterville.ca.us/departments/community_development/planning.php, or reviewed at the following location during normal business hours:
City of Porterville, Community Development Department
291 N. Main Street
Porterville, CA 93257
-ANDPorterville Public Library
50 W. Olive Avenue, Suite B
Porterville, CA 93257
Responsible agencies, trustee agencies, the Office of Planning and Research, and the public can comment on this Draft Focused EIR during the 45-day public review period. Written comments on this Draft Focused EIR should be addressed to:
Claudia Calderon, Community Development Director
City of Porterville, Community Development Department
291 N. Main Street
Porterville, CA 93257
Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Upon completion of the public review and comment period, a Final Focused EIR will be prepared that includes the Draft Focused EIR, comments and recommendations received on the Draft Focused EIR either verbatim or in summary, a list of commenting persons, organizations, and public agencies, and responses to comments received. The Draft Focused EIR and Final Focused EIR will comprise the EIR for the proposed Project. Prior to adopting the proposed Project, the Lead Agency shall certify that the Focused EIR has been prepared in compliance with CEQA, that the decision-making body (i.e., City Council) has reviewed and
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 25 considered the information in the Focused EIR, and that the Focused EIR reflects the independent judgment of the Lead Agency.
2.3 Scope of the Draft EIR
The City prepared an Initial Study to analyze the proposed Project. In the Initial Study prepared for the proposed Project, the City has determined that the Project could result in potentially significant impacts in the following topic area, which will therefore be further analyzed in the Focused EIR: Air Quality. Effects dismissed in the Initial Study as clearly insignificant and unlikely to occur are not discussed further in the EIR unless the Lead Agency subsequently receives information inconsistent with the finding in the Initial Study (CEQA Guidelines Section 15143). This Draft Focused EIR includes an evaluation of Air Quality, as well as other CEQA-mandated issues including cumulative impacts, growth-inducing impacts, significant unavoidable impacts, and alternatives. All other topics that were evaluated in the Initial Study were determined to be less than significant, and mitigation measures were included as required to reduce potentially significant impacts. These topics will not be addressed in detail in this document but can be found in Appendix A. The NOP and comment letters received are included in Appendix B.
2.4 Draft EIR Organization
This Draft Focused EIR is organized into the following chapters:
• Chapter 1. Executive Summary: Provides a summary of the impacts that would result from implementation of the Project, describes mitigation measures recommended to reduce or avoid significant impacts, and describes the alternatives to the Project. • Chapter 2. Introduction: Discusses the overall EIR purpose, provides a summary of the Project, describes the EIR scope, and summarizes the organization of the EIR. • Chapter 3. Project Description: Provides a description of the Project, the Project objectives, and uses of this EIR.
• Chapter 4. Setting, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures: Describes the following for Air Quality: existing conditions (setting), potential environmental impacts and their level of significance, and mitigation measures recommended to mitigate identified impacts. Potential adverse impacts are identified by levels of significance, as follows: less than significant impact, significant impact, and significant and unavoidable impact. The significance of each impact is categorized before and after implementation of any recommended mitigation measures(s).
• Chapter 5. CEQA-Required Conclusions: Provides an analysis of effects found not to be significant, growth-inducing impacts, unavoidable significant environmental impacts, significant irreversible changes, and cumulative impacts.
• Chapter 6. Alternatives: Provides an evaluation of alternatives to the Project, including the No Project (No Build) Alternative, the No Project (Existing General Plan Land Use) Alternative, and the Reduced Density Alternative.
• Chapter 7. Report Preparation: Identifies preparers of the EIR, primary contacts, and the persons and organizations contacted.
• Appendices: The appendices contain the Initial Study, Notice of Preparation, and other documentation prepared in conjunction with this EIR.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 26 3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The following Project description serves as the basis for the environmental analysis contained in this Focused EIR .
A description of the Plan Area, Project background, Master Plan objectives, and existing land use designations and zoning districts are followed by the characteristics of the Project, potential permits and approval required, and subsequent entitlements and approvals. The City of Porterville is the Project proponent and Lead Agency for evaluation of the Project pursuant to CEQA and has final authority to approve the Project.
3.1 Project Area
3.1.1 Location
The Plan Area comprises approximately 447 acres (gross) and 19 parcels located directly southwest of the City Limits, bound to the north by the Tule River, south by State Route 190, east by State Route 65, and west by Westwood Street. The Plan Area currently lies within unincorporated Tulare County, with approximately 53% of the Plan Area within the Sphere of Influence (SOI). The Plan Area lies within Sections 33 and 24, Township 21 South, Range 27 East, Mount Diablo Base and Meridian. The regional location of the Plan Area is shown in Figure 3-1 and an APN Map of the Plan Area is shown in Figure 3-2.
While the Plan Area is located outside City Limits, it is within Porterville’s General Plan Planning Area, or the “Urban Area Boundary” (UAB). The UAB is an administrative boundary created by the City that establishes where the County and City coordinate plans and policies relating to street and highway construction, public utility systems, and future right of way preservation. The eastern half of the Plan Area is within the City’s Urban Development Boundary (UDB); the western half of the Plan Area is outside the UDB. The UDB is an administrative boundary created by the City that defines urban edges to reflect a commitment to focus future growth within the city to prevent urban sprawl and protect environmentally sensitive areas.
Development of the Plan Area would require amending the LAFCo-adopted SOI, annexation to the City of Porterville, in addition to “pre-zoning” the lands to be developed within a zoning district that is consistent with the planned land use designation identified in the Porterville General Plan.
3.1.2 Setting and Surrounding Uses
The predominant existing land uses within the Plan Area are agriculture and rural residences. Existing land uses to the north of the Plan Area beyond the Tule River and to the east are single-family residential uses. Existing land uses to the south and west include a mix of residential, services, vacant, and agriculture uses. Aerial imagery of the Plan Area is shown in Figure 3-3. As referenced in Table 3-1, all properties to the north, east, and west are planned and zoned for residential and public uses, and properties to the south are planned and zoned with a mix of industrial, retail, residential, and office uses.
Table 3-1 Existing Uses, General Plan Designations, and Zone Districts of Surrounding Properties Direction from
the Project site
Existing Land Use Planned Land Use Zone District
North
Tule River, SingleFamily Residential
Parks, Low Density Residential
RS-1 – Very Low Density Residential,
RS-2 – Low Density Residential, PD –
Planned Development, PK – Parks
and Public Recreation Facilities
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 27 South
SR 190, Agriculture,
Residential,
Healthcare center
Industrial Park, Retail Center,
Low Density Residential,
Professional Office
IP – Industrial Park, CR – Retail
Centers, RS-1 – Very Low Density
Residential, PO – Professional Office
East
SR 65, Single-Family
Residential
Low Density Residential, Public
Institution
PK - Parks and Public Recreation
Facilities, PD – Planned Development
West
Agriculture, SingleFamily ResidentialVery Low Density Residential, Parks
RS-1 – Very Low Density Residential
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 28 Figure 3-1 Regional Location
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 29 Figure 3-2 APN Map
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 30 Figure 3-3 Aerial Image of Plan Area
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 31
3.1.3 Existing Circulation Network
The Plan Area has little to no existing circulation network. Street frontage includes State Route 190 adjacent south, State Route 65 adjacent east, and South Westwood Street adjacent west to the Plan Area. The highways (south, east, west) and the Tule River (north) have prevented any major circulation improvements.
The General Plan calls for Newcomb Street to be a four (4)-lane north-south major arterial to extend south with a bridge over the Tule River to access the site and a grade separation (overpass) at State Route 190.
Additionally, the General Plan has a collector planned for the east-west direction that eventually turns north to connect at the Prospect Street alignment with another planned bridge over the Tule River.
3.1.4 Existing Land Uses
Most of the Plan Area has historically been used for agriculture including orchard and row crops, continuously for at least the past 50 years. The Plan Area is predominantly occupied by agricultural operations with a few single-family residential dwellings. Aerial imagery of the Plan Area is shown in Figure 3-3. Existing land uses in the Plan Area are summarized in Figure 3-3 and described in Table 3-2 and Table 3-3. The types of crops in the Plan Area are shown in Figure 3-4.
Table 3-2 Summary of Existing Land Uses
Use Type Total Unit
Active agriculture and agricultural
related uses (e.g., well, ditch)
365.41 acres
Open space/vacant/undeveloped (no
active uses)
70.92 acres
Single-family residential uses 10 units
Table 3-3 Existing Land Use on the Project site
APN Acreage Address Existing Land Use
259-030-011 75.84
1260 W Poplar Ave Porterville, CA
93257
Agriculture (field and seed)
259-030-031 66.62 - Agriculture (orchard)
259-040-010 0.06 - Well Site
259-040-025 1.02
2040 W Poplar Ave Porterville, CA
93257
1,945 sf. single-family dwelling built in 1990,
a storage shed, and two (2) metal
structures.
259-040-026 1.00
2002 W Poplar Ave Porterville, CA
93257
1,716 sf. single-family dwelling built in 1995
259-040-027 1.05
1960 W Poplar Ave Porterville, CA
93257
2,797 sf. single-family dwelling built in 2006
259-040-028 1.00
1918 W Poplar Ave Porterville, CA
93257
A single-family dwelling and a storage shed.
259-040-039 50.94
512 S Westwood Rd Porterville, CA
93257
Mostly vacant land, 1,008 sf. single-family
dwelling, and 2,580 sf. and 625 sf. metal
structures.
259-040-041 39.34 - Agriculture (field and seed)
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 32 259-040-042 1.65
2186 W Poplar Ave Porterville, CA
93257
1,536 sf. single-family dwelling with 6 metal
structures
259-040-043 1.65
2176 W Poplar Ave Porterville, CA
93257
one mobile home and one metal structure
259-040-044 103.53 - Agriculture (orchard)
259-040-045 25.13
730 S Westwood Rd #B Porterville, CA
93257
Agriculture (orchard) with a single-family
dwelling and 10 accessory structures
259-040-046 1.25 -
Poplar Ditch (owned by Lower Tule River
Irrigation District)
259-150-001 25.03 -
Agriculture (orchard), vacant land north of
Tule River
259-270-004 28.67 - Agriculture (orchard)
259-320-001 3.55
362 S Westwood Rd Porterville, CA
93257
2 single-family dwellings
259-320-002 14.67
362 S Westwood Rd Porterville, CA
93257
3 structures, mostly vacant land
259-370-058 5.31 -
Tule River floodplain (owned by City of
Porterville)
Total 447.30 -
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 33 Figure 3-4 Crop Mapping of the Plan Area
Source: Statewide Crop Mapping on California Natural Resources Agency (CRNA) Open Data Portal: https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/statewide-crop-mapping
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 34
3.2 Project Background
Due to historical trends in development, a significant portion of Porterville's housing stock consists of traditional, detached, single-family dwelling units, making up nearly 75% of all residential units. While these single-family homes are integral to the City’s character, several factors have combined to necessitate a broader range of housing options. These factors include increasing housing costs, diminishing availability of suitable land for development, and evolving State housing requirements in the local community and larger region.
Although there is undeveloped land within the City Limits, most of the available land is located on the eastern side of the city. That area contains expansive adobe clay soils which tend to increase construction costs and can therefore be cost prohibitive. Other physical factors impacting development of available land within City Limits include intersecting state highways and expressways, the Tule River, Porter Slough, the former Santa Fe Railroad, Friant-Kern Canal, Scenic Heights, East Porterville, current and active farmland, and Rocky Hill and surrounding slopes. The City has taken these constraints into consideration to identify new growth areas that are suitable for development.
The southwestern edge of the City, south of the Tule River, has been identified by the City as an area with favorable soil conditions, topography, and access to urban services including utility and roadway infrastructure. The City has identified this area, south of the Tule River or “SoTu,” as a logical new growth area that will be geographically balanced with existing and planned growth in the northwest and eastern portions of the city. More than 447acres of land is available in this area with an immense opportunity to plan for residential growth with employment-generating land uses.
Under the 6th Cycle of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation, the City of Porterville was allocated 4,064 units, up from the 3,196 units allocated in the 5th Cycle. As of January 2022, the City still had 2,800 units remaining to meet its 5th Cycle allocation. At present, the Plan Area is approximately 447 acres of unincorporated, undeveloped, agricultural land with pockets of single-family residences, abutting the City Limits. Concurrently with the preparation of the Master Plan, the City is also undergoing a multijurisdictional Housing Element Update. The SoTu Master Plan will be integral to the City’s efforts to meet housing production goals in the coming years.
The SoTu Master Plan is intended to facilitate the development of the Plan Area as it transitions from agricultural and rural residential land into a new district with a mix of residential, commercial, public, and open spaces. The Master Plan would not only provide overarching guidance and broad policy concepts, but also provide information of the type, location, and intensity of uses; define capacity and design for necessary public improvements; and determine the resources necessary to finance and implement infrastructure needed to support the development of the Plan Area.
The two most critical components of the Master Plan are the 1) Circulation Element policies and implementation framework to ensure connectivity (evaluating the proposed bridge at Tule River and Newcomb Street and proposed roundabout at State Route 190 and Newcomb Street) and integration into established areas of the City while also emphasizing active transportation, and 2) the Land Use Element for establishment of mixed-use development and a mix of densities and residential districts to facilitate housing production and feasibility of the Plan Area which is envisioned to be a “district,” where a district means an
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 35 urbanized area with multiple activities (i.e., housing, employment, education, recreation, etc.) that are interconnected and support a unique character, identify, and sense of place for its users, residents, and visitors.
The goal of the Master Plan is to facilitate development as it occurs in the Plan Area in a way that is logical and active transportation focused. As part of this concept, there is an emphasis on reducing trips taken by automobiles in favor of active transportation options for intra-district trips. The 2030 General Plan currently designates approximately 237 acres of the Plan Area as Low Density Residential with no additional residential designations. This creates the potential to build 991 dwelling units at a maximum density of 6.0 dwelling units per acre. By allowing for mixed-use development at a mix of densities, connected by a multimodal transportation network, the Plan Area could accommodate 2,213 residential units at an assumed density while balancing the need for commercial areas and ample dedicated public spaces throughout the Plan Area (See Section 3.5.2 Features of the Master Plan for assumed development density and calculations).
3.3 Project Objectives
The SoTu District is envisioned to be a neighborhood with an innovative, sustainable, and balanced land use pattern offering a large variety of housing opportunities and job opportunities. The District will include viable, pedestrian-oriented neighborhood centers and a mix of uses that is attractive to residents and visitors alike to live, work, explore, and shop. The SoTu Master Plan is designed and intended to implement a series of goals that will promote quality mixed use development in the District. The Master Plan is intended to meet the vision of the Porterville General Plan and further refine the guiding and implementation policies. The objectives identified below have been incorporated throughout the Master Plan.
Goal 1: Implement mixed use zoning to encourage residential, commercial, industrial, and open space in the plan area to foster a more diverse and balanced development pattern.
Objective 1.1. Designate lands to allow for mixed-use developments incorporating residential, commercial, office, and open space components.
Objective 1.2. Identify key areas within the plan area suitable for mixed-use development based on accessibility to existing and planned infrastructure.
Goal 2: Promote alternative modes of transportation and transit-oriented development that create walkable communities to reduce traffic and air quality impacts.
Objective 2.1. Create complete streets to increase the connectivity of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure to encourage non-motorized transportation options Objective 2.2. Create compact neighborhoods with a defined, mixed-use center including public open space, a school or other community facilities, and neighborhood commercial.
Objective 2.3. Create a street system that is well-aligned with and connected to streets in adjacent neighborhoods and allows residents to walk, bike, or drive safely to parks, schools, and neighborhood shopping via a continuous system of streets, sidewalks, and bike routes.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 36 Goal 3: Provide a wide variety of housing types, designs, and lot sizes to serve the range of household types and incomes. The housing mix will be a combination of housing types rather than a combination of residential densities.
Objective 3.1. Develop a land use plan that includes a mix of single-family homes, townhouses, apartments, and affordable housing units.
Objective 3.2. Create neighborhood centers with a mix of retail, civic, and service-oriented uses to support local transit and provide places for social interaction for neighborhood residents.
Goal 4: Incorporate policies and partnerships with local conservation groups to protect and enhance the open space areas surrounding the Tule River.
Objective 4.1. Develop and implement land use policies that prioritize the preservation of natural habitats and scenic landscapes.
Objective 4.2. Enhance public access to open space areas through the development of trails and recreational facilities.
Objective 4.3. Educate residents and stakeholders about the ecological value of open spaces and the importance of conservation efforts.
Goal 5: Reduce carbon emissions and prioritize pedestrians through a well-connected trail network and neighborhood supporting commercial uses and development.
Objective 5.1. Develop a comprehensive trail network that connects residential areas, commercial districts, and recreational spaces.
Objective 5.2. Promote mixed-use developments that encourage walking and cycling as primary modes of transportation.
Objective 5.3. Implement green building standards and energy-efficient practices in new developments to reduce carbon footprint.
3.4 Land Use and Zoning
3.4.1 Existing Land Use Designations
The existing City of Porterville 2030 General Plan land use designations within the Plan Area are shown in Figure 3-5. The acreage of each land use designation is shown in Table 3-4. The Plan Area is predominately planned for Low Density Residential land uses (60.9%), followed by Parks and Recreation (23.6%), Retail Center (8.7%), and Public Institutional (2.3%).
Table 3-4 Existing General Plan Land Use Designations of Plan Area General Plan
Land Use Designation
Total Acreage
Acres (#) Percent of Total (%)
Low Density Residential 272.41 60.9
Parks and Recreation 105.63 23.6
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 37 Public Institutional 10.16 2.3
Retail Center 38.89 8.7
Tule River (No Assigned Land Use) 20.16 4.5
Total 447.25 100
3.4.2 Existing Zoning Districts
Although the Plan Area is outside the City Limits, the City has pre-zoned the area consistent with the General Plan land uses. The existing pre-zoning within the Plan Area is shown in Figure 3-6. The acreage of each zone district is shown in Table 3-5. The Plan Area is predominately zoned RS-2 (Low Density Residential) (56.5%), followed by RS-1 (Very Low Density Residential) (41.2%), PK (Parks and Public Recreation Facilities) (1.17%), and CR (Retail Centers) (0.9%).
Table 3-5 Existing Zoning Districts within Plan Area
Zoning District Total Acreage
Acres (#) Percent of Total (%)
RS-1 (Very Low Density Residential) 184.48 41.2
RS-2 (Low Density Residential) 253.22 56.6
PK (Parks and Public Recreation Facilities) 5.25 1.17
CR (Retail Centers) 4.3 0.9
Total 447.25 100
3.4.3 Development Capacity
Based on the maximum allowed density/intensity per the General Plan (6.0 dwelling units (du)/acre for Low Density Residential and 0.35 floor-area ratio (FAR) for Retail Center), buildout under the existing land use designations could yield a maximum 1,634 single-family units and 592,916 square feet of non-residential uses, in addition to 105.63 acres of parks and recreational lands and 10.16 acres of public and institutional uses.
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Figure 3-5 City of Porterville General Plan Land Use Designation Map of Plan Area (Existing)
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 39 Figure 3-6 City of Porterville Zoning District Map of Plan Area (Existing Pre-Zoning)
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3.5 Project Characteristics
3.5.1 Organization of the Master Plan
The Master Plan will build on the policy framework established by the City of Porterville 2030 General Plan.
The Master Plan will serve as the planning tool and process that provides the high-level vision for development of the Plan Area. Although no physical development is proposed by the Master Plan, the Master Plan will outline the overall vision and identify concepts that will be implemented in the Plan Area as future development is proposed. The Master Plan will serve as the dynamic and long-term planning document to conceptually plan future growth and development.
The Master Plan document consists of seven sections, as follows:
• Section 1 – Introduction. The SoTu Master Plan begins by providing the purpose of the SoTu Master Plan, the existing conditions of the SoTu District, and the Master Plan’s consistencywith the General Plan.
• Section 2 – Vision, Goals, and Objectives. This section sets the vision, goals, and objectives for the SoTu District.
• Section 3 – Land Use. This section discusses the Land Use Plan and land use goals and policies for the Master Plan, which will serve as the framework for all land use activities. The District includes ten (10) land uses including residential, mixed-use, commercial, employment, public, and recreational designations to accommodate efficient land use. • Section 4 – Circulation Plan. This section establishes a Circulation Plan to establish various roadway levels such as highways, arterials, collectors, and local roads within the District. A network of bicycle and pedestrian paths and facilities are also planned for multi-modal transportation. The Circulation Plan is designed with an objective of promoting alternative means of transportation through bikeways, trails, and public transit.
• Section 5 – Open Space and Landscape. This section introduces and illustrates the planned parks and open spaces and describes goals and policies for the SoTu District on the provision of parks and recreation spaces. The SoTu Master Plan accommodates a minimum of 112.47 acres of open space, concentrated along the Tule River in the northern portion of the District. The park and open space areas will be linked by a network of bicycle and pedestrian facilities. • Section 6 – Infrastructure and Public Utilities. This section addresses stormwater and drainage, water supply and usage, wastewater generation and disposal, dry utilities, and public services within the District.
• Section 7 – Administration and Implementation. This section addresses the process and entitlements required to adopt the SoTu Master Plan and provides guidance on implementation processes for future developments within the District.
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3.5.2 Features of the Master Plan
3.5.2.1 Land Use Designations
The Master Plan proposes land use designation changes in certain areas within the Plan Area, which requires a General Plan Amendment and -concurrent rezoning. The changes are proposed to facilitate the transition of the Plan Area from a predominately agricultural and rural residential area to a mixed-use district, allowing varying uses at varying densities and intensities.
As shown in Table 3-6, the Master Plan would result in reductions in acreage of Low Density Residential and Retail Centers, and modest increases in Medium Density Residential, High Density Residential, Commercial Mixed-Use, Neighborhood Commercial, Professional Office, Industrial Park, Park and Recreation, and Public Institutional. The proposed land use designations are shown in Figure 3-7. The descriptions of each land use designation, as defined by the General Plan, are shown in Table 3-7.
Table 3-6 Proposed Changes to Land Use Designations
General Plan
Land Use Designation
Current Acreage by
General Plan
Proposed Acreage by
Master Plan
Net Change
in Acres
Low Density Residential 272.41 51.88 -220.53
Medium Density Residential -- 43.94 +43.94
High Density Residential -- 31.18 +31.18
Commercial Mixed-Use -- 33.11 +33.11
Neighborhood Commercial -- 8.53 +8.53
Retail Centers 38.89 24.64 -14.25
Professional Office -- 32.57 +32.57
Industrial Park -- 59.51 +59.51
Parks and Recreation 105.63 112.47 +6.84
Public Institutional 10.16 15.89 +5.73
Tule River (No Assigned Land Use) 20.16 20.16 0
Right-of-Way -- 33.61 +33.61
Total 447.30 447.30 0
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 42 Table 3-7 General Plan Land Use Designation Descriptions General Plan
Land Use Designation
Description Density/Intensity
Low Density Residential This density represents typical single-family subdivisions.
maximum residential density of 6.0 units per gross
acre
Medium Density Residential This density range would accommodate a variety of housing types, such as small-lot single-family
homes, detached zero lot line developments,
duplexes, townhouses, and garden apartments.
Pedestrian-oriented design and clustered
development can support higher levels of density.
maximum residential density of 12.0 units per
gross acre
High Density Residential This classification is intended to accommodate attached homes, two-to fourplexes, and apartment
buildings.
maximum residential density of 24.0 units per
gross acre
Commercial Mixed Use This designation allows for either horizontal or vertical mixed-use development. Commercial,
service, office, and residential uses are allowed.
Buildings more than one story are strongly
encouraged.
maximum FAR of 2.0 and maximum residential
density of 24.0 units per gross acre
Retail Centers Design and use standards will be established for regional shopping centers located at major
circulation intersections. Large format or “big box”
retail and auto sales as well as travel related
services, such as hotels and gas stations are
allowed.
maximum FAR of 0.35
Neighborhood Commercial This designation is intended for small-scale commercial development that primarily provides
office space and convenience retail for local
neighborhoods.
maximum FAR of 0.30
Professional Office This designation is intended for office complex development, including professional and medical
offices, as well as research and development
activities. Small restaurants, support services,
maximum FAR of 0.50
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 43 convenience retail and limited medium and high
density residential are also allowed.
Industrial Park This designation comprises a mix of light industrial, secondary office, bulk retail, and service uses.
Typical uses include warehouse, mini-storage,
research and development, wholesale, bulk retail,
and office space with limited customer access.
Other uses may be allowed, such as commercial
recreation, distribution centers, or other uses that
require large, warehouse-style buildings. Smallscale retail and service uses serving local employees and visitors are permitted as secondary
uses.
maximum FAR of 0.40
Public/Institutional This designation is intended for lands owned by public entities, including the Municipal Airport,
City Hall, County buildings, and the hospital. At the
Municipal Airport, industrial park uses will be
allowed. It will provide for needed public facilities,
including, but not limited to, recycling centers,
sewage treatment ponds, and police and fire
stations.
maximum FAR of 0.25
Park This designation applies to both public and private recreation sites and facilities.
maximum FAR of 0.10
Source: City of Porterville 2030 General Plan
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Figure 3-7 City of Porterville General Plan Land Use Designation Map/ SoTu Land Use Map (Proposed)
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3.5.2.2 Zoning Districts
The Master Plan proposes changes in zoning districts within the Plan Area, which requires a Rezone. The changes would be consistent with the proposed land use designations described in Section 3.5.2.1. As shown in Table 3-8, the Master Plan would result in reductions in acreage of RS-1 and RS-2, and increases in RM-2, RM-3, CMX, CR, PO, IP, PK, and PS zoning districts. The proposed zoning districts are shown in Figure 3-8. The descriptions of each zoning district, as defined by the Porterville Municipal Code, are shown in Table 3-9.
Table 3-8 Proposed Changes to Zoning Districts
Zoning District Current Acreage by
Zoning District
Proposed Acreage by
Master Plan
Net Change
in Acres
RS-1 (Very Low Density Residential) 184.48 -- -184.48
RS-2 (Low Density Residential) 253.22 51.88 -201.34
RM-2 (Medium Density Residential) -- 43.94 +43.72
RM-3 (High Density Residential) -- 31.18 +35.08
CMX (Commercial Mixed Use) -- 33.11 +32.99
CR (Retail Centers) 4.3 8.53 +4.23
CN (Neighborhood Commercial) -- 24.64 +24.35
PO (Professional Office) -- 32.57 +32.83
IP (Industrial Park) -- 59.51 +59.61
PK (Parks and Public Recreation Facilities) 5.25 112.47 +107.22 PS (Public and Semi-Public) -- 15.89 +15.81
Right-of-Way -- 33.61 +30.79
Total 447.30 447.30 0
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 46 Table 3-9 Zoning District Descriptions
Zoning District Description Consistent Land Use Designation RS-2 (Low Density Residential) To provide areas for attached or detached single family homes with a maximum residential density
of 7.5 units per net acre. This district also allows
for limited uses such as day care homes, parks, and
religious facilities that are appropriate in a low
density residential environment.
Low Density Residential
RM-2 (Medium Density Residential) To accommodate a variety of housing types, such as small-lot single-family homes, detached zero lot
line developments, duplexes, townhouses, and
garden apartments with a maximum residential
density of 15.0 units per net acre. This district is
intended to be located closer to community and
retail services, mixed use areas, parks, and areas
where greater access can be provided. In addition
to residential uses, this district allows for a variety of public and semi-public uses such as cultural
institutions and religious facilities that are
appropriate in a medium-density residential
environment. This district provides for a transition
from lower-density residential neighborhoods to
higher-density multi-family development and
commercial areas.
Medium Density Residential
RM-3 (High Density Residential) This classification is intended to accommodate attached homes, two- to four-plexes, and
apartment buildings with a maximum residential
density 30.0 units per net acre. This district allows
for a variety of public and semi-public uses such as
clubs and lodges, cultural institutions, and religious
facilities that are appropriate in a high-density
residential environment.
High Density Residential
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 47 CMX (Commercial Mixed Use) To provide areas for either horizontal or vertical mixed-use development consisting of commercial,
service, office, and residential uses. Buildings more
than one story are strongly encouraged. The
maximum FAR is 2.0 and the maximum residential
density is 30.0 units per acre.
Commercial Mixed Use
CR (Retail Centers) To maintain areas for regional shopping centers located at major circulation intersections. Large
format or “big box” retail and auto sales as well as
travel related services, such as hotels and gas
stations are allowed. The maximum FAR is 0.35.
Retail Centers
CN (Neighborhood Commercial) To encourage convenience and neighborhood shopping areas providing day-to-day retail goods
and services and to prohibit auto-oriented uses in
order to maintain a pedestrian environment. This
district also provides office space for local
neighborhoods. The maximum FAR is 0.30.
Neighborhood Commercial
PO (Professional Office) To allow for areas of office complex development, including professional and medical offices,
personal services, as well as research and
development activities, small restaurants, support
services, and convenience retail. The maximum
FAR is 0.50.
Professional Office
IP (Industrial Park) To provide areas for a mix of light industrial, secondary office, bulk retail, and service uses. This
district allows for uses such as, warehouse,
personal storage (mini-storage), distribution
centers, research and development, wholesale,
and office space with limited customer access. This
district also allows for other uses, such as
commercial recreation, small-scale retail, and
service uses serving local employees and visitors
Industrial Park
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 48 are permitted as secondary uses. The maximum
FAR is 0.40.
PS (Public and Semi-Public) To provide areas for needed public facilities, including, but not limited to, recycling centers,
sewage treatment ponds, police and fire stations,
and schools, colleges, vocational training facilities,
school administrative offices, fairgrounds, and
similar facilities. This designation is intended for
lands owned by public entities, including City Hall,
County buildings, and the hospital. This
designation allows for a maximum FAR of 0.25.
Public and Institutional
PK (Parks and Public Recreation Facilities) To maintain areas for public parks and recreation sites and facilities on city owned properties. The
maximum FAR is 0.10.
Parks and Recreation
Source: Porterville Municipal Code
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 49
Figure 3-8 City of Porterville Zoning District Map (Proposed)
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3.5.2.3 Development Density
As described above, the Master Plan proposes changes to land use designations and zoning districts within the Plan Area, consistent with the City’s vision and intent to facilitate the transition of the Plan Area from a predominately agricultural and rural residential area to a mixed-use district, allowing varying uses at varying densities and intensities.
The buildout assumptions under the Master Plan are shown in Table 3-10. These assumptions are based on an assumed density (dwelling units per acre) or intensity (floor area ratio), which was determined by reviewing the density and intensity of similarly zoned and developed property in the city of Porterville.
Overall, build under the Master Plan could yield 2,213 residential units (516 single-family and 1,697 multifamily units), 3,357,864 square feet (sf.) of commercial space, 1,337,717 sf. of employment space (i.e., office uses and industrial uses), and 15.81 acres of public and institutional uses, and 112.14 acres of park and recreational lands.
Table 3-10 Buildout Assumptions under Master Plan
Land Use Designation Residential Uses Non-Residential Uses Assumed
Density/Intensity
Assumed
Buildout
Assumed
Density/Intensity
Non-Residential
Square Footage
or Acreage
Low Density Residential 5.35 du/ac 385 single-family -- -- Medium Density
Residential
6.0 du/ac (single-family)
11.3 du/ac (multi-family)
131 single-family
247 multi-family
-- --
High Density Residential 22.55 du/ac 791 multi-family -- -- Commercial Mixed Use 20.0 du/ac 659 multi-family 2.0 FAR 2,874,089 Retail Centers -- -- 0.35 FAR 112,475
Neighborhood
Commercial
-- -- 0.30 FAR 371,300
Professional Office -- -- 0.30 FAR 428,976
Industrial Park -- -- 0.25 FAR 908,741
Public Institutional -- -- -- 15.81
Parks and Recreation -- -- -- 112.14
Total 2,213 units
516 single-family and 1,697 multi-family
4,695,293 square feet
3,357,864 sf. of commercial space
1,337,717 sf. of employment space
The Plan Area currently supports approximately 10 single-family units, 365 acres of agricultural uses, and
70.92 acres of open, vacant, and undeveloped lands (See Section 3.4.2). Under Master Plan build out assumptions, it is estimated that an additional 1,554 residential units and 4,695,293 square feet of nonresidential uses would be developed (Table 3-11). It is reasonable to assume that the existing open space, farmland, and vacant areas would be developed, except for lands proposed for parks and recreational uses or lands within the Tule River floodplain.
Table 3-11 Assumed Development under Master Plan Compared to Existing Conditions Land Use Designation Existing Development
(Existing Conditions)
Proposed Development
(Master Plan Assumptions)
Low Density Residential 10 units 385 units
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 51 Medium Density Residential -- 378 units
High Density Residential -- 791 units
Commercial Mixed Use -- 2,874,089 sf.
Retail Centers 0 sf. 112,475 sf.
Neighborhood Commercial -- 371,300 sf.
Professional Office -- 428,976 sf.
Industrial Park -- 908,741 sf.
Public and Institutional 0 acres 15.81 acres
Parks and Recreation 0 acres 112.14 acres
Housing production and mixed-use development (i.e., mix of residential and non-residential uses) is a primary motivation for the Master Plan (See Section 3.2). For comparison, buildout under existing land use designations (maximum density) versus under the proposed land use designations (assumed density) per the Master Plan are shown in Table 3-12. With the proposed Master Plan, the City would facilitate an additional 579 residential units with a substantial increase in commercial and employment uses.
Table 3-12 Comparison of Build Out under General Plan (Existing) and Master Plan (Proposed) Use Type Buildout Under Existing
Land Use Designations
(Max. Density)
Buildout Under Proposed
Land Use Designations
(Assumed Density)
Net Difference
Residential Units 1,634 2,213 +579
Single-Family 1,634 516 -1,118
Multi-Family -- 1,697 +1,697
Commercial Space (sf.) 592,916 3,357,864 +2,764,948
Employment Space (sf. -- 1,337,717 +1,337,717
Public and Institutional (ac) 10.16 15.81 +5.65
Parks and Recreation(ac) 105.63 112.14 +6.51
3.5.2.4 Circulation
The circulation plan for the Plan Area is described in Chapter 4 of the Master Plan. Circulation connecting to and within the Plan Area is planned to accommodate multiple modes of transportation, including bike and pedestrian trails, passenger vehicles, and public transit. Street classifications are proposed in accordance with the General Plan and City Standards. A network of trails, including Class I, Class II, and Class III bikeways, are proposed to provide active transportation and connection to open space and recreation Two bridges, in addition to the existing Westwood Street, would provide access between the Plan Area and the area north of the Tule River. These bridges include the south Prospect Street pedestrian bridge, connecting single-family residences north and south of the river, and the Newcomb Street bridge, providing vehicular and pedestrian access from north of the river to State Route 190 to the south of the Plan Area.
Improvements to the circulation network would be carried out by individual, private development projects.
3.5.2.5 Utilities and Service Systems
Utilities and service systems for the Plan Area are described in Chapter 6 of the Master Plan. The City’s existing water and sewer systems extend to the Plan Area. There are existing water mains in the Newcomb Street Alignment, the Springville Avenue Alignment, and the Prospect Avenue Alignment. There are also
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 52 existing sewer mains in Westwood Street, the Newcomb Street Alignment, and the Springville Avenue Alignment. Development of the Plan Area will require onsite water and sewer main extensions, which would be installed when individual, private development projects are carried out. In addition, future development would be required to size and build storm basins and a conveyance system to collect stormwater runoff.
Solid waste, gas, electric, and communication services would be provided by private companies.
3.5.2.6 Master Plan Goals and Policies
Land Use
Goal LU-1 Foster smart growth principles that enhance infrastructure, connectivity, and community resilience while ensuring efficient use of resources and promoting economic vitality.
Policy LU-1 Zoning classifications within the SoTu Master Plan boundary shall be consistent with the General Plan in accordance with Table: Land Use Designation and Zoning Consistency.
Policy LU-2 Allow residential developments to employ creative site design, landscaping, and architectural quality that blend with the characteristics of each location and its surroundings and offer superior design solutions.
Policy LU-3 Promote architectural diversity by prohibiting more than three (3) homes within the same block face from having the same front elevation.
Policy LU-4 Enforce zoning and development regulations through project review, construction inspections, and code enforcement, with fees to enable full-cost recovery for providing these services.
Policy LU-5 Encourage pedestrian-oriented design in mixed-use neighborhoods.
Policy LU-6 Prohibit new strip commercial developments.
For purposes of this policy, strip development is defined as a row of at least three stores, where each has direct access to a street with a surface parking lot between the building and the street. There may or may not be an anchor tenant.
Policy LU-7 Prohibit, where possible, block lengths longer than 600 feet. Where block length greater than 600 feet are necessary, provide pedestrian connections no more than 350 feet apart.
Policy LU-8 Actively promote the annexation of industrial designated lands to accommodate planned job growth.
Policy LU-9 Foster high-quality design and allow secondary uses, such as childcare and other employee-serving amenities in Industrial Parks, if they complement primary use without compromising public health and safety.
Policy LU-10 Provide sufficient land for parks and open space to meet current and future demand.
Policy LU-11 Offer incentives for industrial development projects that contribute to the pedestrian, bicycle and transit networks, and/or parks and public open space.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 53 Goal LU-2 Promote sustainable and integrated development practices that prioritize environmental conservation, community health, and safety.
Policy LU-12 Encourage green building techniques and materials in residential development.
Policy LU-13 Require that all new subdivisions preserve natural, cultural, and biological resources, including stands of large trees and rock outcroppings, to the maximum extent feasible.
Policy LU-14 Protect existing residential neighborhoods from the encroachment of incompatible activities and land uses, and environmental hazards.
Policy LU-15 Discourage residential development within the Airport Safety Zone. If residential development is approved in the County within the Airport Safety Zone, it must comply with Tulare County Airport Land Use Commission’s land-use compatibility standards and density restrictions.
Policy LU-16 Avoid siting new sensitive land uses within 500 feet of a freeway, urban roads with 100,000 vehicles/day, or rural roads with 50,000 vehicles/day. Sensitive land uses include residences, schools, day care centers, playgrounds, and medical facilities.
Policy LU-17 Ensure that schools are buffered 0.25 miles from hazardous sites, such as distribution centers, chrome platers, gasoline dispensing facilities, etc., in accordance with CARB’s Air Quality and Land Use Handbook: A Community Health Perspective (https://ww2.CARB.ca.gov/ourwork/programs/resource-center/strategy-development/land-use-resources).
Circulation
Goal C-1: Enhance transportation infrastructure and mobility options across the District by integrating safe and accessible bicycle lanes and complete streets design, ensuring equitable access for all users.
Policy C-1 Require all new developments to provide right-of-way and improvements consistent with the Master Plan street designations and street section standards.
Policy C-2 Establish bicycle lanes, bike routes and bike paths consistent with the SoTu Master Plan.
Policy C-2 Increase bicycle safety by:
• Sweeping and repairing bicycle lanes and paths on a regular basis; • Ensuring that bikeways are delineated and signed in accordance with Caltrans’ and the City of Porterville’s standards, and lighting is provided, where needed; • Providing bicycle paths or lanes on bridges and overpasses; • Ensuring that all new and improved streets have bicycle-safe drainage grates and are free of hazards such as uneven pavement and gravel;
• Provide adequate signage and markings warning vehicular traffic of the existence of merging or crossing bicycle traffic where bike routes and paths make transitions into or across roadways;
• Work with the school districts to promote classes on bicycle safety in the schools; and • Include way-finding signage at trail entrances and junctions.
Policy C-3 Provide bikes equal treatment in terms of safety and comfort on arterials and collectors as motor vehicles.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 54 Policy C-4 Develop a series of continuous walkways within new office parks, commercial districts, and residential neighborhoods so they connect to one another.
Policy C-5 Ensure that pedestrian facilities are accessible to physically disabled persons, and that roadway improvement projects address mobility or accessibility for bicyclists or pedestrians.
Policy C-6 Install traffic calming devices, such as signage and bulbs, as needed and appropriate in existing neighborhoods.
Policy C-7 Provide for pedestrian-friendly zones in conjunction with the development, redevelopment, and design of mixed-use areas, commercial areas, schools, parks, and other high use areas by:
• Providing intersection “bump outs” to reduce walking distances across streets within mixed-use areas and other high use areas;
• Providing pedestrian facilities at all signalized intersections; • Providing shade by planting large canopy shade trees adjacent to the trail; • Providing sidewalks of adequate width to encourage pedestrian use; and • Constructing adequately lit and safe access through subdivision sites.
Policy C-8 Designate specific truck routes to provide for movement of goods throughout the City, ensure that adequate pavement depth, lane widths, and turn radii are maintained on the designated truck routes, and prohibit commercial trucks from non-truck routes except for deliveries. These routes should avoid residential neighborhoods.
Goal C-2: Promote sustainable development practices that minimize environmental impact, enhance urban aesthetics, and support efficient transportation systems.
Policy C-9 Require the installation of landscaping in center medians and at major intersections to minimize summer heat and enhance the character of the streetscapes.
Policy C-10 Require the installation of street trees on all public street frontages between the curb and sidewalk.
Policy C-11 Require traffic impact studies for all Master Plan amendments that will generate more than 100 peak hour trips.
Policy C-12 Continue to require that new development pay a fair share of the costs of street and other traffic and local transportation improvements based on traffic generated and impacts on traffic service levels.
Policy C-13 Use city-wide traffic impact fees to provide additional funding for transportation improvements needed to serve new development.
Policy C-14 Require new development that will have an impact on regional transportation facilities to pay a regional transportation impact fee.
Policy C-15 Allow shared parking for mixed uses where peak parking demands do not overlap.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 55 Policy C-16 Promote passive solar on parking structures to generate energy for parking lot lighting Policy C-17 Promote pervious parking paving to improve groundwater recharge.
Policy C-18 Promote an efficient, connected street system by requiring new development adjacent to undeveloped land provide street stubs where future adjacent development shall connect.
Policy C-19 Prohibit, where possible, culs-de-sac and dead end streets in residential areas.
Policy C-20 Prohibit, where possible, block lengths longer than 600 feet. Where block length greater than 600 feet are necessary, provide pedestrian connections no more than 350 feet apart.
Parks and Open Space
Goal OCS-1 Preserve natural features that promote biodiversity and planned open spaces as development occurs to enhance the ecological integrity and aesthetic value of the community.
Policy OSC-1 Establish a secure funding source for open space acquisition and management.
Policy OSC-2 Use native vegetation, drought tolerant plants, recycled water irrigation, other watersaving devices drainage swales and water percolation systems, and recycled building materials in public open spaces for ease of maintenance and environmental sustainability.
Goal OCS-2 Ensure that parks and open space are an efficient use of land, are designed for the enjoyment, health, and well-being of all residents, and represent positive social infrastructure.
Policy OSC-3 Work with property owners, law enforcement officials, and the public to protect open space resources. These efforts will include, but are not limited to:
• Soliciting volunteers to remove invasive vegetation;
• Removing abandoned items and trash; and
• Ensuring no illegal encampments occur on open space areas Policy OSC-4 Provide a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities through improvements to open space and parks, construction of facilities, and sponsoring of programs that stimulate active resident participation.
Policy OCS-5 The design and development of new residential subdivisions shall preserve the following open space areas to the maximum extent feasible: trail corridors, streams, natural vegetation.
Policy OCS-6 Promote the inclusion of common open space, such as pocket park, neighborhood park, greenway or trails, and recreational facilities in residential and mixed use developments.
Policy OCS-7 Design parks such that at least fifty percent of the horizontal park area is landscaped with pervious surfaces, such as turf, gravel, sand, and bark, and no more than fifty percent of the area is paved.
Infrastructure and Public Utilities
Goal PU-1 Ensure an adequate supply of water to serve the needs of the District and promote conservation of water uses.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 56 Policy PU-1 Require that necessary water supply infrastructure and storage facilities are in place coincident with new development and approve development plans only when a dependable and adequate water supply to serve the development is assured. A water assessment study may be required for individual projects.
Policy PU-2 Continue to require water meters in all new developments.
Policy PU-3 Require that agricultural water rights be assigned to the City when agricultural land is annexed to the City for urban development, consistent with this General Plan.
If a landowner with surface water rights requests annexation to the City, the City will require the landowner to assign those water rights to the City to help offset the water demands for the new development.
Policy PU-4 Encourage the use of alternative water sources to achieve a water balance, including reclaimed water for irrigation and landscaping purposes.
Goal PU-2 Ensure the provision of wastewater collection and treatment services and reclamation area acreages meet the needs of the District.
Policy PU-5 Prevent illegal wastewater disposal or chemical disposal practices.
Goal PU-3 Provide a comprehensive storm drainage system to protect life and property.
Policy PU-6 Require new development to provide storm drainage facilities and/or pay a storm drainage impact fee, consistent with the Storm Drain Master Plan.
3.6 Permits and Approvals Required
The Master Plan would require approval by the City of Porterville City Council, including approval of a General Plan Amendment, Rezone/Pre-zone, and Conditional Use Permit, in addition to adoption of the Master Plan and certification of the Final EIR. No permits would be required from other agencies for approval of the Project.
Table 3-13 Required Project Approvals
Project Approval Final Decision
General Plan Amendment 2024-001 City Council
Pre-Zone/Rezone 2024-001 City Council
Conditional Use Permit City Council
Master Plan Adoption City Council
EIR Certification City Council
3.7 Subsequent Entitlements and Approvals
The Master Plan is a policy document and planning tool that does not include any specific development proposals. This Focused EIR does not fully evaluate the impacts of future specific, individual development that may be facilitated through implementation of the Master Plan. When future development projects are proposed within the Plan Area, the Zoning Administrator, Parcel Map Committee, or City Councilwould have authority to review and approve such projects. Future projects within the Plan Area that are found to be
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 57 consistent with this Focused EIR may tier from this EIR in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15162- 15168, and 15183, and/or may require additional, project-specific environmental and discretionary review.
Future development of the Plan Area would also require approval of one or more annexations by the Tulare County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo), as well as review, permits, and/or approvals, such as grading, building, encroachment, and sign permits. Other approvals may be required as identified through the entitlement review and approval process. In addition, other agencies may have the authority to issues permits prior to implementation including but not limited to:
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW) • California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Fresno Region 5 (RWQCB) • Porterville Unified School District
• San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
• Army Corps of Engineers
• Tulare County LAFCo
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 58 4 SETTINGS, IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURES
This chapter identifies and evaluates the environmental impacts associated with the Master Plan in accordance with CEQA, including the potentially significant environmental impacts and feasible mitigation measures. As defined by CEQA, a significant impact is a substantial or potentially substantial adverse change to the physical environment resulting from implementation of a project.
4.1 Baseline Conditions
According to CEQA Guidelines Section 15125(a), an EIR must include a description of the physical environmental conditions in the vicinity of the project. The environmental setting will normally constitute the baseline physical conditions by which a lead agency determines whether an impact is significant.
Generally, the lead agency should describe physical environmental conditions as they exist at the time the notice of preparation is published. As described in Chapter 2 Introduction, the City issued a notice of preparation on March 20, 2024. Conditions of the Plan Area have not changed substantially since March 2024. Therefore, for the purposes of this analysis, the baseline conditions for this Draft EIR are generally the conditions that existed in March 2024. These existing conditions are described in Chapter 3. Project Description.
4.2 Determination of Significance
CEQA Guidelines Section 15382 defines a significant effect on the environment as a substantial or potentially substantial adverse change in any of the physical conditions within the area affected by the project, including land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, ambient noise, and objects of historic or aesthetic significance. An economic or social change by itself shall not be considered a significant effect on the environment. A social or economic change related to a physical change may be considered in determining whether the physical change is significant. The standards used to determine the level of significance of the environmental impacts are identified in the following section, specific to the resource area. The thresholds are based on Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines and applicable regulatory standards.
4.3 Air Quality
This section analyzes the potential direct and cumulative air quality impacts of the proposed Project and determines whether implementation of the proposed Project would result in air emissions that exceed applicable air quality standards, cause cumulatively considerable increases in criteria pollutants, significantly impact sensitive receptors, or create objectionable odors.
4.3.1 Environmental Setting
Air quality impacts are both local and regional. Local and regional air quality is impacted by topography, dominant airflows, atmospheric inversions, location, and season. The Project is located in the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin (Air Basin), which experiences some of the most challenging environmental conditions for air quality in the nation. The following section describes these conditions as they pertain to the Air Basin.
The information in this section is primarily from San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s (SJVAPCD) Guidance for Assessing and Mitigating Air Quality Impacts (GAMAQI).
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 59 Topography
The topography of a region is important for air quality because mountains can block airflow that would help disperse pollutants and can channel air from upwind areas that transports pollutants to downwind areas.
The SJVAPCD covers the entirety of the Air Basin. The Air Basin is generally shaped like a bowl. It is open in the north and is surrounded by mountain ranges on all other sides. The Sierra Nevada mountains are along the eastern boundary (8,000 to 14,000 feet in elevation), the Coast Ranges are along the western boundary (3,000 feet in elevation), and the Tehachapi Mountains are along the southern boundary (6,000 to 8,000 feet in elevation).
Climate
The climate is important for air quality because of differences in the atmosphere’s ability to trap pollutants close to the ground, which creates adverse air quality; inversely, the atmosphere’s ability to rapidly disperse pollutants over a wide area prevents high concentrations from accumulating under different climatic conditions. The Air Basin has an “inland Mediterranean” climate and is characterized by long, hot, dry summers and short, foggy winters. Sunlight can be a catalyst in the formation of some air pollutants (such as ozone); the Air Basin averages over 260 sunny days per year. Inversion layers, or a layer in the atmosphere in which air temperature increases with height, are significant in determining pollutant concentrations.
Concentration levels can be related to the amount of mixing space below the inversion. Temperature inversions that occur on the summer days are usually encountered 2,000 to 2,500 feet above the valley floor. In winter months, overnight inversions occur 500 to 1,500 feet above the valley floor. Dominant airflows provide the driving mechanism for transport and dispersion of air pollution. The mountains surrounding the Air Basin form natural horizontal barriers to the dispersion of air contaminants. The wind generally flows south-southeast through the valley, through the Tehachapi Pass and into the Mojave Desert Air Basin portion of Kern County. As the wind moves through the Air Basin, it mixes with the air pollution generated locally, generally transporting air pollutants from the north to the south in the summer and in a reverse flow in the winter.
The winds and unstable air conditions experienced during the passage of winter storms result in periods of low pollutant concentrations and excellent visibility. Between winter storms, high pressure and light winds allow cold moist air to pool on the San Joaquin Valley floor. This creates strong, low level temperature inversions and very stable air conditions, which can lead to Tule fog. Wintertime conditions favorable to fog formation are also conditions favorable to high concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10.
4.3.2 Regulatory Setting
Air pollutants are regulated to protect human health and for secondary effects such as visibility and building soiling. The Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970 tasks the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with setting air quality standards. The State of California also sets air quality standards, which are in some cases more stringent than federal standards, in addition to addressing additional pollutants. The following section describes these federal and state standards and the health effects of the regulated pollutants.
Clean Air Act
Congress established much of the basic structure of the CAA in 1970 and made major revisions in 1977 and 1990. Six common air pollutants (also known as criteria pollutants) are addressed in the CAA: particulate matter, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and lead. The EPA labels these
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 60 pollutants as criteria air pollutants because they are regulated by developing human health-based and/or environmentally based criteria (science-based guidelines), which set permissible levels. The set of limits based on human health are called primary standards. Another set of limits intended to prevent environmental and property damage are called secondary standards.
The federal standards are called National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The air quality standards provide benchmarks for determining whether air quality is healthy at specific locations and whether development activities will cause or contribute to a violation of the standards. The criteria pollutants are:
• Ozone
• Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5)
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
• Carbon monoxide (CO)
• Lead
• Sulfur dioxide
The federal standards were set to protect public health, including that of sensitive individuals; thus, the EPA is tasked with updating the standards as more medical research is available regarding the health effects of the criteria pollutants. Primary federal standards are the levels of air quality necessary, with an adequate margin of safety, to protect public health.
California Clean Air Act
The California Legislature enacted the California Clean Air Act (CCAA) in 1988 to address air quality issues of concern not adequately addressed by the federal CAA at the time. California’s air quality problems were and continue to be some of the most severe in the nation and require additional actions beyond the federal mandates. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) administers California Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) for the 10 air pollutants designated in the CCAA. The 10 state air pollutants are the six federal standards listed above as well visibility-reducing particulates, hydrogen sulfide, sulfates, and vinyl chloride.
The EPA authorized California to adopt its own regulations for motor vehicles and other sources that are more stringent than similar federal regulations implementing the CAA.
Toxic Air Contaminants
A toxic air contaminant (TAC) is defined as an air pollutant that may cause or contribute to an increase in mortality or serious illness, or that may pose a hazard to human health. TACs are usually present in minute quantities in the ambient air; however, their high toxicity or health risk may pose a threat to public health even at low concentrations. There are no ambient air quality standards for TAC emissions. TACs are regulated in terms of health risks to individuals and populations exposed to the pollutants. The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments significantly expanded the EPA’s authority to regulate hazardous air pollutants (HAP).
Section 112 of the Clean Air Act lists 187 hazardous air pollutants to be regulated by source category.
Authority to regulate these pollutants was delegated to individual states. CARB and local air districts regulate TACs and HAPs in California.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 61 Air Pollutant Description and Health Effects
The federal and State ambient air quality standards, relevant effects, properties, and sources of the pollutants are summarized in Table 4-1. Several pollutants listed are not addressed in this analysis. Analysis of lead, hydrogen sulfide, sulfates, and vinyl chloride are not included in this report because no new sources of these pollutant emissions are anticipated with the Project. Visibility-reducing particles are not explicitly addressed in this analysis because particulate matter is addressed as PM10 and PM2.5.
Toxic Air Contaminants Health Effects
Exposures to TACs emissions can have both chronic long-term (over a year or longer) and acute short-term (over a period of hours) health impacts. The TACs of greatest concern are those that cause serious health problems or affect many people. Health problems can include cancer, respiratory irritation, nervous system problems, and birth defects. Some health problems occur very soon after a person inhales a TAC. These immediate effects may be minor, such as watery eyes, or they may be serious, such as life-threatening lung damage. Other health problems may not appear until many months or years after a person’s first exposure to the TAC. Cancer is one example of a delayed health problem.
The California Almanac of Emissions and Air Quality—2009 Edition1 presents the relevant concentration and cancer risk data for the ten TACs that pose the most substantial health risk in California based on available data. The ten TACs are acetaldehyde, benzene, 1.3-butadiene, carbon tetrachloride, hexavalent chromium, para-dichlorobenzene, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, perchloroethylene, and diesel particulate matter (DPM).
1 California Air Resources Board. (2009). The California Almanac of Emissions and Air Quality – 2009 Edition. Chapter 4, Air Basin Trends and Forecasts – Criteria Pollutants. Accessed May 2024, https://www.cityofdavis.org/home/showdocument?Id=4101
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 62 Table 4-1 Description of Air Pollutants
Air
Pollutant
Averaging
Time
California
Standard
Federal
Standard
a
Most Relevant Effects from Pollutant
Exposure
Properties Sources
Ozone
1-Hour 0.09 ppm — Irritate respiratory system; reduce lung function; breathing pattern changes;
reduction of breathing capacity; inflame
and damage cells that line the lungs;
make lungs more susceptible to
infection; aggravate asthma; aggravate
other chronic lung diseases; cause
permanent lung damage; some
immunological changes; increased
mortality risk; vegetation and property
damage.
Ozone is a photochemical pollutant
as it is not emitted directly into the
atmosphere, but is formed by a
complex series of chemical
reactions between volatile organic
compounds (VOC), NOX, and
sunlight. Ozone is a regional
pollutant that is generated over a
large area and is transported and
spread by the wind.
Ozone is a secondary pollutant; thus,
it is not emitted directly into the
lower level of the atmosphere. The
primary sources of ozone precursors
(VOC and NOX) are mobile sources
(on-road and off-road vehicle
exhaust). 8-Hour 0.070
ppm
0.070
ppmf
Carbon
monoxide
(CO)
1-Hour 20 ppm 35 ppm Ranges depending on exposure: slight headaches; nausea; aggravation of
angina pectoris (chest pain) and other
aspects of coronary heart disease;
decreased exercise tolerance in persons
with peripheral vascular disease and
lung disease; impairment of central
nervous system functions; possible
increased risk to fetuses; death.
CO is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas.
CO is somewhat soluble in water;
therefore, rainfall and fog can
suppress CO conditions. CO enters
the body through the lungs,
dissolves in the blood, replaces
oxygen as an attachment to
hemoglobin, and reduces available
oxygen in the blood.
CO is produced by incomplete
combustion of carbon-containing
fuels (e.g., gasoline, diesel fuel, and
biomass). Sources include motor
vehicle exhaust, industrial processes
(metals processing and chemical
manufacturing), residential wood
burning, and natural sources.
8-Hour 9.0 ppm 9 ppm
Nitrogen
dioxideb
(NO2)
1-Hour 0.18 ppm 0.100
ppm
Potential to aggravate chronic
respiratory disease and respiratory
symptoms in sensitive groups; risk to
public health implied by pulmonary and
extra-pulmonary biochemical and
cellular changes and pulmonary
structural changes; contribution to
atmospheric discoloration; increased
visits to hospital for respiratory
illnesses.
During combustion of fossil fuels,
oxygen reacts with nitrogen to
produce nitrogen oxides—NOX (NO,
NO2, NO3, N2O, N2O3, N2O4, and
N2O5). NOX is a precursor to ozone,
PM10, and PM2.5 formation. NOX can
react with compounds to form nitric
acid and related small particles and
result in PM-related health effects.
NOX is produced in motor vehicle
internal combustion engines and
fossil fuel-fired electric utility and
industrial boilers. Nitrogen dioxide
(NO2) forms quickly from NOX
emissions. NO2 concentrations near
major roads can be 30 to 100 percent
higher than those at monitoring
stations.
Annual 0.030
ppm
0.053
ppm
Sulfur
dioxidec
(SO2)
1-Hour 0.25 ppm 0.075
ppm
Bronchoconstriction accompanied by
symptoms which may include
wheezing, shortness of breath and
chest tightness, during exercise or
Sulfur dioxide is a colorless,
pungent gas. At levels greater than
0.5 ppm, the gas has a strong odor,
similar to rotten eggs. Sulfur oxides
Human-caused sources include
fossil-fuel combustion, mineral ore
processing, and chemical
manufacturing. Volcanic emissions
3-Hour — 0.5 ppm
24-Hour 0.04 ppm 0.14
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 63 (for
certain
areas)
physical activity in persons with asthma.
Some population-based studies indicate
that the mortality and morbidity effects
associated with fine particles show a
similar association with ambient sulfur
dioxide levels. It is not clear whether the
two pollutants act synergistically or one
pollutant alone is the predominant
factor.
(SOX) include sulfur dioxide and
sulfur trioxide. Sulfuric acid is
formed from sulfur dioxide, which
can lead to acid deposition and can
harm natural resources and
materials. Although sulfur dioxide
concentrations have been reduced
to levels well below state and
federal standards, further
reductions are desirable because
sulfur dioxide is a precursor to
sulfate and PM10.
are a natural source of sulfur dioxide.
The gas can also be produced in the
air by dimethylsulfide and hydrogen
sulfide. Sulfur dioxide is removed
from the air by dissolution in water,
chemical reactions, and transfer to
soils and ice caps. The sulfur dioxide
levels in the State are well below the
maximum standards.
Annual —
0.030
ppm (for
certain
areas)
Particulate
matter
(PM10)
24-Hour 50 µg/m3 150 µg/m3 • Short-term exposure (hours/days):
irritation of the eyes, nose, throat;
coughing; phlegm; chest tightness;
shortness of breath; aggravates
existing lung disease, causing
asthma attacks and acute
bronchitis; those with heart disease
can suffer heart attacks and
arrhythmias.
• Long-term exposure: reduced lung
function; chronic bronchitis;
changes in lung morphology; death.
Suspended particulate matter is a
mixture of small particles that
consist of dry solid fragments,
droplets of water, or solid cores
with liquid coatings. The particles
vary in shape, size, and
composition. PM10 refers to
particulate matter that is between
2.5 and 10 microns in diameter (1
micron is one-millionth of a meter).
PM2.5 refers to particulate matter
that is 2.5 microns or less in
diameter, about one-thirtieth the
size of the average human hair.
Stationary sources include fuel or
wood combustion for electrical
utilities, residential space heating,
and industrial processes;
construction and demolition; metals,
minerals, and petrochemicals; wood
products processing; mills and
elevators used in agriculture; erosion
from tilled lands; waste disposal; and
recycling. Mobile or transportationrelated sources are from vehicle exhaust and road dust. Secondary
particles form from reactions in the
atmosphere.
Mean 20 µg/m3 —
Particulate
matter
(PM2.5)
24-Hour — 35 µg/m3
Annual 12 µg/m3
12.0 µg/m3
Visibilityreducing
particles
8-Hour See note belowd
Sulfates 24-Hour 25 µg/m3 —
(a) Decrease in ventilatory function;
(b) aggravation of asthmatic
symptoms;
(c) aggravation of cardio-pulmonary
disease;
(d) vegetation damage;
(e) degradation of visibility;
(f) property damage.
The sulfate ion is a polyatomic anion
with the empirical formula SO4
2−
.
Sulfates occur in combination with
metal and/or hydrogen ions. Many
sulfates are soluble in water.
Sulfates are particulates formed
through the photochemical
oxidation of sulfur dioxide. In
California, the main source of sulfur
compounds is combustion of
gasoline and diesel fuel.
Leade
30-day 1.5 µg/m3 — Lead accumulates in bones, soft tissue, and blood and can affect the kidneys,
Lead is a solid heavy metal that can
exist in air pollution as an aerosol
Lead ore crushing, lead-ore smelting,
Quarter — 1.5 µg/m and battery manufacturing are 3
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 64 Rolling 3-
month
average
—
0.15 µg/m3
liver, and nervous system. It can cause
impairment of blood formation and
nerve conduction, behavior disorders,
mental retardation, neurological
impairment, learning deficiencies, and
low IQ.
particle component. Leaded
gasoline was used in motor vehicles
until around 1970. Lead
concentrations have not exceeded
state or federal standards at any
monitoring station since 1982.
currently the largest sources of lead
in the atmosphere in the United
States. Other sources include dust
from soils contaminated with leadbased paint, solid waste disposal, and crustal physical weathering.
Vinyl
chloridee
24-Hour 0.01 ppm —
Short-term exposure to high levels of
vinyl chloride in the air causes central
nervous system effects, such as
dizziness, drowsiness, and headaches.
Epidemiological studies of
occupationally exposed workers have
linked vinyl chloride exposure to
development of a rare cancer, liver
angiosarcoma, and have suggested a
relationship between exposure and
lung and brain cancers.
Vinyl chloride, or chloroethene, is a
chlorinated hydrocarbon and a
colorless gas with a mild, sweet
odor. In 1990, CARB identified vinyl
chloride as a toxic air contaminant
and estimated a cancer unit risk
factor.
Most vinyl chloride is used to make
polyvinyl chloride plastic and vinyl
products, including pipes, wire and
cable coatings, and packaging
materials. It can be formed when
plastics containing these substances
are left to decompose in solid waste
landfills. Vinyl chloride has been
detected near landfills, sewage
plants, and hazardous waste sites.
Hydrogen
sulfide 1-Hour 0.03 ppm —
High levels of hydrogen sulfide can
cause immediate respiratory arrest. It
can irritate the eyes and respiratory
tract and cause headache, nausea,
vomiting, and cough. Long exposure can
cause pulmonary edema.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a
flammable, colorless, poisonous gas
that smells like rotten eggs.
Manure, storage tanks, ponds,
anaerobic lagoons, and land
application sites are the primary
sources of hydrogen sulfide.
Anthropogenic sources include the
combustion of sulfur-containing
fuels (oil and coal).
Volatile organic
compounds (VOC)
There are no state or
federal standards for
VOCs because they are
not classified as criteria
pollutants.
Although health-based standards have
not been established for VOCs, health
effects can occur from exposures to high
concentrations because of interference
with oxygen uptake. In general,
concentrations of VOCs are suspected
to cause eye, nose, and throat irritation;
headaches; loss of coordination;
nausea; and damage to the liver, the
kidneys, and the central nervous
system. Many VOCs have been classified
as toxic air contaminants.
Reactive organic gases (ROG), or
VOCs, are defined as any compound
of carbon—excluding carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic
acid, metallic carbides or
carbonates, and ammonium
carbonate—that participates in
atmospheric photochemical
reactions. Although there are slight
differences in the definition of ROG
and VOCs, the two terms are often
used interchangeably.
Indoor sources of VOCs include
paints, solvents, aerosol sprays,
cleansers, tobacco smoke, etc.
Outdoor sources of VOCs are from
combustion and fuel evaporation. A
reduction in VOC emissions reduces
certain chemical reactions that
contribute to the formulation of
ozone. VOCs are transformed into
organic aerosols in the atmosphere,
which contribute to higher PM10 and
lower visibility.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 65 Diesel particulate
matter (DPM)
There are no ambient
air quality standards for
DPM.
Some short-term (acute) effects of DPM
exposure include eye, nose, throat, and
lung irritation, coughs, headaches, lightheadedness, and nausea. Studies have linked elevated particle levels in the air
to increased hospital admissions,
emergency room visits, asthma attacks,
and premature deaths among those
suffering from respiratory problems.
Human studies on the carcinogenicity of
DPM demonstrate an increased risk of
lung cancer, although the increased risk
cannot be clearly attributed to diesel
exhaust exposure.
DPM is a source of PM2.5—diesel
particles are typically 2.5 microns
and smaller. Diesel exhaust is a
complex mixture of thousands of
particles and gases that is produced
when an engine burns diesel fuel.
Organic compounds account for 80
percent of the total particulate
matter mass, which consists of
compounds such as hydrocarbons
and their derivatives, and polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons and their
derivatives. Fifteen polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons are
confirmed carcinogens, a number
of which are found in diesel
exhaust.
Diesel exhaust is a major source of
ambient particulate matter pollution
in urban environments. Typically, the
main source of DPM is from
combustion of diesel fuel in dieselpowered engines. Such engines are in on-road vehicles such as diesel
trucks, off-road construction
vehicles, diesel electrical generators,
and various pieces of stationary
construction equipment.
Notes:
ppm = parts per million (concentration) µg/m3 = micrograms per cubic meter Annual = Annual Arithmetic Mean 30-day = 30-day average Quarter = Calendar quarter
a
Federal standard refers to the primary national ambient air quality standard, or the levels of air quality necessary, with an adequate margin of safety to protect the public health. All standards listed are primary standards except for 3 Hour SO2, which is a secondary standard. A secondary standard is the level of air quality necessary to protect the public welfare from any known or anticipated adverse effects of a pollutant. b To attain the 1-hour NO2 national standard, the 3-year average of the annual 98th percentile of the 1-hour daily maximum concentrations at each site must not exceed 100 parts per billion (ppb) (0.100 ppm).
c On June 2, 2010, a new 1-hour SO2 standard was established and the existing 24-hour and annual primary standards were revoked. To attain the 1-hour national standard, the 3-year average of the annual 99th percentile of the 1-hour daily maximum concentrations at each site must not exceed 75 ppb. The 1971 SO2 national standards (24-hour and annual) remain in effect until one year after an area is designated for the 2010 standard, except that in areas designated nonattainment for the 1971 standards, the 1971 standards remain in effect until implementation plans to attain or maintain the 2010 standards are approved. d Visibility-reducing particles: In 1989, the CARB converted both the general statewide 10-mile visibility standard and the Lake Tahoe 30-mile visibility standard to instrumental equivalents, which are “extinction of 0.23 per kilometer” and “extinction of 0.07 per kilometer” for the statewide and Lake Tahoe Air Basin standards, respectively.
e The CARB has identified lead and vinyl chloride as “toxic air contaminants” with no threshold level of exposure for adverse health effects determined. These actions allow for the implementation of control measures at levels below the ambient concentrations specified for these pollutants. f The EPA Administrator approved a revised 8-hour ozone standard of 0.07 ppb on October 1, 2015. The new standard went into effect 60 days after publication of the Final Rule in the Federal Register. The Final Rule was published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2015 and became effective on December 28, 2015.
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Some studies indicate that DPM poses the greatest health risk among the TACs listed above. A 10-year research program2 demonstrated that DPM from diesel-fueled engines is a human carcinogen and that chronic (long-term) inhalation exposure to DPM poses a chronic health risk. In addition to increased risk of lung cancer, exposure to diesel exhaust can have other health effects. Diesel exhaust can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, and it can cause a cough, headaches, lightheadedness, and nausea. Diesel exhaust is a major source of fine particulate pollution as well, and studies have linked elevated particle levels in the air to increased hospital admissions, emergency room visits, asthma attacks, and premature deaths among those suffering from respiratory problems.
DPM differs from other TACs in that it is not a single substance, but a complex mixture of hundreds of substances. Although DPM is emitted by diesel-fueled internal combustion engines, the composition of the emissions varies, depending on engine type, operating conditions, fuel composition, lubricating oil, and whether an emission control system is present. Unlike the other TACs, however, no ambient monitoring data are available for DPM because no routine measurement method currently exists. CCARB has made preliminary concentration estimates based on a DPM exposure method. This method uses the CARB emissions inventory’s PM10 database, ambient PM10 monitoring data, and the results from several studies to estimate concentrations of DPM.
Health risks attributable to the top 10 TACs listed above are available from CARB as part of its California Almanac of Emissions and Air Quality. As shown therein for data collected at air monitoring stations in urban areas of the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin, cancer risks attributable to all of the listed TACs above with the exception of DPM have declined about 70 percent from the mid-1990s to 2007. Risks associated with DPM emissions are provided only for the year 2000 and have not been updated in the Almanac. Although more recent editions of the Almanac do not provide estimated risk, they do provide emission inventories for DPM for later years. The 2013 Almanac provides emission inventory trends for DPM from 2000 through 2035.
The same Almanac reports that DPM emissions were reduced in the SJVAB from 16 tons per day in 2000 to 11 tons per day in 2010, a 31 percent decrease. DPM emissions in the San Joaquin Valley are projected to decrease to 6 tons per day by 2015, a 62 percent reduction from year 2000 levels. CARB predicts a reduction to three tons per day by 2035, which would be an 81 percent reduction from year 2000 levels. Continued implementation of the CARB’s Diesel Risk Reduction Plan is expected to provide continued reductions in DPM well into the future.3
Benzene
Out of the toxic compounds emitted from gasoline stations, benzene, ethylbenzene, and naphthalene have cancer toxicity values. However, benzene is the TAC that drives the risk, accounting for approximately 85 2California Air Resources Board. (1998). The Toxic Air Contaminant Identification Process: Toxic Air Contaminant Emissions from Diesel-fueled Engines. Accessed May 2024, http://www.CARB.ca.gov/toxics/dieseltac/factsht1.pdf 3 California Air Resources Board. (2013). The California Almanac of Air Quality and Emissions—2013 Edition. Accessed May 2024, http://www.CARB.ca.gov/aqd/almanac/almanac13/almanac13.htm
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 67 percent of cancer risk from gasoline vapors. Furthermore, benzene constitutes more than three to four times the weight of gasoline than ethylbenzene and naphthalene, respectively.4 Asbestos
Asbestos is the name given to a number of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that have been mined for their useful properties such as thermal insulation, chemical and thermal stability, and high tensile strength. The three most common types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite. Chrysotile, also known as white asbestos, is the most common type of asbestos found in buildings. Chrysotile makes up approximately 90 to 95 percent of all asbestos contained in buildings in the United States. Exposure to asbestos is a health threat; exposure to asbestos fibers may result in health issues such as lung cancer, mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the thin membranes lining the lungs, chest, and abdominal cavity), and asbestosis (a non-cancerous lung disease that causes scarring of the lungs). Exposure to asbestos can occur during demolition or remodeling of buildings that were constructed prior to the 1977 ban on asbestos for use in buildings. Exposure to naturally occurring asbestos can occur during soil-disturbing activities in areas with deposits present. No natural-occurring asbestos is located near the Plan Area.
4.3.3 Existing Air Quality Conditions
The EPA developed the Air Quality Index (AQI) as an easy-to-understand measure of health impacts compared with concentrations in the air. Table 4-2 provides a description of the health impacts of ozone at different concentrations.
Table 4-2 Air Quality Index and Health Effects from Ozone Air Quality Index/
8-hour Ozone Concentration
Health Effects Description
AQI 51–100—Moderate Sensitive Groups: Children and people with asthma are the groups most at risk.
Concentration 55–70 ppb
Health Effects Statements: Unusually sensitive individuals may experience respiratory symptoms.
Cautionary Statements: Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
AQI 101–150—Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups
Sensitive Groups: Children and people with asthma are the groups most at risk.
Concentration 71–85 ppb
Health Effects Statements: Increasing likelihood of respiratory symptoms and breathing discomfort in active children and adults and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma.
Cautionary Statements: Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
AQI 151–200—Unhealthy Sensitive Groups: Children and people with asthma are the groups most at risk.
Concentration 86–105 ppb
Health Effects Statements: Greater likelihood of respiratory symptoms and breathing difficulty in active children and adults and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma; possible respiratory effects in general population. 4 South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). (2015). Risk Assessment Procedures for Rules 1401, 1401.1, and 212.
Accessed May 2024, http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/rule-book/ProposedRules/1401/appx_1401riskassessproc_071517nw.pdf
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 68 Cautionary Statements: Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
AQI 201–300—Very Unhealthy Sensitive Groups: Children and people with asthma are the groups most at risk.
Concentration 106–200 ppb
Health Effects Statements: Increasingly severe symptoms and impaired breathing likely in active children and adults and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma; increasing likelihood of respiratory effects in general population.
Cautionary Statements: Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid all outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.
Source: Air Now. 2021. AQI Calculator: AQI to Concentration. Website: https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-calculatorconcentration/. Accessed July 2023.
The other nonattainment pollutant of concern is PM2.5. An AQI of 100 or lower is considered moderate and would be triggered by a 24-hour average concentration of 12.1 to 35.4 µg/m3. The relationship of the AQI to health effects in shown Table 4-3.
Table 4-3 Air Quality Index and Health Effects of Particulate Pollution Air Quality Index/
PM2.5 Concentration
Health Effects Description
AQI 51–100—Moderate Sensitive Groups: Some people who may be unusually sensitive to particle.
Concentration 12.1–35.4 µg/m3 Health Effects Statements: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.
Cautionary Statements: Unusually sensitive people: Consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. These are signs to take it easier.
AQI 101–150—Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups
Sensitive Groups: Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teenagers.
Concentration 35.5–55.4 µg/m2 Health Effects Statements: Increasing likelihood of respiratory symptoms in sensitive individuals, aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease, and the elderly.
AQI 151–200—Unhealthy Sensitive Groups: Everyone
Concentration 55.5–150.4 µg/m3 Health Effects Statements: Increased aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly; increased respiratory effects in general population.
Cautionary Statements: Sensitive groups: Avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.
Consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling. Everyone else: Reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. Take more breaks during outdoor activities.
AQI 201–300—Very Unhealthy Sensitive Groups: Everyone
Concentration 150.5–250.4 µg/m3 Health Effects Statements: Significant aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly; significant increase in respiratory effects in general population.
Cautionary Statements: Sensitive groups: Avoid all physical activity outdoors.
Move activities indoors or reschedule to a time when air quality is better.
Everyone else: Avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling to a time when air quality is better.
Source: Air Now. 2021. AQI Calculator: AQI to Concentration. Website: https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-calculatorconcentration/. Accessed July 2023.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 69 Attainment Status
The EPA and the CARB designate air basins where ambient air quality standards are exceeded as “nonattainment” areas. If standards are met, the area is designated an “attainment” area. If there is inadequate or inconclusive data to make a definitive attainment designation, they are considered “unclassified.” National nonattainment areas are further designated marginal, moderate, serious, severe, or extreme as a function of deviation from standards.
Each standard has a different definition, or “form” of what constitutes attainment, based on specific air quality statistics. For example, the federal 8-hour CO standard is not to be exceeded more than once per year; therefore, an area is in attainment of the CO standard if no more than one 8-hour ambient air monitoring values exceeds the threshold per year. In contrast, the federal annual PM2.5 standard is met if the three-year average of the annual average PM2.5 concentration is less than or equal to the standard.
The current attainment designations for the Air Basin are shown in Table 4-4. The Air Basin is designated nonattainment for ozone, PM10, and PM2.5.
Table 4-4 San Joaquin Valley Air Basin Attainment Status Pollutant State Status National Status
Ozone—1-Hour Nonattainment/Severe No Standard
Ozone—8-Hour Nonattainment Nonattainment/Extreme
Carbon monoxide Attainment/Unclassified Merced, Madera, and Kings Counties are unclassified; others are in Attainment
Nitrogen dioxide Attainment Attainment/Unclassified
Sulfur dioxide Attainment Attainment/Unclassified
PM10 Nonattainment Attainment
PM2.5 Nonattainment Nonattainment
Lead Attainment No Designation/Classification
Source of State status: California Air Resources Board (CARB 2013).5 Source of National status: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA 2021).6 Source of additional status information (SJVAPCD 2017).7
4.3.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures
This section calculates the expected emissions from construction and operation of the Project as a necessary requisite for assessing the regulatory significance of Project emissions on a regional and localized level.
The CEQA Guidelines define a significant effect on the environment as “a substantial, or potentially substantial, adverse change in the environment.” To determine if a project would have a significant impact on air quality, the type, level, and impact of emissions generated by the project must be evaluated. 5 California Air Resources Board. (2013). Area Designation Maps/State and National. 2012 State Area Designations. Accessed May 2024, https://ww2.CARB.ca.gov/resources/documents/maps-state-and-federal-area-designations 6 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Green Book Nonattainment Areas for Criteria Pollutants as of September 30, 2021. Accessed May 2024, https://www.epa.gov/green-book 7 San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD). 2017. Ambient Air Quality Standards & Valley Attainment Status.
Accessed May 2024, https://www.valleyair.org/aqinfo/attainment.htm
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 70 The following air quality significance thresholds are contained in Appendix G of the current CEQA Guidelines. A significant impact would occur if the project would:
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 nonattainment under an applicable national or state ambient air quality standard; c. Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations; or d. Result in other emissions (such as those leading to odors adversely affecting a substantial number of people).
While the final determination of whether a project is significant is within the purview of the lead agency pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15064(b), the SJVAPCD recommends that its quantitative air pollution thresholds be used to determine the significance of project emissions. If the lead agency finds that the project has the potential to exceed these air pollution thresholds, the project should be considered to have significant air quality impacts. The applicable SJVAPCD thresholds and methodologies are contained under each impact statement below.
The following section describes the Project’s potential impacts to Air Quality. As warranted, feasible mitigation measures are identified to avoid or reduce the severity of such impacts.
4.3.4.1 AIR-1 Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? Impacts
Significant and Unavoidable. The CEQA Guidelines indicate that a significant impact would occur if the project would conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan. The GAMAQI indicates that projects that do not exceed SJVAPCD regional criteria pollutant emissions quantitative thresholds would not conflict with or obstruct the applicable air quality plan (AQP). An additional criterion regarding the project’s implementation of control measures was assessed to provide further evidence of the project’s consistency with current AQPs. This document proposes the following criteria for determining project consistency with the current AQPs:
1. Will the project result in an increase in the frequency or severity of existing air quality violations or cause or contribute to new violations, or delay timely attainment of air quality standards or the interim emission reductions specified in the AQPs?
2. Will the project comply with applicable control measures in the AQPs? The primary control measures applicable to development projects include Regulation VIII—Fugitive PM10 Prohibitions and Rule 9510 Indirect Source Review.
Contribution to Air Quality Violations
A measure for determining whether the Project is consistent with the air quality plans is if the Project would not result in an increase in the frequency or severity of existing air quality violations, cause or contribute to new violations, or delay timely attainment of air quality standards or the interim emission reductions specified in the air quality plans. Regional air quality impacts and attainment of standards are the result of the cumulative impacts of all emission sources within the air basin. Individual projects are generally not large enough to contribute measurably to an existing violation of air quality standards. Therefore, the
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 71 cumulative impact of the Project is based on its cumulative contribution. Because of the region’s nonattainment status for ozone, PM2.5, and PM10—if Project-generated emissions of either of the ozone precursor pollutants (ROG and NOX), PM10, or PM2.5 would exceed the SJVAPCD’s significance thresholds— then the Project would be considered to contribute to violations of the applicable standards and conflict with the attainment plans.
As discussed in Impact AIR-2 below, emissions of ROG, NOX, CO, PM10, and PM2.5 associated with the operations of buildout under the proposed Master Plan would exceed the SJVAPCD’s regional significance thresholds. As a mixed-use Project located adjacent to develop areas of a built-up city, the proposed Master Plan would create a considerable amount of internal capture among its components to reduce VMT compared to the same level of development built with land uses geographically separated from each other.
Nonetheless, the impact would remain significant and unavoidable under this criterion.
Compliance with Applicable Control Measures
The AQP contains a number of control measures, which are enforceable requirements through the adoption of rules and regulations. A description of rules and regulations that apply to this Project is provided below. • SJVAPCD Rule 9510—Indirect Source Review (ISR) is a control measure in the 2006 PM10 Plan that requires NOX and PM10 emission reductions from development projects in the San Joaquin Valley.
The NOX emission reductions help reduce the secondary formation of PM10 in the atmosphere (primarily ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate) and also reduce the formation of ozone.
Reductions in directly emitted PM10 reduce particles such as dust, soot, and aerosols. Rule 9510 is also a control measure in the 2016 Plan for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard. Developers of projects subject to Rule 9510 must reduce emissions occurring during construction and operational phases through on-site measures, or pay off-site mitigation fees. The project is required to comply with Rule 9510.
• Regulation VIII—Fugitive PM10 Prohibitions is a control measure that is one of the main strategies from the 2006 PM10 plan for reducing the PM10 emissions that are part of fugitive dust. Residential projects over 10 acres and non-residential projects over 5 acres are required to file a Dust Control Plan (DCP) containing dust control practices sufficient to comply with Regulation VIII. The project, or individual developments contemplated under the proposed Master Plan, will be required to prepare a DCP to comply with Regulation VIII.
Other control measures that apply to the Project are Rule 4641—Cutback, Slow Cure, and Emulsified Asphalt, Paving and Maintenance Operation that requires reductions in VOC emissions during paving and Rule 4601—Architectural Coatings that limits the VOC content of all types of paints and coatings sold in the San Joaquin Valley. These measures apply at the point of sale of the asphalt and the coatings, so project compliance is ensured without additional mitigation measures.
The Project would comply with all applicable SJVAPCD rules and regulations. Therefore, the Project complies with this criterion and would not conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality attainment plan under this criterion.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 72 Conclusion
The Project’s emissions are significant for ROG, NOX, CO, PM10, and PM2.5 and would be considered inconsistent with the AQP for this criterion. The Project complies with applicable control measures of the AQP. Because the combined emissions from operations of development under the proposed Master Plan would continue to exceed at least one regional threshold after compliance with regulations and incorporation of mitigation, the impact would be significant.
Mitigation Measures
Implement MM AIR-2a through AIR-2d (see AIR-2)
Significance after Mitigation
The potential air quality impacts cannot be mitigated to less than significant. Therefore, the impact would be significant and unavoidable.
4.3.4.2 AIR-2 Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is nonattainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard? Impacts
Significant and Unavoidable. To result in a less than significant impact, emissions of nonattainment pollutants must be below the SJVAPCD’s regional significance thresholds. This is an approach recommended by the SJVAPCD in its GAMAQI.
To result in a less than significant impact, the following criteria must be met:
1. Regional analysis: emissions of nonattainment pollutants must be below the SJVAPCD’s regional significance thresholds. This is an approach recommended by the SJVAPCD in its GAMAQI.
2. Summary of projections: the Project must be consistent with current air quality attainment plans including control measures and regulations. This is an approach consistent with Section 15130(b) of the CEQA Guidelines.
Criterion 1: Regional Emissions
Air pollutant emissions have both regional and localized effects. This analysis assesses the regional effects of the Project’s criteria pollutant emissions in comparison to SJVAPCD thresholds of significance for shortterm construction activities and long-term operation of the Project. Localized emissions from Project construction and operation are assessed under Impact AIR-3.
The primary pollutants of concern during construction and operation of implementation of the proposed Master Plan are ROG, NOX, PM10, and PM2.5. The SJVAPCD GAMAQI adopted in 2015 contains thresholds for CO, NOX, ROG, SOX, PM10, and PM2.5.
Ozone is a secondary pollutant that can be formed miles from the source of emissions through reactions of ROG and NOX emissions in the presence of sunlight. Therefore, ROG and NOX are termed ozone precursors.
The Air Basin often exceeds the State and national ozone standards. Therefore, if the Project emits a substantial quantity of ozone precursors, the Project may contribute to an exceedance of the ozone standard. The Air Basin also exceeds air quality standards for PM10, and PM2.5; therefore, substantial Project emissions may contribute to an exceedance for these pollutants. The SJVAPCD’s annual emission
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 73 significance thresholds used for the Project define the substantial contribution for both operational and construction emissions as follows:
• 100 tons per year CO
• 10 tons per year NOX
• 10 tons per year ROG
• 27 tons per year SOX
• 15 tons per year PM10
• 15 tons per year PM2.5
The Project does not contain sources that would produce substantial quantities of SOX emissions during construction and operation. Modeling conducted for the Project shows that SOX emissions are well below the SJVAPCD GAMAQI thresholds. The summary of the modeling results are shown in Table 4-5 and Table 4-6 and the raw output information is contained in Appendix A. No further analysis of SOX is required.
Construction Emissions
Construction emissions were modeled using the CalEEMod version 2022.1. The summary of the results of the modeling are presented in Table 4-5 and Table 4-6. For large plan areas, individual residential tracts and commercial projects are constructed gradually with the various construction activities happening throughout the buildout period. The specific timing of individual development projects contemplated under the proposed Master Plan is unknown and are dependent on market demand and other factors; therefore, the annual average construction emissions were calculated for comparison to the annual threshold of significance (see Table 4-5). In addition, the highest annual emissions are presented and compared to the applicable thresholds in Table 4-6.
The emissions reflect compliance with SJVAPCD regulations that apply to construction activities. As shown in Table 4-5, the annual average emissions are below the SJVAPCD significance thresholds. The highest annual emissions exceed the applicable threshold for regional emissions of NOX (see Table 4-6).
Table 4-5 Construction Air Pollutant Emissions Summary – Annual Average (Unmitigated) Construction Year
Emissions (tons per construction period)
ROG NOX CO PM10 PM2.5
Total Annual Emissions (2024) 1.46 12.09 13.13 3.24 1.48 Total Annual Emissions (2025) 2.70 13.58 23.38 3.88 1.22 Total Annual Emissions (2026) 2.14 9.52 19.40 3.26 0.93 Total Annual Emissions (2027) 1.78 7.43 16.63 2.84 0.75 Total Annual Emissions (2028) 1.70 7.02 15.81 2.83 0.74 Total Annual Emissions (2029) 1.59 6.68 14.96 2.82 0.73 Total Annual Emissions (2030) 1.51 6.45 14.29 2.81 0.72 Total Annual Emissions (2031) 1.37 6.17 13.56 2.80 0.71 Total Annual Emissions (2032) 1.31 5.95 12.99 2.80 0.69 Total Annual Emissions (2033) 7.86 4.69 10.44 2.62 0.61 Total Annual Emissions (2034) 2.36 2.77 5.39 1.55 0.37
Total Annual Emissions (2035) 0.51 2.62 4.98 1.44 0.35
Total Annual Emissions (2036) 6.98 2.66 5.25 1.69 0.39
Total Annual Emissions (2037) 1.78 0.28 0.59 0.21 0.05
Grand Total for All Construction Activities 35.05 87.91 170.8 34.79 9.74 Annual Average Emissions (Tons/Year)
Average Annual Construction Emissions* 2.66 6.66 12.94 2.64 0.74 Significance threshold (tons/year) 10 10 100 15 15
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 74 Exceed threshold—significant impact? No No No No No
Notes:
PM10 and PM2.5 emissions are from the mitigated output to reflect compliance with Regulation VIII—Fugitive PM10 Prohibitions.
* Calculated using 13.2 years, consistent with the assumptions used to estimate emissions (see Appendix A of Appendix A).
Source: CalEEMod output (Appendix A or Appendix A).
Table 4-6 Construction Air Pollutant Emissions Summary – Maximum Annual Emissions by Development Year (Unmitigated)
Construction Year
Maximum Annual Emissions (tons per year)
ROG NOX CO PM10 PM2.5
Total Annual Emissions (2024) 1.46 12.09 13.13 3.24 1.48 Total Annual Emissions (2025) 2.70 13.58 23.38 3.88 1.22 Total Annual Emissions (2026) 2.14 9.52 19.40 3.26 0.93 Total Annual Emissions (2027) 1.78 7.43 16.63 2.84 0.75 Total Annual Emissions (2028) 1.70 7.02 15.81 2.83 0.74 Total Annual Emissions (2029) 1.59 6.68 14.96 2.82 0.73 Total Annual Emissions (2030) 1.51 6.45 14.29 2.81 0.72 Total Annual Emissions (2031) 1.37 6.17 13.56 2.80 0.71 Total Annual Emissions (2032) 1.31 5.95 12.99 2.80 0.69 Total Annual Emissions (2033) 7.86 4.69 10.44 2.62 0.61 Total Annual Emissions (2034) 2.36 2.77 5.39 1.55 0.37
Total Annual Emissions (2035) 0.51 2.62 4.98 1.44 0.35
Total Annual Emissions (2036) 6.98 2.66 5.25 1.69 0.39
Total Annual Emissions (2037) 1.78 0.28 0.59 0.21 0.05
Maximum Annual Emissions 7.86 13.58 23.38 3.88 1.48
Significance threshold (tons/year) 10 10 100 15 15
Exceed threshold—significant impact? No Yes No No No
Notes:
PM10 and PM2.5 emissions reflect compliance with Regulation VIII—Fugitive PM10 Prohibitions.
Calculations use unrounded numbers; therefore, totals may not appear to sum exactly due to rounding.
Source: CalEEMod output (Appendix A of Appendix A).
As shown in Table 4-5, annual average emissions are below the applicable SJVAPCD significance thresholds; however, construction of the Project exceeds the regional threshold for NOX under the unmitigated scenario presented in Table 4-6. Therefore, the regional construction emissions have potentially significant impact on a Project basis and mitigation is required.
MM AIR-2a requires the Project applicant, Project sponsor, or construction contractor for individual development projects under the Master Plan to provide documentation to the City of Porterville that the construction fleet meet the following requirement: all off-road diesel-powered construction equipment greater than 75 horsepower meet EPA or CARB Tier 4 Final off-road emissions standards.
Impacts would be less than significant on a Project-level basis after incorporation of MM AIR-2a. Therefore, regional construction emissions would have a less-than-significant impact on a Project basis with the incorporation of mitigation.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 75 Operational Emissions
Operational emissions occur over the lifetime of the Project and are from four main sources: area sources, energy consumption, motor vehicles (or mobile sources) and permitted sources. Area and mobile sources are non-permitted sources, while gasoline fueling activities are permitted sources. The SJVAPCD considers construction and operational emissions separately when making significance determinations. Furthermore, the SJVAPCD considers permitted and non-permitted emission sources separately when making significance determinations related to criteria pollutants. Emissions resulting from non-permitted and permitted sources during Project operations are discussed separately below. Area and mobile sources are non-permitted sources meaning they don’t require permits to operate from the SJVAPCD, while gasoline fueling activities are permitted sources meaning they require valid SJVAPCD permits to operate. Examples of area sources include residential water heating and use of paints, varnishes, and consumer products. Mobile sources consist of motor vehicles and other portable sources like boats, trains, and aircraft.
Non-permitted Sources
The emissions modeling results for non-permitted sources from Project operation are summarized in Table 4-7.
Table 4-7 Operational Air Pollutant Emissions (Non-permitted Sources) Phase and Year
Emissions (tons per year)
ROG NOX CO PM10 PM2.5
SoTu Master Plan Residential and Public Land Uses
Area 12.69 0.79 10.86 0.06 0.06
Energy 0.13 2.22 0.98 0.18 0.18
Mobile 10.68 11.78 94.08 18.57 4.81
Residential and Public Uses Total 23.50 14.79 105.92 18.81 5.05 SoTu Master Plan Commercial and Industrial Land Uses
Area 15.37 0.10 12.46 0.02 0.02
Energy 0.26 4.70 3.95 0.36 0.36
Mobile 42.51 62.58 255.49 49.77 13.46
Commercial and Industrial Uses Total 58.14 67.38 271.9 50.15 13.84 Combined (Full Buildout of the Proposed Master Plan in the Earliest Operational Year) Area 28.06 0.89 23.32 0.08 0.08
Energy 0.39 6.92 4.93 0.54 0.54
Mobile 53.19 74.36 349.57 68.34 18.27
Total Proposed Master Plan Emissions
(Non-Permitted Sources)
81.64 82.17 377.82 68.96 18.89
Significance threshold 10 10 100 15 15
Exceed threshold—significant impact? Yes Yes Yes Yes No Notes:
ROG = reactive organic gases NOX = nitrogen oxides PM10 and PM2.5 = particulate matter Area source emissions include emissions from natural gas, landscape, and painting.
Source: CalEEMod output (Appendix A or Appendix A).
As shown in Table 4-7, the operational emissions for full buildout of the proposed Master Plan in the earliest operational year exceed the SJVAPCD thresholds for ROG, NOX, CO, PM10, and PM2.5. Therefore, Project operational emissions would result in a potentially significant impact prior to the incorporation of
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 76 mitigation. MM AIR-2b through MM AIR-2d are recommended to reduce operational emissions from all development under the proposed Master Plan. Projects subject to project-level review would be required to assess residual impacts after incorporation of all applicable measures; however, it is not anticipated that all future development would be subject to discretionary review. These measures would help reduce operational emissions; however, at the time of this analysis, the precise emission reductions associated with these measures cannot be accurately determined because of a lack of sufficient information about how the proposed Master Plan would operate and to what extent the measures would affect those activities.
Therefore, the Project may continue to exceed the applicable thresholds of significance even after incorporation of mitigation. This represents a significant and unavoidable impact.
Permitted Sources
The SJVAPCD GAMAQI recommends assessing the emissions from permitted sources of emissions separate from non-permitted sources. The SJVAPCD’s permitting process ensures that emissions of criteria pollutants from permitted equipment and activities at stationary sources are reduced or mitigated to below the SJVAPCD’s thresholds of significance. SJVAPCD implementation of New Source Review (NSR) ensures that there is no net increase in emissions above specified thresholds from new and modified Stationary Sources subject to the rule for all nonattainment pollutants and their precursors. Permitted sources emitting more than the NSR Offset Thresholds for any criteria pollutant must, in general, offset all emission increases in excess of the thresholds.
It is anticipated that individual development projects that would be allowed under the proposed Master Plan could include stationary sources to support Project operations that would require SJVAPCD permits; however, any details regarding potential permitted sources are currently unknown. The SJVAPCD will prepare an engineering evaluation of all permitted equipment to determine the controls required to achieve best available control technology (BACT) requirements. The permitted emissions are dependent on the control technology selected and any process limits included in the permit conditions.
Permitted sources will be required to comply with SJVAPCD BACT requirements. Compliance with regulations would ensure that the Project’s stationary sources would not exceed SJVAPCD thresholds of significance; therefore, the Project’s estimated permitted emissions would be less than significant.
Criterion 2: Plan Approach
CEQA Guidelines Section 15130(b) states the following:
“The following elements are necessary to an adequate discussion of significant cumulative impacts: 1) Either: (A) A list of past, present, and probable future projects producing related or cumulative impacts, including, if necessary, those projects outside the control of the agency, or (B) A summary of projections contained in an adopted general plan or related planning document, or in a prior environmental document which has been adopted or certified, which described or evaluated regional or area wide conditions contributing to the cumulative impact.”
In accordance with CEQA Guidelines 15130(b), this analysis of cumulative impacts is based on a summary of projections analysis. The SJVAPCD attainment plans are based on a summary of projections that accounts for projected growth throughout the Air Basin, and the controls needed to achieve ambient air quality
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 77 standards. This analysis considers the current CEQA Guidelines. The Air Basin is in nonattainment or maintenance status for ozone and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), which means that concentrations of those pollutants currently exceed the ambient air quality standards for those pollutants, or that the standards have recently been attained in the case of pollutants with maintenance status. When concentrations of ozone, PM10, or PM2.5 exceed the ambient air quality standard, then those sensitive to air pollution (such as children, the elderly, and the infirm) could experience health effects such as: decrease of pulmonary function and localized lung edema in humans and animals; increased mortality risk; and risk to public health, implied by altered connective tissue metabolism, altered pulmonary morphology in animals after long-term exposures, and pulmonary function decrements in chronically exposed humans.
Under the CEQA Guidelines, cumulative impacts may be analyzed using other plans that evaluate relevant cumulative effects. The geographic scope for cumulative criteria pollution from air quality impacts is the Air Basin because that is the area in which the air pollutants generated by the sources within the Air Basin circulate and are often trapped. The SJVAPCD is required to prepare and maintain air quality attainment plans and a State Implementation Plan to document the strategies and measures to be undertaken to reach attainment of ambient air quality standards. While the SJVAPCD does not have authority over land use decisions, it is recognized that changes in land use and circulation planning would help the Air Basin achieve clean air mandates. The SJVAPCD evaluated emissions from land uses and transportation in the entire Air Basin when it developed its attainment plans. Emission inventories used to predict attainment of NAAQS must be based on the latest planning assumptions for mobile sources. The plan area is located directly southwest of the city limits of the City of Porterville in the jurisdiction of the County of Tulare, California.
The site is generally bound to the north by the Tule River, to the south by State Route 190, to the east by State Route 65, and to the west by Westwood Street, consisting of 19 parcels that total approximately 447.30 gross acres. The City of Porterville General Plan designates land within the proposed Master Plan Area as Low Density Residential, Parks, Public Institutional, and Retail Center. The City of Porterville proposes a General Plan Amendment to change the land use designation to various land uses, as shown in the Master Plan Land Use Map.
In accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064(h)(3), a lead agency may determine that a project’s incremental contribution to a cumulative effect is not cumulatively considerable if the project complies with the requirements in a previously approved plan or mitigation program.
The history and development of the SJVAPCD’s current Ozone Attainment Plan is described in Section 2.4, Air Quality Plans. The 2007 8-Hour Ozone Plan contains measures to achieve reductions in emissions of ozone precursors and sets plans towards attainment of ambient ozone standards by 2023. The 2012 PM2.5 Plan and the 2015 PM2.5 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard require fewer NOX reductions to attain the PM2.5 standard than the Ozone Plan, so the Ozone Plan is considered the applicable plan for reductions of the ozone precursors NOX and ROG. The 2012 PM2.5 Plan requires reductions in directly emitted PM2.5 from combustion sources, such as diesel engines and fireplaces, and from fugitive dust to attain the ambient standard and is the applicable plan for PM2.5 emissions. PM2.5 is also formed in secondary reactions in the atmosphere involving NOX and ammonia to form nitrate particles. Reductions in NOX required for ozone attainment are also sufficient for PM2.5 attainment. As discussed in Impact AIR-1, the proposed Master Plan is consistent with all applicable control measures in the air quality attainment plans. The proposed Master
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 78 Plan would comply with any District rules and regulations that may pertain to implementation of the AQPs.
Therefore, impacts would be less than significant regarding compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
In conclusion, the growth resulting from the Project is generally accounted for in the General Plan and the applicable AQP, and the Project will comply with applicable rules and regulations implementing the AQP; however, the Project exceeds SJVAPCD thresholds for ROG, NOx, CO, PM10 and PM2.5 and has the potential to continue to exceed thresholds after implementation of applicable mitigation measures; therefore, the Project is considered significant for this criterion.
Conclusion
The proposed Master Plan would incorporate design features and required mitigation measures that reduce air quality impacts. In addition, regulations adopted by the SJVAPCD and the State of California provide emission reductions that would align with requirements of the mitigation measures included in the EIR and relevant General Plan policies. For example, Rule 9510 ISR, adopted in 2006, requires projects subject to the Rule to reduce operational NOX emissions by 33 percent and PM10 emissions by 50 percent through the implementation of design features or payment of off-site mitigation fees. Rule 4901 regulates the installation of wood burning devices in project residences. Rule 9401 Employee Trip Reduction requires large employers to prepare plans to reduce employee trips with measures listed in the mitigation measure, among others. Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards are updated every three years and require increasingly stringent energy efficiency measures over time. Solar panels continue to be required under 2022 Title 24 standards that became effective on January 1, 2023. Individual development projects will be subject to the most recent Title 24 in effect that building permits are issued, which will ensure that building energy consumption would not be wasteful or inefficient. Buildout of the proposed Master Plan would provide future residents, visitors, and employees connectivity within the Plan Area and to adjoining land uses through pedestrian and bicycle connections. The proximity of the proposed new development to existing buildout in the City of Porterville, coupled with the design features of the proposed Master Plan, would increase would improve mobility and connectivity within the Plan Area. Overall, the proposed Master Plan would create a considerable amount of internal capture between its components to reduce VMT compared to the same level of development built with land uses geographically separated from each other.
The Project’s operational emissions exceed SJVAPCD regional criteria pollutant thresholds for ROG, NOX, CO, PM10, and PM2.5; therefore, this is considered a significant impact.
Mitigation Measures
MM AIR-2a The following measure shall be applied to all development under the proposed Master Plan to reduce emissions from construction.
Prior to the issuance of a grading permit for the proposed project, the project applicant, project sponsor, or construction contractor shall provide reasonably detailed compliance with the following requirements to the City of Porterville Planning Department:
Where portable diesel engines are used during construction, all off-road equipment with engines greater than 75 horsepower shall have engines that meet either EPA or CARB Tier 4 Final off-road emission standards
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 79 except as otherwise specified herein. If engines that comply with Tier 4 Final off-road emission standards are not commercially available, then the construction contractor shall use the next cleanest piece of off-road equipment (e.g., Tier 4 Interim) that is commercially available. For purposes of this mitigation measure, “commercially available” shall mean the equipment at issue is available taking into consideration factors such as (i) critical-path timing of construction; and (ii) geographic proximity to the project site of equipment.
If the relevant equipment is determined by the project applicant to not be commercially available, the contractor can confirm this conclusion by providing letters from at least two rental companies for each piece of off-road equipment that is at issue.
MM AIR-2b Prior to issuance of building permits for non-single-family residential and mixed-use residential development projects in the proposed Master Plan planning area, the project applicant shall indicate on the building plans that the following features have been incorporated into the design of the building(s). Proper installation of these features shall be verified by the City of Porterville prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
Electric vehicle charging shall be provided as specified in Section A4.106.8.2 (Residential Voluntary Measures) of the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen).
Bicycle parking shall be provided as specified in Section A4.106.9 (Residential Voluntary Measures) of the CALGreen Code.
MM AIR-2c Prior to the issuance of building permits for nonresidential development projects in the planning area, project applicants shall indicate on the building plans that the following features have been incorporated into the design of the building(s). Proper installation of these features shall be verified by the City of Porterville prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
For buildings with more than 10 tenant-occupants, changing/shower facilities shall be provided as specified in Section A5.106.4.3 (Nonresidential Voluntary Measures) of the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen).
Preferential parking for low-emitting, fuel-efficient, and carpool/van vehicles shall be provided as specified in Section A5.106.5.1 (Nonresidential Voluntary Measures) of the CALGreen Code.
Facilities shall be installed to support future electric vehicle charging at each nonresidential building with 30 or more parking spaces. Installation shall be consistent with Section A5.106.5.3 (Nonresidential Voluntary Measures) of the CALGreen Code.
MM AIR-2d The following measure shall be applied to all development under the proposed Master Plan during construction to facilitate the use of electric landscaping equipment during Project operations:
Provide electrical outlets on the outside of buildings or in other accessible areas to facilitate the use of electrically powered landscape equipment.
Significance after Mitigation
The potential air quality impacts cannot be mitigated to less than significant. Therefore, the impact would be significant and unavoidable.
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4.3.4.3 AIR-3 Expose Sensitive Receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? Impacts
Significant and Unavoidable.
Sensitive Receptors
Those who are sensitive to air pollution include children, the elderly, and persons with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular illness. The SJVAPCD considers a sensitive receptor a location that houses or attracts children, the elderly, people with illnesses, or others who are especially sensitive to the effects of air pollutants. Examples of sensitive receptors include hospitals, residences, convalescent facilities, and schools. The closest off-site sensitive receptors include existing residences located within approximately 220 feet from the plan area boundary to the north, east, south, and west.
Depending on the order of buildout of the development contemplated under the proposed Master Plan, the nearest sensitive receptors are expected to change as newly developed uses included in plan area would begin to be occupied prior to full buildout.
The CARB Air Quality and Land Use Handbook contains recommendations that will “help keep California’s children and other vulnerable populations out of harm’s way with respect to nearby sources of air pollution” (CARB 2005), including recommendations for distances between sensitive receptors and certain land uses.
In the California Building Industry Association v. Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 62 Cal.4th 369 (2015) (Case No. S213478) the California Supreme Court held that “agencies subject to CEQA generally are not required to analyze the impact of existing environmental conditions on a project’s future users or residents. But when a proposed Project risks exacerbating those environmental hazards or conditions that already exist, an agency must analyze the potential impact of such hazards on future residents or users. In those specific instances, it is the Project’s impact on the environment—and not the environment’s impact on the Project—that compels an evaluation of how future residents or users could be affected by exacerbated conditions.” Although the Court ruled that impacts from the existing environment on Projects are not required to be addressed under CEQA, land uses such as gasoline stations, dry cleaners, distribution centers, and auto body shops can expose residents to high levels of TAC emissions if they are close to sensitive receptors.
Localized Air Pollutant Emissions and Toxic Air Contaminants Construction activities are expected to occur over several years as the Master Plan area and individual developments are gradually built out. For each area, most emissions are expected to occur during the initial site preparation and grading activities and to a lesser extent during ground-up construction. Emissions occurring at or near the plan area have the potential to create a localized impact, also referred to as an air pollutant hotspot. Localized emissions are considered significant if, when combined with background emissions, they would result in exceedance of any health-based air quality standard.
The SJVAPCDs GAMAQI includes screening thresholds for identifying Projects that need detailed analysis for localized impacts. Projects with on-site emission increases from construction activities or operational activities that exceed the 100 pounds per day screening level of any criteria pollutant after compliance with Rule 9510 and implementation of all enforceable mitigation measures would require preparation of an
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 81 Ambient Air Quality Analysis. The criteria pollutants of concern for localized impact in the Air Basin are PM10, PM2.5, NOX, and CO.
Localized emissions from full build out of the proposed Master Plan are provided in Appendix A of Appendix A. The combined localized emissions from buildout of the proposed Master Plan are well over the applicable SJVAPCD-recommended 100-pounds-per-day screening thresholds for several pollutants; however, it is not appropriate to combine all emissions to compare against the screening thresholds as the plan area totals 447.30 gross acres. Localized analyses are only informative when they are conducted at a Project level; therefore, a meaningful quantification of localized impacts is not applicable for this program-level environmental analysis. Therefore, MM AIR-3a is required for implementing developing Projects.
Toxic Air Contaminants and Health Risk Impacts
During construction and operation, the development contemplated under the proposed plan would result in emissions of several Toxic Air Contaminants (TACs) that could potentially impact existing and future sensitive receptors. For instance, Project construction would involve the use of diesel-fueled vehicles and equipment that emit DPM, which is considered a TAC. The SJVAPCD’s latest threshold of significance for TAC emissions is an increase in cancer risk for the maximally exposed individual of 20 in a million (formerly 10 in a million).
Construction and operational health risk assessments are only informative when they are conducted at a Project level; therefore, a meaningful quantification of health risk is not applicable for this program-level environmental analysis. Therefore, MM AIR-3b and MM AIR-3c would be required to ensure that individual development accommodated under the proposed Master Plan would minimize adverse impacts and limit the construction and operational health risks to nearby sensitive receptors under thresholds determined by SJVAPCD. In addition, implementation of MM AIR-2a (see Impact AIR-2) would limit health risk impacts from Project construction.
Valley Fever
Valley fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is an infection caused by inhalation of the spores of the fungus, Coccidioides immitis (C. immitis). The spores live in soil and can live for an extended time in harsh environmental conditions. Activities or conditions that increase the amount of fugitive dust contribute to greater exposure, and they include dust storms, grading, and recreational off-road activities.
The San Joaquin Valley is considered an endemic area for Valley fever. During the period between 2000 and 2018, a total of 65,438 coccidioidomycosis cases were reported in California; median statewide annual incidence was 7.9 per 100,000 population and varied by region from 1.1 in Northern and Eastern California to 90.6 in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, with the largest increase (15-fold) occurring in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. Incidence has been consistently high in six counties in the Southern San Joaquin Valley (Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Tulare, and Merced counties) and Central Coast (San Luis Obispo County)
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 82 regions.8 California experienced 6,490 new cases of Valley fever in 2020. A total of 195 Valley fever cases were reported in Tulare County in 2020.9
The distribution of C. immitis within endemic areas is not uniform and growth sites are commonly small (a few tens of meters) and widely scattered. Known sites appear to have some ecological factors in common suggesting that certain physical, chemical, and biological conditions are more favorable for C. immitis growth. Avoidance, when possible, of sites favorable for the occurrence of C. immitis is a prudent risk management strategy. Listed below are ecologic factors and sites favorable for the occurrence of C. immitis:
1. Rodent burrows (often a favorable site for C. immitis, perhaps because temperatures are more moderate and humidity higher than on the ground surface)
2. Old (prehistoric) Indian campsites near fire pits
3. Areas with sparse vegetation and alkaline soils
4. Areas with high salinity soils
5. Areas adjacent to arroyos (where residual moisture may be available)
6. Packrat middens
7. Upper 30 centimeters of the soil horizon, especially in virgin undisturbed soils
8. Sandy, well-aerated soil with relatively high water-holding capacities Sites within endemic areas less favorable for the occurrence of C. immitis include:
1. Cultivated fields
2. Heavily vegetated areas (e.g. grassy lawns)
3. Higher elevations (above 7,000 feet)
4. Areas where commercial fertilizers (e.g. ammonium sulfate) have been applied
5. Areas that are continually wet
6. Paved (asphalt or concrete) or oiled areas
7. Soils containing abundant microorganisms
8. Heavily urbanized areas where there is little undisturbed virgin soil (USGS 2000).
The proposed plan includes urbanization of a site that was formerly used for agricultural purposes.
Construction activities would generate fugitive dust that could contain C. immitis spores. Development contemplated under the proposed plan will minimize the generation of fugitive dust during construction activities by complying with the District’s Regulation VIII. Therefore, this regulation, combined with the relatively low probability of the presence of C. immitis spores, would reduce Valley fever impacts to less than significant.
8 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020). Regional Analysis of Coccidioidomycosis Incidence—California, 2000– 2018. Accessed May 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6948a4.htm?s_cid=mm6948a4_e 9 California Department of Public Health (CDPH). (2021). Coccidioidomycosis in California Provisional Monthly Report January 2021. Accessed May 2024,
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/CocciinCAProvisionalMonthlyReport.pdf
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 83 During operations, dust emissions are anticipated to be negligible, because most of the developed plan area would be occupied by buildings, pavement, and landscaped areas. This condition would preclude the possibility of individual Projects providing habitat suitable for C. immitis spores and for generating fugitive dust that may contribute to Valley fever exposure. Impacts would be less than significant.
Naturally Occurring Asbestos
According to a map of areas where naturally occurring asbestos in California are likely to occur (U.S.
Geological Survey 2011),10 there are no such areas in the plan area. Ultramafic rock that contains asbestos is located at various locations in the foothills of Tulare County, but are not near the Plan Area. Therefore, development of the proposed Mater Plan is not anticipated to expose receptors to naturally occurring asbestos. Impacts would be less than significant.
Conclusion
The plan area is not in an area with suitable habitat for Valley fever spores and is not in an area known to have naturally occurring asbestos. Individual development Projects under the proposed Master Plan would be required to implement MM AIR-3a to ensure localized impacts would not result in significant adverse impacts for any criteria pollutant. Similarly, individual development Projects under the proposed Master Plan would be required to implement MM AIR-3b and MM AIR-3c to minimize health risk impacts. However, because impacts may remain significant after individual development Projects identify all feasible and enforceable mitigation measures required to reduce impacts, the impact from the proposed Master Plan remains significant and unavoidable.
Mitigation Measures
MM AIR-3a Prior to future discretionary approval for proposed implementing development projects, the City of Porterville shall evaluate potential impacts from localized emissions of criteria pollutants. The project applicant, project sponsor, or construction contractor shall submit an analysis demonstrating that the project would not result in a localized impact from criteria pollutants that follows SJVAPCD guidance. Options for relevant analyses to fulfill this mitigation measure are provided below:
Provide a localized screening analysis demonstrating the Project would not exceed 100 pounds per day of any criteria pollutant.
Provide an Ambient Air Quality Analysis (AAQA) for the proposed Project. An AAQA uses air dispersion modeling to determine if emission increases from a Project will cause or contribute to a violation of State or National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The SJVAPCD recommends an AAQA be performed for the Project if emissions exceed 100 pounds per day of any pollutant.
Supporting documentation approved by the SJVAPCD demonstrating that the proposed Project would not have the potential to result in a significant impact from localized criteria pollutant emissions. 10 U.S. Geological Survey. (2011). Van Gosen, B.S., and Clinkenbeard, J.P. California Geological Survey Map Sheet 59. Reported Historic Asbestos Mines, Historic Asbestos Prospects, and Other Natural Occurrences of Asbestos in California. Open-File Report 2011-1188 Accessed May 2024, http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1188/
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 84 MM AIR-3b Prior to future discretionary approval for commercial or commercial mixed-use projects, the City of Porterville shall evaluate potential health risk impacts from new development proposals for any individual development projects within 1,000 feet of an existing or planned sensitive land use (e.g., residential, schools, day cares, hospitals, or nursing homes), as measured from the property line of the Project to the property line of the nearest sensitive use. Such Projects shall submit the following to the City of Porterville Planning Department:
A Health Risk Prioritization Screening Analysis or a Health Risk Assessment for the Project’s potential to expose sensitive receptors to elevated levels of Toxic Air Contaminants during Project construction and operations prepared in accordance with SJVAPCD guidance. If the Health Risk Assessment shows that the incremental health risks exceed their respective thresholds, as established by the SJVAPCD at the time a Project is considered, the Project applicant shall be required to identify and incorporate commercially feasible mitigation including appropriate enforcement mechanisms to reduce risks to an acceptable level.
The City of Porterville shall submit each Health Risk Screening Analysis or Health Risk Assessment to the SJVAPCD for review. Development Projects that exceed the applicable thresholds established by the SJVAPCD shall implement mitigation sufficient to reduce potential impacts to the extent feasible.
MM AIR-3c To identify potential implementing development Project-specific impacts resulting from the use of diesel trucks, proposed implementing development Projects that include an excess of 10 dock doors for a single building, a minimum of 100 truck trips per day, 40 truck trips with Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs) per day, or TRU operations exceeding 300 hours per week, and that are with 1,000 feet from existing or planned sensitive land uses; shall have a facility-specific Health Risk Assessment performed to assess the diesel particulate matter impacts from mobile source traffic generated by that implementing development Project. If applicable, the results of the Health Risk Assessment shall be included in the CEQA documentation for each implementing development Project. Development Projects that exceed the applicable thresholds established by the SJVAPCD shall implement mitigation sufficient to reduce potential impacts to the extent feasible.
Significance after Mitigation
The potential air quality impacts cannot be mitigated to less than significant. Therefore, the impact would be significant and unavoidable.
4.3.4.4 AIR-4 Result in other emissions (such as those leading to odors) adversely affecting a substantial number of people?
Impacts
Less Than Significant
Thresholds of Significance
Odor impacts on residential areas and other sensitive receptors, such as hospitals, day-care centers, schools, etc. warrant the closest scrutiny, but consideration should also be given to other land uses where people may congregate, such as recreational facilities, worksites, and commercial areas.
Two situations create a potential for odor impact. The first occurs when a new odor source is located near an existing sensitive receptor. The second occurs when a new sensitive receptor locates near an existing
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 85 source of odor. According to the CBIA v. BAAQMD ruling, impacts of existing sources of odors on the Project are not subject to CEQA review. The SJVAPCD has determined the common land use types that are known to produce odors in the Air Basin. These types are shown in Table 4-8.
Table 4-8: Screening Levels for Potential Odor Sources
Odor Generator Screening Distance
Wastewater Treatment Facilities 2 miles
Sanitary Landfill 1 mile
Transfer Station 1 mile
Composting Facility 1 mile
Petroleum Refinery 2 miles
Asphalt Batch Plant 1 mile
Chemical Manufacturing 1 mile
Fiberglass Manufacturing 1 mile
Painting/Coating Operations (e.g., auto body shop) 1 mile Food Processing Facility 1 mile
Feed Lot/Dairy 1 mile
Rendering Plant 1 mile
Source: SJVAPCD 2015.11
According to the SJVAPCD GAMAQI, analysis of potential odor impacts should be conducted for the following two situations:
• Generators: projects that would potentially generate odorous emissions proposed to locate near existing sensitive receptors or other land uses where people may congregate, and • Receivers: residential or other sensitive receptor projects or other projects built for the intent of attracting people located near existing odor sources.
Project Analysis
Project as a Generator
Land uses that are typically identified as sources of objectionable odors include landfills, transfer stations, sewage treatment plants, wastewater pump stations, composting facilities, feed lots, coffee roasters, asphalt batch plants, and rendering plants. The proposed Master Plan is not anticipated to facilitate any development projects that engage in any of these activities. Therefore, the proposed Mater Plan would not be considered a generator of objectionable odors during operations.
During construction, the various diesel-powered vehicles and equipment in use on-site would create localized odors. These odors would be temporary and would not likely be noticeable for extended periods of time beyond the immediate area where construction would be occurring. Therefore, potential for odor impacts from construction of development of the proposed Master Plan would be less than significant. 11 San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD). (2015). Guidance for Assessing and Mitigating Air Quality Impacts.
Revised March 19, 2015. Accessed May 2024, http://www.valleyair.org/transportation/GAMAQI_3-19-15.pdf
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 86 Project as a Receiver
The buildout of the proposed Mater Plan would include the development of sensitive receptor land uses, including schools, parks, and residential uses. With the CBIA v. BAAQMD ruling, analysis of odor impacts on receivers is not required for CEQA compliance unless the Project would exacerbate an existing impact. As noted above, the proposed Mater Plan would not result in odors that would adversely affect a substantial number of people. Therefore, no further analysis of the proposed Master Plan’s as a receiver is required.
Mitigation Measures
No mitigation measures are required.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 87 5 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS
CEQA Guidelines Section 15130 requires EIRs to discuss cumulative impacts of a project when the project’s incremental effect is cumulatively considerable, where cumulatively considerable means that the incremental effects of an individual project are significant when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects. A cumulative impact is defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15355 as an impact which is created as a result of the combination of the project evaluated in the EIR together with other projects causing related impacts.
5.1 Cumulative Impact Approach
CEQA Guidelines Section 15130 identifies two methods for establishing the cumulative environment:
• A list of past, present, and probable future projects producing related or cumulative impacts, including, if necessary, those projects outside the control of the agency; or • A summary of projections contained in an adopted local, regional, or statewide plan or related planning document, that describes or evaluates conditions contributing to the cumulative effect.
The cumulative impact analysis in this Draft EIR uses the latter approach to identify the cumulative setting and considers the development anticipated to occur in accordance with the Porterville General Plan.
5.2 Cumulative Setting
5.2.1 Geographic Scope of Affected Area
The geographic area that could be affected by the Master Plan as it relates to air quality is the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin (See Chapter 4. Settings, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures).
5.2.2 Regional Planning Environment
The 2030 Porterville General Plan provides the framework to guide future land use development in the City of Porterville. It addresses state mandated topics, or elements, that have legal standing and provides the foundation and vision for how a community will grow. The elements in the 2030 Porterville General Plan include Land Use, Housing, Economic Development, Circulation, Parks/Schools/Community Facilities, Open Space and Conservation, Public Health & Safety, Public Utilities, and Noise. The General Plan is relied upon for the cumulative impact analysis. Of note, the City is currently preparing its 6th Cycle Housing Element Update and is reviewing its new Environmental Justice Element and revised Safety Element.
5.3 Cumulative Impact Analysis
The following section contains a discussion of the cumulative impacts anticipated from implementation of the Master Plan, together with related projects and planned development in Porterville for air quality as evaluated in this Draft EIR. Per CEQA Guidelines Section 15130(b), the discussion of cumulative impacts reflects the severity of the impacts and their likelihood of occurrence but the discussion does not provide as great detail as is provided for the effects attributable to the Project alone. The discussion is guided by standards of practicality and reasonableness and focuses on the cumulative impact to which the identified other projects contribute rather than the attributes of other projects which do not contribute to the cumulative impact.
For the purposes of this Draft EIR, the Master Plan would result in significant cumulative impacts if:
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 88 • The cumulative impacts of related projects (past, current, and probable future projects) are not significant and the incremental impact of implementing the Master Plan is substantial enough, which added to the cumulative impacts of related projects, to result in a new cumulatively significant impact; or
• The cumulative impacts of related projects (past, current, and probable future projects) are already significant and implementation of the Master Plan makes a considerable contribution to the impact.
The standards used to determine a considerable contribution are that either the impact must be substantial or must exceed an established threshold of significance.
The cumulative impact analysis assumes that all mitigation measures identified in Chapter 4. Settings, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures are adopted. The analysis analyzes whether, after adoption of mitigation, the residual impacts of the Master Plan would cause a cumulatively significant impact or would contribute considerably to existing/anticipated (without the Master Plan) cumulatively significant impacts.
5.3.1 Air Quality
The geographic scope of the cumulative impact analysis for air quality is the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin (SJVAB). All projects within the SJVAB are required to comply with the rules and regulations of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD).
5.3.1.1 Construction Emissions
The SJVAB is designated as a nonattainment area for ozone, PM10, and PM2.5, meaning the SJVAB has not met the federal and state standards for these air pollutants. Construction activities in the SJVAB would add ozone and particulate matter emissions that may conflict with attainment efforts. Cumulative development in the SJVAB would contribute to regional emissions which would result in a significant adverse cumulative impact. As described and analyzed in Chapter 4. Settings, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures, the regional construction emissions have potentially significant impact on a project basis and mitigation is required.
Impacts would be less than significant on a project-level basis after incorporation of MM AIR-2a. Therefore, regional construction emissions would have a less-than-significant impact on a project basis with the incorporation of mitigation. However, because of the scale and extent of construction activities that would occur, as well as the uncertainty of specific construction activities and timing, construction activities could overlap, resulting in emissions that would interfere with the attainment status for these pollutants.
Therefore, the Master Plan’s contribution to cumulative construction emission impacts would be cumulatively considerable. Because no additional mitigation is available beyond what is identified in this EIR, the cumulative impact would be significant and unavoidable.
5.3.1.2 Long-Term Operational Emissions
As discussed in Chapter 4. Settings, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures, emissions of ROG, NOX, CO, PM10, and PM2.5 associated with the operations of buildout under the proposed Master Plan would exceed the SJVAPCD’s regional significance thresholds. Nonetheless, the impact would remain significant and unavoidable under this criterion. Therefore, the Master Plan’s contribution to cumulative construction emission impacts would be cumulatively considerable. Because no additional mitigation is available beyond what is identified in this EIR, the cumulative impact would be significant and unavoidable.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 89
5.3.1.3 Toxic Air Contaminants
As discussed in Chapter 4. Settings, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures, the Plan Area is not in an area with suitable habitat for Valley fever spores and is not in an area known to have naturally occurring asbestos.
Individual development projects under the proposed Master Plan would be required to implement MM AIR3a to ensure localized impacts would not result in significant adverse impacts for any criteria pollutant.
Similarly, individual development projects under the proposed Master Plan would be required to implement MM AIR-3b and MM AIR-3c to minimize health risk impacts. However, because impacts may remain significant after individual development projects identify all feasible and enforceable mitigation measures required to reduce impacts, the impact from the proposed Master Plan remains significant and unavoidable.
Therefore, the Master Plan’s contribution to cumulative TACs impacts would be cumulatively considerable.
Because no additional mitigation is available beyond what is identified in this EIR, the cumulative impact would be significant and unavoidable.
5.3.1.4 Odors
Land uses that are typically identified as sources of objectionable odors include landfills, transfer stations, sewage treatment plants, wastewater pump stations, composting facilities, feed lots, coffee roasters, asphalt batch plants, and rendering plants. The proposed Master Plan is not anticipated to facilitate any development projects that engage in any of these activities. Therefore, the proposed Mater Plan would not be considered a generator of objectionable odors during operations. The buildout of the proposed Mater Plan would include the development of sensitive receptor land uses, including schools, parks, and residential uses. With the CBIA v. BAAQMD ruling, analysis of odor impacts on receivers is not required for CEQA compliance unless the project would exacerbate an existing impact. As noted above, the proposed Mater Plan would not result in odors that would adversely affect a substantial number of people. Therefore, no further analysis of the proposed Master Plan’s as a receiver is required. Therefore, the Master Plan would not contribute to cumulative odor impacts and therefore, the cumulative impact would be less than significant.
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The following chapter identifies, analyzes, and compares alternatives to implementation of the Master Plan.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6 requires EIRs to “describe a range of reasonable alternatives to the project, or to the location of the project, which would feasibly attain most of the basic objectives of the project but would avoid or substantially lessen any of the significant effects of the project, and evaluate the comparative merits of the alternatives.”
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, an EIR does not need to consider every conceivable alternative to a project but must consider a reasonable range of potentially feasible alternatives that will foster informed decisionmaking and public participation. An EIR is not required to consider alternatives that are infeasible. The Lead Agency is responsible for selecting a range of project alternatives for examination and must publicly disclose its reasoning for selecting those alternatives. The nature, scope, or range of alternatives required in an EIR is governed by a “rule of reason.”
The potential environmental effects of implementing the Master Plan are analyzed in the Initial Study (Appendix A) and Chapter 4. Setting, Impacts and Mitigation Measures. Implementation of the Master Plan, which could yield 2,213 residential units (516 single-family and 1,697 multi-family units), 3,357,864 square feet (sf.) of commercial space, 1,337,717 sf. of employment space (i.e., office uses and industrial uses), and
15.81 acres of public and institutional uses, and 112.14 acres of park and recreational lands in Porterville.
6.1 Selection of Reasonable Alternatives
The EIR is required to briefly describe the rationale for selecting the alternatives to be discussion, identify any alternatives that were considered by the Lead Agency but were rejected during the scoping process, and briefly explain the reasons underlying the Lead Agency’s determination. The factors used to eliminate alternatives from detailed consideration include failure to meet most of the basic project objectives, infeasibility, or inability avoid significant environmental impacts. Based on these criteria, the Lead Agency has selected three alternatives for analysis. The alternatives are described below and shown in Table 6-1. • No Project (No Build) Alternative. This alternative assumes that the Master Plan would not be implemented and no redevelopment of the Project Area would occur. Existing uses would remain. • No Project (Existing General Plan Land Use) Alternative. This alternative assumes that the Master Plan would not be implemented and redevelopment of the Project Area would occur under the existing General Plan land use designations and zoning districts. • Reduced Density Alternative. This alternative assumes that the Master Plan would be implemented, but at a lower or reduced density. The assumed buildout of residential, commercial, and industrial uses within the Project Area would be reduced by 25%. There would be no reduction to the proposed park and recreational lands and public and institutional uses.
The alternatives and their environmental effects are described in the following section. For each alternative, the analysis provides: a description of the alternative, environmental analysis of the potential impacts of the alternative and significance of those impacts, and a summary of the alternative in comparison to the proposed Project’s impacts and whether the alternative would meet the Project’s objectives and eliminate or reduce impacts compared to the Project.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 91 Table 6-1 Summary of Project Alternatives
Project or Alternative Land Use Summary Analysis Summary Project • 2,213 residential units (516 single-family and 1,697 multi-family)
• 3,357,864 square feet of commercial space
• 1,337,717 square feet of employment space
• 112.14 acres of park and recreational lands
• 15.81 acres of public and institutional uses
• Significant and unavoidable air quality impacts
• Requires General Plan Amendment, PreZone/Rezone, Conditional Use Permit, Master Plan Adoption, and EIR Certification
• Future development requires annexation
• Meets all Project objectives
No Project (No Build) Alternative • 365 acres of active agriculture and agricultural related uses
• 70.92 acres of open
space/vacant/undeveloped lands
• 10 single-family residential units
• No commercial uses
• No employment uses
• No park and recreational lands
• No public and institutional uses
• Required by CEQA
• Reduces air quality impacts
• Does not require General Plan Amendment,
Pre-Zone/Rezone, Conditional Use Permit,
Master Plan Adoption, or EIR Certification
• Does not meet any Project objectives
No Project (Existing General Plan Land Use
Designations) Alternative
• 1,634 single-family residential units
• 592,916 square feet of non-residential uses
• 105.63 acres of parks and recreational lands
• 10.16 acres of public and institutional uses
• Does not avoid or significantly reduce air
quality impacts
• Does not require General Plan Amendment,
Pre-Zone/Rezone, Conditional Use Permit,
Master Plan Adoption, or EIR Certification
• Future development requires annexation
• Does not meet all Project objectives
Reduced Density Alternative (25%) • 553 residential units (129 single-family and 424 multi-family)
• 839,466 square feet of commercial space
• 334,429 square feet of employment space
• 112.14 acres of park and recreational lands
• 15.81 acres of public and institutional uses
• Does not avoid or significantly reduce air
quality impacts
• Requires General Plan Amendment, PreZone/Rezone, Conditional Use Permit, Master Plan Adoption, or EIR Certification
• Future development requires annexation
• Does not meet all Project objectives
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6.2 Analysis of Alternatives
6.2.1 Alternative 1: No Project (No Build) Alternative
6.2.1.1 Description of Alternative
CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6 requires an EIR to identify and discuss a No Project Alternative and a reasonable range of potential alternatives that could feasibly accomplish most of the basic objectives of the Project and could avoid or substantially lessen one or more of the significant effects. Under the No Project alternative, no development in the proposed Master Plan would occur and the entire Project Area would remain as is with continued agricultural and residential operations. The General Plan would not be amended. The Project Area would not be rezoned and the existing Zoning Map would remain unchanged.
No redevelopment would occur in the Project Area, including infrastructure associated with the Master Plan or General Plan. Existing uses would remain.
6.2.1.2 Environmental Analysis
Air Quality
The proposed Project would result in significant and unavoidable air quality impacts, as discussed in Section
4.3 Air Quality. Under the No Project (No Build) Alternative, the Project Area would not be developed, and the existing agricultural operations within the Project Area would continue. As described previously within this EIR, the current uses in the Project Area are predominantly agricultural operations, including almond orchards in the western and eastern portions of the Project Area, and alfalfa production in the central portion of the Project Area. Many of the residential and rural agricultural residences have accessory structures on-site including storage buildings, shop buildings, and barn structures. Criteria air pollutant emissions are currently generated using vehicles, agricultural equipment, land surface disturbance, and building energy use because of existing site operations.
Under the No Project (No Build) Alternative, there would be no net change in current levels of emissions and no potential for conflict with any adopted plans or policies related to air quality. As such, this impact would be reduced when compared to the proposed Project.
6.2.1.3 Conclusion
Under the proposed Project, air quality impacts would be significant and unavoidable. Because the No Project (No Build) Alternative would have a much less intensive buildout than the proposed Project, the No Project (No Build) Alternative would have reduced impacts compared to the proposed Project. The proposed Project provides a framework for development that would enhance the Project Area by promoting cohesive development that would not be achieved under the No Project (No Build) Alternative. Because the Project Area would retain the existing land use designations, the No Project (No Build) Alternative would not meet any of the Project objectives and no development is likely to occur in the near future. The No Project (No Build) Alternative would not implement Project objectives.
6.2.2 Alternative 2: No Project/Existing General Plan Land Use Alternative
6.2.2.1 Description of Alternative
Under the No Project/Existing General Plan Land Use alternative, no development in the proposed Master Plan would occur and the entire Project Area would remain as is with continued agricultural and residential operations for the foreseeable future until development is proposed. The General Plan would not be
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 93 amended. The Project Area would not be rezoned and the existing Zoning Map would remain unchanged.
When development is proposed, the Project Area would be subject to existing requirements and policies applicable to existing General Plan land use designations and zoning districts.
6.2.2.2 Environmental Analysis
Air Quality
The proposed Project would result in significant and unavoidable impacts related to air quality, as discussed in Section 4.5 Air Quality. Under the No Project/Existing General Plan Land Use Alternative, the parcels would remain unchanged until they are developed or redeveloped according to their General Plan land use designations. Because the proposed Project would lead to a more intensive buildout (increase of 1,222 dwelling units, 2,873,801 square feet of mixed use, and 1,821,492 square feet of employment uses) compared to the General Plan buildout, the No Project/Existing General Plan Land Use Alternative would have reduced impacts compared to the proposed Project.
6.2.2.3 Conclusion
Under the proposed Project, air quality impacts would be significant and unavoidable. Because the No Project/Existing General Plan Land Use Alternative would have a much less intensive buildout than the proposed Project, the No Project/Existing General Plan Land Use Alternative would have reduced impacts compared to the proposed Project. The proposed Project provides a framework for development that would enhance the Plan Area by promoting cohesive development that would not be achieved under the No Project/Existing General Plan Land Use Alternative. Because the Plan Area would retain the existing land use designations, the No Project/Existing General Plan Land Use Alternative would not meet any of the project objectives and no development is likely to occur in the near future. The No Project/Existing General Plan Land Use Alternative would not implement Project objectives.
6.2.3 Reduced Density Alternative
6.2.3.1 Description of Alternative
The purpose of the Reduced Density Alternative is to evaluate a version of the proposed Project that develops the same end uses on the same sites, but at a lower density. Under the Reduced Density Alternative, the buildout potential within the planning area would be reduced by 25 percent, which equates to an approximate reduction to 553 residential units (129 single-family and 424 multi-family), 839,466 square feet of commercial space, and 334,429 square feet of employment space. The Project Area would remain the same; however, less development would occur.
6.2.3.2 Environmental Analysis
Air Quality
The Reduced Density Alternative would result in less construction activity and fewer daily vehicle trips, which would have corresponding reductions in the severity of construction and operational air quality impacts. However, these impacts would still be considered potentially significant with potential for emissions to exceed the thresholds of significance. Additionally, this alternative would have similar impacts related to nonattainment designations of the SJVAB, and exposure to sensitive receptors, and would require similar mitigation measures. Although this alternative would require implementation of mitigation measuressimilar to those of the proposed Project, the reduction in development potential and vehicle trips
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 94 would reduce the severity of air quality impacts. Therefore, this alternative would have reduced impact on air quality compared to the proposed Project.
6.2.3.3 Conclusion
The Reduced Density Alternative would lessen the severity of the proposed Project’s impacts associated with air quality. The Reduced Density Alternative would advance most of the Project’s objectives, but to a lesser degree than the proposed Project because of the reduction in new residential dwelling units and nonresidential development.
6.3 Environmentally Superior Alternative
According to CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.6(e), if the No Project Alternative is the “environmentally superior alternative,” then the EIR must also identify an environmentally superior alternative among the other alternatives. As described above, the No Project (No Build) alternative would reduce significant impacts but would not meet the Project objectives. The No Project (Existing General Plan Land Use) Alternative would reduce the significant impacts of the Project but would not meet most of the Project objectives. The Reduced Density alternative would not avoid or significantly reduce the significant impacts of the Project, nor would this alternative meet several of the Project objectives.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 95 7 CEQA-REQUIRED CONCLUSIONS
7.1 Significant and Unavoidable Impacts
CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.2(c) requires EIRs to describe any significant impacts, including those which can be mitigated but not reduced to a level of insignificance. Where there are impacts that cannot be alleviated without imposing an alternative design, their implications and the reasons why the project is being proposed, notwithstanding their effect, should be addressed. All significant and unavoidable impacts that would occur under the Master Plan are described below. With the incorporation and implementation of mitigation measures for air quality, the potential impacts identified in this EIR would remain significant and unavoidable.
7.1.1 Air Quality
• Impact 4.3-1: Project implementation could conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan.
• Impact 4.3-2: The proposed Project may result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is nonattainment under an applicable federal or State ambient air quality standard.
• Impact 4.3-3: The proposed Master Plan has the potential to expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations.
7.2 Significant Irreversible Environmental Changes
CEQA Guidelines Section 15162.2(d) requires EIRs to include a discussion of any significant irreversible environmental changes which would be caused by a proposed project should it be implemented. According to CEQA, uses of nonrenewable resources during the initial and continued phases of the project may be irreversible since a large commitment of such resources makes removal or nonuse thereafter unlikely. The primary impacts and secondary impacts (e.g., highway improvement which provides access to a previously inaccessible area) generally commit future generations to similar uses. Irreversible damage can also result from environmental accidents associated with the project. EIRs are required to evaluate irretrievable commitments of resources to assure that such current consumption if justified.
Implementation of the Master Plan would result in the irreversible and irretrievable commitment of energy and materials resources during construction and operation of future development. This may include construction materials, new development on previously undeveloped land, water supply for future development, and energy use for new development. However, as discussed in the Initial Study prepared for this Project, there is no evidence to suggest that construction or operational activities for future development in the Project Area would result in inefficient use of energy or natural resources. Therefore, the irreversible and irretrievable commitment would also not be significant.
7.3 Growth Inducing Impact
CEQA Guidelines Section 15162.2(e) requires EIRs to discuss the ways in which the proposed project could foster economic or population growth, or the construction of additional housing, either directly or indirectly, in the surrounding environment. This includes projects which would remove obstacles to population growth (e.g., a major expansion of a wastewater treatment plant might allow for more construction in service areas). According to CEQA, increases in the population may tax existing community service facilities,
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 96 requiring construction of new facilities that could cause significant environmental effects. EIRs are also required to discuss the characteristics of some projects which may encourage and facilitate other activities that could significantly affect the environment, either individually or cumulatively.
As discussed in the Initial Study prepared for the Project, future buildout of the Master Plan is expected to generate new residents and thereby increase the City’s population. Implementation of the Master Plan would also introduce new employment opportunities. However, the proposed Master Plan is not expected to result in indirect growth inducement because the additional population and housing units resulting from Project implementation do not exceed projections of the City. Although the Master Plan would increase the anticipated housing allocation specific to the Project Area per the existing General Plan land use designations, the total buildout of the Project Area would be less than the City anticipates through implementation of the General Plan. The population growth, and employment growth, would occur over an approximately 13-year period and would be consistent with the planning objectives of the City and phased development of the proposed Master Plan. Therefore, the Master Plan would not be considered growth-inducing.
Furthermore, the Master Plan includes physical improvements to accommodate the anticipated growth which would create an increased demand for public services and utilities in the Project Area. Future development in the Project Area that requires discretionary review and approval would be required to undergo project-specific environmental review to determine, analyze, and mitigate project-specific impacts and pay all applicable impact fees at the time development is proposed. Individual projects would be reviewed by City staff to ensure adequate provision of services and utilities. Therefore, the Master Plan would not be considered growth-inducing.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 97 8 LIST OF PREPARERS
8.1 City of Porterville (Lead Agency)
Jason Ridenour, Deputy City Manager
Claudia Calderon, Acting Community Development Director Jeff O’Neal, AICP, City Planner (Consultant)
Oscar Zepeda, Associate Planner
Rocio Mejia, Assistant Planner
Lori Halleck, Executive Assistant
8.2 Precision Civil Engineering (CEQA Compliance)
Bonique Emerson, AICP, VP of Planning Division
Jenna Chilingerian, AICP, Senior Planner
Shin Tu, AICP, Associate Planner
Isaiah Medina, Assistant Planner
8.3 Johnson, Johnson & Miller Air Quality Consultants (Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas) Richard Miller, Air Quality Specialist
8.4 Argonaut Ecological Consulting, Inc. (Biological Resources) Kathy Kinsland, Senior Scientist
8.5 Peak & Associates (Cultural Resources)
Melinda Peak, Senior Archeologist
8.6 WJV Acoustics, Inc. (Noise)
Walter J Van Groningen, President
JLB Traffic Engineering, Inc. (Traffic Study and VMT)
Jose L. Benavides, P.E., T.E., President
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 98 9 REFERENCES
9.1 Chapter 1. Executive Summary
No references used in this Chapter.
9.2 Chapter 2. Introduction
No references used in this Chapter.
9.3 Chapter 3. Project Description
No references used in this Chapter.
9.4 Chapter 4. Settings, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures California Air Resources Board. (2009). The California Almanac of Emissions and Air Quality – 2009 Edition. Chapter 4, Air Basin Trends and Forecasts – Criteria Pollutants. Accessed May 2024, https://www.cityofdavis.org/home/showdocument?Id=4101
California Air Resources Board. (1998). The Toxic Air Contaminant Identification Process: Toxic Air Contaminant Emissions from Diesel-fueled Engines. Accessed May 2024, http://www.CARB.ca.gov/toxics/dieseltac/factsht1.pdf
California Air Resources Board. (2013). The California Almanac of Air Quality and Emissions—2013 Edition. Accessed May 2024, http://www.CARB.ca.gov/aqd/almanac/almanac13/almanac13.htm South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). (2015). Risk Assessment Procedures for Rules 1401, 1401.1, and 212. Accessed May 2024, http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/rule-book/ProposedRules/1401/appx_1401riskassessproc_071517nw.pdf California Air Resources Board. (2013). Area Designation Maps/State and National. 2012 State Area Designations.
Accessed May 2024, https://ww2.CARB.ca.gov/resources/documents/maps-state-and-federal-areadesignations U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Green Book Nonattainment Areas for Criteria Pollutants as of September 30, 2021. Accessed May 2024, https://www.epa.gov/green-book San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD). 2017. Ambient Air Quality Standards & Valley Attainment Status. Accessed May 2024, https://www.valleyair.org/aqinfo/attainment.htm Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020). Regional Analysis of Coccidioidomycosis Incidence— California, 2000–2018. Accessed May 2024,
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6948a4.htm?s_cid=mm6948a4_e California Department of Public Health (CDPH). (2021). Coccidioidomycosis in California Provisional Monthly Report January 2021. Accessed May 2024,
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/CocciinCAProvisionalMonth lyReport.pdf
U.S. Geological Survey. (2011). Van Gosen, B.S., and Clinkenbeard, J.P. California Geological Survey Map Sheet 59.
Reported Historic Asbestos Mines, Historic Asbestos Prospects, and Other Natural Occurrences of Asbestos in California. Open-File Report 2011-1188 Accessed May 2024, http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1188/ San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD). (2015). Guidance for Assessing and Mitigating Air Quality Impacts. Revised March 19, 2015. Accessed May 2024, http://www.valleyair.org/transportation/GAMAQI_3- 19-15.pdf
9.5 Chapter 5. Cumulative Impacts
No references used in this Chapter.
9.6 Chapter 6. Alternatives
No references used in this Chapter.
9.7 Chapter 7. CEQA-Required Conclusions
No references used in this Chapter.
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City of Porterville – South of Tule River Master Plan | 99 10 Appendices
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10.1 Initial Study and Appendices
South of Tule River Master Plan
Initial Study
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT IN CIRCULATION WITH THE NOTICE OF PREPARATION MARCH 2024
Prepared for
City of Porterville
Community Development Department
291 N. Main Street
Porterville, CA 93257
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 2 Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................... 8
1.1 Regulatory Information................................................................................................................. 8
1.2 Purpose of the Initial Study........................................................................................................... 9
1.3 Document Format......................................................................................................................... 9
1.4 Early Consultation Letters Received.............................................................................................. 9 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM.................................................................................................. 11
2.1 Project Title................................................................................................................................. 11
2.2 Lead Agency Name and Address................................................................................................. 11
2.3 Contact Person and Phone Number ........................................................................................... 11
2.4 Initial Study Prepared By............................................................................................................. 11
2.5 Project Location .......................................................................................................................... 11
2.6 Latitude and Longitude ............................................................................................................... 11
2.7 General Plan Designation............................................................................................................ 15
2.8 Zoning ......................................................................................................................................... 16
2.9 Description of Project ................................................................................................................. 21
2.10 Project Setting and Surrounding Land Uses................................................................................ 22
2.11 Other Public Agencies Whose Approval is Required................................................................... 25
2.12 Consultation with California Native American Tribes.................................................................. 25 3 DETERMINATION................................................................................................................................ 27
3.1 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected ............................................................................... 27
3.2 Determination............................................................................................................................. 27 4 EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS .................................................................................... 30
4.1 AESTHETICS................................................................................................................................. 30
4.1.1 Environmental Setting ........................................................................................................ 30
4.1.2 Impact Assessment............................................................................................................. 33
4.1.3 Mitigation Measures........................................................................................................... 34
4.2 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY RESOURCES ................................................................................ 35
4.2.1 Environmental Setting ........................................................................................................ 35
4.2.2 Impact Assessment............................................................................................................. 38
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4.2.3 Mitigation Measures........................................................................................................... 39
4.3 AIR QUALITY................................................................................................................................ 40
4.3.1 Environmental Setting ........................................................................................................ 40
4.3.2 Modeling Parameters and Assumptions............................................................................. 50
4.3.3 Early Consultation............................................................................................................... 53
4.3.4 Impact Assessment............................................................................................................. 54
4.3.5 Mitigation Measures........................................................................................................... 68
4.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES............................................................................................................. 69
4.4.1 Environmental Setting ........................................................................................................ 70
4.4.2 Impact Assessment............................................................................................................. 82
4.4.3 Mitigation Measures........................................................................................................... 87
4.5 CULTURAL RESOURCES ............................................................................................................... 88
4.5.1 Environmental Setting ........................................................................................................ 88
4.5.2 Impact Assessment............................................................................................................. 91
4.5.3 Mitigation Measures........................................................................................................... 94
4.6 ENERGY ....................................................................................................................................... 95
4.6.1 Environmental Setting ........................................................................................................ 95
4.6.2 Impact Assessment............................................................................................................. 96
4.6.3 Mitigation Measures......................................................................................................... 101
4.7 GEOLOGY AND SOILS ................................................................................................................ 102
4.7.1 Environmental Setting ...................................................................................................... 103
4.7.2 Impact Assessment........................................................................................................... 107
4.7.3 Mitigation Measures......................................................................................................... 109
4.8 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ................................................................................................. 110
4.8.1 Environmental Setting ...................................................................................................... 110
4.8.2 Modeling Parameters and Assumptions........................................................................... 115
4.8.3 Impact Assessment........................................................................................................... 115
4.8.4 Mitigation Measures......................................................................................................... 121
4.9 HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIAL .................................................................................... 122
4.9.1 Environmental Setting ...................................................................................................... 122
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4.9.2 Impact Assessment........................................................................................................... 130
4.9.3 Mitigation Measures......................................................................................................... 132
4.10 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY .......................................................................................... 133
4.10.1 Environmental Setting ...................................................................................................... 134
4.10.2 Impact Assessment........................................................................................................... 135
4.10.3 Mitigation Measures......................................................................................................... 141
4.11 LAND USE AND PLANNING........................................................................................................ 142
4.11.1 Environmental Setting ...................................................................................................... 142
4.11.2 Impact Assessment........................................................................................................... 142
4.11.3 Mitigation Measures......................................................................................................... 144
4.12 MINERAL RESOURCES ............................................................................................................... 145
4.12.1 Environmental Setting ...................................................................................................... 145
4.12.2 Impact Assessment........................................................................................................... 148
4.12.3 Mitigation Measures......................................................................................................... 148
4.13 NOISE ........................................................................................................................................ 149
4.13.1 Environmental Setting ...................................................................................................... 149
4.13.2 Impact Assessment........................................................................................................... 156
4.13.3 Mitigation Measures......................................................................................................... 163
4.14 POPULATION AND HOUSING .................................................................................................... 164
4.14.1 Environmental Setting ...................................................................................................... 164
4.14.2 Impact Assessment........................................................................................................... 165
4.14.3 Mitigation Measures......................................................................................................... 166
4.15 PUBLIC SERVICES....................................................................................................................... 167
4.15.1 Environmental Setting ...................................................................................................... 167
4.15.2 Impact Assessment........................................................................................................... 171
4.15.3 Mitigation Measures......................................................................................................... 174
4.16 RECREATION ............................................................................................................................. 175
4.16.1 Environmental Setting ...................................................................................................... 175
4.16.2 Impact Assessment........................................................................................................... 175
4.16.3 Mitigation Measures......................................................................................................... 176
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4.17 TRANSPORTATION .................................................................................................................... 177
4.17.1 Environmental Setting ...................................................................................................... 177
4.17.2 Impact Assessment........................................................................................................... 179
4.17.3 Mitigation Measures......................................................................................................... 184
4.18 TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES ................................................................................................. 185
4.18.1 Environmental Setting ...................................................................................................... 185
4.18.2 Impact Assessment........................................................................................................... 185
4.18.3 Mitigation Measures......................................................................................................... 186
4.19 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS.............................................................................................. 187
4.19.1 Environmental Setting ...................................................................................................... 187
4.19.2 Impact Assessment........................................................................................................... 188
4.19.3 Mitigation Measures......................................................................................................... 190
4.20 WILDFIRE................................................................................................................................... 191
4.20.1 Environmental Setting ...................................................................................................... 191
4.20.2 Impact Assessment........................................................................................................... 191
4.20.3 Mitigation Measures......................................................................................................... 192
4.21 MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE ............................................................................... 193
4.21.1 Impact Assessment........................................................................................................... 193 5 MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM................................................................. 195 6 REPORT PREPARATION..................................................................................................................... 215 7 APPENDICES ..................................................................................................................................... 216
7.1 Appendix A: Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Energy Analysis............................... 216
7.2 Appendix B: Biological Assessment Report............................................................................... 217
7.3 Appendix C: Cultural Resource Overview Report...................................................................... 218
7.4 Appendix D: NAHC Correspondence......................................................................................... 219
7.5 Appendix E: Noise Assessment ................................................................................................. 220
7.6 Appendix F: Vehicle Miles Traveled Analysis............................................................................. 221
7.7 Appendix G: Early Consultation Letters..................................................................................... 222
7.8 Appendix H: Project Review Committee Comments................................................................. 223
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 6 Figures
Figure 2-1 Regional Location.................................................................................................................................... 12 Figure 2-2 Project Site Aerial Image......................................................................................................................... 13 Figure 2-3 APN Map................................................................................................................................................. 14 Figure 2-4 City of Porterville General Plan Land Use Designation Map (Existing).................................................... 17 Figure 2-5 City of Porterville General Plan Land Use Designation Map/ SoTu Land Use Map (Proposed)............... 18 Figure 2-6 City of Porterville Zoning District Map (Existing)..................................................................................... 19 Figure 2-7 City of Porterville Zoning District Map (Proposed) ................................................................................. 20 Figure 2-8 Crop Mapping of the Project site (2020) ................................................................................................ 24 Figure 4-1 Mountain Ranges to the East.................................................................................................................. 31 Figure 4-2 Farmland Types in the Project site.......................................................................................................... 37 Figure 4-3 Habitat Map............................................................................................................................................ 74 Figure 4-4 National Wetland Inventory Map ........................................................................................................... 76 Figure 4-5 CNDDB BIOS Map of Special Status Species Records.............................................................................. 77 Figure 4-6 Soils Map .............................................................................................................................................. 106 Figure 4-7 Greenhouse Gas Emission Trends by Scoping Plan Category in California............................................ 114 Figure 4-8 California’s Path to Achieving the 2050 Target..................................................................................... 120 Figure 4-9 Flood Zone Map.................................................................................................................................... 140 Figure 4-10 Mineral Lands Classification Map ....................................................................................................... 147 Figure 4-11 Modeled Traffic Noise Receptor Locations......................................................................................... 155 Tables
Table 2-1 General Plan Land Use Designation Descriptions..................................................................................... 15 Table 2-2 Project Buildout Assumption for Impact Analysis .................................................................................... 21 Table 2-3 Existing Land Use on the Project site ....................................................................................................... 22 Table 2-4 Existing Uses, General Plan Designations, and Zone Districts of Surrounding Properties........................ 23 Table 4-1 Farmland Types of the Project site.......................................................................................................... 36 Table 4-2 Air Quality Index and Health Effects from Ozone..................................................................................... 43 Table 4-3 Air Quality Index and Health Effects of Particulate Pollution ................................................................... 43 Table 4-4 San Joaquin Valley Air Basin Attainment Status....................................................................................... 44
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 7 Table 4-5 Recommendations on Siting New Sensitive Land Uses............................................................................ 49 Table 4-6 Construction Air Pollutant Emissions Summary – Annual Average (Unmitigated)................................... 57 Table 4-7 Construction Air Pollutant Emissions Summary – Maximum Annual Emissions by Development Year (Unmitigated)........................................................................................................................................................... 57 Table 4-8 Operational Air Pollutant Emissions (Non-permitted Sources) ................................................................ 58 Table 4-9 Screening Levels for Potential Odor Sources ........................................................................................... 67 Table 4-10 Soil Types Within the Project Site .......................................................................................................... 72 Table 4-11 Summary of Special Status Species, Potential Occurrence, and Impact within the SoTu Project Site ... 78 Table 4-12 Construction Energy Consumption ........................................................................................................ 97 Table 4-13 Long-term Operational Vehicle Fuel Consumption................................................................................ 99 Table 4-14 Summary of Estimated Operational Annual Energy Consumption....................................................... 100 Table 4-15 Description of Greenhouse Gases........................................................................................................ 112 Table 4-16 Consistency with SB 32 2017 Scoping Plan Update.............................................................................. 117 Table 4-17 Tulare County Airport Land Use Compatibility (portion)...................................................................... 126 Table 4-18 Maximum Allowed Densities................................................................................................................ 129 Table 4-19 City of Porterville – Current and Projected Population and Total Water Use ...................................... 136 Table 4-20 General Plan Policy and Project Consistency ....................................................................................... 144 Table 4-21 Land Use Compatibility for Community Noise Environments.............................................................. 150 Table 4-22 Non-transportation Noise Level Standards, dBA.................................................................................. 151 Table 4-23 Guideline Vibration Annoyance Potential Criteria ............................................................................... 151 Table 4-24 Guideline Vibration Damage Potential Threshold Criteria ................................................................... 151 Table 4-25 Summary of Short-Term Noise Measurement Data............................................................................. 153 Table 4-26 Project Contribution to Future Traffic Noise, dB, Ldn – Existing Traffic Conditions............................. 156 Table 4-27 Project Contribution to Future Traffic Noise, dB, Ldn – 2046 Cumulative Traffic Conditions.............. 156 Table 4-28 Distances to Traffic Noise Contours – 2046 Conditions....................................................................... 158 Table 4-29 Typical Construction Equipment Maximum Noise Levels, dBA ............................................................ 161 Table 4-30 Typical Vibration Levels During Construction....................................................................................... 162 Table 4-31 VMT Output – Unmitigated.................................................................................................................. 182 Table 4-32 VMT Output with Design Features Incorporated ................................................................................. 183 Table 4-33 Normal Year Supply and Demand Comparison – Potable and Non-Potable ........................................ 189
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 8 1 INTRODUCTION
Precision Civil Engineering, Inc. (PCE) has prepared this Initial Study (IS) on behalf of the City of Porterville (City) to address the environmental effects of the proposed South of Tule River Master Plan (“Project” or “proposed Project”). The Project includes a Conditional Use Permit to adopt the master plan, a General Plan Amendment to reflect the mix of uses proposed in the Master Plan, and a Rezone/Pre-zone to amend the zoning map from the current zone districts to those consistent with the proposed land use changes. The goal of the South of Tule River (SoTu) Master Plan is to provide the necessary framework to guide development in this area as it transitions from agricultural land to a vibrant, distinct, and multi-modal district of mixed densities and uses that is attractive to residential and visitors to live, work, explore, and shop. This Project is funded by Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) grant funding for the purpose of increasing housing production in the city. This document has been prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Public Resources Code Section 21000 et. seq. The City of Porterville is the Lead Agency for this proposed Project. The site and the proposed Project are described in detail in SECTION 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM.
1.1 Regulatory Information
An Initial Study (IS) is a document prepared by a lead agency to determine whether a project may have a significant effect on the environment. In accordance with California Code of Regulations Title 14 (Chapter 3, Section 15000, et seq.), also known as the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15064 (a)(1) states that an environmental impact report (EIR) must be prepared if there is substantial evidence in light of the whole record that the proposed Project under review may have a significant effect on the environment and should be further analyzed to determine mitigation measures or project alternatives that might avoid or reduce project impacts to less than significant levels.
A negative declaration (ND) may be prepared instead if the lead agency finds that there is no substantial evidence in light of the whole record that the project may have a significant effect on the environment. An ND is a written statement describing the reasons why a proposed Project, not otherwise exempt from CEQA, would not have a significant effect on the environment and, therefore, why it would not require the preparation of an EIR (CEQA Guidelines Section 15371). According to CEQA Guidelines Section 15070, a ND or mitigated ND shall be prepared for a project subject to CEQA when either:
a. The IS shows there is no substantial evidence, in light of the whole record before the agency, that the proposed Project may have a significant effect on the environment, or b. The IS identified potentially significant effects, but:
1. Revisions in the project plans or proposals made by or agreed to by the applicant before the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration and Initial Study is released for public review would avoid the effects or mitigate the effects to a point where clearly no significant effects would occur is prepared, and
2. There is no substantial evidence, in light of the whole record before the agency, that the proposed Project as revised may have a significant effect on the environment.
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 9
1.2 Purpose of the Initial Study
The City of Porterville is the Lead Agency in regard to the proposed Project. No new development projects are proposed in this Initial Study. As subsequent projects requiring discretionary approvals are proposed in the future, those individual projects would be subject to project-specific review under CEQA. For those projects that will be considered ministerial projects as proposed under the text amendment, this document serves to clear those future projects as they will not require future environmental review. It is the City’s intent that this Initial Study can be tiered from, in compound to tiering from the General Plan PEIR (pursuant to Section 15168(c)(1) and 15168(d)), for evaluations of environmental issues associated with those later activities/subsequent projects. The City of Porterville may use this environmental analysis for discretionary actions associated with projects developed in the Project area, or mixed-use zones.
1.3 Document Format
This Initial Study contains five (5) chapters plus appendices. SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION provides bases of the Initial Study’s regulatory information and an overview of the Project. SECTION 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM provides a detailed description of Project components. SECTION 3 DETERMINATION concludes that the Initial Study determined the project may have a significant effect on the environment, and an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is required. SECTION 4 EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS presents the CEQA checklist and environmental analyses for all impact areas and the mandatory findings of significance. A brief discussion of the reasons why the Project impact is anticipated to be potentially significant, less than significant with mitigation incorporated, less than significant, or why no impacts are expected is included. SECTION 5 MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM presents the mitigation measures recommended in the Initial Study for the Project. The Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas, and Energy Analysis Report, Biological Assessment Report, Cultural Resource Overview Report, NAHC Correspondence, Noise Assessment, Vehicle Miles Traveled Analysis, and Preconsultation Letters are provided as Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C, Appendix D, Appendix E, Appendix F, and Appendix G respectively, at the end of this document.
1.4 Early Consultation Letters Received
Early consultation with agencies outside of the City of Porterville and internal city departments (pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15082) was conducted for the Project as part of the Master Plan planning process and project entitlement process. Responses to the Early Consultation were received from:
1. Consultation from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District on July 26, 2023 Early consultation letters were also routed to the following departments or agencies:
• City of Porterville Engineering and Project Management • City of Porterville Public Works
• Tulare County Regional Transit Agency (TCRTA)
• Porterville Unified School District
• California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW) • San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
• Tulare County – Environmental Health and Planning
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 10 • California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Fresno Region 5 (RWQCB) • California State Lands Commission (SLC)
• Central Valley Flood Protection Board
• Department of Conservation
• Department of Toxic Substance Control
However, no comments were received from these departments or agencies within the response time frame. Early consultation correspondence is provided in Appendix G and comments received are incorporated throughout this document.
In addition to Early Consultation, the City also took the Project through Project Review Committee (PRC).
Responses to the PRC submittal were received from:
1. City of Porterville Planning Division
2. City of Porterville Engineering and Project Management Division
3. City of Porterville Building Division
4. City of Porterville Fire Department
5. City of Porterville Public Works Department
In addition to general development comments, the Porterville Fire Department requested that there be a secondary vehicular access point that can support a fire apparatus between Newcomb Avenue and Highway 65. The Project has incorporated this road as a mandatory local road on the circulation plan. The Fire Department also requested a buffer and access points for properties developed along the river to allow access for fire apparatus, which has also been incorporated into the Project. PRC correspondence is provided in Appendix H.
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 11 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM
This section describes the components of the proposed Project in more detail, including project location, project objectives, and required project approvals.
2.1 Project Title
South of Tule River (SoTu) Master Plan (General Plan Amendment No. 2024-01, Rezone No. 2024-01, Conditional Use Permit X)
2.2 Lead Agency Name and Address
City of Porterville
Community Development Department
291 N. Main Street
Porterville, CA 93257
2.3 Contact Person and Phone Number
Lead Agency/Applicant
City of Porterville
Community Development Department
Attn. Claudia Calderon, Acting Community Development Director (559) 782-7460
2.4 Initial Study Prepared By
Precision Civil Engineering
1234 O Street
Fresno, CA 93721
(559) 449-4500
2.5 Project Location
The Project site is directly southwest of the city limits of the City of Porterville in the jurisdiction of the County of Tulare, California (see Figure 2-1). The site is generally bound to the north by the Tule River, to the south by State Route 190, to the east by State Route 65, and to the west by Westwood Street, consisting of 19 parcels that total approximately 447.30 gross acres. Figure 2-2 shows the aerial image of the site. The site is identified by the Tulare County Assessor as Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APNs) 259-150-001, 259-030-031,259-270-004, 259-030-011, 259- 040-041, 259-040-044, 259-040-028, 259-040-027, 259-040-026, 259-040-025, 259-040-043, 259-040-042, 259- 040-045, 259-040-046, 259-040-010, 259-040-039, 259-320-001, 259-370-058, and 259-320-002 (see Figure 2-3).
The site is a portion of Township 21 South, Range 27 East, Section 33 and 34, Mount Diablo Base and Meridian.
2.6 Latitude and Longitude
The centroid of the Project site is 36.05316600003582, -119.05337129578194.
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 12 Figure 2-1 Regional Location
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Figure 2-2 Project Site Aerial Image
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 14 Figure 2-3 APN Map
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2.7 General Plan Designation
The Project site has a City of Porterville 2030 General Plan (General Plan) land use designation of Low Density Residential, Parks, Education, and Retail Center (Figure 2-4). The City of Porterville (Applicant) proposes General Plan Amendment (GPA) No. 2024-01 to change the land use designation to various land uses, as shown in the SoTu Master Plan Land Use Map in Figure 2-5.
Figure 2-5 According to the City of Porterville General Plan, the purpose of each land use and their permitted intensity and density are shown in Table 2-1.
Table 2-1 General Plan Land Use Designation Descriptions Land Use Designation Purpose Permitted Intensity/Density
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 16 Low Density
Residential
This density represents typical single-family subdivisions. maximum residential density of 6.0 units per gross acre
Medium Density
Residential
This density range would accommodate a variety of housing types, such as small-lot single-family homes, detached zero lot line developments, duplexes, townhouses, and garden apartments. Pedestrian-oriented design and clustered
development can support higher levels of density.
maximum residential density of 12.0
units per gross acre
High Density
Residential
This classification is intended to accommodate attached homes, two-to fourplexes, and apartment buildings.
maximum residential density of 24.0
units per gross acre
Commercial Mixed
Use
This designation allows for either horizontal or vertical mixed-use development. Commercial, service, office, and residential uses are allowed. Buildings more than one story are strongly encouraged.
maximum FAR of 2.0 and maximum
residential density of 24.0 units per
gross acre
Retail Centers Design and use standards will be established for regional shopping centers located at major circulation intersections.
Large format or “big box” retail and auto sales as well as travel related services, such as hotels and gas stations are allowed.
maximum FAR of 0.35
Neighborhood
Commercial
This designation is intended for small-scale commercial development that primarily provides office space and
convenience retail for local neighborhoods.
maximum FAR of 0.30
Professional Office This designation is intended for office complex development, including professional and medical offices, as well as research and development activities. Small
restaurants, support services, convenience retail and
limited medium and high density residential are also
allowed.
maximum FAR of 0.50
Industrial Park This designation comprises a mix of light industrial, secondary office, bulk retail, and service uses. Typical uses include warehouse, mini-storage, research and
development, wholesale, bulk retail, and office space with limited customer access. Other uses may be allowed, such as commercial recreation, distribution centers, or other uses that require large, warehouse-style buildings. Smallscale retail and service uses serving local employees and visitors are permitted as secondary uses.
maximum FAR of 0.40
Public/Institutional This designation is intended for lands owned by public entities, including the Municipal Airport, City Hall, County buildings, and the hospital. At the Municipal Airport,
industrial park uses will be allowed. It will provide for needed public facilities, including, but not limited to, recycling centers, sewage treatment ponds, and police and fire stations.
maximum FAR of 0.25
Park This designation applies to both public and private recreation sites and facilities.
maximum FAR of 0.10
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2.8 Zoning
The Project site is in the RS-1 – Very Low Density Residential, RS-2 – Low Density Residential, CR – Retail Centers, and PK – Parks and Public Recreation Facilities zoning districts (Figure 2-6). Although the entire Plan Area has been pre-zoned with existing City zone districts, the City of Porterville (Applicant) proposes Rezone (RZ) No. 2024-01 to change the zoning districts in consistent with the proposed land use designations (Figure 2-7).
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 18 Figure 2-4 City of Porterville General Plan Land Use Designation Map (Existing)
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Figure 2-5 City of Porterville General Plan Land Use Designation Map/ SoTu Land Use Map (Proposed)
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 20 Figure 2-6 City of Porterville Zoning District Map (Existing)
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 21
Figure 2-7 City of Porterville Zoning District Map (Proposed)
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2.9 Description of Project
South of Tule River (SoTu) Master Plan and the associated entitlements, including Conditional Use Permit (CUP) No.
X, General Plan Amendment (GPA) No. 2024-001, and Pre-zone/Rezone (RZ) No. 2024-001, is filed by the City of Porterville (Applicant) and pertains to 19 parcels that are located directly southwest of the city limits of the City of Porterville in the jurisdiction of the County of Tulare, California. The SoTu Project Site is generally bound to the north by the Tule River, to the south by State Route 190, to the east by State Route 65, and to the west by Westwood Street (“Project site”). The site totals approximately 447.30 gross acres. The site is identified by the Tulare County Assessor as APNs 259-150-001, 259-030-031,259-270-004, 259-030-011, 259-040-041, 259-040-044, 259-040-028, 259-040-027, 259-040-026, 259-040-025, 259-040-043, 259-040-042, 259-040-045, 259-040-046, 259-040-010, 259-040-039, 259-320-001, 259-370-058, and 259-320-002. CUP No. X facilitates the adoption of the SoTu Master Plan. GPA No. 2024-001 requests amendment of the existing land use designations to the mix of 10 different land uses proposed in the SoTu Master Plan. RZ No. 2024-001 requests a rezone from the existing zoning districts to zoning districts that are consistent with the proposed land use designation. No physical development is proposed.
Project Assumptions
This Project is funded by LEAP grant funding for the purpose of providing the necessary framework to guide development in this area as it transitions from agricultural land to a vibrant, distinct, and multi-modal district of mixed densities and uses that are attractive to residents and visitors to live, work, explore, and shop. Currently, the site is primarily occupied by agricultural operations with a few single-family residential dwellings.
Although no physical development is proposed by the Project, this Initial Study analyzes the potential buildout of the Project site at a programmatic level, using reasonable assumptions so that future development of the site can tier from this Initial Study pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15168(c)(1) and 15168(d) for evaluations of environmental issues associated with later activities/subsequent development. However, depending on the final design of future physical development, additional project specific CEQA review may be required as determined by the City through the entitlement review and approval process.
For the purposes of the analysis contained in this Initial Study, Table 2-2 shows the assumption of the Project buildout. As shown in the table, the Project assumes the development of 2,213 dwelling units, 2,873,801 square feet of mixed-use, and 1,821,492 square feet of employment uses at full build-out.
Table 2-2 Project Buildout Assumption for Impact Analysis Land Use Designation Acreage Permitted Intensity/Density Average Density Residential
Low Density Residential 51.9 6 dwelling unit
maximum
5.35 dwelling units
Medium Density Residential 43.8 12 dwelling unit
maximum
6 dwelling units for Single
Family
11.3 dwelling units for MultiFamily
High Density Residential 31.2 24 dwelling unit
maximum
22.55 dwelling units
Mixed-Use
Commercial Mixed Use 33.2 24.0 dwelling unit 20 dwelling units
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 23 Maximum
2.0 FAR maximum
2.0 FAR
Employment
Retail Centers 24.6 0.35 FAR maximum 0.35 FAR
Neighborhood Commercial 8.5 0.30 FAR maximum 0.30 FAR
Professional Office 32.6 0.5 FAR maximum 0.3 FAR
Industrial Park 59.5 0.4 FAR maximum 0.25 FAR
Public Uses and Open Space
Education 15.9 N/A N/A
Parks 112.5 0.10 FAR maximum 0.10 FAR
Right-of-Way (ROW) 33.6 - -
Total 447.30
2.10 Project Setting and Surrounding Land Uses
Project Setting
The majority of the SoTu Project Site has historically been used for agricultural crops (orchards and row crops) continuously for at least the last 50 years. The Project site is primarily occupied by agricultural operations with a few single-family residential dwellings. The aerial image of the Project site is shown in Figure 2-2.
Existing land uses are listed in Table 2-3. Currently, the Project site has little to no existing circulation network.
Street frontage includes State Route (SR) 190 adjacent south, SR 65 adjacent east, and South Westwood Street adjacent west to the Project site. The State Routes and the Tule River bounding the north of the site have prevented any major circulation within the site. The General Plan calls for Newcomb Street to be a four (4)-lane north-south major arterial that will extend south with a bridge over the Tule River to access the site and a grade separation (overpass) at SR 190. Additionally, the General Plan has a collector planned for the east-west direction that eventually turns north to connect at the Prospect Street alignment with another planned bridge over the Tule River.
Table 2-3 Existing Land Use on the Project site
APN Acreage Address Existing Land Use
259-030-011 75.84 1260 W Poplar Ave Porterville, CA 93257 Agriculture (field and seed) 259-030-031 66.62 - Agriculture (orchard)
259-040-010 0.06 - Well Site
259-040-025 1.02 2040 W Poplar Ave Porterville, CA 93257 1,945 sf. single-family dwelling built in 1990, a
storage shed, and two (2) metal structures.
259-040-026 1.00 2002 W Poplar Ave Porterville, CA 93257 1,716 sf. single-family dwelling built in 1995 259-040-027 1.05 1960 W Poplar Ave Porterville, CA 93257 2,797 sf. single-family dwelling built in 2006 259-040-028 1.00 1918 W Poplar Ave Porterville, CA 93257 A single-family dwelling and a storage shed. 259-040-039 50.94 512 S Westwood Rd Porterville, CA 93257 Mostly vacant land, 1,008 sf. single-family
dwelling, and 2,580 sf. and 625 sf. metal
structures.
259-040-041 39.34 - Agriculture (field and seed)
259-040-042 1.65 2186 W Poplar Ave Porterville, CA 93257 1,536 sf. single-family dwelling with 6 metal
structures
259-040-043 1.65 2176 W Poplar Ave Porterville, CA 93257 one mobile home and one metal structure 259-040-044 103.53 - Agriculture (orchard)
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 24 259-040-045 25.13
730 S Westwood Rd #B Porterville, CA
93257
Agriculture (orchard) with a single-family
dwelling and 10 accessory structures
259-040-046 1.25 -
Poplar Ditch (owned by Lower Tule River
Irrigation District)
259-150-001 25.03 -
Agriculture (orchard), vacant land north of Tule
River
259-270-004 28.67 - Agriculture (orchard)
259-320-001 3.55 362 S Westwood Rd Porterville, CA 93257 2 single-family dwellings 259-320-002 14.67 362 S Westwood Rd Porterville, CA 93257 3 structures, mostly vacant land 259-370-058 5.31 -
Tule River floodplain (owned by City of
Porterville)
Total 447.30 - -
The existing biotic conditions and resources of the site can be defined as agricultural (orchards and row crops), ruderal/non-native, and riparian habitats. Figure 2-8 maps the type of crops within the Project site. 1In addition to crop trees, there are existing trees and shrubs on properties with single-family residences and along existing dirt roads. Historically, an agricultural ditch (Poplar Ditch) crossed through the southwest corner of the Project Site. Coexisting water features include the Tule River, and a 22.11-acre freshwater emergent wetland and 3.47-acre freshwater forested shrub wetland on APN 259-040-044.
Surrounding Land Uses
The Project site is bounded by Tule River to the north, SR 65 to the east, and SR 190 to the south. Existing land uses to the north of the site beyond Tule River and to the east are single-family residential uses. Existing land uses to the south and west include a mix of residential, services, vacant, and agriculture uses. As referenced in Table 2-4, all properties to the north, east, and west are planned and zoned for residential and public uses, and properties to the south are planned and zoned with a mix of industrial, retail, residential, and office uses.
Table 2-4 Existing Uses, General Plan Designations, and Zone Districts of Surrounding Properties Direction from
the Project site
Existing Land Use Planned Land Use Zone District
North
Tule River, SingleFamily Residential Parks, Low Density Residential RS-1 – Very Low Density Residential, RS-2 –
Low Density Residential, PD – Planned
Development, PK – Parks and Public
Recreation Facilities
South
SR 190, Agriculture,
Residential,
Healthcare center
Industrial Park, Retail Center,
Low Density Residential,
Professional Office
IP – Industrial Park, CR – Retail Centers, RS-1
– Very Low Density Residential, PO –
Professional Office
East
SR 65, Single-Family
Residential
Low Density Residential, Public
Institution
PK - Parks and Public Recreation Facilities, PD
– Planned Development
West
Agriculture, SingleFamily ResidentialVery Low Density Residential, Parks RS-1 – Very Low Density Residential
1 California Department of Water Resources. (2023). 2020 Statewide Crop Mapping dataset. Accessed on June 19, 2023, https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/statewide-crop-mapping
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 25 Figure 2-8 Crop Mapping of the Project site (2020)
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CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 26
2.11 Other Public Agencies Whose Approval is Required
The Project would require approval by the City of Porterville City Council, including approval of a Conditional Use Permit, General Plan Amendment, and Rezone/Pre-zone. No permits would be required from other agencies for approval of the Project. However, future redevelopment of the Project site would require annexation by Tulare County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo), as well as review, permits, and/or approvals, such as grading, building, encroachment, and sign permits, and flood control works and floodway related permits such as an encroachment permit from the Central Valley Flood Protection Board. Other approvals may be required as identified through the entitlement review and approval process. In addition, other agencies may have the authority to issues permits prior to implementation including but not limited to:
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW) • California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Fresno Region 5 (RWQCB) • Porterville Unified School District
• San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
• Army Corp of Engineers
• Tulare County LAFCo
• Central Valley Flood Protection Board
2.12 Consultation with California Native American Tribes The State requires lead agencies to consider the potential effects of proposed projects and consult with California Native American tribes during the local planning process for the purpose of protecting Traditional Tribal Cultural Resources through the CEQA Guidelines. Pursuant to PRC Section 21080.3.1, the lead agency shall begin consultation with the California Native American tribe that is traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographical area of the proposed project. Such significant cultural resources are either sites, features, places, cultural landscapes, sacred places, and objects with cultural value to a tribe which is either on or eligible for inclusion in the California Historic Register or local historic register, or, the lead agency, at its discretion, and support by substantial evidence, choose to treat the resources as a Tribal Cultural Resources (PRC Section 21074(a)(1-2)).
According to the most recent census data, California is home to 109 currently recognized Indian tribes.
Conducting consultation early in the CEQA process allows tribal governments, lead agencies, and project proponents to discuss the level of environmental review, identify and address potential adverse impacts to tribal cultural resources, and reduce the potential for delay and conflict in the environmental review process (See PRC Section 21083.3.2.). Information may also be available from the California Native American Heritage Commission’s Sacred Lands File per PRC Section 5097.96 and the California Historical Resources Information System administered by the California Office of Historic Preservation. Please also note that PRC Section 21082.3(c) contains provisions specific to confidentiality.
A consultation list of tribes with traditional lands or cultural places located within Tulare County was requested and received from the California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) on April 27, 2023. The listed tribes include Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono Indians, Tule River Indian Tribe, and Wuksache Indian Tribe/Eshom Valley Band. In addition, the City of Porterville (Lead Agency) provided a list that included two additional tribes:
Kern Valley Indian Community and Tubatulabals of Kern Valley. The NAHC also conducted a Sacred Lands File (SFL) search which was negative.
INITIAL STUDY / MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION
MARCH 2024
CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 27 The City of Porterville conducted formal tribal consultation pursuant to AB 52 (Chapter 532, Statutes 2014) and SB 18 (Chapter 905, Statutes 2004) on March 31, 2023, utilizing the consultation list of tribes received from Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC). All five tribes listed above were included in the formal consultation.
Consultation for AB 52 and SB 18 ended on June 29, 2023. On April 27, 2023, a representative of the Tule River Tribe expressed interest in continued consultation pursuant to SB18. Although the tribal representative did not have knowledge of specific cultural resources or sites within your planned project area, they did request the results of the any record searches and cultural resource surveys; both the results from the SLF search and the cultural resource report have been provided to the tribe as requested.
INITIAL STUDY / MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION
MARCH 2024
CITY OF PORTERVILLE – South of Tule River Master Plan | 28 3 DETERMINATION
3.1 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected
The environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by this project, involving at least one impact that is a "Potentially Significant Impact" as indicated by the checklist on the following pages.
Aesthetics
Agriculture and Forestry Resources
Air Quality
Biological Resources
Cultural Resources
Energy
Geology and Soils
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Hazards and Hazardous Materials
Hydrology and Water Quality
Land Use Planning
Mineral Resources
Noise
Population and Housing
Public Services
Recreation
Transportation
Tribal and Cultural Resources
Utilities and Service Systems
Wildfire
For purposes of this Initial Study, the following answers have the corresponding meanings:
“No Impact” means the specific impact category does not apply to the project, or that the record sufficiently demonstrates that project specific factors or general standards applicable to the project will result in no impact for the threshold under consideration.
“Less Than Significant Impact” means there is an impact related to the threshold under consideration, but that impact is less than significant.
“Less Than Significant with Mitigation Incorporation” means there is a potentially significant impact related to the threshold under consideration, however, with the mitigation incorporated into the project, the impact is less than significant. For purposes of this Initial Study “mitigation incorporated into the project” means mitigation originally described in the GP PEIR and applied to an individual project, as well as mitigation developed specifically for an individual project.
“Potentially Significant Impact” means there is substantial evidence that an effect may be significant related to the threshold under consideration.