Note: 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 Public Resources Code section 21080.3.2.) Information may also be available from the California Native American Heritage Commission’s Sacred Lands File per Public Resources Code section 5097.96 and the California Historical Resources Information System administered by the California Office of Historic Preservation. Please also note that Public Resources Code section 21082.3(c) contains provisions specific to confidentiality.
The City, as Lead Agency, commenced the AB 52 process by transmitting letters of notification on April 4, 2024, to six (6) tribes that are traditionally and/or culturally affiliated with the Project area or have specifically requested notice for all projects within the City. The tribes included in the notification were the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians – Kizh Nation, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, and Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation.
The City received requests for consultation from the Morongo Band of Mission Indians on April 30, 2024 and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation on April 15, 2024. The Morongo Band of Mission Indians provided mitigation measures on July 10, 2024 and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation provided mitigation measures on April 15, 2024. The mitigation measures provided by both tribes are incorporated in Section V. Cultural Resources and Section XVIII. Tribal Cultural Resources of this IS/MND. The City has therefore complied with the requirements of AB 52.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1137 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Figure 1: Regional Vicinity
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1138 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
Figure 2. Aerial Imagery Map
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1139 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Figure 2-3: Site Plan
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1140 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
2.1 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” of “Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated” as indicated by the checklist on the following pages.
Aesthetics Agriculture and Forestry
Resources Air Quality
Biological Resources Cultural Resources Energy
Geology/Soils Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
Hazards & Hazardous
Materials
Hydrology/Water Quality Land Use/Planning Mineral Resources Noise Population/Housing Public Services
Recreation Transportation/Traffic Tribal Cultural Resources Utilities/Service Systems Wildfire Mandatory Findings of Significance
2.2 Determination
On the basis of this initial evaluation:
I find that the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment, and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared.
I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there will not be a significant effect in this case because revisions in the project have been made by or agreed to by the project proponent. A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION has been prepared.
I find that the proposed project MAY have a significant effect on the environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required.
I find that the proposed project MAY have a “potentially significant impact” or “potentially significant unless mitigated” impact on the environment, but at least one effect 1) has been adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and 2) has been addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis as described on attached sheets. An ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required, but it must analyze only the effects that remain to be addressed.
I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, because all potentially significant effects (a) have been adequately analyzed in an earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION pursuant to applicable standards, and (b) have been avoided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION, including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed upon the proposed project, nothing further is required.
Assigned Case Planner Date
City of Redlands
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1141 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
2.3 Evaluation of Environmental Impacts
1) A brief explanation is required for all answers except “No Impact” answers that are adequately supported by the information sources a lead agency cites in the parentheses following each question. A “No Impact” answer is adequately supported if the referenced information sources show that the impact simply does not apply to projects like the one involved (e.g., the Project falls outside a fault rupture zone). A “No Impact” answer should be explained where it is based on project-specific factors, as well as general standards (e.g., the Project would not expose sensitive receptors to pollutants, based on a projectspecific screening analysis). 2) All answers must take account of the whole action involved, including off-site as well as on-site, cumulative as well as project-level, indirect as well as direct, and construction as well as operational impacts.
3) Once the lead agency has determined that a particular physical impact may occur, then the checklist answers must indicate whether the impact is potentially significant, less than significant with mitigation, or less than significant. “Potentially Significant Impact” is appropriate if there is substantial evidence that an effect may be significant. If there are one or more “Potentially Significant Impact” entries when the determination is made, an EIR is required.
4) “Negative Declaration: Less Than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated” applies where the incorporation of mitigation measures has reduced an effect from “Potentially Significant Impact” to a “Less Than Significant Impact.” The lead agency must describe the mitigation measures, and briefly explain how they reduce the effect to a less than significant level (mitigation measures from “Earlier Analyses,” as described in (5) below, may be cross referenced).
5) Earlier analyses may be used where, pursuant to the tiering, program EIR, or other CEQA process, an effect has been adequately analyzed in an earlier EIR or negative declaration.
Section 15063(c)(3)(D). In this case, a brief discussion should identify the following:
a) Earlier Analysis Used. Identify and state where they are available for review. b) Impacts Adequately Addressed. Identify which effects from the above checklist were within the scope of and adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and state whether such effects were addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis. c) Mitigation Measures. For effects that are “Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated,” describe the mitigation measures which were incorporated or refined from the earlier document and the extent to which they address site-specific conditions for the Project.
6) Lead agencies are encouraged to incorporate into the checklist references to information sources for potential impacts (e.g., general plans, zoning ordinances). Reference to a previously prepared or outside document should, where appropriate, include a reference to the page or pages where the statement is substantiated. 7) Supporting Information Sources: A source list should be attached, and other sources used, or individuals contacted should be cited in the discussion.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1142 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
8) This is only a suggested form, and lead agencies are free to use different formats; however, lead agencies should normally address the questions from this checklist that are relevant to a project’s environmental effects in whatever format is selected. 9) The explanation of each issue should identify:
a) the significance criteria or threshold, if any, used to evaluate each question; and b) the mitigation measure identified, if any, to reduce the impact to less than significant.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1143 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
CHAPTER THREE – INITIAL STUDY CHECKLIST AND SUBSTANTIATION Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
I.Aesthetics – Except as provided in Public Resources Code Section 21099, would the project:
a) Have a substantial adverse effect on a
scenic vista?
b) Substantially damage scenic resources,
including, but not limited to, trees, rock
outcroppings, and historic buildings within a
state scenic highway?
c) Substantially degrade the existing visual
character or quality of public views of the site
and its surroundings? (Public views are
those that are experienced from publicly
accessible vantage point). If the project is in
an urbanized area, would the project conflict
with applicable zoning and other regulations
governing scenic quality?
d) Create a new source of substantial light or
glare which would adversely affect day or
nighttime views in the area?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft July 21, 2017.
• Section 3.1 – Aesthetics
2. City of Redlands General Plan 2035
• Chapter 6 – Vital Environment
3. Title 18 – Development Code of the Redlands Municipal Code • Chapter 18.92.220 – Lighting Facilities in the General Commercial District
4. California Department of Transportation, 2018. List of eligible and officially designated State Scenic Highways. 2018. Available on-line at: Scenic Highways | Caltrans Discussion of Impacts
a) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? No Impact: The City is characterized by a backdrop of waterways, canyons, open space, and the San Bernardino Mountains which create a linked system of natural resources around the City that is referred to as the Emerald Necklace in the City’s General Plan. The City is bounded to the north by the Santa Ana River Wash which includes floodplains and natural resources, with views of the San Bernardino Mountains beyond. The southern boundary of the City is defined by the San Timoteo and Live Oak canyons, which are composed of steep slopes and are generally undeveloped with some of the valley portions Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1144 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
used for agriculture purposes. The City’s General Plan identifies scenic vistas within the City as scenic corridors, views to and from open spaces, canyonlands, hillsides, groves, and the San Bernardino Mountains.
The proposed Project site is located in the southwestern portion of the City in an urban, built-up environment. The Project site is located approximately 1.74 miles south of the Santa Ana River Wash, and approximately 2.3 miles northwest of the Timoteo Nature Preserve. The Project site is composed of the northwest intersection of Redlands Boulevard and California Street, the concrete structure in the Mission Zanja Channel, and California Street, and vacant land west of California Street. The proposed Project would widen the west side of California Street 770 feet north of Redlands Boulevard, reconstruct the northwest intersection of Redlands Boulevard and California Street, and install storm drain improvements to the existing culvert in the Mission Zanja Channel that will connect to the existing RCB culvert in the Redlands Boulevard and California Street right-of-way.
Scenic views from the Project site consist of the San Bernardino Mountains to the north, and the Timoteo Canyons to the south. The Project site is surrounded by an apartment complex and vacant land to the west, a commercial shopping center to the east, an elementary school to the southwest, an apartment complex to the southeast, and a gas station to the north followed by the I-10 freeway. The existing structures, and freeways that surround the site disrupt the southern and northern views from the Project site. The Project site is designated as Commercial, and Linear Parks in the Mission Zanja Channel portion of the Project. Accordingly, the Project site is not located in a scenic vista as identified in the City’s General Plan. Furthermore, the proposed Project is consistent in scale and character with the existing roads and concrete structure in the Mission Zanja Channel. Therefore, the Project would have no impact on scenic resources including scenic vistas.
b) Would the project substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway? No Impact: The Project site is not located within or adjacent to a scenic highway corridor and does not contain scenic resources, such as rock outcroppings or historic buildings.
The nearest State-designated scenic highway is SR-243 located approximately 22.7 miles southeast of the Project site. Additionally, the nearest State-eligible scenic highway is SR38 located within the City limits approximately 2.5 miles east of the Project site. Therefore, Project impacts on scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway would not occur. c) In nonurbanized areas, would the project substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of public views of the site and its surroundings? (Public views are those that are experienced from publicly accessible vantage point). If the project is in an urbanized area, would the project conflict with applicable zoning and other regulations governing scenic quality?
No Impact: The Project site is located within an urbanized area and is surrounded by vacant land and an apartment complex to the west, an elementary school to the southwest, an apartment complex to the southeast, a commercial shopping center to the east, and a gas station followed by the I-10 freeway to the north. The City’s General Plan identifies the natural resources and green belts that encircle the City as valuable and aims Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1145 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
to focus development in the central part of the City as to preserve open space resources and fill in the gaps in existing neighborhoods. The San Bernardino Mountains and the Timoteo Canyons are visible from the Project site to the north and south respectively. Per the preliminary Project plans, the widening of California Street and the installation of the RCB triple culvert is consistent with the existing scale of the Project site and would not obstruct the existing scenic views to the north and south. Additionally, the proposed Project is consistent with the existing zoning designation of General Commercial (EV/CG) of the Project site. Therefore, under the proposed Project the existing views of the mountains and canyons would remain visible, and the Project would have no impact on the existing visual character or quality of public views of the site and its surrounding areas. d) Would the project create a new source of substantial light or glare which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area?
Less than Significant Impact: The proposed Project is located in a developed area with existing lighting sources from commercial business, streetlights, traffic signals, apartment buildings, and an elementary school. The proposed Project would include the relocation of existing traffic signals and light poles to appropriate locations per the preliminary Project plans. Per section 18.92.220 of the City’s Zoning Ordinance, lighting at the Project site would be arranged in a manner that would ensure adequate lighting for public safety while also minimizing light pollution and glare that preclude public nuisances (e.g., unusually high intensity or poor directional lighting that intrudes into neighboring properties or public rights-of-way). Though the Project would introduce new sources of lighting during daytime and nighttime hours through the relocation of traffic signals and light poles, the proposed Project would be required to adhere to City regulations. Conformance with the Zoning ordinance would minimize the potential for the Project to result in adverse light and glare impacts. Therefore, additional light sources are not anticipated to be substantial enough to adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area, a less than significant impact would occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1146 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan 2035.
• Chapter 6 – Vital Environment
2. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017
• 3.2 – Agricultural Resources
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
II. Agriculture and Forestry Resources – In determining whether impacts to agricultural resources are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to the California Agricultural Land Evaluation and Site Assessment Model (1997) prepared by the California Department of Conservation as an optional model to use in assessing impacts on agriculture and farmland. In determining whether impacts to forest resources, including timberland, are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to the information compiled by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection regarding the State’s inventory of forest land, including the Forest Legacy Assessment Project; and forest carbon measurement methodology provided in Forest Protocols adopted by the California Air Resources Board.
Would the project:
a) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique
Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide
Importance (Farmland), as shown on the
maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland
Mapping and Monitoring Program of the
California Resources Agency, to
nonagricultural use?
b) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural
use, or a Williamson Act contract?
c) Conflict with existing zoning for, or cause
rezoning of, forest land (as defined by
Public Resource Code section 122220(g)),
timberland (as defined by Public Resource
Code section 4526), or timberland zoned
Timberland Production (as defined by
Government Code section 51104 (g))?
d) Result in the loss of forest land or
conversion of forest land to non-forest
use?
e) Involve other changes in the existing
environment which, due to their location or
nature, could result in conversion of
Farmland, to non-agricultural use or
conversion of forest land to non-forest
use?
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1147 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
3. California Department of Conservation (CDC), California Important Farmland Finder (CIFF), 2018
Discussion of Impacts
a) Would the project convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland or Farmland of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency to non-agricultural use?
No Impact: The CDC Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP) identifies and maps significant farmland. Farmland is classified using a system of five categories including Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, Unique Farmland, Farmland of Local Importance or Potential, and Grazing Land. The classification of farmland is determined by a soil survey conducted by the Natural Resources Conservations Service (NRCS) which analyses the suitability of soils for agricultural production. Based on the California Important Farmland Finder, the Project site is classified as “Urban and Built-Up Land”. Therefore, the proposed Project would not convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance to nonagricultural use. No impact would occur. b) Would the project conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act contract?
No Impact: The Project site is currently zoned as General Commercial (EV/CG).
According to the Redlands General Plan Update Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Exhibit 3.2-1 Farmland Classifications, the Project site is not subject to a Williamson Act Contract. Additionally, there are no properties within the Project’s vicinity subject to a Williamson Act Contract. Therefore, the proposed Project would have no potential to conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act contract. No impact would occur.
c) Would the project conflict with existing zoning for, or cause rezoning of, forest land (as defined by Public Resource Code section 122220(g)), timberland (as defined by Public Resource Code section 4526), or timberland zoned Timberland Production (as defined by Government Code section 51104 (g))?
No Impact: The Project site is designated as General Commercial (EV/CG). According to the City’s Zoning Map, the Project site is not located within or adjacent to forest land, timberland, or timberland zoned Timberland Production. Therefore, no impact would occur.
d) Would the project result in the loss of forest land or conversion of forest land to non-forest use?
No Impact: The Project site currently consists of the Redlands Boulevard and California Street intersection, the Mission Zanja Channel, and vacant land west of California Street.
Vegetation on the proposed Project site consists of disturbed ruderal grasses on the vacant portion of the site, west of California Street. Thus, the proposed Project would not result in the conversion of forest land to non-forest use. No impact would occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1148 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
e) Would the project involve other changes in the existing environment which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland, to nonagricultural use or conversion of forest land to non-forest use?
No Impact: As previously discussed under Section II (a), the Project site is classified as “Urban and Built-Up Land” by the California Department of Conservation and does not meet the definition of Farmland (i.e., “Prime Farmland,” “Unique Farmland,” or “Farmland of Statewide Importance”). The Project site contains no active agricultural uses under existing conditions. Accordingly, implementation of the Project would not convert areas on the subject property classified as Farmland to non-agricultural use. Additionally, neither the Project site nor its surroundings contain forest land. Therefore, the Project would not result in the conversion of forest land to non-forest use. No impact would occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1149 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
III. Air Quality – Where available, the significance criteria established by the applicable air quality management district or air pollution control district may be relied upon to make the following determinations.
Would the project:
a) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of
the applicable air quality plan?
b) Result in a cumulatively considerable net
increase of any criteria pollutant for which
the project region is non-attainment under
an applicable federal or state ambient air
quality standard?
c) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial
pollutant concentrations?
d) Result in other emissions (such as those
leading to odors adversely affecting a
substantial number of people)?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan, 2035.
• Chapter 7 – Healthy Communities
2. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017
• Section 3.3 – Air Quality
3. NAAQS/CAAQS and Attainment Status for South Coast Air Basin (September 2018). PDF
4. South Coast AQMD 2022 Air Quality Management Plan, Adopted December 2, 2022.
5. California Street and Redlands Boulevard Air quality and Greenhouse Gas Analysis.
Urban Crossroads, Inc. April 22, 2024. (Appendix A)
Discussion of Impacts
a) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? Less than Significant Impact: The Project site is located within the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB) and is under the jurisdiction of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The SCAQMD has jurisdiction over an approximately 10,743 square-mile area consisting of the four-county Basin and the Los Angeles County and Riverside County portions of what use to be referred to as the Southeast Desert Air Basin. The SCAQMD is responsible for bringing air quality in areas under its jurisdiction into conformity with federal and state air quality standards through the implementation of an Air Quality Management Program (AQMP) and works directly with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).
Currently, the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and California Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) are exceeded in most parts of the SCAB. The attainment Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1150 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
status of criteria pollutants in the SCAB is shown in Table 3-1 below, with the Los Angeles area having the highest level of ozone (smog) in the United States. In response, the SCAQMD has adopted a series of Air Quality Management Plans (AQMPs) to meet the state and federal ambient air quality standards. AQMPs are updated regularly in order to more effectively reduce emissions, accommodate growth, and to minimize any negative fiscal impacts of air pollution control on the economy. The most recent AQMP for the SCAB is the 2022 Air Quality Management Plan which was developed to address the requirements for meeting the 2015 NAAQS for ground-level ozone.
Table 3-1 Attainment Status of Criteria Pollutants in the SCAB Criteria Pollutant State Designation Federal Designation O3 – 1-hour standard Nonattainment Nonattainment (Extreme) O3 – 8-hour standard Nonattainment Nonattainment (Extreme) PM10 Nonattainment Attainment
PM2.5 Nonattainment Nonattainment (Serious)
CO Attainment Attainment
NO2 Attainment Unclassifiable/Attainment
SO2 Unclassifiable/Attainment Unclassifiable/Attainment Pb -- Nonattainment (Partial)
Criteria for determining consistency with the AQMP are defined in Chapter 12, Section
12.2 and Section 12.3 of the 1993 CEQA Handbook. These indicators are discussed below:
Criteria One: The proposed Project will not result in an increase in the frequency or severity of existing air quality violations or cause or contribute to new violations or delay the timely attainment of air quality standards or the interim emissions reductions specified in the AQMP.
The violations under this criterion refer to the CAAQS and NAAQS. CAAQS and NAAQS violations would occur if regional or localized significance thresholds were exceeded. As evaluated, the Project’s regional and localized construction and operational-source emissions would not exceed applicable regional significance thresholds. As such, a less than significant impact is expected. On the basis of the preceding discussion, the Project is determined to be consistent with the first criterion.
Criteria Two: The Project will not exceed the assumptions in the AQMP based on the years of Project buildout phase.
The 2022 AQMP demonstrates that the applicable ambient air quality standards can be achieved within the timeframes required under federal law. Growth projections from local general plans adopted by cities in the district are provided to the SCAG, which develops regional growth forecasts, which are then used to develop future air quality forecasts for the AQMP. Development consistent with the growth projections in the City of Redlands General Plan is considered to be consistent with the AQMP. Peak day emissions generated by construction activities are largely independent of land use assignments, but Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1151 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
rather are a function of development scope and maximum area of disturbance.
Irrespective of the site’s land use designation, development of the site to its maximum potential would likely occur, with disturbance of the entire site occurring during construction activities. As such, when considering that no emissions thresholds will be exceeded, a less than significant impact would result. The Project will not exceed the assumptions in the AQMP based on the years of Project build-out phase. Further, the Project will provide congestion relief and less delays in traffic flow due to the implementation of the street widening. On the basis of the preceding discussion, the Project is determined to be consistent with the second criterion. Therefore, the proposed Project would not conflict with or obstruct implementation of the SCAB AQMP and a less than significant impact would occur.
b) Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard?
Less than Significant Impact: The CAAQS designate the Project site as nonattainment for O3 (1-hour and 8-hour), PM10, and PM2.5 and the NAAQS designates the Project site as nonattainment for O3 (8-hour) and PM2.5. The AQMP states that individual projects that do not generate operational or construction emissions that exceed the SCAQMD’s recommended daily thresholds for project‐specific impacts would also not cause a cumulatively considerable increase in emissions for those pollutants for which the Basin is in nonattainment, and, therefore, would not be considered to have a significant, adverse air quality impact. Alternatively, individual project‐related construction and operational emissions that exceed SCAQMD thresholds for project‐specific impacts would be considered cumulatively considerable. The following analysis is based on the Air Quality Impact Analysis prepared by Urban Crossroads (Appendix A).
The SCAQMD has developed regional significance thresholds for criteria pollutants, as summarized in Table 3-2. The SCAQMD’s CEQA Air Quality Significance Thresholds indicate that any projects in the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB) with daily emissions that exceed any of the indicated thresholds should be considered as having an individually and cumulatively significant air quality impact.
Table 3-2: Maximum Daily Regional Emissions Thresholds
Pollutant Construction
NOx 100 lbs/day
VOC 75 lbs/day
PM10 150 lbs/day
PM2.5 55 lbs/day
SOx 150 lbs/day
CO 550 lbs/day
Construction Related Impacts
SCAQMD Rules that are currently applicable during the construction phase of the Project include but are not limited to Rule 403 (Fugitive Dust) and Rule 1113 (Architectural Coatings). Rule 403 is intended to reduce the amount of particulate matter entrained in Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1152 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
the ambient air as a result of anthropogenic (human-made) fugitive dust sources by requiring actions to prevent and reduce fugitive dust emissions. Rule 403 applies to any activity or human-made condition capable of generating fugitive dust and requires best available control measures to be applied to earth moving and grading activities. This rule is intended to reduce PM10 emissions from any transportation, handling, construction, or storage activity that has the potential to generate fugitive dust.
The SCAQMD has developed regional significance thresholds for criteria pollutants during construction as shown in Table 3-3. The SCAQMD’s CEQA Air Quality Significance Thresholds indicate that any projects in the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB) with daily emissions that exceed any of the indicated thresholds should be considered as having an individually and cumulatively significant air quality impact. The appropriate Source Receptor Area (SRA) for the Localized Significant Thresholds (LST) analysis is the SCAQMD East San Bernardino Valley monitoring station (SRA 35).
Table 3-3: Maximum Daily Regional Emissions Thresholds
Source Activity
Emissions Thresholds (lbs/day)
NOx CO PM10 PM2.5
Construction
Linear, Grubbing and
Land Clearing 92 576 3 4
Linear, Grading and
Excavation 237 1,775 12 8
Linear, Drainage, Utilities,
and Sub-Grade 144 975 6 5
Project construction is expected to commence in September 2024 and would last through May 2025. The construction schedule utilized in the analysis performed by Urban Crossroads for the Project specific Air Impact Analysis utilizes a “worst-case” scenario should construction continue after the respective dates (Appendix A). Construction activities associated with the Project would result in emissions of VOCs, NOX, SOX, CO, PM10, and PM2.5. Construction related emissions are expected from the following construction activities:
• Grubbing & Land Clearing
• Grading & Excavation
• Drainage, Utilities, & Sub-Grade
• Paving
Table 3-4: Construction Equipment and Duration identifies the expected duration of construction activity and associated equipment with each phase of the Project. Consistent with industry standards and typical construction practices, each piece of equipment listed in Table 3-4 will operate up to a total of eight (8) hours per day, or more than two-thirds of the period during which construction activities are allowed pursuant to the Municipal Code.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1153 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Table 3-4: Construction Equipment and Duration
Activity Equipment Amount Duration (days)
Grubbing and
Land Clearing
Crawler Tractors 1
19 Excavators 2
Signal Boards 1
Crawler Tractors 1
Excavators 3
Graders 2
Grading and
Excavation
Rollers 2
87 Rubber Tiered Loaders 1
Scrapers 2
Signal Boards 1
Crawler Tractors 1
Air Compressors 1
Generator Sets 1
Graders 1
Plate Compactors 1
Drainage,
Utilities, and
Sub-Grade
Pumps 1
57 Rough Terrain Forklifts 1
Scrapers 1
Signal Boards 1
Tractors/Loaders/Backhoes 3
Pavers 1
Paving Equipment 1
Paving
Rollers 2
Signal Boards 1 30
Tractors/Loaders/Backhoes 3
The estimated maximum daily construction emissions without mitigation are summarized on Table 3-5: Overall Regional Construction Emissions Summary. Detailed construction model outputs are presented in the Air Quality Impact Analysis prepared by Urban Crossroads (Appendix A). Under the assumed scenarios, emissions resulting from the Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1154 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Project construction will not exceed thresholds established by the SCAQMD for emissions of any criteria pollutant and no mitigation is required.
Table 3-5: Overall Regional Construction Emissions Summary Source Emissions (lbs/day)
VOC NOx CO SOx PM10 PM2.5
Summer
2024 4.26 37.40 41.39 0.07 3.24 1.82
2025 2.01 17.31 22.04 0.04 1.46 0.77
Winter
2024 3.87 32.91 39.31 0.07 2.99 1.58
2025 4.25 37.44 40.56 0.07 3.24 1.82
Maximum
Daily
Emissions
4.26 37.44 41.39 0.07 3.24 1.82
SCAQMD
Regional
Threshold
75 100 550 150 150 55
Threshold
Exceeded? NO NO NO NO NO NO
The Project‐specific evaluation of emissions presented in the preceding analysis demonstrates that proposed Project construction-source air pollutant emissions would not result in exceedances of regional thresholds. Therefore, the proposed Project construction-source emissions would be considered less than significant on a projectspecific and cumulative basis.
Operational Related Impacts
Typical operational related emissions are from the following primary sources: area source emissions, energy source emissions, and mobile source emissions and result in emission of CO, VOCs, NOX, SOX, PM10, and PM2.5. The proposed Project includes the reconstruction of the northwest corner of the California Street and Redlands Boulevard intersection, widen the west side of California Street, and the construction of a culvert in the Redlands Boulevard and California Street right-of-way. Because the Project does not generate any mobile trips and is intended to improve the LOS conditions of the Project road segment, there are no quantifiable operational emissions associated with the proposed Project and no further analysis is required.
The Project-specific evaluation of emissions presented in the preceding analysis demonstrates that proposed Project operational-source air pollutant emissions would not result in an exceedance of regional thresholds. The Project would not result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the Project region is designated non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard. Therefore, the proposed Project operational-source emissions would be considered less than significant on a project-specific and cumulative basis.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1155 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
c) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? Less than Significant Impact: The SCAQMD recommends that the nearest sensitive receptor be considered when determining the Project’s potential to cause an individual or cumulatively significant impact. The nearest land use where an individual could remain for 24 hours to the Project site has been used to determine localized construction impacts for emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 (since PM10 and PM2.5 thresholds are based on a 24- hour averaging time). The nearest receptor used for evaluation of localized impacts of PM10 and PM2.5 is the existing residence at 2061 Redlands Blvd, approximately 122 feet east of the Project site. Sensitive receptors in the Project study area are listed below. • Residence at 26448 Redlands Boulevard, located 142 feet west of the Project site. • Elementary School at 10568 California Street, located 171 feet southwest of the Project site.
• Residence at 2061 Redlands Boulevard, located 122 feet southeast of the Project site.
• Convenience Store at 2098 W Redlands Boulevard, located 109 feet east of the Project site.
The SCAQMD has established that impacts to air quality are significant if there is a potential to contribute or cause localized exceedances of the federal and/or state ambient air quality standards (NAAQS/CAAQS). Collectively, these are referred to as Localized Significance Thresholds (LSTs). As previously stated, and consistent with LST Methodology, the nearest industrial/commercial use to the Project site is used to determine construction air impacts for emissions of NOX and CO as the averaging periods for these pollutants are shorter (8 hours or less) and it is reasonable to assume that an individual could be present at these sites for periods of one to 8 hours. The nearest receptor used for evaluation of localized impacts of NOX and CO is the convenience store located 36 feet east of the Project site. Table 3-6: Localized Construction Impacts identifies the localized impacts at the nearest receptor location in the vicinity of the Project.
Table 3-6: Localized Construction Impacts
On-Site Emissions Emissions (lbs/day)
NOx CO PM10 PM2.5
Grubbing and Land Clearing
Maximum Daily Emissions 4.53 4.54 0.41 0.27
SCAQMD Localized
Threshold 102 699 5 4
Threshold Exceeded? NO NO NO NO
Grading and Excavation
Maximum Daily Emissions 37.04 37.91 2.68 1.68
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1156 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
SCAQMD Localized
Threshold 247 2,012 24 9
Threshold Exceeded? NO NO NO NO
Drainage, Utilities, and Sub-Grade
Maximum Daily Emissions 17.19 19.90 1.11 0.68
SCAQMD Localized
Threshold 154 1,134 11 5
Threshold Exceeded? NO NO NO NO
Results of the LST analysis indicate that the Project will not exceed the SCAQMD localized significance thresholds during construction. Therefore, sensitive receptors would not be exposed to substantial pollutant concentrations during Project construction and operation and impacts would be less than significant.
d) Result in other emissions (such as those leading to odors adversely affecting a substantial number of people)?
Less than Significant Impact: The Project will not involve land uses that are typically associated with odor complaints such as, agricultural uses, wastewater treatment plants, food processing plants, chemical plants, composting operations, refineries, landfills, dairies, and fiberglass molding facilities. Potential odor sources associated with the proposed Project may result from construction equipment exhaust and the application of asphalt and architectural coatings during construction activities and the temporary storage of typical solid waste (refuse) associated with the Project’s (long-term operational) uses.
Standard construction requirements would minimize odor impacts from construction. The construction odor emissions would be temporary, short-term, and intermittent in nature and would cease upon completion of the respective phase of construction and is thus considered less than significant. It is expected that Project-generated refuse would be stored in covered containers and removed at regular intervals in compliance with the City’s solid waste regulations. The Project would also be required to comply with SCAQMD Rule 402 (Nuisance) to prevent occurrences of public nuisances. Therefore, odors associated with the Project construction and operations would be less than significant and no mitigation is required.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1157 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
California Street and Redlands Boulevard Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
IV. Biological Resources: Would the project:
a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either
directly or through habitat modifications, on
any species identified as a candidate,
sensitive, or special status species in local
or regional plans, policies, or regulations,
or by the California Department of Fish and
Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?
b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any
riparian habitat or other sensitive natural
community identified in local or regional
plans, policies, regulations or by the
California Department of Fish and Game or
US Fish and Wildlife Service?
c) Have a substantial adverse effect on state
or federally protected wetlands (including,
but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool,
coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling,
hydrological interruption, or other means?
d) Interfere substantially with the movement
of any native resident or migratory fish or
wildlife species or with established native
resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or
impede the use of native wildlife nursery
sites?
e) Conflict with any local policies or
ordinances protecting biological resources,
such as a tree preservation policy or
ordinance?
f) Conflict with the provisions of an adopted
Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural
Community Conservation Plan, or other
approved local, regional, or state habitat
conservation plan?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan, 2035.
• Chapter 6 – Vital Environment
- Table 6-1: Special Status Species Potentially Occurring in the Planning Area or Vicinity
2. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1158 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
• 3.4 – Biological Resources
3. City of Redlands Municipal Code
• Chapter 12.52 – Trees and Tree Protection Along Streets and in Public Spaces
4. USFWS National Wetlands Inventory Mapper. Accessed May 10, 2023. Web mapper.
5. California Wildlife Habitat Relationship System CDFW, Cliff Swallow. PDF.
6. Biological Site Assessment for Mission Zanja Improvements, Redlands, California. Casc Engineering and Consulting. May 10, 2023. (Appendix B)
7. Jurisdictional Delineation Report California Street/Redlands Boulevard Widening Project.
Casc Engineering and Consulting. August 2023 (Appendix C) Discussion of Impacts
a) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)? Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated: Casc Engineering and Consulting (Casc) biologists performed a reconnaissance level biological site assessment of the entire Project site during daylight hours on April 4, 2023. The results of the assessment are included in the Biological Site Assessment Report (Appendix B). The portion of the Project area that includes the Mission Zanja Channel was inspected for biological resources.
Ruderal plant species noted on the edge of the box channel included stork’s bill (Erodium sp.), fox-tail (Bromus sp.), and wild oat (Avena sp.). It is not expected that special-status plants will be impacted by improvements within the Mission Zanja Channel. It is likely that a pre-emergent has been used in this area by the City to discourage the growth of weeds (Appendix B).
There is a possibility of special-status wildlife occurring at the Project site on the concrete structure which traverses Mission Zanja Channel (Appendix B). According to Table 6-1:
Special Status Species Potentially Occurring in the Planning Area or Vicinity of the City’s General Plan, the Pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus) is a year-round species that has moderate potential to occur within the City’s jurisdiction and is classified as a Species of Special Concern by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). The pallid bats habitat is most common in open, dry habitats with rocky areas for roosting, such as culverts and bridges. Additionally, there is potential for barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) and cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) to nest in the concrete culvert that traverses the Mission Zanja Channel during the summer months. Though these swallow species are not identified by CDFW and USFWS as special status species, their nests are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. At the time of the biological site assessment performed by Casc biologists, no birds or bats were seen nesting, nor were there any signs of nesting within the channel or on the bridge that traverses the channel. As suitable habitat potentially does exist at the Project Site for Pallis bat and nesting birds, preconstruction surveys for nesting birds and bats in the culvert portion of the Project site are required prior to culvert demolition per Mitigation Measure BIO-1.
With incorporation of Mitigation Measure BIO-1, direct or indirect impacts through habitat modifications on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would be less than significant.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1159 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
b) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Less than Significant Impact: According to Figure 6-2: Land Use and Vegetation of the City’s General Plan, the northern portion of the Project site is classified as having “Developed/Ruderal” vegetation west of California Street and the portion of the Project site that is located in the Mission Zanja Channel is classified as “Annual Grassland”. On April 4, 2023, CASC biologists performed an assessment of the Project site to determine any presence of biological resources within the Misison Zanja Channel. Casc biologists characterized the Mission Zanja Channel portion of the Project site as having a soft bottom and sides, with some grouted and un-grouted rip-rap. Ruderal species were identified on the edge of the box channel including stork’s bill (Erodium sp.), fox-tail (Bromus sp.), and wild oat (Avena sp.) (Appendix B). Furthermore, it is likely that pre-emergent has been used in this portion of the Project area to discourage the growth of weeds.
A Jurisdictional Delineation was prepared by CASC, dated August 2023 (Appendix C). On June 27, 2023, CASC biologists, Dennis Peterson and Katelyn Faulkner, conducted a jurisdictional delineation field visit of the Project site. Areas with depressions, drainage patterns, and/or wetland vegetation within the Project site boundary were evaluated for potential jurisdictional status, with focus on the presence of defined channels and/or wetland vegetation, soils and hydrology using the methods set forth in the Corps 1987 Wetland Delineation Manual and the 2008 Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Arid West Region Version 2.0. An Arid West Ephemeral and Intermittent Streams Ordinary High Watermark (OHWM) Datasheet was completed to determine jurisdictional boundaries of observed non-wetland waters.
The streambed located within the Project site was primarily unvegetated and indicators for OHWM included a break in bank and slope, change of vegetation cover, and drift and debris deposits. Vegetation was present around the OHWM and extended upslope and included hydrophytic species such as seep monkey flower (Erythranthe guttata), curly dock (Rumex crispus), and tall sedge (Cyperus eragrostis). The presence of these hydrophytic species is consistent with vegetation that is influenced by the streambed and contained within the barrier fence installed above the rip rap on the excavated slope. Vegetation identified at the Project site within the Mission Zanja Channel is presented in Table 4-1 Vegetation Communities at the Project Site.
Table 4-1 Vegetation Communities at the Project Site
Vegetation Type Acreage within 500-ft
Buffer
Acreage within Project
Site
Agriculture 1.75 0.00
Annual Non-native Grassland 3.71 0.20
Developed/Disturbed 30.00 0.27
Ornamental 0.64 0.00
Unvegetated Streambed 0.76 0.03
Total 36.86 0.50
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1160 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
As shown in Table 4-1, the Project site does not contain riparian habitat. Furthermore, the Project site is designated as “Developed/Ruderal” and “Annual Grassland” according to the City’s General Plan. Therefore, the Project would not result in direct or indirect impacts to riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community and a less than significant impact would occur.
c) Would the project 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?
Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated: A portion of the Project site is located in the Mission Zanja Channel which flows south to north and is classified as a R4SBC Riverine habitat according to the USFWS National Wetlands Inventory Mapper. The intermittent riverine system is defined as all wetlands and deepwater habitats contained within a channel that contains flowing water for only part of the year, with surface water present for extended periods especially in the early growing season and is usually absent by the end of the growing season. The Mission Zanja Channel is a tributary to the Santa Ana River which connects approximately 2.75 miles downstream of the Project site. The Santa Ana River ultimately drains into the Pacific Ocean.
As required by Mitigation Measure BIO-2, a Jurisdictional Delineation was prepared for the Project to determine the delineation of aquatic resources and drainage features of the Project site within the Mission Zanja Channel (Appendix C). In order to be considered a jurisdictional wetland under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, an area must possess three wetland characteristics: hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, and wetland hydrology. Hydrophytic vegetation is plant life that grows, and is typically adapted for life, in permanently or periodically saturated soils. The hydrophytic vegetation criterion is met if more than 50 percent of the dominant plant species from all strata (tree, shrub, and herb layers) is considered hydrophytic. To be considered hydrophytic, the species must have wetland indicator status, i.e., be rated as obligate, facultative wet or facultative.
Permanent impacts at the proposed Project site would be limited to the portion of the streambed and associated banks that are not currently lined with concrete. The results of the jurisdictional delineation indicate that the Project site contains no wetland Waters of the United States (WoUS) or wetland waters of the state and lacked aquatic features with all three wetland indicators (i.e., hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, and hydrology). The Project site includes 0.017 acres (35 linear feet) of potential non-wetland WoUS and waters of the state, subject to USACE and RWQCB jurisdiction, see Table 4-2 Potential Project Impacts by Jurisdiction. The Project site contains 0.03 acres (35 linear feet) potentially subject to CDFW jurisdiction. The limits of CDFW jurisdiction include non-wetland WoUS, and extend beyond, to include the full extent of the riparian corridor defined as top of bank.
The lack of riparian vegetation at the Project site further supports these conclusions.
Table 4-2 Potential Project Impacts by Jurisdiction
Aquatic
Features
Wetland Waters
of U.S./State
Non-wetland
Waters of
U.S./State
Waters of the
State
(Unvegetated
Streambed)
Waters of
the State
(Riparian
Habitat)
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1161 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
USACE/RWQCB USACE/RWQCB CDFW CDFW
Acres Linear
Feet Acres Linear Feet Acres Linear Feet
Acre
s
Linear
Feet
Mission
Zanja
Channel
0 0 0.017 35 0.030 35 0.0 0
Total 0 0 0.017 35 0.030 35 0.0 0
The proposed Project will result in permanent impacts to jurisdictional waters. Therefore, Mitigation Measure BIO-3 will be implemented to require authorization and regulatory approvals from the USACE, RWQCB, and CDFW as applicable. With the implementation of BIO-3, the proposed Project would not 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 and a less than significant impact would occur with mitigation incorporated. d) Would the project interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites? Less than Significant Impact: According to Chapter 6: Vital Environment of the City’s General Plan, wildlife movement corridors are located within the City along the Santa Ana River, Mill Creek, and San Timoteo Creek and hills. The Project site is located in an urban, built-up portion of the City. As identified in the Biological Site Assessment there were no distinct wildlife species identified on the Project site or in the immediate area. Though the Project would be replacing a concrete culvert with a triple reinforced concrete box culvert, the proposed Project is not anticipated to interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites. Therefore, impacts would be less than significant.
e) Would the project conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance? No Impact: Chapter 12.52 of the City’s Municipal Code outlines for the City to protect and maintain mature and healthy public trees. No mature trees are located within the Project site nor are any proposed to be removed. Therefore, implementation of the proposed Project would not conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy and no impacts would occur. f) Would the project conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan?
No Impact: The City’s General Plan does not identify the Project site, nor the vicinity to be within a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and will not conflict with the provisions of an adopted HCP, Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP), or other approved local, regional or State HCP since there is no adopted HCP or NCCP in the Project area or local Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1162 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
region. Therefore, no impacts are identified or anticipated, and no mitigation measures are required.
Mitigation Measures
Mitigation:
IV. (a)
BIO-1: Pre-construction Surveys for Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, and Pallid Bat Prior to demolition of the structure, the bridge shall be inspected for the presence of barn swallow, cliff swallow, and pallid bat. If these species have taken up residence on or within the structure, then construction activities must wait until these species are no longer active and have vacated the area. If the Project schedule needs to be expedited and wildlife species are present, it will be necessary to consult with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
CDFW can provide recommendations for exclusionary measures to deter these species from inhabiting the structure.
IV. (c)
BIO-2: Jurisdictional Delineation and USACE Consultation A jurisdictional delineation of Mission Zanja Channel shall be performed prior to issuance of construction permits to determine the impacts and limits of the improvements within the channel. Further, this information shall be included in a permit application submitted for approval by the USACE.
BIO-3: Jurisdictional Regulatory Permitting
The Project shall incorporate the Recommendations listed on page 18 of the Project Jurisdictional Delineation prepared by Casc Engineering and Consulting, dated August 2023 (Appendix C). The recommendations are presented in Section 4 Recommendations of the report.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1163 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
California Street and Redlands Boulevard Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
V. Cultural Resources – Would the project:
a) Cause a substantial adverse change in the
significance of a historical resource
pursuant to §15064.5?
b) Cause a substantial adverse change in the
significance of an archaeological resource
pursuant to §15064.5?
c) Disturb any human remains, including
those outside of formal cemeteries?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan, July 21, 2017.
a. 3.8 – Historical, Archaeological, and Paleontological Resources
2. Cultural and Paleontological Resources Assessment for California Street/Redlands Boulevard Intersection Improvements Project, city of Redlands, San Bernardino County, California. Duke Cultural Resources Management, LLC. March 2024. (Appendix D) Discussion of Impacts
a) Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource pursuant in §15064.5 of the CEQA Guidelines?
Less than Significant Impact: A Cultural and Paleontological Resources Assessment was prepared by Duke Cultural Resources Management, LLC (Duke CRM), dated May 2023 (Appendix D). On January 9, 2023, Duke CRM staff performed a records search which included a review of all recorded cultural resources within a ½ mile radius of the Project, as well as a review of known cultural resource survey and excavation reports. The records search identified fifteen (15) cultural resources within ½ mile of the Project. Twelve (12) of the previously documented resources are historic structures which include the Mission School, the San Bernardino County Museum, five (5) single-family residences, one (1) commercial building, one (1) farm, two (2) historic road segments, and a segment of the Morey Arroyo which, like the Mission Creek Channel, is associated with the Mission Zanja.
One (1) of the road segments that has been previously identified adjacent to and within the Project area (resource P-36-032482) is a 3.5-mile segment of Redlands Boulevard that was recorded in 2017 and evaluated as not eligible for the NRHP. The other three (3) previously documented resources are archaeological sites which include a subsurface historic refuse scatter consisting of seven (7) glass bottles, the buried remains of a historic irrigation feature, and a prehistoric isolated artifact which is identified as a bifacial granite mano.
On January 13, 2023, Duke CRM archaeologist conducted an intensive pedestrian field survey of the entire Project area. The field survey identified one (1) previously recorded historic era cultural resource, a segment of Redlands Boulevard (P-36-032482). This Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1164 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
resource was previously evaluated as ineligible for the CRHR. The field survey also identified one (1) previously unrecorded historic era cultural resource, a portion of the Mission Creek Channel. This resource was photographed and documented during field inspection for formal recordation and evaluation for eligibility for the CRHR, which concluded that it is not eligible for listing on the CRHR. Although the structure bears some association with flood control efforts relevant to the establishment of agriculture and industry in the area, it does not retain sufficient integrity to convey its significance. No additional cultural resources or paleontological resources were identified during the field inspection.
The Project area site analyzed for sensitivity for buried prehistoric and historic era cultural resources based on records search data, historical topographic maps and aerial photographs, field investigation, and historical evaluation of the segment of the Mission Creek Channel within the Project area. Based on these data, the Project area is assessed as having a low sensitivity for prehistoric or historic era cultural resources. In addition, the property has been extensively disturbed by the construction of California Street and the Mission Zanja Channel concrete structure. Thus, the Project site would not cause an adverse change in the significance of a historical resource and impacts to historic resources would be less than significant.
b) Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to §15064.5 of the CEQA Guidelines?
Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated: As concluded in the Cultural and Paleontological Resources Assessment prepared by Duke CRM (Appendix D), the Project area contains previously recorded cultural resources that were evaluated as be ineligible for the NRHP, and by extension the CRHR. In addition, the property has been disturbed by grading and motor vehicle use on the site. During the AB 52 consultation process, consulting tribes provided mitigation measures for archaeological resources that have been incorporated into this IS/MND as CUL-2 through CUL-5. Although it is not anticipated that unknown archaeological resources exist on-site, Mitigation Measures CUL-1 through CUL-5 are identified to ensure that in the event that unanticipated resources are encountered during grading activities, potential impacts would remain less than significant. In the event archeological resources are discovered, grading activities must cease, a qualified archeologist must be consulted, and all discoveries must be documented accordingly.
Implementation of the Project is not anticipated to result in a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archeological resource pursuant to Section 15064.5 of the CEQA Guidelines. A less than significant impact with mitigation incorporated would occur. c) Disturb any human remains, including those outside of formal cemeteries? Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated: Duke CRM conducted a review of online historical aerial photographs and historical USGS quad maps utilizing University of California, Santa Barbara FrameFinder, historicaerials.com, and USGS Historical Topographic Map Explorer. Review of the images dating back to 1901 did not identify possible formal or informal cemeteries in the area. Therefore, a low likelihood exists that human remains could be uncovered during ground-disturbing activities. However, these findings do not preclude the existence of previously unknown human remains located below the ground surface, which may be encountered during construction excavations associated with the proposed Project. As a result, Mitigation Measure CUL-1 has been identified to Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1165 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
reduce potentially significant impacts to previously unknown human remains that may be unexpectedly discovered during project implementation to a less than significant level.
Consistent with State law, if at any time during grading human remains are found, the Project is to be conditioned to halt work and contact the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office.
Based on compliance with existing regulations and the implementation of Mitigation Measure CUL-1, the Project’s potential to disturb human remains is considered less than significant with mitigation.
Mitigation Measures
Mitigation:
(b,c)
CUL-1: Inadvertent Finds
If previously unidentified cultural materials are unearthed during construction, work shall be halted in that area until a qualified archaeologist can assess the significance of the find. If human remains are encountered, State Health and Safety Code Section 7050.5 states that no further disturbance shall occur until the County Coroner has made a determination of origin and disposition pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 5097.98. The County Coroner must be notified of the find immediately. If the remains are determined to be prehistoric, the Coroner will notify the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), which will determine and notify the Most Likely Descendant (MLD). With the permission of the landowner or his/her authorized representative, the MLD may inspect the site of the discovery. The MLD shall complete the inspection within 48 hours of notification by the NAHC. The MLD may recommend scientific removal and nondestructive analysis of human remains and items associated with Native American burials.
CUL-2: Retention of Archaeologist
Prior to any ground-disturbing activities (including, but not limited to, clearing, grubbing, tree and bush removal, grading, trenching, fence post replacement and removal, construction excavation, excavation for all utility and irrigation lines, and landscaping phases of any kind), and prior to the issuance of grading permits, the Applicant shall retain a qualified archaeologist who meets the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Standards (SOI). The archaeologist shall be present during all grounddisturbing activities to identify any known or suspected archaeological and/or cultural resources. The archaeologist will conduct a Cultural Resource Sensitivity Training.
The training session will focus on the archaeological and cultural resources that may be encountered during ground-disturbing activities as well as the procedures to be followed in such an event.
CUL-3: Cultural Resource Management Plan
Prior to any ground-disturbing activities the project archaeologist shall develop a Cultural Resource Management Plan (CRMP) and/or Archaeological Monitoring and Treatment Plan (AMTP) to address the details, timing, and responsibilities of all archaeological and cultural resource activities that occur on the project site. This Plan shall be written in coordination with the Consulting Tribe(s) and shall include the following: approved Mitigation Measures (MM)/Conditions of Approval (COA), Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1166 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
contact information for all pertinent parties, parties’ responsibilities, procedures for each MM or COA, and an overview of the project schedule.
CUL-4: Pre-Grade Meeting
The retained qualified archaeologist shall attend the pre-grader meeting with the grading contractors to explain and coordinate the requirements of the cultural resources monitoring plan.
CUL-5: On-site Monitoring.
During all ground-disturbing activities the qualified archaeologist shall be on-site fulltime. The frequency of inspections shall depend on the rate of excavation, the materials excavated, and any discoveries of cultural resources. Archaeological monitoring will be discontinued when the depth of grading and the soil conditions no longer retain the potential to contain cultural deposits. The qualified archaeologist shall be responsible for determining the duration and frequency of cultural resource monitoring.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1167 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
California Street and Redlands Boulevard Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
VI. Energy – Would the project:
a) Result in potentially significant
environmental impacts due to wasteful,
inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of
energy resources, during project
construction or operation?
b) Conflict with or obstruct a State or Local
plan for renewable energy or energy
efficiency?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan 2035.
a. Chapter 7 – Healthy Community
2. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017.
a. Section 3.5 – Energy, Greenhouse Gases, and Climate Change
3. Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Report California Street and Redlands Boulevard. Urban Crossroads, Inc. April 22, 2024. (Appendix A)
4. City of Redlands Climate Action Plan, Adopted December 5, 2017.
Discussion of Impacts
a) Result in potentially significant environmental impacts due to wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources, during project construction or operation? Less than Significant Impact: The proposed Project would impact energy resources during construction and operation. The construction activities for the Project would include site preparation, grading, building construction, paving, and architectural coating. The Project would consume energy resources during construction in three (3) general forms:
1. Petroleum-based fuels used to power off-road construction vehicles and equipment on the Project site, construction worker travel to and from the Project site, as well as delivery and haul truck trips (e.g., hauling of demolition material to off-site reuse and disposal facilities);
2. Electricity associated with the conveyance of water that would be used during Project construction for dust control (supply and conveyance) and electricity to power any necessary lighting during construction, electronic equipment, or other construction activities necessitating electrical power; and,
3. Energy used in the production of construction materials, such as asphalt, steel, concrete, pipes, and manufactured or processed materials such as lumber and glass.
Construction Related Impacts
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1168 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Construction of the Project would result in fuel consumption from construction tools and equipment, vendor and haul truck trips, and vehicle trips generated from construction workers traveling to and from the site. Construction activities and corresponding fuel energy consumption would be temporary and localized. Construction equipment used by the Project would result in single event consumption of diesel fuel. There are no unusual Project characteristics that would cause construction equipment to be less energy efficient compared with other similar construction sites in other parts of the State. Additionally, Project construction equipment would conform to the applicable CARB emissions standards, acting to promote equipment fuel efficiencies.
Operational Related Impacts
The proposed Project would widen the west side of California Street, reconstruct the northwest corner of the Redlands Boulevard California Street intersection and construct a culvert to connect to an existing culvert in the right-of-way. California Street is classified as a Major Arterial roadway and the proposed widening Project is designed to accommodate the high volume of motorists that utilize the roadway to travel between residential areas, major activity centers, and the I-10 and I-215 freeways. The proposed widening of California Street consists of the construction of one (1) designated right turn lane, two (2) travel lanes, a 6.5-foot-wide concrete sidewalk with curb and gutter, and a 24-foot-wide concrete sidewalk depression to provide access to the Mission Zanja Channel for maintenance. The specifications for the sidewalk and gutter improvements meet the requirements of the City’s Standard Specifications and Detail Drawings for Design Construction of Public Improvements guidelines (PW Standards). Because the Project does not generate any mobile trips and is intended to improve the Level of Service (LOS) of the Redlands Boulevard and California Street intersection, energy demands during Project operation would be less than existing demands at the intersection. The Project proposes conventional traffic signal and street lighting uses reflecting contemporary energy efficient/energy conserving designs and operational programs. The Project does not propose uses that are inherently energy intensive and the energy demands in total would be comparable to other intersection uses of similar scale and configuration.
As supported by the preceding, Project construction and operations would not result in the inefficient, wasteful, or unnecessary consumption of energy. The Project would therefore not cause or result in the need for additional energy-producing or energy transmission facilities.
The Project would not create or otherwise result in a potentially significant impact affecting energy resources or energy delivery systems, a less than significant impact would occur. b) Conflict with or obstruct a State or Local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency? Less Than Significant Impact: The applicable state plans that address renewable energy and energy efficiency are CALGreen, the California Energy Code, and California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. Under the California Renewables Portfolio Standard, the State of California is transitioning to renewable energy through the California’s Renewable Energy Program. Renewable sources of electricity include wind, small hydropower, solar, geothermal, biomass, and biogas. Electricity production from renewable sources is generally considered carbon neutral. Executive Order S-1408, signed in November 2008, expanded the state’s Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1169 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
renewable portfolios standard (RPS) to 33 percent renewable power by 2020. This standard was adopted by the legislature in 2011 (SB X1-2). Senate Bill 350 (de Leon) was signed into law September 2015 and establishes tiered increases to the RPS—40 percent by 2024, 45 percent by 2027, and 50 percent by 2030. Senate Bill 350 also set a new goal to double the energy-efficiency savings in electricity and natural gas through energy efficiency and conservation measures. On September 10, 2018, Governor Brown signed SB 100, which supersedes the SB 350 requirements. Under SB 100, the RPS for public owned facilities and retail sellers consist of 44 percent renewable energy by 2024, 52 percent by 2027, and 60 percent by 2030. Additionally, SB 100 also established a new RPS requirement of 50 percent by 2026. The bill also established a state policy that eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources supply 100 percent of all retail sales of electricity to California end-use customers and 100 percent of electricity procured to serve all state agencies by December 31, 2045. Under SB 100 the state cannot increase carbon emissions elsewhere in the western grid or allow resource shuffling to achieve the 100 percent carbon-free electricity target. The statewide RPS goal is not directly applicable to individual development projects, but to utilities and energy providers such as SCE, which is the utility company that would provide all electricity needs for the Project. Additionally, the Project would comply with the Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24) and CALGreen.
Local plans and ordinances addressing energy efficiency standards in the City’s limits are the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Community Strategy (SCAG RTP/SCS), Redlands Water Conservation and Solid Waste Recycling Ordinances, the Redlands Buildings and Construction Ordinance (Municipal Code Title 15), and the City’s 2017 Climate Action Plan. The City participates in the SANBAG Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan in order to address climate change as the City makes decisions to meet the needs of the growing population, maintain the quality of life of its residents, and to promote economic stability. The 2016 SCAG RTP/SCS provides a strategy for meeting 46 percent of the region’s future housing growth in High Quality Transit Areas (HQTAs), which are areas near public transit with high service frequency during peak commuting hours through the promotion of walkable and bikeable amenities. The Project is consistent with the aforementioned local plans as it will improve the level of service at the Redlands Boulevard and California Street intersection, widen California Street, and promote pedestrian use by installing a 6.5-foot wide sidewalk. Furthermore, the Project would comply with the City’s ordinances outlined in Title 15 of the City’s Municipal Code through Project construction and operation. Therefore, implementation of the Project would not conflict or obstruct plans for renewable energy. Thus, a less than significant impact would occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1170 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan 2035.
a. Chapter 7 – Healthy Community
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
VII. Geology and Soils– Would the project:
a) Directly or indirectly cause potential
substantial adverse effects, including the
risk of loss, injury, or death involving:
i) Rupture of a known earthquake
fault, as delineated on the most
recent Alquist-Priolo Earthquake
Fault Zoning Map issued by the
State Geologist for the area or
based on other substantial evidence
of a known fault. Refer to Division of
Mines and Geology Special
Publication 42.
ii) Strong seismic ground shaking?
iii) Seismic-related ground failure,
including liquefaction?
iv) Landslides?
b) Result in substantial soil erosion or the
loss of topsoil?
c) Be located on a geologic unit or soil that
is unstable, or that would become
unstable as a result of the project, and
potentially result in on- or off-site
landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence,
liquefaction or collapse?
d) Be located on expansive soil, as defined
in Table 18-1-B of the Uniform Building
Code (1994), creating substantial direct
or indirect risks to life or property?
e) Have soils incapable of adequately
supporting the use of septic tanks or
alternative waste water disposal systems
where sewers are not available for the
disposal of waste water?
f) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique
paleontological resource or site or unique
geologic feature?
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1171 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
2. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017.
a. Section 3.6 – Geology, Soils, and Seismicity
3. Cultural and Paleontological Resources Assessment for California Street/Redlands Boulevard Intersection Improvements Project, City of Redlands, San Bernardino County, California. Duke Cultural Resources Management, LLC. March 2024. (Appendix D)
4. Subsurface Soils Investigation California Street and Redlands Boulevard Widening Project, Redlands, California. LOR Geotechnical Group, Inc. February 27, 2023. (Appendix E) Discussion of Impacts
a) Would the project directly or indirectly cause potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving:
i) Rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantial evidence of a known fault. Refer to Division of Mines and Geology Special Publication 42.
Less than Significant Impact: The Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act (Act) was passed in 1972 to mitigate the hazard of surface faulting to structures for human occupancy. The Act’s main purpose is to prevent the construction of buildings used for human occupancy on the surface trace of active faults. The Act requires the State Geologist to establish regulatory zones, known as “Alquist-Priolo (AP) Earthquake Fault Zones,” around the surface traces of active faults and to issue appropriate maps. If an active fault is found, a structure for human occupancy cannot be placed over the trace of the fault and must be set back from the fault (typically 50 feet).
The City is bound to the northeast by the San Andreas fault zone and to the southwest by the San Jacinto fault zone, with the Crafton Hills fault zone traversing the southern portion of the City. Figure 7-5: Faults of the General Plan identifies Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones within the City and its Sphere of Influence. The Project site and its surrounding areas are not located within an Alquist-Priolo Fault Zone, nor is the Project site included within any San Bernardino County designated Fault Zone.
A Subsurface Soils Investigation was prepared by LOR Geotechnical Group (LOR), dated February 27, 2023 (Appendix E). LOR did not identify any evidence of faulting during geotechnical investigations. Additionally, the San Jacinto fault is the closest identified Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone to the Project site, approximately 2.0 miles southwest of the site. As there are no known faults located on the Project site and there is no evidence of faulting, the potential for the proposed Project to expose people or structures to adverse effects related to ground rupture is nil. Therefore, a less than significant impact would occur.
ii) Strong seismic ground shaking?
Less than Significant Impact: The Project site is located in a seismically active area of southern California and is expected to experience moderate to severe ground shaking during the lifetime of the Project. However, as stated under section (i) above, the Project site is not located within an Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone. The ground shaking risk is not considered substantially different than that of other Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1172 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
properties within the City. As a mandatory condition of Project approval, the City will require that the proposed structures be constructed in accordance with the 2019 California Building Code (CBC), Title 24, and the City Building Code, which are designed to preclude significant adverse effects associated with strong seismic ground shaking. The future structures and workers on the Project site have the potential to be exposed to strong seismic ground shaking associated with seismic events. Adherence to the recommendations outlined in the City’s General Plan and Municipal Code, as well as conditions of approval and the 2019 California Building Code (CBC) Guidelines that are currently adopted by the City, will ensure potential impacts related to strong seismic shaking are less than significant. iii) Seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction? Less than Significant Impact: Liquefaction is a phenomenon associated with shallow groundwater combined with the presence of loose, fine sands, and/or silts within a depth of 50-feet below grade or less. Liquefaction occurs when saturated, loose, fine sands and/or silts are subjected to strong ground shaking resulting from an earthquake event. Due to the increasing overburden pressure with depth, liquefaction of granular soils is generally limited to the upper 50 feet of a soil profile.
Increasing duration of the ground shaking during a seismic event can also increase the potential for liquefaction.
According to Figure 7-6: Liquefaction of the General Plan, areas of high liquefaction susceptibility within the City are located towards the northern portion of its jurisdiction.
The Project site and its surrounding areas are not located within an area susceptible to liquefaction. Additionally, groundwater is believed to lie at a depth in excess of 50 feet beneath the Project site, and the site is underlain by relatively dense alluvial materials (Appendix E). Therefore, liquefaction is not considered to be a design concern for the Project and a less than significant impact would occur. iv) Landslides?
Less than Significant impact: Seismically induced landslides and slope failures are common occurrences during or soon after large earthquakes. According to Figure 7- 6: Liquefaction of the City’s General Plan, the Project site is not located within an area that has potential for earthquake-induced landslides. Additionally, the Project site and surrounding areas are relatively flat. Project implementation would not directly or indirectly induce risk of landslide, a less than significant impact would occur.
b) Would the project result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of topsoil? Less than Significant Impact: Construction activities associated with the Project would involve earth movement and the exposure of soil, which would temporarily increase erosion susceptibility. In the long-term, development of the Project site would increase impervious surface cover on the Project site, thereby reducing the potential for erosion and loss of topsoil that currently occurs. The Project would be required to adhere to standard regulatory requirements, including, but not limited to, requirements of the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction General Permit, which requires Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1173 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
adoption of an appropriate Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce erosion from storm water runoff. With the implementation of a Project specific SWPPP, potential impacts associated with erosion or changes in topography, including loss of topsoil are considered less than significant.
c) Would the project be located on a geologic unit or soil that is unstable, or that would become unstable as a result of the project, and potentially result in on- or off-site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction, or collapse?
Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated: The Project site is underlain by fill/topsoil that overlies native alluvial materials. The fill/topsoil that underlays the Project site is approximately 12 to 15 feet in thickness, consists of silty sand with gravel to well graded sand with gravel, is brown to gray in color, damp, and in a loose to medium dense state. The alluvial materials further down consist of poorly graded sand, well graded sand, and silty sand with minor units of sandy silt/silty sand and lean clay with sand, with the upper 2 to 7 feet of alluvial in a loose/medium state and became more stiff/dense with depth. Due to the coarse grained composition of the native soils that underlie the Project site, caving of the site excavations is anticipated (Appendix E).
The Project will be required to comply with all requirements and recommendations outlined in the Subsurface Soil Investigation prepared by LOR Geotechnical Group, as required by Mitigation Measure GEO-1. Furthermore, the Project will comply with all applicable provisions of the Uniform Building Code (UBC) and California Building Code (CBC) that would act to minimize any unstable soils or unstable geologic units that may be encountered.
On this basis, the potential for the Project to be located on a geologic units or soil that is unstable, or that would become unstable as a result of the Project, and potentially result in on- or off-site landslides, lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction or collapse is less than significant with mitigation incorporated.
d) Would the project be located on expansive soil, as defined in Table 18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1994), creating substantial direct or indirect risks to life or property? Less than Significant Impact: Expansive soils contain significant amounts of clay particles that swell considerably when wet and shrink when dry. Foundations constructed on these soils are subject to uplifting forces caused by swelling. Without proper mitigation measures, heaving and cracking of both building foundations and slabs-on-grade could result. The native soils that underlay the Project site are considered clean, free-draining, granular soils that are generally suitable for use as backfills and fills (Appendix E). Therefore, the subsurface soils at the Project site are considered non-expansive and a less than significant impact would occur.
e) Would the project have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative waste-water disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of waste water?
No Impact: The Project does not propose to utilize a septic tank or alternative wastewater disposal system. Therefore, no impact will occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1174 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
f) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature?
Less than Significant Impact: A Cultural and Paleontological Resources Assessment was prepared by Duke Cultural Resources Management, LLC (Duke CRM) dated March 2024 (Appendix D). Duke CRM requested that the Western Science Center (WSC) perform a paleontological records search for known fossil localities within, and in the vicinity of, the Project site. On January 12, 2023, the WSC found that there have been no paleontological resources discovered within the Project area or within a one (1) mile search radius. The geology within the Project site is mapped by Dibblee and Minch (2003, 2004) and indicates that the Project site is underlain by Holocene-age alluvial sand and clay deposits (Qa) dating to the Holocene; although these units are conducive to the preservation of biological material, they are considered to have low paleontological sensitivity due to their relatively modern age.
Therefore, the potential for impacts as a result of Project implementation on paleontological resources are less than significant.
Mitigation Measures
Mitigation:
VII. (c)
GEO-1: Grading and Construction
The Project shall incorporate the recommendations provided in the Subsurface Soils Investigation prepared by LOR Geotechnical Group, dated February 27, 2023 (Appendix D). The recommendations are presented in the following sections of the report: Excavations, Shoring Design Parameters, Culvert Areas, Preparation of Box Culvert and Retaining Wall Areas, Culvert Box and Retaining Wall Design, Engineered Compacted Fill, Preliminary Pavement Design, Corrosion Protection, and Construction Monitoring.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1175 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
VIII. Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Would the project:
a) Generate greenhouse gas emissions either
directly or indirectly, that may have a
significant impact on the environment?
b) Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or
regulation adopted for the purpose of
reducing the emissions of greenhouse
gases?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan, 2035.
a. Chapter 7 – Healthy Communities
2. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017
a. 3.5 – Energy, Greenhouse Gases, and Climate Change
3. Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Report California Street and Redlands Boulevard. Urban Crossroads, Inc. April 22, 2024. (Appendix A)
Discussion of Impacts
a) Generate greenhouse gas emissions either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment?
Less than Significant Impact: Urban Crossroads conducted a Greenhous Gas Analysis for the proposed Project, dated April 22, 2024 (Appendix A). The analysis provides the estimated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that will result from Project construction and operation. Construction related GHG emissions are quantified and amortized over the life of the Project, which is identified as a 30-year period, in accordance with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). Project operational emissions would consist of mobile source emissions, area source emissions, energy source emissions, on-site cargo handling equipment emissions, and solid waste management.
On December 5, 2017, the City of Redlands adopted the Climate Action Plan (CAP), which provides a framework for reducing GHG emissions and managing resources to best prepare for a changing climate. The CAP recommends GHG emissions targets that are consistent with the reduction targets of the State of California and presents a number of strategies that will make it possible for the City to meet the recommended targets.
Project GHG emissions would total approximately 15.73 MTCO2e per year as a result of the construction phase of the Project, as there are no quantifiable GHG emissions associated with operations of the Project. As such, the GHG emissions presented in Table 9-1: Total Project GHG Emissions are from construction source GHG emissions. A numerical threshold for determining the significance of GHG emissions in the SCAB has not been established by the SCAQMD for projects where it is not the lead agency. As an Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1176 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
interim threshold based on guidance provided in the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) CEQA and Climate Change handbook, the City has opted to use a non-zero threshold approach based on Approach 2 of the handbook. Threshold
2.5 (Unit-Based Thresholds Based on Market Capture) establishes a numerical threshold based on capture of approximately 90% of emissions from future development. The latest threshold developed by SCAQMD using this method is 3,000 MTCO2e/yr for all projects.
Table 8-1: Total Project GHG Emissions
Year Emissions (MT/yr)
CO2 CH4 N2O R Total CO2E
2024 265.23 0.01 0.00 0.04 266.53
2025 215.35 0.01 0.00 0.03 216.33
Total GHG Emissions 480.58 0.02 0.01 0.07 482.86
Amortized Construction
Emissions 16.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 16.10
Total CO2E (All
Sources) 16.10
The Project has the potential to generate a total of approximately 16.10 MTCO2e/yr as summarized in Table 8-1: Total Project GHG Emissions, and meets the SCAQMD’s numeric threshold of 3,000 MTCO2e/yr. An individual project cannot generate enough GHG emissions to influence global climate change. The project participates in this potential impact by its incremental contribution combined with the cumulative increase of all other sources of GHGs, which when taken together may have a significant impact on global climate change. However, compliance with the CAP fulfills the description of mitigation found in CEQA Guidelines §15130(a)(3) and §15183.5. Therefore, Project impacts would be less than significant.
b) Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases?
Less than Significant Impact: The Project would not conflict with any applicable plan, policy or regulation of an agency adopted for the purpose of reducing GHG emissions.
Applicable plans adopted for the purpose of reducing GHG emissions include the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Scoping Plan and the City of Redlands Climate Action Plan. Urban Crossroads conducted a consistency analysis that is provided in Appendix A. The results of the consistency analysis are summarized below.
CARB 2022 Scoping Plan
CARB’s Scoping Plan is California’s GHG reduction strategy to achieve the state’s GHG emissions reduction target established by AB 32, which is to return to 1990 emission levels by year 2030 (CARB 2017). The CARB Scoping Plan is applicable to state agencies and is not directly applicable to cities/counties and individual projects. Nonetheless, the Scoping Plan has been the primary tool that is used to develop performance-based and Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1177 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
efficiency-based CEQA criteria and GHG reduction targets for climate action planning efforts.
On December 24, 2017, CARB adopted the Final 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan Update to address the new 2030 interim target to achieve a 40 percent reduction below 1990 levels by 2030, established by SB 32 (CARB 2017). Statewide strategies to reduce GHG emissions include the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), California Appliance Energy Efficiency regulations, California Renewable Energy Portfolio standard, changes in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, and other early action measures as necessary to ensure the state is on target to achieve the GHG emissions reduction goals of AB 32. Also, new buildings are required to comply with the latest applicable Building Energy Efficiency Standards and California Green Building Code (CALGreen). While measures in the Scoping Plan apply to state agencies and not the proposed Project, the Project’s GHG emissions would be reduced from compliance with statewide measures that have been adopted since AB 32 and SB 32 were adopted.
Therefore, the proposed Project would not obstruct implementation of the CARB Scoping Plan and impacts would be less than significant. In November 2022, CARB released the Final 2022 Scoping Plan Update, which identifies the State’s progress towards the statutory 2030 target, while providing a path towards carbon neutrality and reduce greenhouse gases emissions by 85% below 1990 levels by 2045. Recent studies show that the State’s existing and proposed regulatory framework will allow the State to reduce its GHG emissions level to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. The Project would not conflict with any of the 2022 Scoping Plan elements as any regulations adopted would apply directly or indirectly to the Project.
Climate Action Plan
The City of Redlands adopted a Climate Action Plan (CAP) to address requirements under the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The CAP presents the greenhouse gas inventory for the City, identifies the effectiveness of California, regional, and countywide initiatives to reduce GHG emissions, and concludes with City strategies to achieve GHG targets for the City. The proposed Project does not conflict with or impede implementation of the CAP. Therefore, Project impacts would be less than significant.
Finally, the Project is consistent with the general plan land use designation, density, building intensity, and applicable policies specified for the Project area in SCAG's Sustainable Community Strategy/Regional Transportation Plan, which pursuant to SB 375 calls for the integration of transportation, land-use and housing policies to plan for achievement of the GHG-emissions target for the region. Thus, a less than significant impact related to GHG emissions from Project construction and operation would occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1178 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
IX. Hazards and Hazardous Materials – Would the project:
a) Create a significant hazard to the public or
the environment through the routine
transport, use, or disposal of hazardous
materials?
b) Create a significant hazard to the public or
the environment through reasonably
foreseeable upset and accident conditions
involving the release of hazardous materials
into the environment?
c) Emit hazardous emissions or handle
hazardous or acutely hazardous materials,
substances, or waste within one-quarter
mile of an existing or proposed school?
d) Be located on a site which is included on a
list of hazardous materials sites compiled
pursuant to Government Code Section
65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a
significant hazard to the public or the
environment?
e) For a project located within an airport land
use plan or, where such a plan has not
been adopted, within two miles of a public
airport or public use airport, would the
project result in a safety hazard or
excessive noise for people residing or
working in the project area?
f) Impair implementation of or physically
interfere with an adopted emergency
response plan or emergency evacuation
plan?
g) Expose people or structures, either directly
or indirectly, to a significant risk of loss,
injury or death involving wildland fires?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan 2035.
a. Chapter 7 – Healthy Community
2. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1179 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
a. Section 3.7 – Hazards and Hazardous Materials
3. Envirostor, Department of Toxic Substances Control, 2019. https://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/
4. FHSZ Viewer, The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP), accessed May 11, 2023. https://egis.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ/
Discussion of Impacts
a) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials?
Less than Significant Impact: Project implementation would not cause the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials. However, equipment used and stored at the site during Project construction will utilize substances considered to be hazardous by regulatory bodies, such as diesel fuel and gasoline. These types of materials are not acutely hazardous, and all storage, handling, use, and disposal of these materials are regulated by federal and state requirements. Project construction activities are required to strictly adhere to federal and state requirements. The use, transport, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials must comply with existing regulations established by several agencies, including the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the California Code of Regulations (CalOSHA), and the state Unified Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials Management Regulatory Program. Long-term operation of the Project would not handle any hazardous materials as the Project includes the widening of California Street, intersection improvements, and storm drain improvements in the Mission Zanja Channel.
The amount of hazardous material onsite during construction is expected to be less than significant, and the Project would be required to comply with applicable laws, ordinances, and procedures. Thus, Project impacts would be less than significant. b) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the environment?
Less than Significant Impact: As discussed in Section IX(a), any handling activities associated with hazardous or potentially hazardous materials would comply with all applicable federal, state, and local agencies and regulations. Short-term construction of the proposed Project would comply with all applicable federal, State, and local agencies and regulations with the policies and programs established by agencies such as the EPA, Department of Transportation, Department of Toxic Substances Control, Cal/OSHA, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and the state Unified Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials Management Regulatory Program. Long-term operation of the Project would not handle any hazardous materials. Adherence to the applicable policies and programs of these agencies would ensure that any transport or interaction with hazardous materials would occur in the safest possible manner, reducing the opportunity for the accidental release of hazardous materials into the environment. Any handling of hazardous materials would be limited in both quantities and concentrations.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1180 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Based on the preceding, impacts would be less than significant. c) Emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school? Less than Significant Impact: Mission Elementary School is located adjacent to the Project site in the southwest corner of the Redlands Boulevard and California Street intersection. Grove High School is located approximately 1.78 miles southeast of the Project site, and Victoria Elementary School is located approximately 1.41 miles northwest of the Project site. The Proposed Project would not emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substance, or waste during operation. As previously discussed, handling activities associated with hazardous or potentially hazardous materials during the construction phase of the Project would comply with all applicable federal, state, and local agencies and regulations and would be short-term. Any handling of hazardous materials would be limited in both quantities and concentrations.
Impacts would be less than significant.
d) Be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or the environment?
No Impact: Government Code Section 65962.5 describes that before an application for a development project is completed, the Applicant and/or Lead Agency shall indicate whether the site is included on any of the lists compiled pursuant to that section and identify which list(s). According to the Cortese List (DTSC, EnviroStor 2019), the Project site is not included on a list of hazardous materials sites. Nor are there any active hazardous materials sites listed in the vicinity of the Project site. Therefore, the proposed Project would not create a significant hazard and no impact would occur. e) For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project result in a safety hazard or excessive noise for people residing or working in the project area? No Impact: The nearest airport to the Project site is the San Bernardino Municipal Airport located approximately 2.1 miles north of the site, followed by the Redlands Municipal Airport which is located 4.4 miles northeast of the Project site. According to Figure 7-7:
Airport Hazards of the General Plan, the Project site is not located in Airport Compatibility Zones or Airport Noise Contour zones. Given the Project site’s distance from any airport, the Project would not create a safety hazard or excessive noise for people residing or working in the Project area. Thus, no impact would occur. f) Impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan?
Less than Significant Impact: The City adopted its Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) in 2015 in accordance with 44 CFR. Emergency evacuation plans for the City and surrounding areas are identified in the San Bernardino County Emergency Operations Plan. During the construction phase of the Project, temporary closures of California Street and the Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1181 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
northwestern portion of the Redlands Boulevard and California Street intersection would occur. However, detour signage will be used on adjacent streets to redirect traffic and the impacts would be temporary occurring between April 2024 and December 2024 intermittently depending on what portion of the Project is being implemented. The proposed Project would not impede implementation of the County’s Emergency Operation Plan as it would widen California Street and the Redlands Boulevard and California Street intersection, which would result in a smoother flow of traffic. Therefore, potential impacts to the implementation of or physical interference with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan would be less than significant. g) Expose people or structures, either directly or indirectly, to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires?
No Impact: The Project site is located in the southwest corner of the City in an urban, built-up area. There are no wildland areas in the Project vicinity. Implementation of the proposed Project would not expose people or structures, either directly or indirectly, to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires and no impacts would occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1182 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
X. Hydrology and Water Quality – Would the project:
a) Violate any water quality standards or
waste discharge requirements or
otherwise substantially degrade surface or
groundwater quality?
b) Substantially decrease groundwater
supplies or interfere substantially with
groundwater recharge such that the
project may impede sustainable
groundwater management of the basin?
c) Substantially alter the existing drainage
pattern of the site or area, including
through the alteration of the course of a
stream or river or through the addition of
impervious surfaces, in a manner which
would:
i) result in substantial erosion or siltation
on- or off-site;
ii) substantially increase the rate or
amount of surface runoff in a manner
which would result in flooding on- or
offsite;
iii) create or contribute runoff water which
would exceed the capacity of existing
or planned stormwater drainage
systems or provide substantial
additional sources of polluted runoff;
or
iv) impede or redirect flood flows?
d) In flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones,
risk release of pollutants due to project
inundation?
e) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of
a water quality control plan or sustainable
groundwater management plan?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan 2035.
a. Chapter 6 – Vital Environment
b. Chapter 7 – Healthy Community
2. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1183 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
a. 3.9 – Hydrology and Water Quality
Discussion of Impacts
a) Violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements or otherwise substantially degrade surface or groundwater quality?
Less than Significant Impact: The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program is a federal Environment Protection Act (EPA) program that is overseen by the State of California and administered by the California Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB). The City’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit has been in effect since 2004 and is administered by the Santa Ana RWQCB and regulates point and nonpoint discharges into waters of the United States within the City’s jurisdiction. Under the NPDES permit, construction activities are regulated through a General Construction Stormwater Permit (MS4) which requires recipients to develop a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) to reduce or eliminate non-storm water discharges into stormwater systems through the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs). The proposed Project is subject to the City’s NPDES permit, the State’s General Construction permit, and a SWPPP. The Projects’ SWPPP would identify Project specific BMPs to control and abate pollutant discharges into stormwater systems and any surface waters. With the implementation of BMPs identified in the Project SWPPP, the proposed Project would be in compliance with the General Construction Storm Water Permit (MS4) and the City’s NPDES permit. Therefore, the Project conforms with conditions related to water quality standards and waste discharge requirements to reduce the potential to substantially degrade surface or groundwater quality. Thus, a less than significant impact would occur.
b) Substantially decrease groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge such that the project may impede sustainable groundwater management of the basin?
Less than Significant Impact: The proposed Project would reconstruct the northwest corner of the California Street and Redlands Boulevard intersection, widen California Street approximately 770 feet north of Redlands Boulevard, and install a triple reinforced concrete box (RCB) culvert and concrete transition structure in the Mission Zanja Channel under the California Street and Redlands Boulevard intersection. The Project does not include any development components that would require a water supply for operations that would affect groundwater supplies. The widening of California Street approximately 770 feet north of Redlands Boulevard will convert minor pervious surfaces to impervious surfaces however, this is not enough to substantially interfere with groundwater recharge. Therefore, the Project would not impede sustainable groundwater management of the basin and a less than significant impact would occur.
c) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river or through the addition of impervious surfaces, in a manner which would:
i) result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or off-site; Less than Significant Impact: The proposed Project would not alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area in a manner which would result in substantial erosion Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1184 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
or siltation on- or off-site. The proposed storm drain improvements in the Mission Zanja Channel include the construction of a triple RCB culvert and concrete transition structure. The widening of California Street, north of Redlands Boulevard and south of the existing Anthem Oil gas station includes the construction of a 6.5-foot-wide concrete sidewalk with curb and gutter to convey stormwater flows to the Mission Zanja Channel.
Less than significant impacts would occur.
ii) substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding on- or offsite; or
Less than Significant Impact: The proposed Project will maintain the existing flow and direction of stormwater runoff in the Mission Zanja Channel. The widening of California Street which includes the conversion of pervious surfaces to impervious surfaces and the construction of a 6.5-foot wide concrete sidewalk with curb and gutter, is not substantial enough to increase the rate or amount of surface runoff. Impacts would be less than significant.
iii) create or contribute runoff water which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff?
Less than Significant Impact: The proposed Project does not alter the existing flows and/or drainage patterns of the Project site. Therefore, the Project would not create or contribute runoff water which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff. Less than significant impacts would occur.
iv) impede or redirect flood flows?
Less than Significant Impact: The proposed Project does not alter the existing flows and/or drainage patterns of the Project site. Therefore, the Project would not impede of redirect existing flows.
d) In flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones, risk release of pollutants due to project inundation?
Less than Significant Impact: The Project site includes a portion of the Mission Zanja Channel which is identified as a 100 Year Floodplain (A) meaning there is a 1 percent annual chance of flooding. The proposed Project would not change the existing drainage patterns of the Mission Zanja Channel and would therefore not increase the risk of pollutants. According to Figure 7-3: Flood Hazards of the City’s General Plan, the Project site is not located in a Dam Inundation Area. Additionally, the Project site is located approximately 70 miles east of the Pacific Ocean resulting in no potential for impacts due to tsunamis. Therefore, Project implementation would not result in a release of pollutants due to flood hazards, tsunami, or seiche zones. A less than significant impact would occur.
e) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of a water quality control plan or sustainable groundwater management plan?
Less than Significant Impact: The proposed Project would be required to adhere to the requirements outlined in the Project specific SWPPP to prevent and reduce Project related Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1185 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
pollutants from entering stormwater discharges. Additionally, the Project would widen the south bound lanes of California Street which would convert a minor area of pervious surface to impervious surface. However, this would not be substantial enough to impact groundwater management plans. Thus, the Project would not conflict with or obstruct the implementation of a water quality control plan or sustainable groundwater management plan.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1186 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
XI. Land Use and Planning – Would the project:
a) Physically divide an established
community?
b) Cause a significant environmental impact
due to a conflict with any land use plan,
policy, or regulation adopted for the
purpose of avoiding or mitigating an
environmental effect?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan 2035.
a. Chapter 4 – Livable Community
5. Draft Environmental Impact Report for the City of Hesperia General Plan Update, May 26, 2010.
b. 3.10 – Land Use and Housing
Discussion of Impacts
Would the project:
a) Physically divide an established community?
No Impact: According to the City’s General Plan, the Project site is designated as Commercial and Linear Parks. The Project site is currently developed with California Street, the Mission Zanja Channel, and the Redlands Boulevard and California Street intersection.
Surrounding uses include an apartment complex to the west, a gas station and the I-10 freeway to the north, a commercial shopping center to the east, an elementary school to the southwest, and an apartment complex to the southeast. Therefore, no established communities exist within the Project site, nor does the Project propose or require elements or operations that would divide an off-site community. Based on the preceding, the Project would not physically divide an established community and no impact would occur. b) Cause a significant environmental impact due to a conflict with any land use plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect? Less Than Significant Impact: The General Plan land use designation for the Project site is Commercial, and Linear Parks adjacent to the Mission Zanja Channel. The proposed Project would not conflict with any land use plan, policy, or regulation adopted; thus no impact would occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1187 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
XII. Mineral Resources – Would the project:
a) Result in the loss of availability of a known
mineral resource that would be of value to
the region and the residents of the state?
b) Result in the loss of availability of a locallyimportant mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific
plan or other land use plan?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan 2035.
a. Chapter 6 – Vital Environment
2. Draft Environmental Impact Report for the City of Hesperia General Plan Update, May 26, 2010.
a. Section 3.11 – Mineral Resources
Discussion of Impacts
a) Result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the region and the residents of the state?
b) Result in the loss of availability of a locally-important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan or other land use plan? a-b) No Impact: The City is located within the San Bernardino Production-Consumption (P-C) Region. The State Mining and Geology Board has classified large areas in the north portion of the City as Mineral Resource Zone-2 (MRZ-2), indicating that there are minerals located in the area with value and marketability. According to Figure 6-4: Mineral Resources, the Project site is not located within a Mineral Land Classification zone or an Aggregate Resources Sector zone. Furthermore, the Project site is not located in a Significant Mineral Aggregate Resource Area (SMARA). Accordingly, implementation of the proposed Project would not result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the region or the residents of the State of California. Additionally, there are no resource recovery sites delineated within the Project vicinity, or surrounding areas. Therefore, the proposed Project would not result in the loss of availability of locally important mineral resources and no impact would occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1188 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
XIII. Noise – Would the project result in:
a) Generation of a substantial, temporary, or
permanent increase in ambient noise
levels in the vicinity of the project in
excess of standards established in the
local general plan or noise ordinance, or
applicable standards of other agencies?
b) Generation of excessive groundborne
vibration or groundborne noise levels?
c) For a project located within the vicinity of
a private airstrip or an airport land use
plan or, where such a plan has not been
adopted, within two miles of a public
airport or public use airport, would the
project expose people residing or working
in the project area to excessive noise
levels?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan, 2035.
a. Chapter 7.5 - Noise
2. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017.
a. 3.12 – Noise
3. Title 18 – Zoning Regulations
a. Chapter 18.92.230 – C-3 General Commercial District Noise Control
4. California Street and Redlands Boulevard Intersection Improvement Noise Impact Analysis City of Redlands. Urban Crossroads. April 22, 2024. (Appendix F) Discussion of Impacts
Would the project result in:
a) Generation of a substantial, temporary, or permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards of other agencies?
Less than Significant Impact: The City proposes to widen California Street, 770 feet north of Redlands Boulevard, and south of the Anthem Oil Gas Station. The Project also includes improvements to the northwest corner of the Redlands Boulevard and California Street intersection, and storm drain improvements beneath the intersection in the Mission Zanja Channel. The Project will produce noise levels that are associated with construction, however, operation of the Project does not include any new stationary noise sources. Urban Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1189 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Crossroads prepared a Noise Impact Analysis dated June 30, 2023 (Appendix F). The Noise Impact Analysis was prepared to satisfy applicable City of Redlands standards and thresholds of significance based on guidance provided by Appendix G of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Construction Related Impacts
In accordance with the City’s Municipal Code Section 8.06.090, Project related construction activities would occur during the permitted hours of 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with no construction occurring on Sundays or holidays. The City’s General Plan and Municipal Code does not identify specific construction noise level limits, thus the Noise Impact Analysis prepared by Urban Crossroads utilized the 85 dBA Leq threshold identified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to quantify and determine potential construction noise level impacts as a result of the proposed Project (Appendix F).
Construction noise levels will vary due to each stage of construction requiring a specific equipment mix, depending on the work to be completed. As a result of the equipment mix, each stage has its own noise characteristics; some stages have higher continuous noise levels than others, and some have higher impact noise levels than others. Project construction activities are expected to occur in the following stages: demolition, site preparation, grading, roadway base, paving, and striping. Table 13-1 presents a summary of the noise levels at the nearest sensitive receptors for the loudest construction equipment, assuming they operate at the same time.
Table 13-1 Construction Equipment Noise Level Summary
Receive
r
Location
Construction Noise Levels (dBA Leq)
Demolitio
n
Site
Preparatio
n
Gradin
g
Building
Constructio
n
Pavin
g
Architectura
l Coating
Highes
t Level
1 69.9 67.1 63.5 65.0 60.5 58.5 69.9
2 65.8 63.0 59.4 60.9 56.4 54.4 65.8
3 65.3 62.5 58.9 60.4 55.9 53.9 65.3
As shown in Table 13-1 above, modeled unmitigated construction noise levels reached up to 69.9 dBA Leq, assuming all equipment for the phase is utilized at the same time. To evaluate whether the Project will generate potentially significant short-term noise levels at nearest receiver locations, a construction-related daytime noise level threshold of 85 dBA Leq is used as a reasonable threshold to assess the daytime construction noise level impacts. The construction noise analysis shows that the nearest receiver locations will satisfy the reasonable daytime 85 dBA Leq significance threshold during Project construction activities with a maximum noise level of 69.9 dBA Leq, as shown on Table 13-
2. Therefore, the noise impacts due to Project construction noise are considered less than significant at all receiver locations.
Table 13-2 Construction Level Compliance
Receiver
Location
Construction Noise Levels (dBA Leg)
Highest Construction
Noise Levels Threshold Threshold Exceeded?
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1190 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
1 69.9 85 No
2 65.8 85 No
3 65.3 85 No
Operation Related Impacts
The Project does not include any new stationary noise sources. As such, the Project does not have the potential to generate increases in ambient noise from these sources at the Project site and in the surrounding area and thus no impact would occur (Appendix F).
Therefore, Project impacts in regard to a generation of a substantial, temporary, or permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards of other agencies would be less than significant.
b) Generation of excessive ground borne vibration or ground borne noise levels? Less than Significant Impact: Project construction can generate varying degrees of ground borne vibration, depending on the construction procedure and the construction equipment used. Operation of construction equipment generates vibrations that spread through the ground and dimmish in amplitude with distance from the source. The effect on buildings located in the vicinity depends on soil type, ground strata, and construction characteristics of receiver buildings. The results from vibration can range from no perceptible effects at the lowest vibration levels, to low rumbling sounds and perceptible vibration at moderate levels, to slight damage at high levels. Ground-borne vibrations from construction activities rarely reach levels that damage structures.
At distances ranging from 122 to 171 feet from Project construction activities, construction vibration velocity levels are expected to range up to 0.01 in/sec PPV. Based on maximum acceptable continuous vibration threshold of 0.04 PPV (in/sec), the typical Project construction vibration levels will not exceed the vibration thresholds at any local receiver.
Therefore, the Project-related vibration impacts are considered less than significant during typical construction activities at the Project site (Appendix F).
Ground-borne vibration decreases rapidly with distance. The vibration levels reported at the sensitive receiver locations are unlikely to be sustained during the entire construction period but will occur rather only during the times that heavy construction equipment is operating adjacent to the Project site perimeter. The potential impacts associated with construction vibration would be less than significant. Operation of the Project would not introduce new sources of groundborne vibration or groundborne noise. Thus, impacts are less than significant.
c) For a project located within the vicinity of a private airstrip or an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels?
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1191 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
No Impact: The Project site is not located within an airport land use plan or within two (2) miles of a public airport, or within the vicinity of a private airstrip. Therefore, the Project would not result in potential noise impacts for people residing or working at the Project site.
As such, the Project does not have the potential to expose people residing or working in the Project area to excessive noise levels and no impact would occur. No further analysis of CEQA Guideline C is required. No impact would occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1192 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
XIV. Population and Housing – Would the project:
a) Induce substantial unplanned population
growth in an area, either directly (for
example, by proposing new homes and
businesses) or indirectly (for example,
through extension of roads or other
infrastructure)?
b) Displace substantial numbers of existing
people or housing, necessitating the
construction of replacement housing
elsewhere?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan 2035.
a. Chapter 4 – Livable City
2. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017.
a. 3.10 – Land Use and Housing
Discussion of Impacts
Would the project:
a) Induce substantial unplanned population growth in an area, either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through extension of roads or other infrastructure)?
Less than Significant Impact: The CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.2(e) states growthinducing impacts are not assumed to be beneficial, detrimental, or of little significance to the environment, but that a proposed project should be assessed in how it could foster economic growth or population growth, or the construction of additional housing, either directly or indirectly. The most immediate presence of potential growth related to the proposed Project would be the labor force associated with the construction of the California Street and Redlands Boulevard widening, and storm drain improvements. The Project does not propose new residential development and would not directly contribute to population growth within the City.
Project-related employment demands would likely be filled by the existing personnel pool within the City and neighboring communities, with little or no measurable increase in the City’s resident population. Significant population growth is therefore not anticipated to result from Project implementation. The Project is consistent with the General Plan and will facilitate easier flow of traffic through the California Street and Redlands Boulevard intersection. Although the Project will include infrastructure Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1193 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
improvements such as paving along the Project frontage or constructing a new curb, gutter, and sidewalk, these improvements would be concentrated to the immediate surroundings of the Project site and are unlikely to encourage unanticipated population growth. Based on the preceding, the potential for the Project to induce substantial growth directly or indirectly is considered less than significant. b) Displace substantial numbers of existing people or housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere?
No Impact: No houses currently exist within the Project site. Additionally, the Project does not propose uses or activities that would otherwise displace housing assets or persons.
Based on the preceding, the proposed Project would have no impact related to displacement of housing or people.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1194 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
XV. Public Services – Would the project:
a) Result in substantial adverse physical
impacts associated with the provision
of new or physically altered
governmental facilities, need for new
or physically altered governmental
facilities, the construction of which
could cause significant environmental
impacts, in order to maintain
acceptable service rations, response
times or other performance objectives
for any of the public services:
i) Fire protection?
ii) Police protection?
iii) Schools?
iv) Parks?
v) Other public facilities?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan 20.5
a. Chapter 6 – Vital Environment
b. Chapter 7 – Healthy Community
2. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017
a. Section 3.13 – Public Facilities and Services
Discussion of Impacts
Would the project:
a) Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service rations, response times or other performance objectives for any of the public services:
i) Fire protection?
No Impact: Fire protection services to the Project site are provided by the Redlands Fire Department. Areas adjacent to the Project site to the west and south are served by the City of Loma Linda Fire Department. The Project site is served by Fire Station 264 Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1195 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
which is located approximately 1.4 miles east of the Project site at 1270 West Park Avenue in Redlands. If additional fire protection services are needed, Fire Station 252 located in the City of Loma Linda is located approximately 1.7 miles west of the Project site at 10520 Ohio Street.
The City aims for a standard of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) which recommends that the first arriving unit arrive within four (4) minutes 90 percent of the time. However, the City adheres to a more lenient goal of arriving seven (7) minutes 90 percent of the time as this is a more realistic goal given the response times analyzed in 2015 with an average response time of nine (9) minutes. The proposed Project does not include residential or commercial development. The Project will be constructed to current building code requirements regarding fire suppression and access. Furthermore, the Project will be subject to the review and approval of the Redlands Fire Department.
According to the Redlands General Plan EIR, there are adequate firefighting resources in the region to serve the proposed Project. Therefore, construction of a new or expanded fire station would not be required. Based on the foregoing, the proposed Project would receive adequate fire protection service and would not result in the need for new or physically altered fire protection facilities. No impacts to fire protection services would occur.
ii) Police protection?
No Impact: Police protection services to the Project site are provided by the Redlands Police Department. The Project site is served by the Redlands Police Department, located at 1270 W. Park Avenue approximately 1.4 miles east of the site. The Project would not introduce any new residential or commercial development and does not include any new population growth. Therefore, the Project would not require or result in the construction of new or physically altered police facilities. No impacts would occur. iii) Schools?
Less than Significant Impact: The Project site is located within the Redlands Unified School District. The nearest school to the Project site is the Mission Elementary School located adjacent to the Project site in the southwest corner of the California Street and Redlands Boulevard intersection. The proposed Project would not create a direct demand for public school services, as the Project does not include residential uses, commercial uses, or population increase. Project construction would begin April 2024 and last through December 2024 with the most intensive construction activities occurring during the beginning phase of the Project during demolition. The excavation and grading phase of the Project is expected to occur primarily in the summer months from April 2024 to August 2024, when the neighboring Mission Elementary School is least in session. The remaining phases of Project implementation would be less intensive and include storm water improvements and paving. Therefore the Project would have less than a significant impact on schools.
iv) Parks?
Less than Significant Impact: The nearest park to the Project site is Heritage Park located approximately 1 mile southeast of the Project site. The nearest trail to the Project Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1196 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
site is the Orange Blossom Trail which runs along the Mission Zanja Channel. The proposed Project does not include any permanent impacts to the Orange Blossom Trail, however it may cause temporary impacts to trail access at the northwest corner of the California Street and Redlands Boulevard intersection during the construction phase of the Project. Given the construction phase of the Project would occur form April 2024 through December 2024, these impacts would be temporary in nature and would cease upon Project completion. Additionally, the Project does not include the construction residential or commercial uses that would increase the population. As such, implementation of the proposed Project would not adversely affect parks and public facilities or require the construction of new or modified public facilities, a less than significant impact would occur.
v) Other public facilities
No Impact: Demand for public facilities is generated by the population within a facility’s service area. The Project would not induce population growth and therefore would not create a demand for public facilities/services, including libraries, community recreation centers, post offices, and animal shelters. As such, implementation of the proposed Project would not adversely affect or require the construction of new or modified public facilities, no impact would occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1197 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
XVI. Recreation
a) Would the project increase the use of
existing neighborhood and regional parks
or other recreational facilities such that
substantial physical deterioration of the
facility would occur or be accelerated?
b) Does the project include recreational
facilities or require the construction or
expansion of recreational facilities which
might have an adverse physical effect on
the environment?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan 2035.
a. Chapter 7 – Healthy Community
2. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017
a. 3.13 – Public Facilities and Services
i. Parks
Discussion of Impacts
a) Would the project increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated?
b) Does the project include recreational facilities or require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities which might have an adverse physical effect on the environment? a-b) No Impact: The City proposes to widen California Street and install storm drain improvements under the Redlands Boulevard, California Street intersection in the Mission Zanja Channel. The Project does not include any type of residential use or other land use that may generate a population that would increase the utilization of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities. Accordingly, implementation of the proposed Project would not result in substantial physical deterioration of an existing neighborhood or regional park. The Project does not include any new on- or off-site recreation facilities, nor the expansion of any existing off-site recreational facilities. Thus, environmental effects related to the use, construction, or expansion of recreational facilities would not occur with implementation of the proposed Project. No impact on recreational facilities would occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1198 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
XVII. Transportation/Traffic – Would the project:
a) Conflict with a program, plan, ordinance or
policy addressing the circulation system,
including transit, roadway, bicycle, and
pedestrian facilities?
b) Would the project conflict or be
inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines section
15064.3, subdivision (b)?
c) Substantially increase hazards due to a
geometric design feature (e.g., sharp
curves or dangerous intersections) or
incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment)?
d) Result in inadequate emergency access?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan 2035.
a. Chapter 5 – Connected City
2. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017
a. Section 3.15 - Transportation
Discussion of Impacts
Would the project:
a) Conflict with a program, plan, ordinance or policy addressing the circulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities? Less than Significant Impact: The City proposes to widen the west side of California Street 770 feet north of the Redlands Boulevard, install improvements in the northwest corner of the California Street and Redlands Boulevard intersection, and install storm drain improvements in the Mission Zanja Channel beneath the intersection. The Project area on southbound California Street consists of the two (2) travel lanes that become one (1) combination right turn lane and through lane, one (1) designated left turn lane, a shoulder, and an asphalt berm depression that provides access to the Channel for maintenance. The Project area on the north side of Redlands Boulevard currently consists of a concrete sidewalk and a commercial driveway that provides access to the Channel for maintenance.
The proposed widening of California Street consists of the construction of one (1) designated right turn lane, two (2) travel lanes, a 6.5-foot-wide concrete sidewalk with curb and gutter, and a 24-foot-wide concrete sidewalk depression to provide access to the Channel for maintenance. The specifications for the sidewalk and gutter improvements meet the requirements of the City’s Standard Specifications and Detail Drawings for Design Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1199 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Construction of Public Improvements guidelines (PW Standards).
The proposed Project is a component of the realignment of California Street and Redlands Boulevard which is identified on Figure 3.15-10: Proposed Roadway Improvements of the City’s General Plan EIR. California Street is classified as a Major Arterial roadway, the proposed widening Project is designed to accommodate the high volume of motorists that utilize the roadway to travel between residential areas, major activity centers, and the I-10 and I-215 freeways. The proposed Project would alleviate traffic congestion on California Street and the Redlands Boulevard and California Street intersection. Therefore, the Project would not conflict with a program, plan, ordinance or policy addressing the circulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities, impacts would be less than significant.
b) Conflict or be inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines section 15064.3, subdivision (b)? No Impact: CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3 subdivision (b) regards Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and whether the land use project will generate vehicle miles traveled in excess of an applicable threshold of significance. The proposed Project does not include any development, such as residential or commercial, that would generate additional vehicle miles traveled. The Project would not conflict or be inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines section 15064.3, subdivision (b), and no impact would occur. c) Substantially increase hazards due to a geometric design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment)? No Impact: The Project will widen California Street and the northwest corner of the Redlands Boulevard and California Street intersection and install storm drain improvements, in the Mission Zanja Channel. The proposed Project does not include any sharp curves or traffic intersection crossings. Therefore, the Project would not substantially increase hazards due to a geometric design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses, and no impact would occur.
d) Result in inadequate emergency access?
Less than Significant Impact: The Project would reduce traffic congestion on California Street and the California Street and Redlands Boulevard intersection. During construction, there will be temporary closure of lanes on southbound California Street, north of Redlands Boulevard, and the northwest corner of the California Street and Redlands Boulevard intersection. The Project would not result in inadequate emergency access to the Project site. Thus, a less than significant impact would occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1200 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
XVIII. Tribal Cultural Resources – Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource, defined in Public Resources Code section 21074 as either a site, feature, place, cultural landscape that is geographically defined in terms of the size and scope of the landscape, sacred place, or object with cultural value to a California Native American tribe, and that is:
a) Listed or eligible for listing in the California
Register of Historical Resources, or in a
local register of historical resources as
defined in Public Resources Code section
5020.1(k)?
b) A resource determined by the lead
agency, in its discretion and supported by
substantial evidence, to be significant
pursuant to criteria set forth in subdivision
(c) of Public Resources Code section
5024.1. In applying the criteria set forth in
subdivision (c) of Public Resource Code
Section 5024.1, the lead agency shall
consider the significance of the resource
to a California Native American tribe.
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan 2035.
a. Chapter 7 – Healthy Community
2. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017
a. Section 3.8 – Historical, Archaeological, and Paleontological Resources
3. Cultural and Paleontological Resources Assessment for California Street/Redlands Boulevard Intersection Improvements Project, City of Redlands, San Bernardino County, California. Duke Cultural Resources Management, LLC. March 2024. (Appendix D) Findings of Fact: As of July 1, 2015, Public Resources Code Sections 21080.1, 21080.3.1, and 21080.3.2 require public agencies to consult with California Native American tribes recognized by the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) for the purpose of mitigating impacts to tribal cultural resources. This law does not preclude agencies from initiating consultation with the tribes that are culturally and traditionally affiliated with their jurisdictions.
In accordance with Public Resources Code Section 21080.3.1(d), a lead agency is required to provide formal notification of intended development projects to Native American tribes that have requested to be on the lead agency’s list for receiving such notification. The formal notification is required to include a brief description of the proposed Project and its location, lead agency contact information, and a notification that the California Native American tribe Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1201 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
has 30 days to request consultation for tribal cultural resources. On April 4, 2024, the City sent out notification to six (6) tribes that are traditionally and/or culturally affiliated with the Project area or have specifically requested notice for all projects within the City. The tribes included in the notification were the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians – Kizh Nation, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, and Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation.
The City received requests for consultation from the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. The Morongo Band of Mission Indians requested consultation on April 30, 2024, and provided mitigation measures on July 10, 2024.The Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation requested consultation on April 15, 2024, and provided mitigation measures on April 15, 2024.These mitigation measures are incorporated into this IS/MND as CUL 2-5 and TCR 1-7.
Discussion of Impacts
a) Listed or eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources, or in a local register of historical resources as defined in Public Resources Code section 5020.1(k)? Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated: A Cultural and Paleontological Resources Assessment was prepared by Duke Cultural Resources Management, LLC (Duke CRM) dated March 2024 (Appendix C). On January 9, 2023, Duke CRM staff performed a records search. The records search included a review of all recorded cultural resources within a ½ mile radius of the Project, as well as a review of known cultural resource survey and excavation reports. The records search identified fifteen (15) cultural resources within ½ mile of the Project. Twelve (12) of the previously documented resources are historic structures which include the Mission School, the San Bernardino County Museum, five (5) single-family residences, one (1) commercial building, one (1) farm, two (2) historic road segments, and a segment of the Morey Arroyo which, like the Mission Creek Channel, is associated with the Mission Zanja. One (1) of the road segments has been previously identified adjacent to and within the Project, resource P-36-032482, is a 3.5-mile segment of Redlands Boulevard that was recorded in 2017 and evaluated as not eligible for the NRHP. The other three (3) previously documented resources are archaeological sites which include a subsurface historic refuse scatter consisting of seven (7) glass bottles, the buried remains of a historic irrigation feature, and a prehistoric isolated artifact, a bifacial granite mano.
On January 12, 2023, Duke CRM archaeologist conducted an intensive pedestrian field survey of the Project area. The field survey identified one (1) previously recorded historic era cultural resource, a segment of Redlands Boulevard (P-36-032482). This resource was previously evaluated as ineligible for the CRHR. The field survey also identified one (1) previously unrecorded historic era cultural resource, a portion of the Mission Creek Channel. This resource was photographed and documented during field inspection for formal recordation and evaluation for eligibility for the CRHR. This resource was identified as ineligible for the CRHR. The Project area is therefore assessed as having a low sensitivity for buried prehistoric and historic resources.
Duke CRM submitted an inquiry to the State of California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) to ascertain the presence of known sacred sites, Native American cultural resources, and/or Native American human remains within and near the proposed Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1202 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Project. The NAHC responded on April 12, 2023, and indicated that the results of the Sacred Lands File (SLF) search were positive but did not indicate which tribal organization to contact for more information nor did the letter clarify if the positive results were located on the Project site (Appendix D). Based on the cultural records search performed by Duke CRM, there is no evidence that TCR’s exist onsite. Furthermore, no information or evidence was provided to the City during the tribal consultation process that identified TCR’s on the Project site. During the AB52 consultation process, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation requested consultation and provided Mitigation Measures TCR-1 though TCR-7 which will be implemented during the construction phase of the Project in the event TCR’s are inadvertently unearthed. Although it is not anticipated that unknown TCRs exist on-site, Mitigation Measures TCR-1 through TCR-7, are identified to ensure that impacts would be reduced to a level below significance.
b) A resource determined by the lead agency, in its discretion and supported by substantial evidence, to be significant pursuant to criteria set forth in subdivision (c) of Public Resources Code section 5024.1. In applying the criteria set forth in subdivision (c) of Public Resource Code Section 5024.1, the lead agency shall consider the significance of the resource to a California Native American tribe?
Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated: As discussed above in section (a), the NAHC response letter dated April 12, 2023, came back with positive results for sacred sites however, the letter did not indicate whether those sites were located on the Project site nor which Tribe to contact for more information. The City initiated the AB-52 Process on April 4, 2024 by sending letters to six (6) Tribes that have standing notification requests with the City per AB 52. Two tribes, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, requested consultation and provided proposed mitigations measures. Based on the results of the Cultural Resources Assessment prepared by DUKE CRM and AB52 consultation, no information or evidence has been provided to the City regarding tribal cultural resources on the Project site. However, the City has agreed to implement mitigation measures to ensure that in the event any inadvertent discoveries of tribal cultural resources are discovered, impacts will remain less than significant. Those mitigation measures have been incorporated into this ISMND and are comprised of CUL 2- 5 and TCR 1-7. The Project will result in a less than significant impact with mitigation incorporated.
Mitigation Measures
Mitigation:
XVIII. (a-b)
TCR-1: Native American Treatment Agreement.
Prior to the issuance of grading permits, the applicant shall enter into a Tribal Monitoring Agreement with the Consulting Tribe(s) requesting a written agreement for the project. The Tribal Monitor(s) shall be on-site during all ground-disturbing activities (including but not limited to, clearing, grubbing, tree and bush removal, grading, trenching, fence post placement and removal, construction excavation, excavation of all utility and irrigation lines, and landscaping phases of any kind).
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1203 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
The Tribal Monitor(s) shall have the authority to temporarily divert, redirect, or halt the ground-disturbing activities within 60 feet of the find to allow identification, evaluation, and potential recovery of tribal cultural resources.
TCR-2: Worker Training.
The archaeologist will conduct a Tribal Cultural Resource Sensitivity Training, in conjunction with the Consulting Tribe(s) Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO), and/or designated Tribal Representative(s). The training session will focus on the potential tribal cultural resources that may be inadvertently discovered or encountered during ground-disturbing activities as well as the procedures to be followed in such an event.
TCR-3: Pre-Grade Meeting.
The Consulting Tribe(s) representative(s) shall attend the pre-grade meeting with the archaeologist and grading contractors to explain and coordinate the requirements of the tribal cultural resources monitoring plan.
TCR-4: On-Site Monitoring.
During all ground-disturbing activities the Native American monitor(s) from interested Consulting Tribe(s) shall be on-site full-time or part-time as determined by the Consulting Tribe(s). The frequency of inspections shall depend on the rate of excavation, the materials excavated, and any discoveries of Tribal Cultural Resources as defined in California Public Resources Code Section 21074. Native American monitoring will be discontinued when the depth of grading and the soil conditions no longer retain the potential to contain tribal cultural deposits. The Native American monitor(s) shall be responsible for determining the duration and frequency of tribal monitoring during ground-disturbing activities.
TCR-5: Inadvertent Discovery of Tribal Cultural Resources.
In the event that previously unidentified tribal cultural resources are unearthed during construction, all Consulting Tribe(s) shall be immediately notified in writing, and the qualified archeologist and the Native American Monitor(s) shall have the authority to temporarily divert and/or temporarily halt ground-disturbance operations within 60 feet of the area of discovery to allow for the evaluation of the potentially significant tribal cultural resources. Isolates and clearly non-significant deposits shall be minimally documented in the field and collected so the monitored grading can proceed.
If a potentially significant tribal cultural resource(s) is discovered, work shall stop within a 60-foot perimeter of the discovery and an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) physical demarcation/barrier constructed. All work shall be diverted away from the vicinity of the find, so that the find can be evaluated by the qualified archaeologist and Tribal Monitor(s). The archaeologist shall notify the Lead Agency and Consulting Tribe(s) of said discovery. The qualified archaeologist, in consultation with the Lead Agency, the Consulting Tribe(s), and the Native American monitor(s), shall determine the significance of the discovered resource.
A recommendation for the treatment and disposition of the Tribal Cultural Resource shall be made by the qualified archaeologist in consultation with the Consulting Tribe(s) and the Native American monitor(s) and be submitted to the Lead Agency for review and approval. Below are the possible treatments and dispositions of significant tribal cultural resources in order of CEQA preference.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1204 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
A. Full Avoidance
B. If avoidance is not feasible, Preservation in place.
If preservation in place is not feasible, all items shall be reburied in an area away from any future impacts and reside in a permanent conservation easement or Deed Restriction.
C. If all other options are proven to be infeasible, data recovery through excavation and then curation in a Curation Facility that meets the Federal Curation Standards (CFR 79.1).
TCR-6: Inadvertent Discovery of Human Remains
A. Should human remains and/or cremations be encountered on the surface or during any and all ground-disturbing activities (i.e. clearing, grubbing, tree and branch removal, grading, trenching, fence post placement and removal, construction excavation, excavation for all water supply, electrical, and irrigation lines, and landscaping phases of any kind), work in the immediate vicinity of the discovery shall immediately stop within a 100-foot perimeter of discovery. The area shall be protected; project personnel/ observers will be restricted. The County Coroner is to be contacted within 24 hours of discovery. The County Coroner has 48 hours to make his/her determination pursuant to Subdivision (c) of HCS section 7050.5 and Public Resources Code (PRC) section 5097.98.
B. In the event that the human remains and/or cremations are identified as Native American, the Coroner shall notify the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) within 24 hours of the determination pursuant to subdivision (c ) of HSC section 7050.5.
C. The Native American Heritage Commission shall immediately notify the person or persons it believes to be the Most Likely Descendant (MLD). The MLD has 48 hours, upon being granted access to the Project site, to inspect the site of discovery and make his/her recommendation for final treatment and disposition, with appropriate dignity, of the remains and all associated grave goods pursuant to PRC §5097.98
D. If the Consulting Tribe(s) has been named the Most Likely Descendant (MLD), the Tribe may wish to rebury the human remains and/or cremation and sacred items in their place of discovery with no further disturbance where they will reside in perpetuity. The place(s) of reburial will not be disclosed by any party and is exempt from the California Public Records Act (California Government Code§6254[r]).
Reburial location of human remains and/or cremations will be determined by the Tribe’s Most Likely Descendant (MLD), the landowner, and the City Planning Department.
TCR-7: Final Report.
The final report(s) created as a part of the project (AMTP, isolate records, site records, survey reports, testing reports, etc.) shall be submitted to the Lead Agency and Consulting Tribe(s) for review and comment. After approval by the Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1205 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Lead Agency, the final reports are to be submitted to the appropriate regional Information Center, and the Consulting Tribe(s).
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1206 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
XIX. Utilities and Service Systems – Would the project:
a) Require or result in the relocation or
construction of new or expanded water or
wastewater treatment or storm water
drainage, electric power, natural gas, or
telecommunications facilities, the
construction or relocation of which could
cause significant environmental effects?
b) Have sufficient water supplies available to
serve the project and reasonably
foreseeable future development during
normal, dry, and multiple dry years?
c) Result in a determination by the
wastewater treatment provider which
serves or may serve the project that it has
adequate capacity to serve the project’s
projected demand in addition to the
provider’s existing commitments?
d) Generate solid waste in excess of State or
local standards, or in excess of the
capacity of local infrastructure, or
otherwise impair the attainment of solid
waste reduction goals?
e) Comply with federal, state, and local
management and reduction statutes and
regulations related to solid waste?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan 2035.
a. Chapter 4 – Livable City
b. Chapter 6 – Vital Environment
2. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017
a. Section 3.14 – Public Utilities
Discussion of Impacts
Would the project:
a) Require or result in the relocation or construction of new or expanded water or wastewater treatment or storm water drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunications facilities, the construction or relocation of which could cause Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1207 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
significant environmental effects?
Less than Significant Impact: The proposed Project does not include the development of residential or commercial structures that would require new or expanded utility services. The Project would relocate the existing traffic signal at the California Street and Redlands Boulevard intersection and the electrical utility poles on California Street, north of Redlands Boulevard where the street will be widened. Additionally, the Project would install a reinforced concrete box (RCB) triple culvert totaling fifty-four (54) feet wide and eleven (11) feet tall in the Mission Zanja Channel beneath the Redlands Boulevard and California Street intersection. The RCB culvert will be comprised of a concrete transition structure, a sloped concrete invert, the installation of a guard rail, and 6-foot-tall chain link fence. The proposed storm drain improvements in the Mission Zanja Channel will be designed in accordance with the County of San Bernardino Flood Control Standards and the Standard Plans for Public Works Construction (SPPWC) Standards. The Project does not include the construction or relocation of water or wastewater treatment facilities, natural gas, or telecommunication facilities. Therefore, the proposed Project would not cause significant environmental effects and impacts would be less than significant.
b) Have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project and reasonably foreseeable future development during normal, dry, and multiple dry years? No Impact: Water services for the City are provided by the City and the Western Heights Water Company, which includes a combination of surface and groundwater sources.
About 50 percent of the City’s water supply comes from surface water sources including Mill Creek, the Santa Ana River, and imported water from the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (SBVMWD) via the California Aqueduct. The remaining 50 percent of the water supply comes from groundwater sources via eighteen (18) wells that are owned by the City. The City’s annual demand for water ranges from 20,000 to 30,000 acre-feet (af) per year, and at General Plan buildout is projected to be 30,313 afper year in 2035. Existing and projected water supply exceeds existing and projected demand during normal and multiple dry years, with total water supplies ranging from 53,831 af-per year to 64,098 af-per year. Water may be used during the construction phase of the Project. However, the Project does not include the development of residential or commercial uses and would therefore not require water supplies during the long-term operation of the Project. Therefore, no impacts to the City’s water system are anticipated.
c) Result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments?
No Impact: The City provides and maintains the wastewater service system within its jurisdiction. The City’s wastewater treatment plant is located on the south side of the Santa Ana River Wash at Nevada Street. The proposed Project does not include development, such as residential or commercial, that would require wastewater services. Therefore, no impact would occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1208 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
d) Generate solid waste in excess of State or local standards, or in excess of the capacity of local infrastructure, or otherwise impair the attainment of solid waste reduction goals? Less than Significant Impact: The City provides solid waste collection services for areas within its jurisdiction which includes collection services for residential waste, green waste, and curbside recycling. Hazardous and electronic waste is managed by the Redlands Fire Department. Solid waste collected in the City is primarily disposed of at the California Street Landfill, operated by the City, and the Timoteo Sanitary Landfill operated by the County. The California Street Landfill has a design capacity of 11.4 million cubic yards and has a remaining capacity of 6.8 million cubic yards. The Timoteo Sanitary Landfill has a permitted capacity of 20.4 million cubic yards and has a remaining capacity of 13,605,388 cubic yards as of 2012. The proposed Project would generate solid waste during the construction phase of the Project on a short-term basis. The Project is not anticipated to generate solid waste during the long-term operation of the Project. Based on the preceding, the potential for the Project to generate solid waste in excess of State or local standards, or in excess of the capacity of local infrastructure, or otherwise impair the attainment of solid waste reduction goals is less than significant. e) Comply with federal, state, and local management and reduction statutes and regulations related to solid waste?
Less than Significant Impact: The Project would be implemented and operated in compliance with applicable City General Plan Goals and Policies, and would comport with City Zoning regulations—specifically, the Project would comply with local, state, and federal initiatives and directives acting to reduce and divert solid waste from landfill waste streams. The Project would comply with the California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (AB 939) and AB 341 as implemented by the City. The proposed Project is required to comply with all applicable federal, state, County, and City statues and regulations related to solid waste as a standard project condition of approval. Therefore, a less than significant impact would occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1209 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
XX. Wildfire – If located in or near a State Responsibility Area (“SRA”), lands classified as very high fire hazard severity zone, or other hazardous fire areas that may be designated by the Fire Chief, would the project:
a) Substantially impair an adopted
emergency response plan or emergency
evacuation plan?
b) Due to slope, prevailing winds, and other
factors, exacerbate wildfire risks, and
thereby expose project occupants to,
pollutant concentrations from a wildfire or
the uncontrolled spread of a wildfire?
c) Require the installation or maintenance of
associated infrastructure (such as roads,
fuel breaks, emergency water sources,
power lines or other utilities) that may
exacerbate fire risk or that may result in
temporary or ongoing impacts to the
environment?
d) Expose people or structures to significant
risks, including downslope or downstream
flooding or landslides, as a result of
runoff, post-fire slope instability, or
drainage changes?
Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Sources:
1. City of Redlands General Plan 2035.
a. Chapter 7 – Healthy Community
3. City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report, Revised Draft, July 21, 2017
a. Section 3.7 – Hazards and Hazardous Materials
Discussion of Impacts
a) Substantially impair an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? Less than Significant Impact: Wildland fire protection in California is the responsibility of the state, local government, or the federal government. The Project site is located within a Local Responsibility Area (LRA), as identified on the latest Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) map prepared by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE). The Project site is not located in a State Responsibility Area (SRA) or classified as a Very High Fire Severity Zone (VHFSZ) within an LRA. The proposed Project is designed to alleviate traffic congestion on California Street and the Redlands Boulevard and California Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1210 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Street intersection. Caltrans has identified Redlands Boulevard as a Potential Evacuation Route from Orange Street to Waterman Avenue in the San Bernardino Valley. During the construction phase of the Project, the southbound lane of California Street will be temporarily closed, in addition to the northwest corner of the California Street and Redlands Boulevard intersection in order for construction on the applicable streets to occur. These temporary closures would occur intermittently during Project construction which is anticipated to be between April 2024 and December 2024. Detour routes and signage would be implemented to ensure adequate access and circulation throughout the Project area.
The long-term operation of the Project does not block access to surrounding properties and does not impede the City’s evacuation program. Furthermore, the Project will be subject to the review and approval of the Redlands Fire Department. Based on the preceding, the potential for the Project to substantially impair an adopted emergency response or evacuation plan is less than significant.
b) Due to slope, prevailing winds, and other factors, exacerbate wildfire risks, and thereby expose project occupants to pollutant concentrations from a wildfire or the uncontrolled spread of a wildfire?
No Impact: The Project site is relatively flat and does not contain considerable slopes that would exacerbate wildfire risk. Prevailing winds are a concern during the summer months in the San Timoteo Canyon and Live Oak Canyon areas of the City, well outside of the Project area. Vegetation at the Project site currently consists of sparse ruderal vegetation west of California Street and intermittently in the Mission Zanja Channel which would not exacerbate wildfire risks. Additionally, the Project is not located in a wildland fire area or VHFHSZ. Therefore, the Project does not cause greater wildfire risks than other developments throughout the City. Therefore, no impact would occur. c) Require the installation or maintenance of associated infrastructure (such as roads, fuel breaks, emergency water sources, power lines or other utilities) that may exacerbate fire risk or that may result in temporary or ongoing impacts to the environment? No Impact: The Project does not require the installation or maintenance of associated infrastructure that would exacerbate fire risks or result in temporary or ongoing impacts to the environment. Although the Project may will infrastructure improvements such as the widening of California Street, sidewalk, gutter, and widening of California Street and Redlands Boulevard intersection, these improvements would be concentrated to the immediate surroundings of the Project site and are unlikely to exacerbate fire risk, no impact would occur.
d) Expose people or structures to significant risks, including downslope or downstream flooding or landslides, as a result of runoff, post-fire slope instability, or drainage changes? Less that Significant Impact: According to General Plan Figure 7-3: Flood Hazards, the Project site is identified within the 100 Year Floodplain (A) meaning there is a 1 percent annual chance of flooding. Additionally, the Project site and the site’s surroundings are relatively flat. Therefore, the Project would not expose people or structures to significant risks, including downslope or downstream flooding or landslides, a less than significant impact would occur.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1211 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Potentially
Significant
Impact
Less Than
Significant
Impact with
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No Impact
XXI. Mandatory Findings of Significance
a) Does the project have the potential to
substantially degrade the quality of the
environment, substantially reduce the
habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a
fish or wildlife population to drop below
self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate
a plant or animal community, substantially
reduce the number or restrict the range of
a rare or endangered plant or animal or
eliminate important examples of the major
periods of California History or prehistory?
b) Does the project have impacts that are
individually limited, but cumulatively
considerable? (Cumulatively considerable
means that the incremental effects of a
project are considerable when viewed in
connection with the effects of past projects,
the effects of other current projects, and
the effects of probable future projects)?
c) Does the project have environmental
effects which will cause substantial
adverse effects on human beings, either
directly or indirectly?
Discussion of Impacts
a) Does the project have the potential to substantially degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, substantially reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California History or prehistory? Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated: The proposed Project would not substantially impact any scenic vistas, scenic resources, or the visual character of the area, and would not result in excessive light or glare. The Project site is located within an area that contains vacant land, residential uses, and light industrial/warehouse uses. The proposed Project would not significantly impact any sensitive species, plant communities, fish, wildlife, or habitat for any sensitive species with the implementation of Mitigation Measure BIO-1. The Project will result in permanent impacts to the Mission Zanja Channel and thus Mitigation Measures BIO-2 and BIO-3 shall be implemented to reduce impacts to a level below significance.
As described in Section VI and Section XVIII, adverse impacts to historical resources would be less than significant with incorporation of Mitigation Measure CUL-1. Based on the Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1212 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
preceding analysis of potential impacts in the responses to Sections I through XX, no evidence is presented that the proposed Project would degrade the quality of the environment. Impacts related to degradation of biological resources and cultural resources would be less than significant with mitigation incorporated.
b) Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable? (Cumulatively considerable means that the incremental effects of a project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects)? Less than Significant Impact: Cumulative impacts can result from the interactions of environmental changes resulting from one proposed Project with changes resulting from other past, present, and future projects that affect the same resources, utilities and infrastructure systems, public systems, transportation network elements, air basin, watershed, or other physical conditions. Such impacts could be short-term and temporary, usually consisting of overlapping construction impacts, as well as long-term, due to the permanent land use changes and operational characteristics involved with the proposed Project.
Implementation of the Project, in conjunction with other approved or pending projects in the region, would not result in cumulatively considerable impacts. Where appropriate, the environmental checklist questions above include discussion regarding cumulative impacts of the Project when developed in conjunction with related projects. As concluded throughout the analysis, the proposed Project would include both operation- and construction-related project components whose adherence to applicable regulations would ensure that the Project’s incremental contribution would be less than cumulatively considerable. Further, the Project would not achieve short-term environmental goals to the disadvantage of longterm goals. Therefore, cumulatively considerable impacts would be considered less than significant.
c) Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly?
Less than Significant Impact: Based on the analysis of the Project’s impacts in the responses to items I through XX, there is no indication that this Project could result in substantial adverse effects on human beings. While there would be a variety of temporary adverse effects during construction, these would be less than significant. There are no significant long-term effects related to traffic, noise, hazardous materials, emissions of criteria pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, increased demand for water use, wastewater disposal, and electricity use, or increased demand on emergency response services. Environmental effects would result in less than significant impacts. Based on the analysis in this Initial Study, direct and indirect impacts to human beings would be less than significant.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1213 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
CHAPTER FOUR – MITIGATION, MONITORING, AND REPORTING PROGRAM (MMRP) Mitigation measures are included within each section of the initial study checklist and are provided below. Table 22-: Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program outlines the potential impacts and mitigation measures of the proposed Project and assigns responsibility for the oversight of each mitigation measure. This Table shall be included in all bid documents and included as a part of the Project development.
Table 22-1: Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program Section
Number Mitigation Measures Responsible for Monitoring Timing Impact after Mitigation Biological Resources
V. Biological
Resources
BIO-1 Pre-construction Surveys for Barn
Swallow, Cliff Swallow, and Pallid Bat
Prior to demolition of the structure, the bridge
shall be inspected for the presence of barn
swallow, cliff swallow, and pallid bat. If these
species have taken up residence on or within the
structure, then construction activities must wait
until these species are no longer active and have
vacated the area. If the Project schedule needs
to be expedited and wildlife species are present,
it will be necessary to consult with the California
Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). CDFW
can provide recommendations for exclusionary
measures to deter these species from inhabiting
the structure.
Applicant and City
of Redlands
Prior to issuance of
grading permit
Less than
Significant
V. Biological
Resources
BIO-2 Jurisdictional Delineation
A jurisdictional delineation of Mission Zanja
Channel shall be performed to determine the
Applicant and City
of Redlands
Prior to issuance of
grading permit
Less than
Significant
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1214 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Section
Number Mitigation Measures Responsible for Monitoring Timing Impact after Mitigation impacts and limits of the improvements within
the channel. Further, this information shall be
included in a permit application submitted for
approval by the USACE.
V. Biological
Resources
BIO-3 Jurisdictional Regulatory Permitting
The Project shall incorporate the
recommendations provided in the
Jurisdictional Delineation prepared by Casc
Engineering and Consulting, dated August
2023 (Appendix C). The recommendations
are presented in Section 4 Recommendations
of the report.
Applicant and City
of Redlands
Prior to issuance of
grading permit
Less than
Significant
Cultural Resources
VI. Cultural
Resources
CUL-1 Inadvertent Finds
If previously unidentified cultural materials are
unearthed during construction, work shall be
halted in that area until a qualified
archaeologist can assess the significance of
the find. If human remains are encountered,
State Health and Safety Code Section 7050.5
states that no further disturbance shall occur
until the County Coroner has made a
determination of origin and disposition
pursuant to Public Resources Code Section
5097.98. The County Coroner must be notified
of the find immediately. If the remains are
determined to be prehistoric, the Coroner will
notify the Native American Heritage
Commission (NAHC), which will determine
and notify the Most Likely Descendant (MLD).
Applicant and City
of Redlands
If previously
unidentified cultural
materials are
unearthed during
construction
Less than
Significant
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1215 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Section
Number Mitigation Measures Responsible for Monitoring Timing Impact after Mitigation With the permission of the landowner or
his/her authorized representative, the MLD
may inspect the site of the discovery. The
MLD shall complete the inspection within 48
hours of notification by the NAHC. The MLD
may recommend scientific removal and
nondestructive analysis of human remains
and items associated with Native American
burials.
VI. Cultural
Resources
CUL-2 Retention of Archaeologist
Prior to any ground-disturbing activities
(including, but not limited to, clearing,
grubbing, tree and bush removal, grading,
trenching, fence post replacement and
removal, construction excavation, excavation
for all utility and irrigation lines, and
landscaping phases of any kind), and prior to
the issuance of grading permits, the Applicant
shall retain a qualified archaeologist who
meets the U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Standards (SOI). The archaeologist shall be
present during all ground-disturbing activities
to identify any known or suspected
archaeological and/or cultural resources. This
retained qualified archologist, and tribal
monitor(s) shall attend a pre-grade meeting
with the grading contractors to explain and
coordinate the requirements of the cultural
resources monitoring plan.
Applicant and City
of Redlands
Prior to grounddisturbanceLess than
Significant
VI. Cultural
Resources
CUL-3 Cultural Resource Management
Plan
Applicant and City
of Redlands
Prior to grounddisturbanceLess than
Significant
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1216 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Section
Number Mitigation Measures Responsible for Monitoring Timing Impact after Mitigation Prior to any ground-disturbing activities the
project archaeologist shall develop a Cultural
Resource Management Plan (CRMP) and/or
Archaeological Monitoring and Treatment
Plan (AMTP) to address the details, timing,
and responsibilities of all archaeological and
cultural resource activities that occur on the
project site. This Plan shall be written in
coordination with the Consulting Tribe(s) and
shall include the following: approved
Mitigation Measures (MM)/Conditions of
Approval (COA), contact information for all
pertinent parties, parties’ responsibilities,
procedures for each MM or COA, and an
overview of the project schedule.
VI. Cultural
Resources
CUL-4 Pre-Grade Meeting
The retained qualified archaeologist shall
attend the pre-grader meeting with the grading
contractors to explain and coordinate the
requirements of the cultural resources
monitoring plan.
VI. Cultural
Resources
CUL-4 On-site Monitoring
During all ground-disturbing activities the
qualified archaeologist shall be on-site fulltime. The frequency of inspections shall depend on the rate of excavation, the
materials excavated, and any discoveries of
cultural resources. Archaeological monitoring
will be discontinued when the depth of grading
and the soil conditions no longer retain the
potential to contain cultural deposits. The
Applicant and City
of Redlands
Prior to grounddisturbanceLess than
Significant
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1217 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Section
Number Mitigation Measures Responsible for Monitoring Timing Impact after Mitigation qualified archaeologist shall be responsible for
determining the duration and frequency of
cultural resource monitoring.
Geology and Soils
VIII. Geology
and Soils
GEO-1 Grading and Construction
Grading and Construction
The Project shall incorporate the
recommendations provided in the Subsurface
Soils Investigation prepared by LOR
Geotechnical Group, dated February 27, 2023
(Appendix D). The recommendations are
presented in the following sections of the
report: Excavations, Shoring Design
Parameters, Culvert Areas, Preparation of
Box Culvert and Retaining Wall Areas,
Culvert Box and Retaining Wall Design,
Engineered Compacted Fill, Preliminary
Pavement Design, Corrosion Protection, and
Construction Monitoring.
Applicant and City
of Redlands
Prior to start of
construction
Less than
Significant
Tribal Cultural Resources
XVIII. Tribal
Cultural
Resources
TCR-1: Native American Treatment
Agreement.
Prior to the issuance of grading permits, the
applicant shall enter into a Tribal Monitoring
Agreement with the Consulting Tribe(s)
requesting a written agreement for the project.
The Tribal Monitor(s) shall be on-site during all
ground-disturbing activities (including but not
limited to, clearing, grubbing, tree and bush
Applicant and City
of Redlands
Prior to Issuance of
a grading permit
Less than
Significant
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1218 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Section
Number Mitigation Measures Responsible for Monitoring Timing Impact after Mitigation removal, grading, trenching, fence post
placement and removal, construction
excavation, excavation of all utility and
irrigation lines, and landscaping phases of any
kind). The Tribal Monitor(s) shall have the
authority to temporarily divert, redirect, or halt
the ground-disturbing activities within 60 feet
of the find to allow identification, evaluation,
and potential recovery of tribal cultural
resources.
XVIII. Tribal
Cultural
Resources
TCR-2: Worker Training.
The archaeologist will conduct a Tribal
Cultural Resource Sensitivity Training, in
conjunction with the Consulting Tribe(s) Tribal
Historic Preservation Officer (THPO), and/or
designated Tribal Representative(s). The
training session will focus on the potential
tribal cultural resources that may be
inadvertently discovered or encountered
during ground-disturbing activities as well as
the procedures to be followed in such an
event.
Applicant and City
of Redlands
Prior to gound
disturbance
Less than
Significant
XVIII. Tribal
Cultural
Resources
TCR-3: Pre-Grade Meeting.
The Consulting Tribe(s) representative(s)
shall attend the pre-grade meeting with the
archaeologist and grading contractors to
explain and coordinate the requirements of
the tribal cultural resources monitoring plan.
Applicant and City
of Redlands
Prior to ground
disturbance
Less than
Significant
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1219 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Section
Number Mitigation Measures Responsible for Monitoring Timing Impact after Mitigation XVIII. Tribal
Cultural
Resources
TCR-4: On-Site Monitoring.
During all ground-disturbing activities the
Native American monitor(s) from interested
Consulting Tribe(s) shall be on-site full-time or
part-time as determined by the Consulting
Tribe(s). The frequency of inspections shall
depend on the rate of excavation, the
materials excavated, and any discoveries of
Tribal Cultural Resources as defined in
California Public Resources Code Section
21074. Native American monitoring will be
discontinued when the depth of grading and
the soil conditions no longer retain the
potential to contain tribal cultural deposits.
The Native American monitor(s) shall be
responsible for determining the duration and
frequency of tribal monitoring during grounddisturbing activities.
Applicant and City
of Redlands
During ground
disturbance
Less than
Significant
XVIII. Tribal
Cultural
Resources
TCR-5: Inadvertent Discovery of Tribal
Cultural Resources.
In the event that previously unidentified tribal
cultural resources are unearthed during
construction, all Consulting Tribe(s) shall be
immediately notified in writing, and the
qualified archeologist and the Native
American Monitor(s) shall have the authority
to temporarily divert and/or temporarily halt
ground-disturbance operations within 60 feet
Applicant and City
of Redlands
During ground
disturbance
Less than
Significant
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1220 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Section
Number Mitigation Measures Responsible for Monitoring Timing Impact after Mitigation of the area of discovery to allow for the
evaluation of the potentially significant tribal
cultural resources. Isolates and clearly nonsignificant deposits shall be minimally documented in the field and collected so the
monitored grading can proceed. If a potentially
significant tribal cultural resource(s) is
discovered, work shall stop within a 60-foot
perimeter of the discovery and an
Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA)
physical demarcation/barrier constructed. All
work shall be diverted away from the vicinity
of the find, so that the find can be evaluated
by the qualified archaeologist and Tribal
Monitor(s). The archaeologist shall notify the
Lead Agency and Consulting Tribe(s) of said
discovery. The qualified archaeologist, in
consultation with the Lead Agency, the
Consulting Tribe(s), and the Native American
monitor(s), shall determine the significance of
the discovered resource. A recommendation
for the treatment and disposition of the Tribal
Cultural Resource shall be made by the
qualified archaeologist in consultation with the
Consulting Tribe(s) and the Native American
monitor(s) and be submitted to the Lead
Agency for review and approval. Below are
the possible treatments and dispositions of
significant tribal cultural resources in order of
CEQA preference.
A. Full Avoidance
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1221 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Section
Number Mitigation Measures Responsible for Monitoring Timing Impact after Mitigation B. If avoidance is not feasible,
Preservation in place.
If preservation in place is not feasible, all items
shall be reburied in an area away from any
future impacts and reside in a permanent
conservation easement or Deed Restriction.
C. If all other options are proven to be
infeasible, data recovery through
excavation and then curation in a
Curation Facility that meets the
Federal Curation Standards (CFR
79.1).
XVIII. Tribal
Cultural
Resources
TCR-6: Inadvertent Discovery of Human
Remains
A. Should human remains and/or
cremations be encountered on the
surface or during any and all grounddisturbing activities (i.e. clearing, grubbing, tree and branch removal,
grading, trenching, fence post
placement and removal, construction
excavation, excavation for all water
supply, electrical, and irrigation lines,
and landscaping phases of any kind),
work in the immediate vicinity of the
discovery shall immediately stop within
a 100-foot perimeter of discovery. The
area shall be protected; project
Applicant and City
of Redlands
During ground
disturbance
Less than
Significant
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1222 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Section
Number Mitigation Measures Responsible for Monitoring Timing Impact after Mitigation personnel/ observers will be restricted.
The County Coroner is to be contacted
within 24 hours of discovery. The
County Coroner has 48 hours to make
his/her determination pursuant to
Subdivision (c) of HCS section 7050.5
and Public Resources Code (PRC)
section 5097.98.
B. In the event that the human remains
and/or cremations are identified as
Native American, the Coroner shall
notify the Native American Heritage
Commission (NAHC) within 24 hours of
the determination pursuant to
subdivision (c ) of HSC section 7050.5.
C. The Native American Heritage
Commission shall immediately notify
the person or persons it believes to be
the Most Likely Descendant (MLD).
The MLD has 48 hours, upon being
granted access to the Project site, to
inspect the site of discovery and make
his/her recommendation for final
treatment and disposition, with
appropriate dignity, of the remains and
all associated grave goods pursuant to
PRC §5097.98
D. If the Consulting Tribe(s) has been
named the Most Likely Descendant
(MLD), the Tribe may wish to rebury
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1223 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
Section
Number Mitigation Measures Responsible for Monitoring Timing Impact after Mitigation the human remains and/or cremation
and sacred items in their place of
discovery with no further disturbance
where they will reside in perpetuity.
The place(s) of reburial will not be
disclosed by any party and is exempt
from the California Public Records Act
(California Government
Code§6254[r]). Reburial location of
human remains and/or cremations will
be determined by the Tribe’s Most
Likely Descendant (MLD), the
landowner, and the City Planning
Department.
XVIII. Tribal
Cultural
Resources
TCR-7: Final Report.
The final report(s) created as a part of the
project (AMTP, isolate records, site records,
survey reports, testing reports, etc.) shall be
submitted to the Lead Agency and Consulting
Tribe(s) for review and comment. After
approval by the Lead Agency, the final reports
are to be submitted to the Appropriate
Regional Information Center, and the
Consulting Tribe(s).
Applicant and City
of Redlands
During ground
disturbance
Less than
Significant
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1224 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
CHAPTER FIVE– REFERENCES AND PREPARERS
5.1 References Cited
2023 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Statute and Guidelines. Association of Environmental Professionals 2023.
Biological Site Assessment for Mission Zanja Improvements, Redlands, California. Casc Engineering and Consulting. May 10, 2023. (Appendix B)
California Department of Conservation (CDC). California Important Farmland Finder (CIFF). 2016. Accessed December 3, 2022. DLRP Important Farmland Finder (ca.gov) California Department of Conservation (CDC). SMRA Mineral Land Use Classification 2015.
Accessed January 16, 2023. CGS Information Warehouse (ca.gov) California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map.
Accessed January 11, 2023. FHSZ Viewer (ca.gov)
California Department of Transportation. List of Eligible and Officially Designated State Scenic Highways. 2019. Accessed December 3, 2022. California State Scenic Highway System Map (arcgis.com)
California Street and Redlands Boulevard Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Report. Urban Crossroads, Inc. , 2024. (Appendix A)
California Street and Redlands Boulevard Intersection Improvement Noise Impact Analysis City of Redlands. Urban Crossroads. June 30, 2023. (Appendix E) California’s 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan, prepared by the California Air Resources Board, November 2017. https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/scoping_plan_2017.pdf City of Redlands Climate Action Plan. Adopted December 5, 2017. CAP pdf City of Redlands General Plan 2035. General Plan 2023. pdf City of Redlands General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Environmental Impact Report.
Revised Draft July 21, 2017. Draft EIR. pdf
City of Redlands Municipal Code current through Ordinance 2953, passed January 17, 2023.
American Legal Publishing Code Library.
County of San Bernardino, Countywide Policy Plan. Adopted October 27, 2020. Policy Plan – San Bernardino County (countywideplan.com)
Cultural and Paleontological Resources Assessment for California Street/Redlands Boulevard Intersection Improvements Project, city of Redlands, San Bernardino County, California. Duke Cultural Resources Management, LLC. March 2024. (Appendix D) Department of Homeland Security. FEMA Flood Map Service Center. December 2021.
Accessed May 10, 2023. FEMA Flood Map Service Center | Search By Address Envirostor, Department of Toxic Substances Control, 2019. EnviroStor (ca.gov) Jurisdictional Delineation Report California Street/Redlands Boulevard Widening Project. Casc Engineering and Consulting. August 2023 (Appendix C)
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1225 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
NAAQS/CAAQS and Attainment Status for South Coast Air Basin (September 2018). PDF South Coast AQMD 2022 Air Quality Management Plan, Adopted December 2, 2022. PDF Subsurface Soils Investigation California Street and Redlands Boulevard Widening Project, Redlands, California. LOR Geotechnical Group, Inc. February 27, 2023. (Appendix D) Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1226 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
5.2 List of Preparers
City of Redlands
Assigned Case Planner
Casc Engineering and Consulting, Inc.
Frank Coyle, Director of Planning
Danielle Ornelas, Associate Planner
Katelyn Faulkner, Assistant Planner/Biologist
Ben Hamada, GIS Specialist
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1227 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
APPENDIX A
California Street and Redlands Boulevard Air Quality
Assessment and Greenhouse Gas Impact Analysis
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1228 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
APPENDIX B
Biological Site Assessment for Mission Zanja Channel
Improvements
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1229 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
APPENDIX C
Jurisdictional Delineation Report California
Street/Redlands Boulevard Widening Project
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1230 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
APPENDIX D
Cultural and Paleontological Resources Assessment
for California Street and Redlands Boulevard
Intersection Improvements
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1231 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
APPENDIX E
Subsurface Soils Investigation California Street and
Redlands Boulevard Widening Project
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1232 of 1598
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
City of Redlands
California St. & Redlands Blvd. Intersection Widening Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
September 19, 2024
APPENDIX F
Noise Impact Analysis for California Street and
Redlands Boulevard Intersection Improvement Project
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1233 of 1598
DATE: April 22, 2024
TO: Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
FROM: Haseeb Qureshi
Ali Dadabhoy
JOB NO: 15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
CALIFORNIA STREET & REDLANDS BLVD. AIR QUALITY &
GREENHOUSE GAS
Mandi Needle,
Urban Crossroads, Inc. is pleased to provide the following Air Quality (AQ) & Greenhouse Gas (GHG) for the California Street & Redlands Blvd. (Project), which is located at the intersection of California Street and Redlands Blvd. in the City of Redland.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Project is proposed to reconstruct the northwest corner of the California Street and Redlands Boulevard intersection and widen the west side of California Street. The Project's site plan is illustrated on Exhibit 1.
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Results of the assessment indicate that the Project would result in a less than significant impact with respect to air quality and greenhouse gas and no mitigation is required.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1234 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
EXHIBIT 1: PROJECT’S SITE PLAN
PROJECT AIR QUALITY IMPACTS
AIR QUALITY SETTING
SOUTH COAST AIR BASIN (SCAB)
The Project site is located in the SCAB within the jurisdiction of South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) (3). The SCAQMD was created by the 1977 Lewis-Presley Air Quality Management Act, which merged four county air pollution control bodies into one regional district. Under the Act, the SCAQMD is responsible for bringing air quality in areas under its jurisdiction into conformity with federal and state air quality standards. As previously stated, the Project site is located within the SCAB, a 6,745-square mile subregion of the SCAQMD, which includes portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties, and all of Orange County.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1235 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
The SCAB is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the San Gabriel, San Bernardino, and San Jacinto Mountains to the north and east. The Los Angeles County portion of the Mojave Desert Air Basin is bounded by the San Gabriel Mountains to the south and west, the Los Angeles / Kern County border to the north, and the Los Angeles / San Bernardino County border to the east. The Riverside County portion of the Salton Sea Air Basin is bounded by the San Jacinto Mountains in the west and spans eastward up to the Palo Verde Valley.
Regional Climate
The regional climate has a substantial influence on air quality in the SCAB. In addition, the temperature, wind, humidity, precipitation, and amount of sunshine influence the air quality.
The annual average temperatures throughout the SCAB vary from the low to middle 60s degrees Fahrenheit (°F). Due to a decreased marine influence, the eastern portion of the SCAB shows greater variability in average annual minimum and maximum temperatures. January is the coldest month throughout the SCAB, with average minimum temperatures of 47°F in downtown Los Angeles and 36°F in San Bernardino. All portions of the SCAB have recorded maximum temperatures above 100°F.
Although the climate of the SCAB can be characterized as semi-arid, the air near the land surface is quite moist on most days because of the presence of a marine layer. This shallow layer of sea air is an important modifier of SCAB climate. Humidity restricts visibility in the SCAB, and the conversion of sulfur dioxide (SO2) to sulfates (SO4) is heightened in air with high relative humidity.
The marine layer provides an environment for that conversion process, especially during the spring and summer months. The annual average relative humidity within the SCAB is 71 percent (%) along the coast and 59% inland. Since the ocean effect is dominant, periods of heavy early morning fog are frequent and low stratus clouds are a characteristic feature. These effects decrease with distance from the coast.
More than 90% of the SCAB’s rainfall occurs from November through April. The annual average rainfall varies from approximately nine inches in Riverside to fourteen inches in downtown Los Angeles. Monthly and yearly rainfall totals are extremely variable. Summer rainfall usually consists of widely scattered thunderstorms near the coast and slightly heavier shower activity in the eastern portion of the SCAB with frequency being higher near the coast.
Due to its generally clear weather, about three-quarters of available sunshine is received in the SCAB. The remaining one-quarter is absorbed by clouds. The ultraviolet portion of this abundant radiation is a key factor in photochemical reactions. On the shortest day of the year there are approximately 10 hours of possible sunshine, and on the longest day of the year there are approximately 14½ hours of possible sunshine.
The importance of wind to air pollution is considerable. The direction and speed of the wind determines the horizontal dispersion and transport of the air pollutants. During the late autumn to early spring rainy season, the SCAB is subjected to wind flows associated with the traveling storms moving through the region from the northwest. This period also brings five to ten periods of strong, dry offshore winds, locally termed “Santa Anas” each year. During the dry season, which coincides with the months of maximum photochemical smog concentrations, the wind flow is bimodal, typified by a daytime onshore sea breeze and a nighttime offshore drainage wind.
Summer wind flows are created by the pressure differences between the relatively cold ocean Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1236 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
and the unevenly heated and cooled land surfaces that modify the general northwesterly wind circulation over southern California. Nighttime drainage begins with the radiational cooling of the mountain slopes. Heavy, cool air descends the slopes and flows through the mountain passes and canyons as it follows the lowering terrain toward the ocean. Another characteristic wind regime in the SCAB is the “Catalina Eddy,” a low level cyclonic (counterclockwise) flow centered over Santa Catalina Island which results in an offshore flow to the southwest. On most spring and summer days, some indication of an eddy is apparent in coastal sections.
In the SCAB, there are two distinct temperature inversion structures that control vertical mixing of air pollution. During the summer, warm high-pressure descending (subsiding) air is undercut by a shallow layer of cool marine air. The boundary between these two layers of air is a persistent marine subsidence/inversion. This boundary prevents vertical mixing which effectively acts as an impervious lid to pollutants over the entire SCAB. The mixing height for the inversion structure is normally situated 1,000 to 1,500 feet above mean sea level.
A second inversion-type forms in conjunction with the drainage of cool air off the surrounding mountains at night followed by the seaward drift of this pool of cool air. The top of this layer forms a sharp boundary with the warmer air aloft and creates nocturnal radiation inversions.
These inversions occur primarily in the winter when nights are longer and onshore flow is weakest. They are typically only a few hundred feet above mean sea level. These inversions effectively trap pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOX) and carbon monoxide (CO) from vehicles, as the pool of cool air drifts seaward. Winter is therefore a period of high levels of primary pollutants along the coastline.
Wind Patterns and Project Location
The distinctive climate of the Project area and the SCAB is determined by its terrain and geographical location. The SCAB is located in a coastal plain with connecting broad valleys and low hills, bounded by the Pacific Ocean in the southwest quadrant with high mountains forming the remainder of the perimeter.
Wind patterns across the south coastal region are characterized by westerly and southwesterly onshore winds during the day and easterly or northeasterly breezes at night. Winds are characteristically light although the speed is somewhat greater during the dry summer months than during the rainy winter season.
Criteria Pollutants
Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) have established ambient air quality standards for common pollutants. These ambient air quality standards are levels of contaminants representing safe levels that avoid specific adverse health effects associated with each pollutant. The ambient air quality standards cover what are called “criteria” pollutants because the health and other effects of each pollutant are described in criteria documents. The six criteria pollutants are ozone (O3) (precursor emissions include NOX and reactive organic gases (ROG), CO, particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and lead. Areas that meet ambient air quality standards are classified as attainment areas, while areas that do not meet these standards are classified as nonattainment areas. The Riverside County portion of the SCAB is designated as a nonattainment area for the federal O3 Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1237 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
and PM2.5 standards and is also a nonattainment area for the state standards for O3, PM10, and PM2.5.
Sensitive Receptor Locations
Some people are especially sensitive to air pollution and are given special consideration when evaluating air quality impacts from projects. These groups of people include children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular illness. Structures that house these persons or places where they gather are defined as “sensitive receptors”. These structures typically include uses such as residences, hotels, and hospitals where an individual can remain for 24 hours. Consistent with the LST Methodology, the nearest land use where an individual could remain for 24 hours to the Project site has been used to determine construction and operational air quality impacts for emissions of PM10 and PM2.5, since PM10 and PM2.5 thresholds are based on a 24-hour averaging time.
Receptors in the Project study area are described below. All distances are measured from the Project site boundary to the outdoor living areas (e.g., backyards) or at the building façade, whichever is closer to the Project site. Receptors in the Project study area are shown on Exhibit 2 under the Localized Construction Emissions section later in the report. • Receptor R1 represents the existing residences at 26448 Redlands Blvd, approximately 142 feet west of the Project site.
• Receptor R2 represents the existing residences at 2061 Redlands Blvd, approximately 122 feet southeast of the Project site.
• Receptor R3 represents the Mission Elementary School at 10568 California St, approximately 171 feet south of the Project site.
• Receptor R4 represents the ampm at 2098 W Redlands Blvd, approximately 109 feet east of the Project site.
REGULATORY BACKGROUND
FEDERAL REGULATIONS
The EPA is responsible for setting and enforcing the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for O3, CO, NOX, SO2, PM10, and lead (Pb) (5). The EPA has jurisdiction over emissions sources that are under the authority of the federal government including aircraft, locomotives, and emissions sources outside state waters (Outer Continental Shelf). The EPA also establishes emission standards for vehicles sold in states other than California. Automobiles sold in California must meet the stricter emission requirements of CARB.
The Federal Clean Air Act (CAA) was first enacted in 1955 and has been amended numerous times in subsequent years (1963, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1977, and 1990). The CAA establishes the federal air quality standards, the NAAQS, and specifies future dates for achieving compliance (6). The CAA also mandates that each state submit and implement state implementation plans (SIPs) for local areas not meeting these standards. These plans must include pollution control measures that demonstrate how the standards will be met.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1238 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
The 1990 amendments to the CAA that identify specific emission reduction goals for areas not meeting the NAAQS require a demonstration of reasonable further progress toward attainment and incorporate additional sanctions for failure to attain or to meet interim milestones. The sections of the CAA most directly applicable to the development of the Project site include Title I (Non-Attainment Provisions) and Title II (Mobile Source Provisions) (7) (8). Title I provisions were established with the goal of attaining the NAAQS for the following criteria pollutants O3, NO2, SO2, PM10, CO, PM2.5, and Pb. The NAAQS were amended in July 1997 to include an additional standard for O3 and to adopt a NAAQS for PM2.5.
Mobile source emissions are regulated in accordance with Title II provisions. These provisions require the use of cleaner burning gasoline and other cleaner burning fuels such as methanol and natural gas. Automobile manufacturers are also required to reduce tailpipe emissions of hydrocarbons and NOX. NOX is a collective term that includes all forms of NOX which are emitted as byproducts of the combustion process.
CALIFORNIA REGULATIONS
CARB
The CARB, which became part of the California EPA (CalEPA) in 1991, is responsible for ensuring implementation of the California Clean Air Act (AB 2595), responding to the federal CAA, and for regulating emissions from consumer products and motor vehicles. AB 2595 mandates achievement of the maximum degree of emissions reductions possible from vehicular and other mobile sources in order to attain the state ambient air quality standards by the earliest practical date. The CARB established the California ambient air quality standards (CAAQS) for all pollutants for which the federal government has NAAQS and, in addition, establishes standards for SO4, visibility, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and vinyl chloride (C2H3Cl). However, at this time, H2S and C2H3Cl are not measured at any monitoring stations in the SCAB because they are not considered to be a regional air quality problem. Generally, the CAAQS are more stringent than the NAAQS (1) (2).
Local air quality management districts, such as the SCAQMD, regulate air emissions from stationary sources such as commercial and industrial facilities. All air pollution control districts have been formally designated as attainment or non-attainment for each CAAQS.
Serious non-attainment areas are required to prepare Air Quality Management Plans (AQMP) that include specified emission reduction strategies in an effort to meet clean air goals. These plans are required to include:
• Application of Best Available Retrofit Control Technology to existing sources; • Developing control programs for area sources (e.g., architectural coatings and solvents) and indirect sources (e.g. motor vehicle use generated by residential and commercial development);
• A District permitting system designed to allow no net increase in emissions from any new or modified permitted sources of emissions;
• Implementing reasonably available transportation control measures and assuring a substantial reduction in growth rate of vehicle trips and miles traveled; • Significant use of low emissions vehicles by fleet operators; Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1239 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
• Sufficient control strategies to achieve a 5% or more annual reduction in emissions or 15% or more in a period of three years for ROGs, NOX, CO and PM10. However, air basins may use alternative emission reduction strategy that achieves a reduction of less than 5% per year under certain circumstances.
AQMP
Currently, the NAAQS and CAAQS are exceeded in most parts of the SCAB. In response, the SCAQMD has adopted a series of AQMP to meet the state and federal ambient air quality standards (10). AQMPs are updated regularly in order to more effectively reduce emissions, accommodate growth, and to minimize any negative fiscal impacts of air pollution control on the economy.
APPLICABLE REGULATORY REQUIRMENTS
SCAQMD Rules that are currently applicable during construction activity for this Project include but are not limited to Rule 403 (Fugitive Dust) and Rule 1113 (Architectural Coatings) (3) (4).
Implementation of these rules are required pursuant to existing law and therefore is considered part of the Project.
SCAQMD Rule 403
This rule is intended to reduce the amount of particulate matter entrained in the ambient air as a result of anthropogenic (human-made) fugitive dust sources by requiring actions to prevent and reduce fugitive dust emissions. Rule 403 applies to any activity or human-made condition capable of generating fugitive dust and requires best available control measures to be applied to earth moving and grading activities. This rule is intended to reduce PM10 emissions from any transportation, handling, construction, or storage activity that has the potential to generate fugitive dust. PM10 suppression techniques are summarized below. • Portions of a construction site to remain inactive longer than a period of three months will be seeded and watered until grass cover is grown or otherwise stabilized. • All onsite roads will be paved as soon as feasible or watered periodically or chemically stabilized. • All material transported offsite will be either sufficiently watered or securely covered to prevent excessive amounts of dust.
• The area disturbed by clearing, grading, earthmoving, or excavation operations will be minimized at all times.
• Where vehicles leave a construction site and enter adjacent public streets, the streets will be swept daily or washed down at the end of the workday to remove soil tracked onto the paved surface.
METHODOLOGY
In May 2022, the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) in conjunction with other California air districts, including SCAQMD, released the latest version of the CalEEMod Version 2022.1. The purpose of this model is to calculate construction-source and operationalsource criteria pollutant (VOCs, NOX, SOX, CO, PM10, and PM2.5) and GHG emissions from direct and indirect sources; and quantify applicable air quality and GHG reductions achieved from Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1240 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
mitigation measures (5). Accordingly, the latest version of CalEEMod has been used for this Project to determine construction and operational air quality and greenhouse gas emissions.
Standards of Significance
The criteria used to determine the significance of potential Project-related air quality impacts are taken from the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines (CEQA Guidelines) (14 CCR §§15000, et seq.). Based on these thresholds, a project would result in a significant impact related to air quality if it would (6):
• Threshold 1: Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan. • Threshold 2: Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is in non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard.
• Threshold 3: Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations. • Threshold 4: Result in other emissions (such as those leading to odors) adversely affecting a substantial number of people.
AIR QUALITY REGIONAL EMISSIONS THRESHOLDS
The SCAQMD has developed regional significance thresholds for criteria pollutants, as summarized at Table 1 (7). The SCAQMD’s CEQA Air Quality Significance Thresholds (April 2019) indicate that any projects in the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB) with daily emissions that exceed any of the indicated thresholds should be considered as having an individually and cumulatively significant air quality impact.
TABLE 1: MAXIMUM DAILY REGIONAL EMISSIONS THRESHOLDS
Pollutant Construction
NOX 100 lbs/day
VOC 75 lbs/day
PM10 150 lbs/day
PM2.5 55 lbs/day
SOX 150 lbs/day
CO 550 lbs/day
lbs/day – Pounds Per Day
AIR QUALITY LOCALIZED EMISSIONS THRESHOLDS
For this Project, the appropriate Source Receptor Area (SRA) for the Localized Significant Thresholds (LST) analysis is the SCAQMD East San Bernardino Valley monitoring station (SRA 35).
LSTs apply to CO, NO2, PM10, and PM2.5. The SCAQMD produced look-up tables for projects less than or equal to 5 acres in size. The SCAQMD’s screening look-up tables are utilized in determining localized impacts. It should be noted that since the look-up tables identify thresholds at only 1 acre, 2 acres, and 5 acres, linear regression has been utilized to determine localized Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1241 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
significance thresholds. Consistent with SCAQMD guidance, the thresholds presented in Table 2 were calculated by interpolating the threshold values for the Project’s disturbed acreage.
TABLE 2: MAXIMUM DAILY LOCALIZED EMISSIONS THRESHOLDS
Source Activity
Emissions (lbs/day)
NOx CO PM10 PM2.5
Construction
Linear, Grubbing
& Land Clearing 102 lbs/day 699 lbs/day 5 lbs/day 4 lbs/day Linear, Grading &
Excavation 247 lbs/day 2,012 lbs/day 23 lbs/day 9 lbs/day Linear, Drainage,
Utilities, & SubGrade154 lbs/day 1,134 lbs/day 11 lbs/day 5 lbs/day 1 Source of localized significance threshold (LSTs) is provided on page 14.
REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION EMISSIONS SUMMARY
Construction activities associated with the Project would result in emissions of VOCs, NOX, SOX, CO, PM10, and PM2.5. Construction related emissions are expected from the following construction activities:
• Linear, Grubbing & Land Clearing
• Linear, Grading & Excavation
• Linear, Drainage, Utilities, & Sub-Grade
• Linear, Paving
ON-ROAD TRIPS
Construction generates on-road vehicle emissions from vehicle usage for workers and vendors commuting to and from the site. Vendor trips are based on CalEEMod defaults.
GRADING ACTIVITIES
Dust is typically a major concern during grading activities. Because such emissions are not amenable to collection and discharge through a controlled source, they are called “fugitive emissions”. Fugitive dust emissions rates vary as a function of many parameters (soil silt, soil moisture, wind speed, area disturbed, number of vehicles, depth of disturbance or excavation, etc.). CalEEMod was utilized to calculate fugitive dust emissions resulting from this phase of activity. The Project would require 1,031 cubic yards of soil export. The CalEEMod default trip length of 20-miles will be used to analyze the emissions associated with import activities.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1242 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
CONSTRUCTION DURATION
Per Project applicant provided data, construction of Project is expected to commence in September 2024 and would last through May 2025. The construction schedule utilized in the analysis, shown in Table 3, “worst-case” analysis scenario should construction occur any time after the respective dates since emission factors for construction decrease as time passes and the analysis year increases due to emission regulations becoming more stringent1. The duration of construction activity and associated equipment represents a reasonable approximation of the expected construction fleet as required per CEQA Guidelines (8).
TABLE 3: CONSTRUCTION DURATION
Phase Name Start Date End Date Days
Linear, Grubbing & Land Clearing 9/2/2024 9/26/2024 19
Linear, Grading & Excavation 9/27/2024 1/27/2025 87
Linear, Drainage, Utilities, & Sub-Grade 1/28/2025 4/16/2025 57 Linear, Paving 4/17/2025 5/28/2025 30
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
Consistent with industry standards and typical construction practices, each piece of equipment listed in Table 4 will operate up to a total of eight (8) hours per day, or more than two-thirds of the period during which construction activities are allowed pursuant to the code.
TABLE 4: CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
Activity Equipment Amount Hours Per Day
Linear, Grubbing &
Land Clearing
Crawler Tractors 1 8
Excavators 2 8
Signal Boards 1 8
Linear, Grading &
Excavation
Crawler Tractors 1 8
Excavators 3 8
Graders 2 8
Rollers 2 8
Rubber Tired Loaders 1 8
Scrapers 2 8
Signal Boards 1 8
Crawler Tractors 1 8
1 As shown in the CalEEMod User’s Guide Version 2022.1, Section 4.3 “Off-Road Equipment” as the analysis year increases, emission factors for the same equipment pieces decrease due to the natural turnover of older equipment being replaced by newer less polluting equipment and new regulatory requirements.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1243 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
Activity Equipment Amount Hours Per Day
Linear, Drainage,
Utilities, & Sub-Grade
Air Compressors 1 8
Generator Sets 1 8
Graders 1 8
Plate Compactors 1 8
Pumps 1 8
Rough Terrain Forklifts 1 8
Scrapers 1 8
Signal Boards 1 8
Tractors/Loaders/Backhoes 3 8
Linear, Paving
Pavers 1 8
Paving Equipment 1 8
Rollers 2 8
Signal Boards 1 8
Tractors/Loaders/Backhoes 3 8
REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION EMISSIONS SUMMARY
The estimated maximum daily construction emissions without mitigation are summarized on Table 5. Detailed construction model outputs are presented in Attachment A. Under the assumed scenarios, emissions resulting from the Project construction will not exceed thresholds established by the SCAQMD for emissions of any criteria pollutant and no mitigation is required.
TABLE 5 OVERALL REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION EMISSIONS SUMMARY Source
Emissions (lbs/day)
VOC NOX CO SOX PM10 PM2.5
Summer
2024 4.26 37.40 41.39 0.07 3.24 1.82
2025 2.01 17.31 22.04 0.04 1.46 0.77
Winter
2025 4.25 37.44 40.56 0.07 3.24 1.82
2024 3.87 32.91 39.31 0.07 2.99 1.58
Maximum Daily Emissions 4.26 37.44 41.39 0.07 3.24 1.82 SCAQMD Regional Threshold 75 100 550 150 150 55
Threshold Exceeded? NO NO NO NO NO NO
1 PM10 and PM2.5 source emissions reflect 3x daily watering per SCAQMD Rule 403 for fugitive dust.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1244 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
REGIONAL OPERATIONAL EMISSIONS
Operational activities associated with Projects would result in emissions of CO, VOCs, NOX, SOX, PM10, and PM2.5. Operational related emissions are from the following primary sources: area source emissions, energy source emissions, and mobile source emissions.
The proposed Project is to reconstruct the northwest corner of the California Street and Redlands Boulevard intersection and widen the west side of California Street. Because the Project does not generate any mobile trips and is intended to improve the LOS conditions of the Project Road segment, there are no quantifiable operational emissions associated with the proposed Project and no further analysis is required.
SENSITIVE RECEPTORS
The analysis uses the methodology included in the SCAQMD Final Localized Significance Threshold Methodology (LST Methodology) (9). The SCAQMD has established that impacts to air quality are significant if there is a potential to contribute or cause localized exceedances of the federal and/or state ambient air quality standards (NAAQS/CAAQS). Collectively, these are referred to as Localized Significance Thresholds (LSTs). The SCAQMD established LSTs in response to the SCAQMD Governing Board’s Environmental Justice Initiative I-42. LSTs represent the maximum emissions from a project that will not cause or contribute to an exceedance of the most stringent applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard at the sensitive receptor. The SCAQMD states that lead agencies can use the LSTs as another indicator of significance in its air quality impact analyses.
The SCAQMD recommends that the nearest sensitive receptor be considered when determining the Project’s potential to cause an individual or cumulatively significant impact. The nearest land use where an individual could remain for 24 hours to the Project site has been used to determine localized construction impacts for emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 (since PM10 and PM2.5 thresholds are based on a 24-hour averaging time). The nearest receptor used for evaluation of localized impacts of PM10 and PM2.5 is location R1 represented by the existing residence at 2061 Redlands Blvd, approximately 122 feet (37 meters) east of the Project site.
As previously stated, and consistent with LST Methodology, the nearest industrial/commercial use to the Project site is used to determine construction air impacts for emissions of NOX and CO as the averaging periods for these pollutants are shorter (8 hours or less) and it is reasonable to assume that an individual could be present at these sites for periods of one to 8 hours. The nearest receptor used for evaluation of localized impacts of NOX and CO is location R4 represented by the existing ampm at 2098 W Redlands Blvd, approximately 109 feet (33 meters) east of the Project site. Receptors in the Project study area shown on Exhibit 2. 2 The purpose of SCAQMD’s Environmental Justice program is to ensure that everyone has the right to equal protection from air pollution and fair access to the decision-making process that works to improve the quality of air within their communities. Further, the SCAQMD defines Environmental Justice as “…equitable environmental policymaking and enforcement to protect the health of all residents, regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, gender, race, socioeconomic status, or geographic location, from the health effects of air pollution.” Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1245 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
EXHIBIT 2: SENSITIVE RECEPTOR LOCATIONS
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1246 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
LOCALIZED CONSTRUCTION EMISSIONS
Table 6 identifies the localized impacts at the nearest receptor location in the vicinity of the Project. Outputs from the model runs for construction LSTs are provided in Attachment A. For analytical purposes, emissions associated with peak site preparation and grading activities are considered for purposes of LSTs since these phases represents the maximum localized emissions that would occur. Any other construction phases of development that overlap would result in lesser emissions and consequently lesser impacts than what is disclosed herein. As shown in Table 6, emissions resulting from the construction will not exceed the numerical thresholds of significance established by the SCAQMD for any criteria pollutant. Thus, a less than significant impact would occur for localized Project-related construction-source emissions and no mitigation is required.
TABLE 6: PROJECT LOCALIZED CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS
On-Site Emissions Emissions (lbs/day)
NOX CO PM10 PM2.5
Linear, Grubbing & Land Clearing
Maximum Daily Emissions 4.53 4.54 0.41 0.27
SCAQMD Localized Threshold 102 699 5 4
Threshold Exceeded? NO NO NO NO
Linear, Grading & Excavation
Maximum Daily Emissions 37.04 37.91 2.68 1.68
SCAQMD Localized Threshold 247 2,012 23 9
Threshold Exceeded? NO NO NO NO
Linear, Drainage, Utilities, & Sub-Grade
Maximum Daily Emissions 17.19 19.90 1.11 0.68
SCAQMD Localized Threshold 154 1,134 11 5
Threshold Exceeded? NO NO NO NO
LOCALIZED OPERATIONAL EMISSIONS
The Project proposes to reconstruct the northwest corner of the California Street and Redlands Boulevard intersection and widen the west side of California Street. According to SCAQMD LST methodology, LSTs would apply to the operational phase of a proposed project, if the project includes stationary sources, or attracts mobile sources that may spend long periods queuing and idling at the site (e.g., transfer facilities and warehouse buildings). The proposed project does not include such uses, and thus, due to the lack of significant stationary source emissions, no LST analysis is needed for operations.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1247 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
AIR QUALITY IMPACTS – CONSISTENCY WITH THRESHOLD NO. 1
Would the Project conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? The Project site is located within the SCAB, which is characterized by relatively poor air quality.
The SCAQMD has jurisdiction over an approximately 10,743 square-mile area consisting of the four-county Basin and the Los Angeles County and Riverside County portions of what use to be referred to as the Southeast Desert Air Basin. In these areas, the SCAQMD is principally responsible for air pollution control, and works directly with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), county transportation commissions, local governments, as well as state and federal agencies to reduce emissions from stationary, mobile, and indirect sources to meet state and federal ambient air quality standards.
Currently, these state and federal air quality standards are exceeded in most parts of the SCAB.
In response, the SCAQMD has adopted a series of AQMPs to meet the state and federal ambient air quality standards. AQMPs are updated regularly in order to more effectively reduce emissions, accommodate growth, and to minimize any negative fiscal impacts of air pollution control on the economy.
In December 2022, the SCAQMD released the Final 2022 AQMP (2022 AQMP). The 2022 AQMP continues to evaluate current integrated strategies and control measures to meet the CAAQS, as well as explore new and innovative methods to reach its goals. Some of these approaches include utilizing incentive programs, recognizing existing co-benefit programs from other sectors, and developing a strategy with fair-share reductions at the federal, state, and local levels (10). Similar to the 2016 AQMP, the 2022 AQMP incorporates scientific and technological information and planning assumptions, including the 2020-2045 RTP/SCS, a planning document that supports the integration of land use and transportation to help the region meet the federal CAA requirements (11). The Project’s consistency with the AQMP will be determined using the 2022 AQMP as discussed below.
Criteria for determining consistency with the AQMP are defined in Chapter 12, Section 12.2 and Section 12.3 of the 1993 CEQA Handbook (12). These indicators are discussed below.
The proposed Project will not result in an increase in the frequency or severity of existing air quality violations or cause or contribute to new violations or delay the timely attainment of air quality standards or the interim emissions reductions specified in the AQMP.
The violations under this criterion refer to the CAAQS and NAAQS. CAAQS and NAAQS violations would occur if regional or localized significance thresholds were exceeded.
CAAQS and NAAQS violations would occur if regional or localized significance thresholds were exceeded. As evaluated, the Project’s regional and localized construction and operational-source emissions would not exceed applicable regional significance thresholds. As such, a less than significant impact is expected.
On the basis of the preceding discussion, the Project is determined to be consistent with the first criterion.
The Project will not exceed the assumptions in the AQMP based on the years of Project buildout phase.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1248 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
The 2022 AQMP demonstrates that the applicable ambient air quality standards can be achieved within the timeframes required under federal law. Growth projections from local general plans adopted by cities in the district are provided to the SCAG, which develops regional growth forecasts, which are then used to develop future air quality forecasts for the AQMP. Development consistent with the growth projections in City of Redland General Plan is considered to be consistent with the AQMP.
Peak day emissions generated by construction activities are largely independent of land use assignments, but rather are a function of development scope and maximum area of disturbance.
Irrespective of the site’s land use designation, development of the site to its maximum potential would likely occur, with disturbance of the entire site occurring during construction activities. As such, when considering that no emissions thresholds will be exceeded, a less than significant impact would result.
The Project will not exceed the assumptions in the AQMP based on the years of Project build-out phase. Further, the Project will provide congestion relief and less delays in traffic flow due to implementation of the street widening.
On the basis of the preceding discussion, the Project is determined to be consistent with the second criterion.
AIR QUALITY IMPACTS – CONSISTENCY WITH THRESHOLD NO. 2
Would the Project result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is in non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard?
The CAAQS designate the Project site as nonattainment for O3, PM10, and PM2.5 while the NAAQS designates the Project site as nonattainment for O3 and PM2.5.
The SCAQMD has published a report on how to address cumulative impacts from air pollution:
White Paper on Potential Control Strategies to Address Cumulative Impacts from Air Pollution (13). In this report the SCAQMD clearly states (Page D-3):
“…the SCAQMD uses the same significance thresholds for project specific and cumulative impacts for all environmental topics analyzed in an Environmental Assessment or EIR. The only case where the significance thresholds for project specific and cumulative impacts differ is the Hazard Index (HI) significance threshold for TAC emissions. The project specific (project increment) significance threshold is HI > 1.0 while the cumulative (facility-wide) is HI > 3.0. It should be noted that the HI is only one of three TAC emission significance thresholds considered (when applicable) in a CEQA analysis. The other two are the maximum individual cancer risk (MICR) and the cancer burden, both of which use the same significance thresholds (MICR of 10 in 1 million and cancer burden of 0.5) for project specific and cumulative impacts.
Projects that exceed the project-specific significance thresholds are considered by the SCAQMD to be cumulatively considerable. This is the reason project-specific and cumulative significance thresholds are the same. Conversely, projects that do not exceed the project-specific thresholds are generally not considered to be cumulatively significant.” Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1249 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
Therefore, this analysis assumes that individual projects that do not generate operational or construction emissions that exceed the SCAQMD’s recommended daily thresholds for projectspecific impacts would also not cause a cumulatively considerable increase in emissions for those pollutants for which SCAB is in nonattainment, and, therefore, would not be considered to have a significant, adverse air quality impact. Alternatively, individual project-related construction and operational emissions that exceed SCAQMD thresholds for project-specific impacts would be considered cumulatively considerable.
Construction Impacts
The Project‐specific evaluation of emissions presented in the preceding analysis demonstrates that proposed Project construction-source air pollutant emissions would not result in exceedances of regional thresholds. Therefore, the proposed Project construction-source emissions would be considered less than significant on a project-specific and cumulative basis.
AIR QUALITY IMPACTS – CONSISTENCY WITH THRESHOLD NO. 3
Would the expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? The potential impact of Project-generated air pollutant emissions at sensitive receptors has also been considered. Results of the LST analysis indicate that the Project will not exceed the SCAQMD localized significance thresholds during construction. Therefore, sensitive receptors would not be exposed to substantial pollutant concentrations during Project construction.
CO “HOT SPOT” ANALYSIS
As discussed below, the Project would not result in potentially adverse CO concentrations or “hot spots.” Further, detailed modeling of Project-specific CO “hot spots” is not needed to reach this conclusion. An adverse CO concentration, known as a “hot spot”, would occur if an exceedance of the state one-hour standard of 20 parts per million (ppm) or the eight-hour standard of 9 ppm were to occur.
It has long been recognized that CO hotspots are caused by vehicular emissions, primarily when idling at congested intersections. In response, vehicle emissions standards have become increasingly stringent in the last twenty years. Currently, the allowable CO emissions standard in California is a maximum of 3.4 grams/mile for passenger cars (there are requirements for certain vehicles that are more stringent). With the turnover of older vehicles, introduction of cleaner fuels, and implementation of increasingly sophisticated and efficient emissions control technologies, CO concentration in the SCAB is now designated as attainment. To establish a more accurate record of baseline CO concentrations affecting the SCAB, a CO “hot spot” analysis was conducted in 2003 for four busy intersections in Los Angeles at the peak morning and afternoon time periods3. This “hot spot” analysis did not predict any exceedance of the 1-hour (20.0 ppm) or 8-hour (9.0 ppm) CO standards, as shown on Table 7.
3 The CO “hot spot” analysis conducted in 2003 is the most current study used for CO “hot spot” analysis in the SCAB.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1250 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
TABLE 7: CO MODEL RESULTS
Intersection Location
CO Concentrations (ppm)
Morning 1-hour Afternoon 1-hour 8-hour
Wilshire Boulevard/Veteran Avenue 4.6 3.5 3.7
Sunset Boulevard/Highland Avenue 4 4.5 3.5
La Cienega Boulevard/Century Boulevard 3.7 3.1 5.2
Long Beach Boulevard/Imperial Highway 3 3.1 8.4
Notes: Federal 1-hour standard is 35 ppm and the deferral 8-hour standard is 9.0 ppm.
Based on the SCAQMD's 2003 AQMP and the 1992 Federal Attainment Plan for Carbon Monoxide (1992 CO Plan), peak carbon monoxide concentrations in the SCAB were a result of unusual meteorological and topographical conditions and not a result of traffic volumes and congestion at a particular intersection. As evidence of this, for example, 8.4 ppm 8-hr CO concentration measured at the Long Beach Blvd. and Imperial Hwy. intersection (highest CO generating intersection within the “hot spot” analysis), only 0.7 ppm was attributable to the traffic volumes and congestion at this intersection; the remaining 7.7 ppm were due to the ambient air measurements at the time the 2003 AQMP was prepared (14). In contrast, an adverse CO concentration, known as a “hot spot”, would occur if an exceedance of the state one-hour standard of 20 parts per million (ppm) or the eight-hour standard of 9 ppm were to occur.
Similar considerations are also employed by other Air Districts when evaluating potential CO concentration impacts. More specifically, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) concludes that under existing and future vehicle emission rates, a given project would have to increase traffic volumes at a single intersection by more than 44,000 vehicles per hour (vph)—or 24,000 vph where vertical and/or horizontal air does not mix—in order to generate a significant CO impact (15). Traffic volumes generating the CO concentrations for the “hot spot” analysis is shown on Table 8. The busiest intersection evaluated was that at Wilshire Boulevard and Veteran Avenue, which has a daily traffic volume of approximately 100,000 vph and AM/PM traffic volumes of 8,062 vph and 7,719 vph respectively (16). The 2003 AQMP estimated that the 1-hour concentration for this intersection was 4.6 ppm; this indicates that, should the hourly traffic volume increase four times to 32,248 vehicles per hour, CO concentrations (4.6 ppm x 4 =
18.4 ppm) would still not likely exceed the most stringent 1-hour CO standard (20.0 ppm). Since the Project would not generate new ADT, the Project would not cause a CO hotspot.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1251 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
TABLE 8: CO MODEL RESULTS
Intersection Location
Peak Traffic Volumes (vph)
Eastbound
(AM/PM)
Westbound
(AM/PM)
Southbound
(AM/PM)
Northbound
(AM/PM)
Total
(AM/PM)
Wilshire Boulevard/Veteran Avenue 4,954/2,069 1,830/3,317 721/1,400 560/933 8,062/7,719 Sunset Boulevard/Highland Avenue 1,417/1,764 1,342/1,540 2,304/1,832 1,551/2,238 6,614/5,374 La Cienega Boulevard/Century Boulevard 2,540/2,243 1,890/2,728 1,384/2,029 821/1,674 6,634/8,674 Long Beach Boulevard/Imperial Highway 1,217/2,020 1,760/1,400 479/944 756/1,150 4,212/5,514 AIR QUALITY IMPACTS – CONSISTENCY WITH THRESHOLD NO. 4
Would the Project result in other emissions (such as those leading to odors) adversely affecting a substantial number of people?
The potential for the Project to generate objectionable odors has also been considered. Land uses generally associated with odor complaints include:
• Agricultural uses (livestock and farming)
• Wastewater treatment plants
• Food processing plants
• Chemical plants
• Composting operations
• Refineries
• Landfills
• Dairies
• Fiberglass molding facilities
The Project does not contain land uses typically associated with emitting objectionable odors.
Potential odor sources associated with the proposed Project may result from construction equipment exhaust and the application of asphalt and architectural coatings during construction activities and the temporary storage of typical solid waste (refuse) associated with the proposed Project’s (long-term operational) uses. Standard construction requirements would minimize odor impacts from construction. The construction odor emissions would be temporary, short-term, and intermittent in nature and would cease upon completion of the respective phase of construction and is thus considered less than significant. It is expected that Project-generated refuse would be stored in covered containers and removed at regular intervals in compliance with the solid waste regulations. The proposed Project would also be required to comply with SCAQMD Rule 402 to prevent occurrences of public nuisances. Therefore, odors associated with the proposed Project construction and operations would be less than significant and no mitigation is required (17).
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1252 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
PROJECT GREENHOUSE GAS ANALYSIS
CLIMATE CHANGE SETTING
Global climate change (GCC) is the change in average meteorological conditions on the earth with respect to temperature, precipitation, and storms. The majority of scientists believe that the climate shift taking place since the Industrial Revolution is occurring at a quicker rate and magnitude than in the past. Scientific evidence suggests that GCC is the result of increased concentrations of GHGs in the earth’s atmosphere, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases. The majority of scientists believe that this increased rate of climate change is the result of GHGs resulting from human activity and industrialization over the past 200 years.
An individual project like the proposed Project evaluated in this memo cannot generate enough GHG emissions to affect a discernible change in global climate. However, the proposed Project may participate in the potential for GCC by its incremental contribution of GHGs combined with the cumulative increase of all other sources of GHGs, which when taken together constitute potential influences on GCC. Because these changes may have serious environmental consequences, this memo will evaluate the potential for the proposed Project to have a significant effect upon the environment as a result of its potential contribution to the greenhouse effect.
GCC refers to the change in average meteorological conditions on the earth with respect to temperature, wind patterns, precipitation and storms. Global temperatures are regulated by naturally occurring atmospheric gases such as water vapor, CO2, N2O, CH4, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). These particular gases are important due to their residence time (duration they stay) in the atmosphere, which ranges from 10 years to more than 100 years. These gases allow solar radiation into the earth’s atmosphere, but prevent radioactive heat from escaping, thus warming the earth’s atmosphere. GCC can occur naturally as it has in the past with the previous ice ages.
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are often referred to as GHGs. GHGs are released into the atmosphere by both natural and anthropogenic activity. Without the natural GHG effect, the earth’s average temperature would be approximately 61 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) cooler than it is currently. The cumulative accumulation of these gases in the earth’s atmosphere is considered to be the cause for the observed increase in the earth’s temperature.
For the purposes of this analysis, emissions of CO2, CH4, and N2O were evaluated because these gases are the primary contributors to GCC from development projects. Although there are other substances such as fluorinated gases that also contribute to GCC, these fluorinated gases were not evaluated as their sources are not well-defined and do not contain accepted emissions factors or methodology to accurately calculate these gases.
REGULATORY SETTING
Executive Order S-3-05
Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced on June 1, 2005, through Executive Order S-3-05, the following reduction targets for GHG emissions:
• By 2010, reduce GHG emissions to 2000 levels.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1253 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
• By 2020, reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels.
• By 2050, reduce GHG emissions to 80% below 1990 levels.
The 2050 reduction goal represents what some scientists believe is necessary to reach levels that will stabilize the climate. The 2020 goal was established to be a mid-term target. Because this is an executive order, the goals are not legally enforceable for local governments or the private sector.
Assembly Bill (AB) 32
The California State Legislature enacted AB 32, which requires that GHGs emitted in California be reduced to 1990 levels by the year 2020. “GHGs” as defined under AB 32 include CO2, CH4, N2O, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Since AB 32 was enacted, a seventh chemical, nitrogen trifluoride, has also been added to the list of GHGs.
CARB is the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of GHGs. Pursuant to AB 32, CARB adopted regulations to achieve the maximum technologically feasible and costeffective GHG emission reductions. AB 32 states the following:
“Global warming poses a serious threat to the economic well-being, public health, natural resources, and the environment of California. The potential adverse impacts of global warming include the exacerbation of air quality problems, a reduction in the quality and supply of water to the state from the Sierra snowpack, a rise in sea levels resulting in the displacement of thousands of coastal businesses and residences, damage to marine ecosystems and the natural environment, and an increase in the incidences of infectious diseases, asthma, and other human health-related problems.”
CARB approved the 1990 GHG emissions level of 427 million metric ton of CO2 equivalent per year (MMTCO2e) on December 6, 2007 (18). Therefore, emissions generated in California in 2020 are required to be equal to or less than 427 MMTCO2e. Emissions in 2020 in a “business as usual” (BAU) scenario were estimated to be 596 MMTCO2e, which do not account for reductions from AB 32 regulations (19). At that level, a 28.4% reduction was required to achieve the 427 MMTCO2e 1990 inventory. In October 2010, CARB prepared an updated BAU 2020 forecast to account for the recession and slower forecasted growth. The forecasted inventory without the benefits of adopted regulation is now estimated at 545 MMTCO2e. Therefore, under the updated forecast, a
21.7% reduction from BAU is required to achieve 1990 levels (20).
Progress in Achieving AB 32 Targets and Remaining Reductions Required The State has made steady progress in implementing AB 32 and achieving targets included in Executive Order S-3-05. The progress is shown in updated emission inventories prepared by CARB for 2000 through 2012 (21). The State has achieved the Executive Order S-3-05 target for 2010 of reducing GHG emissions to 2000 levels. As shown below, the 2010 emission inventory achieved this target.
• 1990: 427 MMTCO2e (AB 32 2020 target)
• 2000: 463 MMTCO2e (an average 8% reduction needed to achieve 1990 base) • 2010: 450 MMTCO2e (an average 5% reduction needed to achieve 1990 base) Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1254 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
CARB has also made substantial progress in achieving its goal of achieving 1990 emissions levels by 2020. As described earlier in this section, CARB revised the 2020 BAU inventory forecast to account for new lower growth projections, which resulted in a new lower reduction from BAU to achieve the 1990 base. The previous reduction from 2020 BAU needed to achieve 1990 levels was 28.4% and the latest reduction from 2020 BAU is 21.7%. • 2020: 545 MMTCO2e BAU (an average 21.7% reduction from BAU needed to achieve 1990 base)
Senate Bill (SB) 32
On September 8, 2016, Governor Jerry Brown signed the SB 32 and its companion bill, AB 197. SB 32 requires the state to reduce statewide GHG emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, a reduction target that was first introduced in Executive Order B-30-15. The new legislation builds upon the AB 32 goal of 1990 levels by 2020 and provides an intermediate goal to achieving S-3- 05, which sets a statewide GHG reduction target of 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. AB 197 creates a legislative committee to oversee regulators to ensure that CARB not only responds to the Governor, but also the Legislature (22).
AB 197
A condition of approval for SB 32 was the passage of AB 197. AB 197 requires that CARB consider the social costs of GHG emissions and prioritize direct reductions in GHG emissions at mobile sources and large stationary sources. AB 197 also gives the California legislature more oversight over CARB through the addition of two legislatively appointed members to the CARB Board and the establishment a legislative committee to make recommendations about CARB programs to the legislature.
Executive Order B-55-18 and SB 100
Executive Order B-55-18 and SB 100. SB 100 and Executive Order B-55-18 were signed by Governor Brown on September 10, 2018. Under the existing RPS, 25% of retail sales are required to be from renewable sources by December 31, 2016, 33% by December 31, 2020, 40% by December 31, 2024, 45% by December 31, 2027, and 50% by December 31, 2030. SB 100 raises California’s RPS requirement to 50% renewable resources target by December 31, 2026, and to achieve a 60% target by December 31, 2030. SB 100 also requires that retail sellers and local publicly owned electric utilities procure a minimum quantity of electricity products from eligible renewable energy resources so that the total kilowatt hours of those products sold to their retail end-use customers achieve 44% of retail sales by December 31, 2024, 52% by December 31, 2027, and 60% by December 31, 2030. In addition to targets under AB 32 and SB 32, Executive Order B55-18 establishes a carbon neutrality goal for the state of California by 2045; and sets a goal to maintain net negative emissions thereafter. The Executive Order directs the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), the Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and CARB to include sequestration targets in the Natural and Working Lands Climate Change Implementation Plan consistent with the carbon neutrality goal.
Title 24 California Code of Regulations (CCR)
California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 24 Part 6: The California Energy Code was first adopted in 1978 in response to a legislative mandate to reduce California’s energy consumption.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1255 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
The standards are updated periodically to allow consideration and possible incorporation of new energy efficient technologies and methods. CCR, Title 24, Part 11: California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) is a comprehensive and uniform regulatory code for all residential, commercial, and school buildings that went in effect on August 1, 2009, and is administered by the California Building Standards Commission.
CALGreen is updated on a regular basis, with the most recent approved update consisting of the 2022 California Green Building Code Standards that will be effective on January 1, 20234.
SCAQMD
SCAQMD is the agency responsible for air quality planning and regulation in the SCAB. The SCAQMD addresses the impacts to climate change of projects subject to SCAQMD permit as a lead agency if they are the only agency having discretionary approval for the project and acts as a responsible agency when a land use agency must also approve discretionary permits for the project. The SCAQMD acts as an expert commenting agency for impacts to air quality. This expertise carries over to GHG emissions, so the agency helps local land use agencies through the development of models and emission thresholds that can be used to address GHG emissions.
In 2008, SCAQMD formed a Working Group to identify GHG emissions thresholds for land use projects that could be used by local lead agencies in the SCAB. The Working Group developed several different options that are contained in the SCAQMD Draft Guidance Document – Interim CEQA GHG Significance Threshold, that could be applied by lead agencies. The working group has not provided additional guidance since release of the interim guidance in 2008. The SCAQMD Board has not approved the thresholds; however, the Guidance Document provides substantial evidence supporting the approaches to significance of GHG emissions that can be considered by the lead agency in adopting its own threshold. The current interim thresholds consist of the following tiered approach:
• Tier 1 consists of evaluating whether or not the project qualifies for any applicable exemption under CEQA.
• Tier 2 consists of determining whether the project is consistent with a GHG reduction plan. If a project is consistent with a qualifying local GHG reduction plan, it does not have significant GHG emissions.
• Tier 3 consists of screening values, which the lead agency can choose, but must be consistent with all projects within its jurisdiction. A project’s construction emissions are averaged over 30 years and are added to the project’s operational emissions. If a project’s emissions are below one of the following screening thresholds, then the project is less than significant:
o Residential and commercial land use: 3,000 metric ton of CO2 equivalent (MTCO2e/yr)
o Industrial land use: 10,000 MTCO2e/yr
4 The 2022 California Green Building Standard Code will be published July 1, 2022.
Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1256 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
o Based on land use type: residential: 3,500 MTCO2e/yr; commercial: 1,400 MTCO2e/yr; or mixed use: 3,000 MTCO2e/yr
• Tier 4 has the following options:
o Option 1: Reduce Business-as-Usual (BAU) emissions by a certain percentage; this percentage is currently undefined.
o Option 2: Early implementation of applicable AB 32 Scoping Plan measures o Option 3: 2020 target for service populations (SP), which includes residents and employees: 4.8 MTCO2e per SP per year for projects and 6.6 MTCO2e per SP per year for plans;
o Option 3, 2035 target: 3.0 MTCO2e per SP per year for projects and 4.1 MTCO2e per SP per year for plans
• Tier 5 involves mitigation offsets to achieve target significance threshold.
The SCAQMD’s interim thresholds used the Executive Order S-3-05-year 2050 goal as the basis for the Tier 3 screening level. Achieving the Executive Order’s objective would contribute to worldwide efforts to cap CO2 concentrations at 450 ppm, thus stabilizing global climate.
SCAQMD only has authority over GHG emissions from development projects that include air quality permits. At this time, it is unknown if the project would include stationary sources of emissions subject to SCAQMD permits. Notwithstanding, if the Project requires a stationary permit, it would be subject to the applicable SCAQMD regulations.
SCAQMD Regulation XXVII, adopted in 2009 includes the following rules:
• Rule 2700 defines terms and post global warming potentials. • Rule 2701, Southern California (SoCal) Climate Solutions Exchange, establishes a voluntary program to encourage, quantify, and certify voluntary, high quality certified GHG emission reductions in the SCAQMD.
• Rule 2702, GHG Reduction Program created a program to produce GHG emission reductions within the SCAQMD. The SCAQMD will fund projects through contracts in response to requests for proposals or purchase reductions from other parties.
SCAQMD is the agency responsible for air quality planning and regulation in the SCAB. The SCAQMD addresses the impacts to climate change of projects subject to SCAQMD permit as a lead agency if they are the only agency having discretionary approval for the project and acts as a responsible agency when a land use agency must also approve discretionary permits for the project. The SCAQMD acts as an expert commenting agency for impacts to air quality. This expertise carries over to GHG emissions, so the agency helps local land use agencies through the development of models and emission thresholds that can be used to address GHG emissions.
County of Redlands Climate Action Plan
The City of Redland CAP was designed to reinforce the City of Redland commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and demonstrate compliance with the State of California’s GHG emission reduction standards (23). The CAP includes goals and policies to promote energy efficiency, waste reduction, and resource conservation and recycling. The CAP’s GHG emission Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1257 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024
15092-04 AQ & GHG Assessment
targets and goals were based on meeting the goals in EO B‐30‐15 and SB 32 and following the guidance established in the 2017 Scoping Plan. The CAP used the 2017 Scoping Plan recommended Plan Level emissions target of 6.0 MTCO2e per capita per year for 2030. Based on the CAP analysis, the City of Redland will achieve the 2030 target based on State actions and existing development standards and would not require any specific measures to reduce GHG emissions. Regardless, the CAP does recommend some actions including encourage the development of solar photovoltaic systems on residential and non-residential development, increase energy efficiency 5% over 2016 standards, increase the use of high efficiency lighting, and reduce the intensity of GHG emissions associated with water delivery and treatment.
GHG IMPACTS
Standards of Significance
According to the CEQA Guidelines Appendix G thresholds, to determine whether impacts from GHG emissions are significant. Would the project:
• Threshold 1: Generate GHG emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment?
• Threshold 2: Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of GHGs?
The evaluation of an impact under CEQA requires measuring data from a project against both existing conditions and a “threshold of significance.” For establishing significance thresholds, the Office of Planning and Research’s amendments to the CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.7(c) state “[w]hen adopting thresholds of significance, a lead agency may consider thresholds of significance previously adopted or recommended by other public agencies, or recommended by experts, provided the decision of the lead agency to adopt such thresholds is supported by substantial evidence.”
CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.4(a) further states, “. . . A lead agency shall have discretion to determine, in the context of a particular project, whether to: (1) Use a model or methodology to quantify greenhouse gas emissions resulting from a project, and which model or methodology to use . . .; or (2) Rely on a qualitative analysis or performance-based standards.” CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.4 provides that a lead agency should consider the following factors, among others, in assessing the significance of impacts from greenhouse gas emissions:
• Consideration #1: The extent to which the project may increase or reduce greenhouse gas emissions as compared to the existing environmental setting. • Consideration #2: Whether the project emissions exceed a threshold of significance that the lead agency determines applies to the project.
• Consideration #3: The extent to which the project complies with regulations or requirements adopted to implement a statewide, regional, or local plan for the reduction or mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. Such regulations or requirements must be adopted by the relevant public agency through a public review process and must reduce or mitigate the project’s incremental contribution of greenhouse gas emissions. In Redlands Regular Meeting of 12-17-2024 1258 of 1598
Mandi Needle, CASC Planning and Engineering
April 22, 2024