RESOLUTION NO. __________
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF The CITY OF RIALTO APPROVING a mitigated negative declaration for the dr. june hayes and deborah robertson habitat nature center project in accordance with the california environmental quality act (ceqa) and ceqa-plus requirements WHEREAS, the City of Rialto ("City") and Rialto Utility Authority ("Authority") propose to develop the Dr. June Hayes and Deborah Robertson Habitat Nature Center Project ("Project"); and WHEREAS, in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.) ("CEQA") and the State CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15000 et seq.), an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) was prepared to evaluate the potential environmental effects of the Project; and WHEREAS, because the Project has secured $5 million in federal grant funding and involves federal agency oversight, the IS/MND has been prepared in accordance with CEQA-Plus standards, which require compliance with applicable federal environmental regulations in addition to CEQA, including but not limited to (1) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) tribal consultation standards; (2) Endangered Species Act; (3) National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA); (4) Clean Water Act; and (5) Clean Air Act; and WHEREAS, the City/Authority circulated the Draft IS/MND for public review for a 30-day period beginning February 15, 2024, and concluding March 18, 2024, consistent with CEQA Guidelines Section 15073; and WHEREAS, the City/Authority received one comment letter from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and engaged in further consultation with CDFW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) between April and June 2024 to address feedback; and WHEREAS, based on a review of the comment received and in consultation with its environmental consultant EnPlanners, City/Authority staff determined that no substantial revisions to the IS/MND were required, no new significant environmental impacts were identified, and the mitigation measures proposed continue to reduce impacts to a less-than-significant level; and WHEREAS, the City, as Lead Agency under CEQA and CEQA-Plus, finds that the IS/MND reflects the independent judgment and analysis of the City and has been completed in compliance with CEQA and CEQA-Plus requirements; and WHEREAS, prior to the release of federal grant funds and commencement of federally funded construction activities, the Mitigated Negative Declaration must be approved by the City Council and Rialto Utility Authority Board and submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Final Environmental Determination under CEQA-Plus.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF The CITY OF RIALTO AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The above recitals are true and correct.
Section 2. Based on the whole record before it, including the Initial Study, Mitigated Negative Declaration, and any comments received, that there is no substantial evidence that the Project will have a significant effect on the environment and that the Mitigated Negative Declaration reflects the City/Authority’s independent judgment and analysis Section 3. The City Council hereby Adopts the Mitigated Negative Declaration (State Clearinghouse No. 2024020570) prepared for the Dr. June Hayes and Deborah Robertson Habitat Nature Center Project, formally known as the Rialto Habitat Nature Center Project pursuant to CEQA, the State CEQA Guidelines, and CEQA-Plus requirements.
Section 4. The officers of the City are hereby authorized and directed, jointly and severally, to do any and all things and to execute and deliver any and all documents that they deem necessary or advisable in order to carry out, give effect to and comply with the terms and intent of this resolution, including but not limited to filing a Notice of Determination (NOD) with the San Bernardino County Clerk and the State Clearinghouse, and to submit the approved IS/MND to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Final Environmental Determination.
Section 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 13th day of May 2025. _______________________________
JOE BACA, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
BARBARA A. McGEE, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________________
ERIC S. VAIL, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO ) ss
CITY OF RIALTO )
I, Barbara McGee, City Clerk of the City of Rialto, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. _________ was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Rialto held on the 13th day of May, 2025.
Upon motion of _______________, seconded by __________________, the foregoing Resolution No. was duly passed and adopted.
Vote on the motion:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the Official Seal of the City of Rialto this 13th day of May, 2025. ___________________________________
BARBARA A. McGEE, City Clerk
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