Salinas City Council
August 6, 2024

peak hour and 140 trips in the evening peak hour (Fehr & Peers, 2019). These new transit trips alone are not expected to overburden existing transit service in the area.

Additionally, this project does not conflict with an existing transit-related policy or plan in the City.

Conclusion: Implementation of the proposed Specific Plan would not conflict with adopted multimodal circulation policies, plans, or programs, and would not decrease the performance or safety of public transit, bicycle, or pedestrian facilities. Impacts to pedestrians and bicycles and public transit would be less than significant and no mitigation is required.

Applicable Mitigation from Prior EIR (if any)
No mitigation is required, though numerous conditions of approval dealing with traffic of level of service must be satisfied by the applicant. The General Plan Mitigation Measures discussed above imposed duties on the City of Salinas, and not on individual property owners within the CASP.

Relevant Uniformly Applied Development Policies or Standards (if any) Not applicable.

Impact
Nowanss
New
Significant Significant
Impact or Impact or Substantially
More New Impact Mitigated by
Severe Less than Uniformly
Impact Not Significant Applied
Disclosec with Impact Fully Development
Issue in Prior Mitigation No Analyzed ir Policies of
EIR Incorporated Impact the Prior EIR Standards

18. TRIBAL CULTURAL
RESOURCES. Would the
project:
(a) Would the project cause
a substantial adverse
change in the
significance of a tribal
resource,
defined in Public
CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Impact
New Less
Than
Significant
Impact or Substantially
New Impact Mitigated by
Less than Uniformly
Significant Applied
with Impact Fully Development
Issue Mitigation No Analyzed in Policies or
Incorporated Impact the Prior EIR Standards
Resources Code 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
Californian Native
smerican tribe, and that
i. Listed or eligible for
listing in the
California Register of
Historical Resources,
or in a local register
of historical
resources as defined
in Public Resources
Code Section
5020.1(k); or
ii. A resource
determined by the
Lead Agency, in its
discretion and
supported by
substantial evidence,
significant
pursuant to criteria
set forth
subdivision (c) of
Public Resources
Code Section 5024.1
In applying the
criteria set forth in
Subdivision (c) of
Public Resource
CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Impact
New Less
Than
SigNiticant Significant
Impact or Substantially
New Impact
Less than
Significant
Issue Mitigation
EIR Incorporated
Code 5024.1, the
Lead Agency shall
consider the
significance of the
resource to a
California Native
American tribe.

Discussion
Overall conclusion: The CASP EIR provides project-level detail with respect to the proposed tentative subdivision map's effects on tribal cultural resources, in part due to the mitigation measures required to reduce such effects. The tentative map would create new legal parcels but would not directly authorize any development that would require future discretionary approvals from the City. Those would have to be obtained separately at a later point in time. No additional site-specific environmental analysis is required to fully address the impacts of the proposed tentative subdivision map on tribal cultural resources.

Response a.) As discussed above in Cultural Resources, no historical resources were found during field surveys for the CASP. Additionally, there are no historical resources that have been identified in the Specific Plan Area on maps and files maintained by the Northwest Information Center (NWIC). There have been four previous cultural resource studies that examined approximately three-quarters of the Specific Plan Area and no historical resources were documented. The Monterey County Historic Property Data File Directory and National Register of Historic Resources do not list any historical resources in the Specific Plan Area.

Most fossils within Monterey County consist of micro-organisms such as foraminifera or diatoms, or assemblages of mollusks and barnacles most commonly found in sedimentary rocks ranging from Cretaceous age (138 to 96 million years old) to Pleistocene age (1.6 million to 11 thousand years old). Fossils are found throughout the Monterey County because of the widespread distribution of marine deposits. significant fossil records have been discovered within the Specific Plan Area. However, CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

the City of Salinas General Plan EIR (2002) identifies that important archaeological resources have the potential to occur within the General Plan planning area, including within portions of the undeveloped North of Boronda FGA. These areas are the Carr Lake/Natividad Creek corridor and a wide band on either side of Highway 101 in the northwest portion of the General Plan planning area.

Per the Final EIR, letters were sent to: the Native American Heritage Commission; Mr.

Tom Little Bear Nason, Esslen Tribe of Monterey County; Tony Cerda, Chairperson, Coastanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe; Ms. Louise Miranda-Ramirez, Chairperson, Ohlone Coastanoan-Esselen Nation; Mr. Valentine Lopez, Amah Mutsun Tribal Band; Ms. Irene Zwierlein, Chairperson, Amah Mutsun Tribal Band of Mission San Juan Bautista; and, Ms. Ann Marie Sayers, Chairperson, Indian Canyon Mutsun Band of Coastanoan. The Native American Heritage Commission responded with a letter dated April 3, 2017. Ms.

Louise Miranda-Ramirez, Chairperson, Ohlone/Coastanoan-Esselen Nation responded by letter on April 22, 2017 stating that the project area is within "the indigenous homeland of our people." The letter further states that the Ohlone/Coastanoan Esselen Nation (OCEN) objects to all excavation at known cultural sites. OCEN also requests to be provided with archaeological reports and to be involved with any archaeological projects within their area, including site monitoring. OCEN specifically requests to be consulted on all projects "affecting our tribal homelands" including, but not limited to, ground disturbance. Chairperson Miranda-Ramirez concludes her April 22, 2017 letter by requesting a meeting with the City of Salinas to begin the consultation process. The tribal consultation records, along with the comment letter received, is included in Appendix A of the Final EIR.

It is not anticipated that ground disturbing activities would result in impacts to historical resources given that none are believed to be present. However, as with most projects in California that involve ground disturbing activities, there is the potential for discovery of a previously unknown historical resource. Project implementation may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource as defined in CEQA Guidelines §15064.5. The implementation of the following mitigation measure would ensure that this potential impact is reduced to a less than significant level (see Mitigation Measure 3.3-1 below).

The Natividad and Gabilan Creek corridors run through portions of the Plan Area.

Waterways in the region (including creeks) have historically been areas of settlement for Native Americans; therefore, there exists the potential for undiscovered archeological resources to be identified during the development of the Plan Area. However, development of the Specific Plan Area would improve and restore the Natividad and Gabilan Creek corridors. The immediate area surrounding the waterways within the Plan Area (including these creeks) would be minimally developed, with Open Space (OS) and Park (P) land uses proposed along these corridors. A carefully planned park, open space, drainage, and supplemental detention and retention system would be implemented along these corridors.

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It is not anticipated that ground disturbing activities would result in impacts to archaeological resources given that none are believed to be present. However, as with most projects in California that involve ground disturbing activities, there is the potential for discovery of a previously unknown archaeological resource. Project implementation may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15064.5. The implementation of Mitigation Measures 3.3-1 would ensure that this potential impact is reduced to a less than significant level.

The Monterey County General Plan Draft EIR (2007) included a review of known fossil localities conducted by paleontologists in 2001. Twelve fossil sites were identified as having outstanding scientific value. For the most part, the fossils at these 12 sites reflect the type of assemblages found throughout the county (microorganisms or invertebrates); however, each has special characteristics that make it unique or rare, or in some way provide important stratigraphic or historic information. None of the 12 identified high value sites are located on or near the Specific Plan Area. Additionally, the Salinas General Plan Final EIR (2002) does not identify any high value sites in the Specific Plan Area or in the City as a whole.

However, unknown important paleontological resources have the potential to occur within the planning area including the undeveloped future growth areas, which include the Specific Plan Area. The construction of new development would involve grading and other earthwork that can disturb important fossils. Therefore, project implementation may directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource. This impact is considered potentially significant. Implementation of the following mitigation measures would reduce the impact to unknown or otherwise undiscovered paleontological resources to a less than significant level (see Mitigation Measure 3.3-2 below).

No human remains or known burial sites were found during field surveys for the CASP.

Additionally, there are no human remains or known burial sites that have been identified in the Specific Plan Area on maps and files maintained by the Northwest Information Center (NWIC). There have been four previous cultural resource studies that examined approximately three-quarters of the Specific Plan Area and no human remains or known burial sites were documented. The Monterey County Historic Property Data File Directory and National Register of Historic Resources do not list any human remains or known burial sites in the Specific Plan Area.

It is not anticipated that ground disturbing activities would result in impacts to human remains or known burial sites given that none are believed to be present. However, as with most projects in California that involve ground disturbing activities, there is the potential for discovery of previously unknown human remains or known burial sites.

Project implementation may disturb human remains, including those interred outside of formal cemeteries. The implementation of the following mitigation measure would ensure that this potential impact is reduced to a less than significant level (see Mitigation Measure 3.3-3 below).

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Early consultation with the culturally and traditionally affiliated Native American Tribes was initiated in early 2017. The Ohlone/Coastanoan-Esselen Nation (a historically documented previously recognized tribe in the Plan Area provided a comment letter on April 22, 2017, objecting to any disturbance of human remains and/or cultural items that may be discovered during the development of the Plan Area. No tribal cultural resources have been identified within or adjacent to the Specific Plan Area. Additionally, as described under Impacts 3.3-1 through 3.3-3 (above), with incorporation of Mitigation Measures 3.3-1 through 3.3-3, the proposed project would not generate a significant adverse impact to historical, archaeological, or paleontological resources, or cause a significant disturbance to any human remains. With implementation of these mitigation measures, the proposed project would not cause a substantial adverse change to the significance of a tribal cultural resource. This is a less than significant impact.

The Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR includes mitigation measures that would reduce impacts to cultural resources (Mitigation Measures CR1, CR2, and CR3). These mitigation measures were found to reduce the potentially significant impact to paleontological resources to a less than significant level in the Salinas General Plan Final Program EIR. Additionally, it was found that these mitigation measures may not reduce the potentially significant impacts to historic and archaeological resources under some circumstances where they would not apply to the approval (i.e. ministerial projects/non-discretionary). It is noted that the General Plan, as a broad citywide legislative document, did not require parcel-level cultural resource analysis. Such a site- specific analysis was prepared for the CASP, however; and it did not find any physical or recorded evidence that there are any cultural resources within the Specific Plan Area.

While there are extensive documented cultural resources in Salinas and unincorporated Monterey County, there are no cultural resources that were found during field surveys for the CASP. Additionally, there are no cultural resources that have been identified in the Specific Plan Area on maps and files maintained by the Northwest Information Center (NWIC). There have been four previous cultural resource studies that examined approximately three-quarters of the Specific Plan Area and no cultural resources were documented. The Monterey County Historic Property Data File Directory and National Register of Historic Resources do not list any cultural resources in the Specific Plan Area. Furthermore, mitigation measures incorporated into the CASP EIR would require the proposed project to evaluate any cultural resources discovered during construction activities. Any significant discoveries during construction would be required to be preserved in place or mitigated through relocation or documentation; and the project is not anticipated to considerably contribute to a significant reduction in cultural resources.

Absent any evidence of a cultural resource in the Specific Plan Area, the potential for an impact is considered relatively low. Mitigation measures are presented that would require practices that would alleviate any impact associated with a cultural find during construction activities that was previously unknown. It is noted that there has been no record of a cultural resource being uncovered during the regular ground disturbance CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

associated with the agricultural activities over many decades (i.e., tilling/deep ripping).

Given this fact, the probability of uncovering a cultural resource during construction is considered relatively low.

However, the cumulative setting is regional in scope and includes extensive cultural sites. Although the Specific Plan Area has been evaluated and has not been found to contain any evidence of cultural resources implementation of the proposed project, when taken together with all past, present, and probable future projects (inclusive of bulldout of the various General Plans within Monterey County), has the potential to cause a significant cumulative impact. Even so, the incremental contribution of the proposed project to this larger significant cumulative impact would not be cumulatively considerable. Thus, implementation of the proposed project would have a less than cumulatively considerable incremental contribution to the significant cumulative impacts on cultural resources.

Applicable Mitigation from Prior EIR (if any)
The following Mitigation Measures for Cultural Resources stated in the adopted Final Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program from the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Salinas Central Area Specific Plan dated November 2020 shall be required for any future development in the project area:

Mitigation Measure 3.3-1: Grading and/or building permits and plans for development in the project area shall note the following: In the event that evidence of archaeological or historical features or deposits (e.g., ceramic shard, trash scatters, lithic scatters) are uncovered (discovered) during excavation and/or grading, all work shall stop in the area of the find until an appropriate avoidance or data recovery program can be developed and implemented by a qualified archaeologist. This archaeologist shall determine whether the uncovered deposits or features qualify as either "historical resources" within the meaning of CEQA Guidelines section 15064.5, subdivision (a), "unique archaeological resources" as defined in Public Resources Code section 21083.2, subdivision (g), or "tribal cultural resources," as defined in Public Resources Code section 21074. If historical resources, unique archaeological resources, or tribal cultural resources are present, the project proponent shall preserve any such resources in place if feasible as determined by the City Planner and/or implement any other feasible mitigation measures identified by the archaeologist and approved and imposed by the City. In assessing whether avoidance is feasible, the City Planner shall consider project design, logistics, and cost considerations. All costs associated with the City's Planner's determination of project design, logistics and cost considerations shall be borne by the developer/applicant. Avoidance is infeasible where it would preclude the construction of important structures or infrastructure or require exorbitant expenditures. Recommended mitigation measures shall be reviewed by the City Planner and shall be approved if feasible in light of project design, logistics, and cost considerations and, if approved, shall be implemented and completed prior to commencing further work for which grading or building permits were issued, unless otherwise directed by the City Planner.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Data recovery, including photo documentation, excavation and recovery, laboratory analysis, etc., shall be an option if preservation in place is infeasible. Where resources have been determined to be "unique archaeological resources" but not "historical resources" or "tribal cultural resources," the project proponent's obligations shall be limited as set forth in Public Resources Code section 21083.2, subdivisions (d), (e), and (f). Grading/building permits and plans shall note this measure.

Mitigation Measure 3.3-2: Grading and/or building permits and plans for development in the project area shall note the following: If paleontological resources are discovered during the course of construction, work shall be halted immediately within 50 meters (165 feet) of the discovery, the City of Salinas shall be notified, and a qualified paleontologist shall be retained to determine the significance of the discovery. If the paleontological resource is considered significant, it should be excavated by a qualified paleontologist and given to a local agency, State University, or other applicable institution, where the resource could be curated and displayed for public education purposes.

Mitigation Measure 3.3-3: Grading and/or building permits and plans for development in the project area shall note the following: If human remains are found during construction within the Specific Plan Area, or at off-site infrastructure improvement locations, there shall be no further excavation or disturbance of the area of the find or any nearby area reasonably suspected to overlie adjacent human remains until a qualified archeological monitor and the coroner of Monterey County are contacted. If it is determined that the remains are Native American, the coroner shall contact the Native American Heritage Commission within 24 hours. The Native American Heritage Commission shall identify the person or persons it believes to be the most likely descendent (MLD) from the deceased Native American. The MLD may then make recommendations to the landowner or the person responsible for the excavation work, for means of treating or disposing of, with appropriate dignity, the human remains and associated grave goods as provided in Public Resources Code section 5097.98. The landowner or his authorized representative shall rebury the Native American human remains and associated grave goods with appropriate dignity on the property in a location not subject to further disturbance if:
a) The Native American Heritage Commission is unable to identify a MLD or the MLD failed to make a recommendation within 48 hours after being notified by the commission;
The descendent identified fails to make a recommendation; or The landowner or his authorized representative rejects the recommendation of the descendent, and the mediation by the Native American Heritage Commission fails to provide measures acceptable to the landowner.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Relevant Uniformly Applied Development Policies or Standards (if any) Not applicable
Impact
New Less
Than
Significant Significant
Substantially
Mitigated by
Significant Applied
Issue Impact Fully Development
Mitigation No Analyzed in Policies or
Incorporated Impact the Prior EIR Standards

19. UTILITIES & SERVICE
SYSTEMS. Would the
project:
(a) Require or result in the • D
relocation or construction of
new or expanded water,
wastewater treatment or
storm water drainage,
electric power, natural gas,
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
evelopment during norma
ry, and multiple dry years
(c) Result in a determination by •
rovider which serves or ma
erve the project that it ha
existing
(d) Generate solid waste in
excess of State or Local
standards, or in excess of
the capacity of local
CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Impact
New Less
Than
Substantially
New Impact Mitigated by
Less than Uniformly
Signitcant Applied
Impact Fully Development
Issue No Analyzed in Policies or
Impact the Prior EIR Standards
infrastructure, or otherwise
impact the attainment of
solid waste reduction goals?
(e) Comply with federal, state, •
and local management and
reduction statues and
regulations related to solid
waste?
Discussion
Overall conclusion: The CASP EIR provides project-level detail with respect to the proposed tentative subdivision map's effects on utility systems. The tentative map would create new legal parcels but would not directly authorize any development that would require future discretionary approvals from the City. Those would have to be obtained separately at a later point in time. No additional site-specific environmental analysis is required to fully address the impacts of the proposed tentative subdivision map on utility systems.

The CASP Draft EIR on Pages 3.11-1 through 3.11-72, describes the regulatory setting, impacts associated with wastewater services, water services, storm drainage, and solid waste disposal that are likely to result from project implementation, and measures to reduce potential impacts to wastewater, water supplies, storm drainage, and solid waste facilities.

Responses a), b), and c): Currently, there are no collection lines located within the Plan Area. The City of Salinas operates and maintains sewer collection facilities and maintenance within the City. The City's Wastewater Division of the Public Works Department under the direction of the Public Works Director is responsible for operation and maintenance of the City's sanitary sewer collection system. The City's Wastewater Manager is the lead person to plan and implement collection operations and maintenance. Per the Draft EIR, as of 2019, City staffing for operation and maintenance of the sanitary sewer system includes 10.0 full time equivalent (FTE) employees.

Additionally, as of 2019, the Wastewater Division had 9.0 FTE additional staff that is CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

funded through storm sewer, industrial waste or street sweeping programs (City of Salinas, 2019).

The City of Salinas Sanitary Sewer Master Plan (2011) projects new development would increase the total wastewater discharge to an average dry weather flow up to a maximum of approximately 22.1 MGD at full build-out of the entire City Sphere of Influence. Wastewater generated by the CASP is estimated to be approximately 1.18 MGD, as described in Table 3.11-4, of the Draft EIR.

Impact 3.11-1 of the Draft EIR: The proposed project has the potential to result in a determination by the wastewater treatment and/or collection provider which serves or may serve the project that it does not have adequate capacity to serve the project's projected demand in addition to the provider's existing commitments (Less than Significant)
Wastewater generated within the Plan Area would be conveyed by the City of Salinas wastewater conveyance system to Monterey One Water (M1W) Regional Treatment Plant. M1W, a regional agency, owns and operates the M1W Treatment Plant. The wastewater treatment system treats domestic wastewater from residential and commercial sources. Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) Order No. R3-2018- 0017 provides waste discharge requirements for M1W Treatment Plant, and a supply capacity of up to 29.6 MGD.

The Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) Order No. R3-2018-0017 includes:

Discharge Prohibitions, Discharge Specifications, Effluent Limitations, Land Discharge Specifications, Reclamation Specifications, Surface Water Limitations, and Groundwater Limitations. This Order was adopted on May 22, 2014. M1W Treatment Plant is currently in compliance with the WDR requirements of Order No. R3-2018- 0017, NPDES No. CA0048551. Implementation of Central Area Specific Plan would be covered under the existing capacity (as discussed below) and would not exceed the wastewater discharge requirements in this Order.

The City of Salinas Sanitary Sewer Master Plan projects new development would increase the total wastewater discharge to an average dry weather flow to a maximum of approximately 22.1 MGD at full build-out of the entire City Sphere of Influence. The estimated wastewater discharge for full buildout of the CASP would be approximately

1.18 MGD.

The Central Area Specific Plan would require wastewater collection and treatment services. The existing wastewater collection system is owned and operated by the City of Salinas. The City maintains approximately 270 miles of sanitary sewer collection system pipeline and 11 Sanitary Sewer Lift Stations. Flow in the City system is primarily by gravity, with low-head pump stations located at low spots due to the City's flat topography.

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Sanitary wastewater produced in the City is conveyed through the City's conveyance facilities to the former City treatment plant site, known as "TP1". The plant closed when M1W Treatment Plant began service. From that location it is pumped via M1W's Salinas Pump Station and Salinas Interceptor pipeline to the M1W Treatment Plant in Marina.

The primary components of the City's collection system include four trunk lines, 11 pump stations, and a system of smaller collection facilities that convey wastewater from individual homes, businesses, and other developed uses to the trunk lines and pump stations.

The sewer system for the Specific Plan Area will consist of 8-inch to 12-inch pipes, designed in accordance with the City of Salinas design standards at the time of final design. The sewer mains will be public streets and private alleys with public service easements. The sewer mains will connect to the existing City of Salinas sewer system at two locations: the 10-inch sewer in Independence Boulevard, and the 18-inch sewer near Constitution Boulevard.

The City would maintain the sewer collection system once constructed. The sewer collection and conveyance system would entail a minimum of four creek crossings; one for Gabilan Creek and three for Natividad Creek and its tributaries. These creek crossings could require the use of siphons. The technical memorandum prepared by CDM Consultants suggests directing approximately 1.1 MGD of flow to the existing 24- inch sewer in McKinnon Drive (CDM Consultants, 2007). This would require the construction of approximately 6,000 linear feet (LF) of offsite sewer pipe in Boronda Road from McKinnon Drive to Natividad Road and trigger the need for a pump station and 2,000 LF of force main in Boronda Road from Independence Boulevard to Natividad Road. Final design of the sewer system collection and conveyance system will be determined by the City, in coordination with CDM Consultants, based on potential impacts and a cost/benefit analysis.

The M1W Treatment Plant provides regional wastewater treatment, disposal, and reclamation facilities for the cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove, Del Rey Oaks, Sand City, Marina, and Salinas; the Seaside County Sanitation District; the Castroville, Moss Landing and Boronda Community Services Districts; and Fort Ord.

All sanitary wastewater collected by the City's system flows to the M1W Salinas Pump Station, located at the southwestern boundary of the City. The M1W Salinas Pump Station conveys sanitary wastewater discharges to the regional treatment facility via a M1W force main.

The Regional Treatment Plant, owned and operated by M1W, would serve the proposed project. The Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) Order No. R3-2018-0017 allows M1W Regional Treatment Plant to accept up to 29.6 MGD. The M1W Treatment Plan has a design capacity for up to 29.6 MGD. Current demand is approximately 16 MGD (as provided by M1W Treatment Plant Engineer Jennifer Gonzalez).

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

CONCLUSION
The Central Area Specific Plan could increase the amount of wastewater requiring treatment at the M1W Treatment Plant, by generating additional wastewater within the Specific Plan Area. The Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) Order No. R3-2018- 0017 allows M1W Treatment Plant to accept up to 29.6 MGD. Given a current demand of approximately 16 MGD, the M1W Treatment Plant currently has an additional the given 1. 18 M capacity of approximately 11 MGD; given 1.18 MGD generated by the project (and peak flows of approximately 1.75 MGD), there is sufficient plant capacity. This is a less than significant impact.

Impact 3.11-2 of the Draft EIR: The proposed project has the potential to require or result in the relocation or construction of new or expanded wastewater or collection facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction or relocation of which could cause significant environmental effects (Less than Significant)
The Central Area Specific Plan project does not trigger a need to expand or relocate the M1W Treatment Plant. There would be a network of sewer collection infrastructure installed throughout the Plan Area to serve the Central Area Specific Plan. The sewer system for the Specific Plan Area will consist of 8-inch to 12-inch pipes, designed in accordance with the City of Salinas design standards at the time of final design. The sewer mains will be public streets and private alleys with public service easements. The sewer mains will connect to the existing City of Salinas sewer system at two locations:
the 10-inch sewer in Independence Boulevard, and the 18-inch sewer near Constitution Boulevard.

CONCLUSION
The potential for environmental impacts associated with the installation of the wastewater collection system, and all construction activities within the Plan Area, are addressed throughout the CASP EIR. In some cases, the direct and indirect impacts are potentially significant and warrant mitigation measures, while in other cases there are significant and unavoidable impacts. The installation of the wastewater collection system for the Central Area Specific Plan project does not cause any impacts above what is already analyzed and disclosed for each environmental topic in the CASP EIR.

This is a less than significant impact relative to this environmental question.

Impact 3.11-3 of the Draft EIR: Cumulative impact on wastewater utilities (Less than Significant and Less than Cumulatively Considerable) The geographic boundary for cumulative wastewater impacts is development within the wastewater collection and treatment service area of M1W. The M1W service area includes: the cities of Pacific Grove, Monterey, Seaside, Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Salinas, and Castroville; Moss Landing (within unincorporated Monterey County); and farmlands CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

in the Castroville area that received recycled water produced by M1W. This geographic boundary was chosen because it contains the area that has the potential to cause a cumulative wastewater impact to M1W facilities (including the M1W Treatment Plant) and/or City of Salinas sewer facilities.

The proposed project would not exceed the RWQCB wastewater treatment requirements or cause a significant impact related to the construction of new wastewater treatment or collection facilities or expansion of existing facilities. There is sufficient capacity at the M1W Regional Treatment Plant to serve the proposed project.

The City requires each project applicant to secure adequate wastewater treatment capacity. The project applicants) are required to provide the City with documentation of a will-serve or other commitment from M1W at the time of development. Additionally, the project applicants) will be required to install/connect and/or fund the necessary collection/transmission infrastructure to ensure the appropriate treatment of all wastewater.

The amount of wastewater that the M1W Treatment Plant receives and treats has been decreasing over time. It is projected that wastewater flows to the M1W Treatment Plan will continue to decrease until approximately the year 2030, when wastewater flows are projected to between 17.1 and 19.2 MGD. Wastewater flows are projected to increase after 2030 and may range between 22.7 and 24.3 MGD by the year 2055, or 77 percent to 82 percent of regional treatment plant design capacity (Brezack & Associates Planning, 2014). Wastewater demand for the buildout of the most recent version of the Economic Development Element is estimated to add approximately 0.65 MGD to this total, which would increase the total cumulative demand at the Regional Treatment Plant to approximately 25.0 MGD by 2055, under the worst-case scenario modelled.

The M1W plant is designed and constructed to handle 29.6 MGD; which is more than 4 MGD than the project 2055 demand, under the worst case scenario modelled. The 1.18 MGD expected to be generated by full buildout of the CASP would thereby leave approximately 3.4 MGD available in 2055, under the worst-case scenario modelled.

Moreover, it is more than likely that this represents an overestimate of cumulative wastewater demand, given that this estimate utilizes the higher end of the range of projected wastewater at the M1W Regional Treatment Plant in the future. Additionally, buildout of the Specific Plan is expected to occur over an approximately 20 to 30 year timeframe; therefore, buildout is expected to occur no later than approximately 2050 (at latest). Therefore, using the year 2055 as the analysis year serves as a conservative date for buildout of the CASP. Therefore, this would result in a less than significant cumulative impact and less than cumulatively considerable incremental impact on wastewater utilities.

The Plan Area was annexed into the City of Salinas on September 8, 2008 (with the exception of the Settrini/Garcia/gaz properties, which have not yet been annexed by the City). The Salinas District of California Water Service (Cal Water Salinas District" or "Cal Water") and Alisal Water Corporation ("ALCO") provide potable water service to the CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

City of Salinas, and are prepared to serve the Specific Plan Area. The current division of service areas splits the Specific Plan Area in half along the PG&E tower line with ALCO serving the eastern half and Cal Water serving the western half. Both ALCO and Cal Water have produced Water Service Assessments (WSA) per the requirements of Senate Bill 610 (Stats. 2001, ch. 643) (Wat Code, § 10910 et seq; see also CEQA Guidelines, § 15155), and have issued will-serve letters for the project. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved the extension of services to the project. The project site is served by ALCO.

Two project-specific WA's have been prepared to evaluate the City's current and future water demands (including those of the Plan Area against water supplies to ensure that adequate water is, or will be, available to accommodate the Central Area Specific Plan. Both ALCO and Cal Water have produced Water Supply Assessments (WSA) per the requirements of Senate Bill 610 (see Appendix G of the Draft EIR). The studies conclude that adequate water supplies are available to serve the Central Area Specific Plan.

Additionally, ALCO and Cal Water have submitted a "Will Serve" letters indicating that they can provide water service to the proposed Specific Plan Area. Separately, ALCO issued a "Can and Will Serve" letter on March 27, 2020 indicating that they will provide water service to the Specific Plan Area with their planned system upgrades, and confirmed on March 30, 2020 that the information in their WSA is still valid.

ALCO obtains all its water from groundwater. Alco has been using water from the Eastside Aquifer Subbasin since 1932 to supply water to its Salinas customers. ALCO currently has nine water wells, six of which are in active service and three of which have been designated as standby sources by SWRCB and will be returned to active status after the addition of treatment or blending facilities for arsenic. ALCO currently has two new water sources already drilled and test-pumped and will be adding this source to the system in the near future. The locations of ALCO's existing water sources as well as those wells that are being added in the future are dispersed throughout ALCO's service area. As ALCO adds additional customers and the total water system demand increases through developments, Alco will also add additional water well sources as necessitated by that increased total water system demand. ALCO 's existing nine sources, as well as those new sources that are drilled and/or are scheduled to be drilled, draw water from both the 400-foot aquifer and the deep aquifer (the conditions of which are discussed below under the heading, Groundwater Basin Overdraft). Only one well, out of all of ALCO's existing well sources and the wells currently being developed, draws water from the 400-foot aquifer only.

ALCO has installed a 30" water main which runs along East Boronda Road and then up the center of the Specific Plan Area adjacent to the existing tower line easement. ALCO has approximately 205,000 gallons of existing storage, which is not adequate for peak hour and fire flow demands. However, ALCO is planning to construct a five million gallon storage tank to provide additional capacity during periods of high demand. It is CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

anticipated that this five million gallon storage tank will be installed once the Central Area Specific Plan begins to develop.

As shown in the Draft EIR, the production capacities ALCO's of existing and future wells is expected to be approximately 15,321 MG/year in 2034, which is equivalent to approximately 47,018 AFY. With the additional wells expected to be developed by ALCO in future years, ALCO anticipates its total water supply will exceed the total annual water system demand (i.e. of the combined demand of its existing system plus the portion of the Specific Plan Area served by ALCO) by approximately 13,183.72 MG/year in 2034 (ALCO, 2014).

All of ALCO's major well sources are equipped with an onsite standby generator with an automatic transfer switch, and ALCO also has portable standby generators that can be moved to any water facility in need of power. Additionally, all future well and pumping facilities will be designed to be equipped with an onsite standby generator.

ALCO's existing wells are located throughout the water system and rely on different parts of the power grid, therefore it is less likely that multiple sources would be affected by power outages. Future wells will be similarly disbursed throughout the water system to decrease the impacts of localized power outages.

Depending upon system demand requirements, ALCO has the ability to add additional wells to the water system. The timeline of the well installations can be modified dependent upon demand or if necessitated by contamination or loss of a well source.

Potential events that could cause ALCO to accelerate its well construction schedule would be loss of a well due to collapse or inability to use the well due to changes in its water quality or changes in water quality standards. If any of ALCO's existing water sources were to be lost, either to collapse or to potential contamination or changes in water quality standards, it would be necessary to replace the well source. ALCO already has plans for construction of six new wells, and, ALCO also has the benefit of already possessing ten well lots in its service area in the event that any of its existing sources ever need to be replaced for any reason.

While ALCO does not forecast its water sources to become contaminated, that potential is always a consideration for any water system. Further, state and/or federal water quality standards may be changed such that a source that is currently in compliance with all standards may be out of compliance after the implementation of any new standards. ALCO deals with these issues by diversifying source locations in the service area, so that any contamination, if it were to occur, is only likely to affect a minimal number of sources and not all of the water sources at the same time.

If contamination does occur, having diversified sources allows ALCO to isolate the affected sources and evaluate whether:

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• To discontinue use of the sources without replacing them; • To discontinue use of the sources and replace them with new sources; • To blend the sources with sources meeting the standards; • To treat the sources for the contaminants) found.

Overall, as described in the ALCO Water Service Water Service Assessment, ALCO has sufficient supplies to serve the proposed site during multiple dry years (ALCO, 2014).

Groundwater is currently the dominant source of water supply for agricultural and municipal water demands in the Salinas Valley. Agricultural water use represents approximately 90 percent of all water used in the Salinas Valley. Urban water use has been increasing. Increases in urban water use, particularly on non-irrigated lands in the northern portion of the Salinas Valley, will place additional pressure on groundwater pumping (Brown & Caldwell 2016, pp. 2-4 - 2-5). The Specific Plan Area is located on irrigated agricultural land. Hence, water demand from the project with urban uses will replace water demand for irrigation.

Much of the water supply for Salinas is extracted from the Pressure Subarea, while ALCO extracts its groundwater from the East Side Subarea. The Pressure Area is a region of gradually declining groundwater elevations and is characterized by three confined aquifer systems, overlain and separated by thick clay layers that act as aquicludes. These aquifers are named for their relative depths, and are known as the "180-foot", the "400-foot", and "900-foot" aquifers, respectively. The groundwater level in the East Side Area is declining more rapidly than any other area in the groundwater basin. The East Side Area is comprised of unconfined, randomly scattered water bearing strata (Cal Water, 2015).

Impact 3.11-4 of the Draft EIR: The proposed project has the potential to require the relocation or construction of new water treatment facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction or relocation of which could cause significant environmental effects (Less than Significant)
The provision of public services and the construction of onsite and offsite infrastructure improvements will be required to accommodate development proposed by the Central Area Specific Plan. The proposed water distribution systems for the Specific Plan for both Cal Water and ALCO would consist of 8-inch to 18-inch American Water Works Association (AWWA) C900 or C905 PVC or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe. It is expected that no ductile iron or steel pipe will be used due to highly corrosive onsite soils. ALCO has already installed a 30" water main which runs along E. Boronda Road and then up the center of the Specific Plan Area, adjacent to the existing tower line easement. New water mains would be installed throughout the Plan Area, as provided in the Central Area Specific Plan.

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There are anticipated to be three new groundwater wells that would be developed on- site, including two new Cal Water wells, and one new ALCO well, although the number of wells would be subject to final determination by the City of Salinas in coordination with the water service providers. Well locations are chosen on the basis of water quality and potential production capabilities. All well and pumping station facilities within the Specific Plan area will be designed to blend with adjacent uses through the use of architectural features and landscaping, and would be screened by a masonry wall. Final well design is subject to the approval of the City Engineer and City Planner, and all improvements will be developed according to City standards and specifications.

The Central Area Specific Plan would require extension of offsite water infrastructure to the Plan Area for potable water. Offsite improvements include connection to the existing facilities at roadways adjacent to the Specific Plan Area, including along Hemingway Drive, Boronda Road, Constitution Boulevard, and Independence Drive. Additionally, ALCO anticipates the need for three booster pumping stations, since they do not have a water supply source close to the site. All offsite water piping improvements will be in or adjacent to existing roadways, thereby limiting new environmental impacts. ALCO also anticipates the need to construct a five million gallon storage tank to provide additional capacity during periods of high demand, located approximately one mile north of the Specific Plan Area, which is described in further detail below.

The proposed on-site water distribution system would be looped to maintain water quality and would be sized to meet the maximum day demand plus fire flow. Cal Water anticipates it will have sufficient capacity to provide adequate water system flow and pressure for fire demand, without requiring construction of new off-site infrastructure.

However, ALCO has approximately 205,000 gallons of existing storage, which is not currently adequate to achieve the required peak hour and fire flow demands for the CASP. Therefore, ALCO is planning to construct a five million gallon storage tank approximately one mile north of the Specific Plan Area, which would be installed once the Central Area Specific Plan begins to develop. Fire flow will require a minimum system pressure of 20 pounds per square inch (psi) at maximum day demand plus fire flow. The fire flow requirement for the Central Area Specific Plan for residences is 1,500 gallons per minute (gpm), and for commercial uses is 2,500 gpm, for a minimum of two hours. Under peak day demand, the system would deliver the required flows with a minimum of 40 pounds per square inch (psi) residual pressure. The water service purveyors are required to meet these fire flow requirements. The City of Salinas will conduct fire flow testing within the Specific Plan Area to ensure adequate water system flow and pressure.

CONCLUSION
Neither the CASP as a whole nor the proposed tentative subdivision map would require construction or relation of new water treatment facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction or relocation of which could cause significant environmental effects. The water infrastructure is sized to meet the demand within the Plan Area. All CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

offsite improvements are to be placed in or adjacent to existing streets to minimize potential impacts, with the exception of the ALCO five million gallon storage tank, which would not cause any new significant environmental impacts. The Central Area Specific Plan would require the construction of new wells within the Specific Plan Area, and the installation of new booster pumping stations. The wells and booster pumping stations would be designed to ensure that they do not induce growth beyond what is anticipated by the Central Area Specific Plan. Additionally, it is not anticipated that relocation of existing water treatment facilities would occur due to development of the proposed project. Implementation of the Central Area Specific Plan would have a less than significant impact relative to this topic.

Impact 3.11-5 of the Draft EIR: The proposed project has the potential to have insufficient water supplies available to serve the project and reasonably foreseeable future development during normal, dry and multiple dry years (Less than Significant)
The projected water demand for the CASP is based on the calculations described in the WSA developed by Yarne & Associates for the California Water Service Salinas District (Cal Water Salinas District) for the Cal Water portion of the Plan Area, the WSA developed by ALCO Water Service for the ALCO portion of the Plan Area, and the most recent calculations available for the Specific Plan Area based on project size.

As shown in the Draft EIR, the production capacities ALCO's of existing and future wells is expected to be approximately 15,321 MG/year in 2034, which is equivalent to approximately 47,018 AFY. With the additional wells expected to be developed by ALCO in future years, ALCO anticipates its total water supply will exceed the total annual water system demand (i.e. of the combined demand of its existing system plus the portion of the Specific Plan Area served by ALCO) by approximately 13,183.72 MG/year in 2034 (ALCO, 2014).9 ALCO also anticipated sufficient water supply through to 2040, including during multiple dry years.

All of ALCO's major well sources are equipped with an onsite standby generator with an automatic transfer switch, and ALCO also has portable standby generators that can be moved to any water facility in need of power. Additionally, all future well and pumping facilities will be designed to be equipped with an onsite standby generator. ALCO's existing wells are located throughout the water system and rely on different parts of the power grid, therefore it is less likely that multiple sources would be affected by power outages. Future wells will be similarly disbursed throughout the water system to decrease the impacts of localized power outages.

Depending upon system demand requirements, ALCO has the ability to add additional wells to the water system. The timeline of the well installations can be modified dependent upon demand or if necessitated by contamination or loss of a well source.

Overall, as described in the ALCO Water Service Water Service Assessment, ALCO CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

currently has sufficient supplies to serve the proposed site during multiple dry years (ALCO, 2014).

The Central Area Specific Plan proposes to construct three wells, with well locations are chosen on the basis of water quality and potential production capabilities. The new wells, in addition to the existing water capacity as provided by Cal Water Salinas District and ALCO, would ensure that the CASP and the proposed tentative subdivision map would have sufficient water supplies from existing entitlements and resources.

Therefore, buildout of the Central Area Specific Plan would result in a less than significant impact relative to the potential of the project to have insufficient water supplies from existing entitlements and resources.

CONCLUSION
Water supplies are sufficient to meet the City's existing and projected future potable water demands, including those future water demands associated with the Central Area Specific Plan, to the year 2035 under all hydrologic conditions. The new groundwater wells would provide adequate groundwater for the proposed project. Additionally, the Cal Water Salinas District and ALCO have sufficient water supply throughout its service area to serve the proposed project, even during the third year of a multi-year drought, and even if the proposed project's groundwater wells proved to not be sufficient to serve the entire Plan Area. Moreover, the development of the Central Area Specific Plan would reduce consumption of groundwater (equivalent to increasing groundwater storage), when compared to the existing agricultural uses; this would also have the effect of reducing the potential for seawater intrusion into the groundwater basin, when compared to the existing agricultural uses. Therefore, overall, buildout of the Central Area Specific Plan would result in a less than significant impact relative to this topic.

Impact 3.11-6: Cumulative Impact on Water Utilities (Less than Significant and Less than Cumulatively Considerable)
The cumulative context for the analysis of cumulative impacts on water utilities is the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin. This is the geographic area that is reasonably expected to be affected by the use of water utilities within the Plan Area. Water demand from past and present development and from agricultural production activities within the boundary of the groundwater basin has contributed to groundwater overdraft conditions - a significant cumulative impact. Future urban development within the groundwater basin has potential to exacerbate overdraft conditions. However, where new urban development occurs on land in active agricultural use, the potential exists for urban uses to reduce demand for groundwater relative to agricultural uses, as urban uses often demand less water than is required for agricultural irrigation.

In addition to existing agricultural irrigation having contributed to groundwater overdraft, recent trends in the conversion of previously uncultivated land (e.g. range land and open space uses) to cultivated uses in Monterey County indicate that irrigation CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

groundwater demand could be increasing. Data from the California Department of Conservation's Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program shows that from 2010-2012, approximately 376 acres of agricultural land in Monterey County was converted to urban use. However, during the same period, nearly ten times that amount of land, previously in other uses (e.g. range land, open space, etc.), was converted to agricultural use.

During the 2012-2014 period, the acreage of land converted to agricultural use declined Although no specific studies have been identified, it is possible that demand for groundwater has increased along with increased agricultural activity and that the increase is exacerbating groundwater overdraft conditions.

The proposed project would convert actively cultivated agricultural land to urban use.

The proposed project would result in significantly less demand for groundwater than the demand agricultural operations located within the Plan Area, as provided under impact

3.11-5 in the CASP EIR. Though the proposed project represents a long-term commitment to continued use of groundwater supply, it would have a net beneficial cumulative effect reducing the magnitude of groundwater overdraft now occurring within the groundwater basin. A net beneficial effect, of course, is not cumulatively considerable.

As described in the Regulatory Setting in Section of the CASP EIR, by approximately 2040, conditions within the groundwater basin must be managed to ensure that the groundwater supply is stable. As such, by that time, overdraft conditions from cumulative demands on groundwater will have been addressed. The Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin 180/400-Foot Aquifer Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan was adopted by the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency Board of Directors on January 9, 2020. The GSP identifies projects and actions that provide stakeholders with options to reach sustainability of the underlying aquifer, including with regard to seawater intrusion. This approach is geared toward successful implementation by providing individual landowners and public entities flexibility in how they manage water and how the Subbasin achieves groundwater sustainability. All groundwater pumpers will be allowed to make individual decisions on how much groundwater they pump based on their perceived best interests. The set of projects and actions achieve the following objectives:
• Achieving groundwater sustainability by meeting Subbasin-specific SMC by 2040
• Creating equity between who benefits from projects and who pays for projects • Establishing a source of funding for project implementation • Providing incentives to constrain groundwater pumping within limits The projects and actions included in the GSP are defined as a toolbox of options. The GSP demonstrates that sufficient options exist to reach sustainability. The projects and actions in the GSP include a water charges framework, management actions, specific projects prioritized for integrated management of the Salinas Valley, mitigation of overdraft, and other groundwater management activities. Specific details need to be CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

developed for stakeholders to determine which projects and actions to implement. The projects and management actions described in this GSP constitute an integrated management program for the entire Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin.

The specific projects identified include:
• Project Type 1: In-lieu recharge through direct delivery of water to replace groundwater pumping;
• Project Type 2: Direct recharge through recharge basins or wells (also commonly referred to as Managed Aquifer Recharge);
• Project Type 3: Indirect recharge through decreased evapotranspiration or increased infiltration; and
• Project Type 4: Hydraulic barrier to control seawater intrusion.

This GSP lays out a roadmap for addressing all of the activities needed for GSP implementation between 2020 and 2040, focusing mainly on the activities between 2020 and 2025.

Moreover, there would be sufficient water resources available to provide supply for buildout of the cumulative scenario, so that no significant cumulative effect on the overall water supply would result from the proposed project.

Under the combined General Plan/General Plan EIR and Economic Development Element buildout conditions, the City of Salinas would see an increased demand for water services. There are available water supplies to serve the proposed project from existing entitlements and resources. Additionally, the proposed project would not cause a significant impact related to the construction of the water system. Buildout of the General Plan and most recent City of Salinas Economic Development Element would add additional demand. Water demand for buildout of the entire City of Salinas Sphere of Influence (inclusive of the CASP and all existing development within the City of Salinas) would be approximately 43,309.3 AFY. Additionally, water demand for buildout of the Economic Development Element would require an additional approximately 1,972.3 AFY. Combined, the cumulative scenario would require a total of 45,281.6 AFY (as shown in Table 3.11-17, in the Draft EIR), which is within the available supply of 47,333 AFY expected by 2035 under multiple dry-year conditions. It should also be noted that this is likely an overestimate, given that increasing urban demand would displace some existing agricultural demand, which would result in ongoing net reductions that are not accounted for in these calculations. There would be sufficient water resources available to provide supply for buildout of the cumulative scenario, so that no significant cumulative effect on the overall water supply would result. Therefore, this would result in a less than significant cumulative impact and a less than cumulatively considerable impact on water utilities.

Impact 3.11-7 of the Draft EIR: The proposed project has the potential to require or result in the relocation of or construction of new or expanded stormwater CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

drainage facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction or relocation of which could cause significant environmental effects (Less than Significant)
Proposed project stormwater infrastructure would be developed on-site, with connections made to off-site existing storm drainpipes along existing rights-of-way (such as along East Boronda Road), with new storm drainpipe connections installed, as needed. Installation of storm drainage infrastructure (and associated grading) would occur during the construction phase of the proposed project. The proposed project would comply with Low Impact Development (LID) strategies, consistent with the City's NDES permit and SWDS requirements. Grading operations are proposed to take place along Gabilan and Natividad creeks to restore them to a more natural meandering, well vegetated condition.

In general, the proposed grading and drainage in the Plan Area would maintain the existing shape and hydrologic properties of the existing Gabilan Creek and Natividad Creek drainage basins. This would be accomplished through the use of site/parcel based uniformly decentralized controls including LID strategies and Post Construction Best Management Practices (BMPs), supplemented, where infiltration is proven infeasible, by efficient onsite storm drain systems, supplemental detention and retention facilities, and enhancing the existing creek corridors.

The onsite storm drain system will consist of reinforced concrete or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe designed in accordance with the latest City of Salinas design standards. The storm drain system will direct the runoff to the detention and retention facilities located along the edges of the Gabilan and Natividad Creek corridors.

Detention and retention facilities are needed to mitigate for increases in peak runoff flow rate and runoff volume due to development. Water quality basins are needed to provide mitigation for increases in stormwater pollutants due to development.

A hydrologic analysis was prepared based on design criteria from the City of Salinas, Monterey County Water Resources Agency, and the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The potential hydrologic impacts to Carr Lake and the downstream reclamation ditch were also taken into account due to historical flooding issues. A de-silting basin will be required for Gabilan Creek, north of the future extension of Russell Road to minimize creek silting. The City would also need to condemn a parcel in Gabilan Creek north of Russell Road and design and construct a de-silting basin, and the City would need to remove the silt.

The construction of the new stormwater drainage facilities, which are associated with the proposed project, has the potential to cause environmental impacts. The potential for environmental impacts associated with the installation of the stormwater system, and all construction-related activities within the Specific Plan Area, are addressed throughout the CASP EIR. In some cases, the direct and indirect impacts are potentially significant and warrant mitigation measures, while in other cases there are significant CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

and unavoidable impacts. The installation of the stormwater system for the Central Area Specific Plan project does not cause any impacts above what is already analyzed and disclosed for each environmental topic in the CASP EIR. Relocation of existing stormwater facilities could also occur, but would not cause any environmental impact due to the limited scope of such activities (e.g. removal of existing agricultural sprinkler systems within the Specific Plan Area. This is a less than significant impact relative to this environmental question.

Impact 3.11-8 of the Draft EIR: Cumulative Impact on Stormwater Facilities (Less than Significant and Less than Cumulatively Considerable) The cumulative context for the analysis of cumulative stormwater facilities is best addressed on a regional/watershed basis. Because water resources are highly interconnected, the cumulative setting is based on Monterey County, which is located in the Central Coast Hydrological Region. With respect to surface waters, runoff from the Specific Plan Area currently flows toward Gabilan Creek or Natividad Creek according to general overland flow pathways. Gabilan Creek flows into the Carr Lake basin, while Santa Rita Creek flows westward and enters the Reclamation Ditch near Castroville.

Runoff downstream of the Specific Plan Area is conveyed through the ditch system either as flows in the creeks or into the City of Salinas storm drain system as defined in the City of Salinas Stormwater Master Plan.

As shown on Figure 3.6-3 of the Draft EIR, predicted flood conditions in the vicinity of the Specific Plan Area are shown on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panels 06053C0226G, 06053C0228G, and 06053C0230G. Gabilan Creek has been mapped and contains Regulatory Floodway and Special Flood Hazard Areas, Zone AE. Base Flood Elevations can be determined based the creek's Flood Insurance Study. The areas along Natividad Creek are within the one percent annual chance flood hazard area (100-year flood zone), Zone A. Zone A includes areas subject to inundation by the 1-percent-annual-chance flood event generally determined using approximate methodologies. Because detailed hydraulic analyses have not been performed, no Base Flood Elevations (BEs) or flood depths are shown. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements and floodplain management standards apply. Additionally, portions of the western Specific Plan Area are within the 0.2 percent annual chance flood hazard area (500-year flood zone, Zone X). Flood conditions in Zone X ("Other Flooded Areas") are limited to less than one-foot depth or less than one acre during the 1-percent annual chance flood and/or are areas of 0.2-percent annual chance flood. The extent of flooding is naturally limited by existing topography. As noted previously, Natividad Creek traverses the eastern portion of the Specific Plan Area from north to south, and Gabilan Creek traverses the western portion of the Specific Plan Area from north to south.

The Central Area Specific Plan notes that the areas currently identified as flood hazard Zone AE on Gabilan Creek and Zone A on Natividad Creek would be restored to a more natural creek corridor, with detention/retention/water quality basins to be installed and CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

operated along the lateral boundaries of the corridor. Grading plans identify substantial in-fill in the flood hazard area shaded Zone X to prepare for mixed use development plans that will include housing. If grading is not properly carried out and housing were to be placed within these boundaries, those housing units could be subject to flooding.

Additionally, a series of detention/retention/water quality basins are proposed to be built along the lateral edges of restored creek corridors and may take up 50 to 66 percent of the proposed corridor space within existing Zones AE and A. Existing corridor sediments in flood Zones AE and A are primarily sandy materials with high infiltration capacities. The basins would function as stormwater and low flow receiving basins for all flows generated by the project area. Some basins could be overtopped and inundated during certain high flow runoff conditions by flows from upstream locations. If not properly designed, implemented, and maintained, a naturalized creek corridor that is largely bounded by detention/retention/water quality basins could result in flood flow impedance or redirection.

Future development projects in the area could result in additional discharges of stormwater during storm events. When combined, these future development projects could, in theory, could lead to an incremental increase in peak stormwater runoff and potential incremental increases in downstream flood elevations. However, in order to ensure that future development projects in the County do not increase downstream flood elevations, the City's Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance outlines the methods of reducing flood losses for subdivisions and other proposed developments via construction standards. The standards apply to all areas of special flood hazards within the jurisdiction of the City of Salinas, including the Central Area Specific Plan Area.

CONCLUSION
The Central Area Specific Plan includes an extensive system of on-site stormwater collection, treatment and retention facilities to accommodate the increased stormwater flows that would originate in the Specific Plan Area. Surface runoff from the area will be managed via detention/retention basins and flow reducing Best Management Practices (BMPs) to prevent local flooding within the Specific Plan Area. These features will also reduce peak flows from the Specific Plan Area to receiving creeks and storm drains to amounts less than such flows under existing conditions.

The proposed development, including water quality BMPs, and supplemental detention basins, and retention basins, is designed to minimize or eliminate increases in runoff from these new impervious surfaces entering surface water courses and storm drains.

The stormwater runoff calculations completed as part of the Hydrology and Water Quality Technical Study (see Appendix F of the Draft EIR) indicate that peak runoff and total volume of runoff will be minimized by the proposed development storm drainage design which retains water to the maximum extent possible. Consequently, infiltration into the ground water aquifers will be maximized to the extent possible through the storm drainage design.

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Future development in the area must be sited and designed in accordance with the City's flood regulations. Additionally, the CASP requires a letter of map revision (LOMR- F), detailed grading plans and calculations which show how the project would raise the land surface elevation above the base flood elevation, design basis reports for creek corridor restoration, calculations to address sediment transport issues, calculations to address basin embankment side slope failure, procedures that address basin issues associated with sedimentation, and procedures that address basin issues associated with embankment side slope failures. However, the proposed project is required to implement Mitigation Measures 3.6-7 through 3.6-14 (as provided in Section 3.6:

Hydrology and Water Quality).

The proposed project, when considered alongside all past, present, and probable future projects (inclusive of buildout of the various General Plans within Monterey County), would not be expected to cause any significant cumulative impacts given that mitigation measures require designs that ensure structures are outside the base flood elevation and that stormwater flows are maintained to prevent downstream flooding. The construction, maintenance, and operation of all stormwater facilities are not anticipated to cause substantial adverse impacts. The proposed project would not have cumulatively considerable impacts associated with stormwater facilities. Overall, implementation of the proposed project would have a less than significant cumulative impact and less than cumulatively considerable incremental contribution to impacts on stormwater facilities.

Responses d), and e): The City of Salinas is currently served by the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority (SVSWA), a joint powers agency representing the City of Salinas, the City of Gonzales, the City of Greenfield, the City of King, the City of Soledad, and the County of Monterey. Solid Waste generated within the Plan Area is collected by Republic Services of Salinas and delivered to SVSWA transfer stations, after_which it is sent to the Johnson Canyon Landfill, which SVSWA owns and operates by contract. It is estimated that the landfill has 38-45 years of disposal capacity to meet the need of current jurisdiction served by the landfill. Solid waste would likely be delivered to the Johnson Canyon Landfill that is operated by the SVSWA, of which the City is a member, or to other facilities that may be developed or secured by the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority over time. Recyclable materials would be delivered to the SVSWA's Sun Street Transfer facility, where materials are segregated and recycled consistent with State solid waste diversion regulations.

Impact 3.11-9 of the Draft EIR: The proposed project would not 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)
SVSWA is responsible for providing secure long-term solid waste disposal and resource recovery service in Salinas. The SVSWA is a joint powers agency made up of the CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

following local governments: Monterey County (eastern half of the unincorporated county, and the cities of Gonzales, Greenfield, King City, Salinas, and Soledad.

Separately, Republic Services of Salinas is responsible for trash and recycling curbside pickup for residences and businesses in Salinas.

It is anticipated that Johnson Canyon Landfill would provide landfill capacity for the proposed project. Permitted maximum disposal at the Johnson Canyon Landfill is 1,574 tons per day. The total permitted capacity of the landfill is 13.8 million cubic yards.

SVSWA indicates that, based upon diversion and other efforts, the actual life of the Johnson Canyon Landfill will be in the range of 38 - 45 years, with a permit cease operation date of December 21, 2055. The addition of the volume of solid waste associated with the Central Area Specific Plan to the landfill would not exceed the landfill's remaining capacity. Based on the waste generation factors provided by CalRecycle, the CASP is expected to generate approximately 44,171 pounds per day of solid waste upon full buildout, which is equivalent to 22.1 tons per day. Table 3.11-19 of the Draft EIR shows the estimated solid waste generation for the CASP. The SVSWA is responsible for ensuring that sufficient transfer facility capacity is available to serve the City of Salinas, including the proposed project.

CONCLUSION
All business and residents within the Central Area Specific Plan area, including those within the area covered by the proposed tentative subdivision map, would be required to comply with applicable State and local requirements including those pertaining to solid waste, construction waste diversion, and recycling. The City would coordinate development of the proposed project with SVSWA and Republic Services of Salinas.

Furthermore, the addition of the volume of solid waste associated with the Central Area Specific Plan, approximately 22.1 tons per day at total buildout, would increase the total to the Johnson Canyon Landfill; however, this increase would not cause an exceedance of the landfill's remaining capacity. Therefore, the proposed project would not generate solid waste in excess of the capacity of local infrastructure, or otherwise impair the attainment of solid waste goals, or exceed any State or local standards associated with solid waste. This is a less than significant impact.

Impact 3.11-10 of the Draft EIR: Cumulative Impact on Solid Waste Facilities (Less than Significant and Less than Cumulatively Considerable) The cumulative context for cumulative impacts on solid waste facilities is the SVSWA service area. The SVSWA serves a large portion of the Salinas Valley, including the City of Salinas, all or part of the cities of Soledad, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, and unincorporated portions of Monterey County. Solid waste generated in the City is disposed at the Johnson Canyon Landfill. This landfill is permitted through the year 2040 and based upon SVSWA, has a likely lifespan for in excess of the permit. The permitted maximum disposal at the Johnson Canyon Landfill is 1,574 tons per day.

CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Currently, the average daily disposal is approximately 585 tons per day. The total permitted capacity of the landfill is 6.9 million cubic yards.

The SVSWA service area is expected to add numerous developments through 2055.

The West Area Specific Plan, East Area Specific Plan, and the Economic Opportunity Areas (EAs) identified in the Economic Development Element (EDE) are three such areas, located within the City of Salinas. These new areas would generate an estimated 75 to 100 tons per day at total buildout. Buildout of other communities within the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority' service area would also affect Johnson County Landfill.

These jurisdictions within the region are likely to generate new sources of solid waste that would need to be processed at the landfill. The Johnson Canyon Landfill has the capacity to serve nearly three times as much waste per day as it does currently and will have sufficient capacity to serve communities within the SVSWA service area.

Moreover, if the City of Salinas were to withdraw from the SVSWA (e.g. to form a new solid waste authority or to join a different solid waste district, which could necessitate the need to utilize a different landfill), CalRecycle would be responsible for ensuring that sufficient landfill capacity would be available to serve existing and future projects in Salinas (inclusive of the CASP), through its regular permitting requirements, and the City would maintain responsibility for providing adequate solid waste pickup services to residents and businesses. Implementation of the proposed project would have a less than significant cumulative impact relative to this environmental topic. Therefore, this would result in a less than significant and a less than cumulatively considerable impact on solid waste facilities.

Applicable Mitigation from Prior EIR (if any)
No mitigation is required. The General Mitigation Measures discussed above imposed duties on the City of Salinas, and not on individual property owners within the CASP.

Relevant Uniformly Applied Development Policies or Standards (if any) Not applicable.

Impact
New Les:

Significant
Substantially
Mitigated by
Uniformly
stani ante Applied
Impact Fully evelopmer
Issue Mitigation No Analyzed in olicies c
Incorporated Impact the Prior EIR Standards

20. WILDFIRE. If located in or
near State responsibility
CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Impact
New Less
Substantially
Mitigated by
Uniformly
Impact Fully
Issue Mitigation No Analyzed ir
Incorporated Impact he Prior Ell
areas or lands classified as
very high fire hazard severity
zones, would the project:
(a) Substantially impair an
adopted emergency
response plan or emergency
evacuation plan?
(b) Due to slope, prevailing
winds, and other tactors,
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
slope instability, or drainage
changes?
CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Discussion
Responses a), b), c), and d): As the CASP Draft EIR explained on Page 1.0-18, the CASP is not located in an area that is considered a high risk for wildfires. The proposed project would not expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires. Implementation of the proposed project would have a less than significant impact relative to this environmental topic. The project as proposed would not substantially impair an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation The project also would not require the installation and maintenance of infrastructure that may exacerbate fire risk or result in temporary of ongoing impacts to the environment.

Applicable Mitigation from Prior EIR (if any)
No mitigation is required. The General Mitigation Measures discussed above imposed duties on the City of Salinas, and not on individual property owners within the CASP.

Relevant Uniformly Applied Development Policies or Standards (if any) Not applicable
CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Less Than Substantially
Significant Mitigated by
or Less than
Significant
with
Mandatory Findings of Significant Mitigation No Analyzed in Significance Impact Incorporated Impact the Prior EIR Standards

1. 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
California history or
prehistory?

2. 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)?

3. Does the project have
environmental effects, which will
adverse
effects on human beings, either
directly or indirectly?
CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Overall conclusion: The CASP EIR provides project-level detail with respect to all of the topics identified immediately above, which generally fall under the broader categories of (i) impacts to biological resources, (i) impacts to cultural and tribal cultural resources, (iii) cumulative impacts under all general impact categories, and (iv) health- related impacts associated with air pollutant emissions, water pollution, and exposure to hazards and hazardous materials. As explained above, the CASP EIR includes project- level analysis on all such topics, and in many instances provides comprehensive mitigation measures addressing impacts that are either significant prior to mitigation or significant and unavoidable even with mitigation. The proposed tentative map would create new legal parcels but would not directly authorize any development that would require future discretionary approvals from the City. Those would have to be obtained separately at a later point in time. No additional site-specific environmental analysis is required to fully address impacts of the proposed tentative subdivision map related to the checklist questions set forth immediately above.

Attachments:

1. Vicinity Map for Tentative Map 2021-001

2. Title Sheet (Sheet 1)

3. Existing Conditions (Sheet 2)

4. Street Sections (Sheet 3)

5. Street Sections (Sheet 4)

6. Details (Sheet 5)

7. Central Area Special Plan (CASP) Density Conformance (Sheet 6)

8. Lotting Plan (Sheet 7)

9. Lotting Plan (Sheet 8)

10. Lotting Plan (Sheet 9)

11. Lotting Plan (Sheet 10)

12. Lotting Plan (Sheet 11)

13. Lotting Plan (Sheet 12)

14. Lotting Plan (Sheet 13)

15. Lotting Plan (Sheet 14)

16. Lotting Plan (Sheet 15)

17. Lotting Plan (Sheet 16)

18. Lotting Plan (Sheet 17)

19. Lotting Plan (Sheet 18)

20. Lotting Plan (Sheet 19)

21. Lotting Plan (Sheet 20)

22. Lotting Plan (Sheet 21)

23. Lotting Plan (Sheet 22)

24. Lotting Plan (Sheet 23)

25. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 24)

26. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 25)

27. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 26)
CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

28. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 27)

29. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 28)

30. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 29)

31. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 30)

32. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 31)

33. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 32)

34. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 33)

35. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 34)

36. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 35)

37. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 36)

38. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 37)

39. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 38)

40. Preliminary Grading Plan (Sheet 39)

41. Grading Sections (Sheet 40)

42. Grading Sections (Sheet 41)

43. Preliminary Utilities Plan (Sheet 42)

44. Preliminary Utilities Plan (Sheet 43)

45. Preliminary Utilities Plan (Sheet 44)

46. Preliminary Utilities Plan (Sheet 45)

47. Preliminary Utilities Plan (Sheet 46)

48. Preliminary Utilities Plan (Sheet 47)

49. Preliminary Utilities Plan (Sheet 48)

50. Preliminary Utilities Plan (Sheet 49)

51. Preliminary Utilities Plan (Sheet 50)

52. Preliminary Utilities Plan (Sheet 51)

53. Preliminary Utilities Plan (Sheet 52)

54. Preliminary Utilities Plan (Sheet 53)

55. Preliminary Utilities Plan (Sheet 54)

56. Preliminary Utilities Plan (Sheet 55)

57. Preliminary Utilities Plan (Sheet 56)

58. Stormwater Control Plan (Sheet 57)

59. Stormwater Control Notes & Details (Sheet 58)

60. Stormwater Basin West (Sheet 59)

61. Stormwater Basin East (Sheet 60)

62. Preliminary Traffic Calming (Sheet 61)

63. Cumulative Noise Levels (Sheet 62)

64. Phasing Plan (Sheet 63)

65. Affordable Housing Plan dated April 5, 2024

66. Engineer's Report dated November 22, 2023

67. Final Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for Final Central Area

68. Petitioners' Opening Brief in Support of First Amended Petition for Writ of Mandate and Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief [Monterey County Superior Court Case No. 20CV003402]

69. Stipulated Judgment Denying First Amended Petition for Writ of Mandate and CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Environmental Checklist - (TM 2021-001) City of Salinas - Community Development Department

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

70. Central Area Specific Plan, Analysis of School Enrollments, Capacity, and Capital Funding in Alisal Union School District (Oct. 24, 2022)

71. Declaration of Olga Bevz in Support of Respondents' Opposition to First Amended Petition for Peremptory Writ of Mandate and Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

72. Concerned Dublin Citizens v. City of Dublin, 214 Cal.App.4th 1301 (2013)

73. Introduction to Draft Environmental Impact Report - Salinas Central Area Specific Plan Pages 1.0-2 - 1.0-5

74. Exhibit "P-2" CASP General Plan Map for TM 2021-001

75. Exhibit "Q-2" CASP Zoning Code Map for TM 2021-001
ComDev Plannina Share SpacelTentative Maps\TM 2021-001 (CASP}TM 2021-00 CASP Probert Codiroli\TM 2021-001 ¡vironmental Checklist . Final version do