RESOLUTION NO. 26-131
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE EL ORIENTE CANYON VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROJECT, AND FINDING THE PROJECT CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) UNDER CLASS 4 (14 CCR 15304, MINOR ALTERATIONS TO LAND) OF THE STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15304 WHEREAS, the City of San Clemente owns and maintains the El Oriente Canyon open space area; and WHEREAS, City staff has identified overgrown volunteer trees and dense vegetation within the canyon that have naturally established over many years, resulting in restricted maintenance access, increased wildfire fuel loading, and the potential for impacts to adjacent private properties; and WHEREAS, the proposed El Oriente Canyon Vegetation Management Project will improve long-term maintenance access, enhance the health and structure of the remaining tree canopy, and reduce potential hazards through a phased vegetation management approach, which is in the best interests of the City and the public; and WHEREAS, staff has determined that a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $42,000 is necessary to complete both phases of the project, including additional vegetation management identified following the initial site clearing.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of San Clemente does hereby find, determine and resolve as follows:
SECTION 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein fully as findings.
SECTION 2. Based on a review of the record as a whole, the City Council hereby finds and determines that Phase I of the proposed project is categorically exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (Class 4 - Minor Alterations to Land) because it consists of removal of five non-native volunteer eucalyptus trees, which are prone to disease and have become overcrowded and overgrown, creating unhealthy growing conditions while limiting maintenance access throughout the canyon. Additionally, portions of the tree canopy have expanded toward adjacent residential properties, increasing the potential for tree-related damage. Therefore, Phase 1 qualifies as minor alterations to land and vegetation that do not involve the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees. After the completion of Phase I, staff is to finalize the scope of and evaluate Phase II under CEQA.
SECTION 3. The City Council hereby approves a supplemental appropriation in the amount of Forty-Two Thousand Dollars ($42,000) to Tree Maintenance Account No. 001-633-43470-000-00000 for the El Oriente Canyon Vegetation Management Project.
SECTION 4. The City Council hereby authorizes and directs the City Manager, or his designee, to execute all documents and take all actions necessary and proper to implement the project through completion.
SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this _____ day of ____________________, _______.
ATTEST:
___________________________ __________________________
City Clerk of the City of Rick Loeffler, Mayor of the City San Clemente, California of San Clemente, California
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) §
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE )
I, LAURA CAMPAGNOLO, City Clerk of the City of San Clemente, California, do hereby certify that Resolution No. 26-131 was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Clemente held on the _______ day of _______________________, _________, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of San Clemente, California, this _____ day of ________________, ________. __________________________
CITY CLERK of the City of
San Clemente, California
Approved as to form:
____________________________
Elizabeth A. Mitchell, City Attorney
Resolution No. 26-131 Page 2
Attachment 1