RESOLUTION NO. 2023-9241
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS APPROVING A TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT POLICY TO IMPLEMENT CHAPTER 20.350 OF THE SAN MARCOS MUNICIPAL CODE AND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL FIND THAT APPROVAL OF SAID POLICY IS EXEMPT FROM REVIEW UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
TA 22-0002
City of San Marcos
WHEREAS, as the City of San Marcos (“City”) experiences growth, it becomes necessary to balance the demand on transportation infrastructure by facilitating other modes of mobility; and WHEREAS, the Transportation Demand Management (“TDM”) Policy that will implement the TDM Ordinance/Chapter 20.350 of the Municipal Code will result in improvements throughout the City that will facilitate multi-modal travel options for the City’s residents and employees; and WHEREAS, the City’s adopted Climate Action Plan requires that the City adopt a Citywide TDM Ordinance and Policy to reduce vehicular trips in the City and to achieve the City’s Greenhouse Gas reduction goals per State law; and WHEREAS, the Mobility Element of the City’s General Plan includes Goals and Policies for new development to prepare and implement TDM Plans; and WHEREAS, the proposed TDM Policy was circulated and posted on the City’s website for a 30-day comment period from July 19, 2023 to August 16, 2023; and WHEREAS, on August 9, 2023 the City held a virtual public workshop to provide an informational overview of the proposed project to the general public; and WHEREAS, the Development Services Department reviewed the proposed TDM Policy, and recommends approval of the same; and WHEREAS, on October 2, 2023, the San Marcos Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing and recommended approval of the TDM Policy and the Categorical Exemption pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) to the City Council, by a 6-1 vote, in favor; and WHEREAS, on November 14, 2023, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing in the manner prescribed by law to consider said request; and WHEREAS, the City Council did review and consider a Categorical Exemption (EX 23-053) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3); Review of Exemptions – Common Sense Rule, in that the approval of TDM Policy would enact changes in land use regulations that will result in the reduction of vehicle trips in the City that would reduce GHG emissions and traffic congestion, and it can be seen with certainty that its approval will not have a significant effect on the environment because it will not allow any new development. Individual development applications will continue to be reviewed under CEQA.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council does hereby resolve as follows:
The foregoing recitals are true and correct, and are hereby incorporated by reference into this Resolution.
The City Council hereby approves the TDM Policy attached as Attachment A, incorporated by reference and made a part of this Resolution as though fully set forth herein, effective as of the effective date of Ordinance No. 2023-1539.
The City Council’s decision is based on the following findings and determinations:
The proposed TDM Policy is consistent with the City's General Plan, in that the Policy does not conflict with any goal, policy or objective of the General Plan. It is consistent with and implements the adopted Climate Action plan in that it will facilitate and encourage the shift away from single occupancy vehicles to alternative travel modes such as walking, biking, carpooling or taking transit.
The proposed TDM Policy will not be detrimental to public health, safety, morals, and welfare as the Policy will result in reducing vehicular trips and traffic congestion due to new development in the City.
The approval of the TDM Policy is Categorically Exempt (EX23-053 from environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section15061(b)(3), as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility for this action to have a significant effect on the environment, and the individual development applications will be reviewed under CEQA as they are proposed.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of San Marcos, California, at a regular meeting thereof, held on this 11th day of November 2023, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
APPROVED:
Rebecca D. Jones, Mayor
ATTEST:
Phillip Scollick, City Clerk
Attachment(s):
Attachment A: TDM Policy
Attachment A
TDM Policy
Policy Document attached as separate file.
Resolution No.2023-9241
November 11, 2023