City Council

10A. Public hearing to consider amendments to the General Plan to update the Safety Element, amend the Resource Management Element, and amend the Local Coastal Program. Environmental Considerations: The action being considered by the City Council is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a "project" under Section 15378(b)(5) of CEQA Guidelines. The action involves an organizational or administrative activity of government that will not result in the direct or indirect physical change in the environment. Pursuant to State California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guideline Section 15162, staff reviewed the previously adopted Safety Element associated environmental documents and determined that a subsequent Environmental Impact Report (EIR) or a Negative Declaration (ND) is not required for the update to the City of Encinitas Safety Element in that substantial changes are not proposed to the draft document, the circumstances to which the 1995 Safety Element was adopted have not changed, and no new information of substantial importance or new impacts have arisen since the prior environmental documents have been certified. Although new goals, policies, and implementation programs are proposed with the Safety Element update, they do not contribute to having a significant effect upon the environment as they are directed at avoidance of impacts through recognition and control over specific conditions that may arise with a development project, request further study and analysis of specific topics, or promote educational outreach efforts. Additionally, in accordance with the CEQA Guidelines, the proposed General Plan Safety Element update has been determined to be an exempted project pursuant to Section 15060(c)(2) and 15061(b)(3) in that the proposed amendments which are primarily limited to policy modifications and updates in compliance with Government Code Section 65302 (g)(1 through 9) are not anticipated to result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, nor will the proposed changes have the potential for causing significant effect on the environment. Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15382, "Significant effect on the environment" means "a substantial, or potentially substantial, adverse change in any of the physical conditions within the area affected by the project including land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, ambient noise, and objects of historic or aesthetic significance. An economic or social change by itself shall not be considered a significant effect on the environment. A social or economic change related to a physical change may be considered in determining whether the physical change is significant." The proposed Safety Element update is in compliance with current State General Plan requirements, will not substantially affect, potentially substantially affect, or change the City’s land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, ambient noise, and objects of historic or aesthetic resources as all potential changes have been thoroughly considered and will act to protect the environment by minimizing the potential spread of wildfire or any other natural disasters, which are intended to result in the reduction of potential short and long-term community risks resulting from fires, floods, droughts, earthquakes, landslides, climate change, and other related hazards. Contact Person: Housing Services Manager Dacey Recommended Action: 1) Adopt City Council Resolution No. 2023-50 titled "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Encinitas to Adopt Amendments to the General Plan Safety Element, Resource Management Element Policy 10.1 and the Local Coastal Program"; 2) Adopt City Council Resolution No. 2023-51 titled "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of 8/4/23, 2:53 PM encinitas.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=7&event_id=3929 Encinitas to Authorize Submittal of the Local Coastal Program Components of the Amendments to the General Plan Safety Element and Resource Management Element Policy 10.1 to the California Coastal Commission"; and 3) Receive and file the Climate Adaptation Vulnerability Assessment that was completed as a part of the Safety Element Update. 2023-08-09 Item 10A Safety Element Update