HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12151992 - 1.127 . 12-7
TBE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on December- 15. 1992 , by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Powers, Torlakson and Schroder
NOES- None
ABSENT: Supervisors Fanden and McPeak
ABSTAIN: None
SUBJECT: Litigation Settlement -- Sierra Club, et al. v. County of Contra Costa, et al., Superior
Court No. C 90-03464, and Sierra Club, et al. v. County of Contra Costa, et al.,
Superior Court No. C 90-04383
County Counsel having recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve the attached
settlement agreement, and
The Board having discussed the proposed attached settlement agreement on December 8,
1992, and a majority of the Board having concurred in approving it under the following conditions, and
The developers having submitted a letter before the close of business on December 9, 1992
in accordance with paragraph 1 below;
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED THAT:
1. The Board hereby reaffirms its concurrence on December 8, 1992 to approve the attached
Settlement Agreement, subject to final approval as to form by County Counsel, and provided that Real
Parties in Interest submit a letter to the Board no later than close of business on Wednesday, December 9,
1992, representing that they agree to conditions of approval on any entitlement they seek in the Bethel
Island planning area that are equivalent to the developer's obligations set forth in the existing development
agreements.
2. The County Counsel is authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the County.
I hereby certify that this Is a true and correct copy 01
an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED:
PHIL BATCHELOR,Clerk 0 the Hoard
of Supervisors and County Administrator
By
Orig. Dept: County Counsel
cc: County Administrator
Community Development
1, 12-7
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on December 15. 1992 , by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Powers, Torlakson and Schroder
NOES: None
ABSENT: Supervisors Fanden and McPeak
ABSTAIN: None
SUBJECT: Litigation Settlement -- Sierra Club, et al. v. County of Contra Costa, et al., Superior
Court No. C 90-03464, and Sierra Club, et al. v.. County of Contra Costa, et al.,
Superior Court No. C 90-04383
County Counsel having recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve the attached
settlement agreement, and
The Board having discussed the proposed attached settlement agreement on December 8,
1992, and a majority of the Board having concurred in approving it under the following conditions, and
The developers having submitted a letter before the close of business on December 9, 1992
in accordance with paragraph I below;
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED THAT:
1. The Board hereby reaffirms its concurrence on December 8, 1992 to approve the attached
Settlement Agreement, subject to final approval as to form by County Counsel, and provided that Real
Parties in Interest submit a letter to the Board no later than close of business on Wednesday, December 9,
1992, representing that they agree to conditions of approval on any entitlement they seek in the Bethel
Island planning area that are equivalent to the developer's obligations set forth in the existing development
agreements.
2. The County Counsel is authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the County.
i hereby certify that this is a true and correct coPY 01
an action taken and entered on the minutes Of the
Board of Supervisors On the date shown.
ATTESTED: T)OGO
PHIL BATCHELOR.ctork o the Jjoard
of Supervisors and county Administrator
r)�"l 1tv
13Y
Orig. Dept: County Counsel
cc: County Administrator
Community Development
Y '
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
This Agreement is entered into this �2,6_&k day
of 1993, by and between two California
Ij
non-profit corporations, MOUNT DIABLO AUDUBON SOCIETY, and
GREENBELT ALLIANCE ( "Petitioners" ) and the COUNTY OF CONTRA
COSTA and BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA,
( "Respondents" or "County" ) and CHARTERED LAND & CATTLE CO. ,
A.J. SALOMON, ROBERT DAL PORTO, and DEAN S . LESHER ( "Real
Parties" or "Developers" ) .
RECITALS
Whereas , Petitioners have filed two actions in the
Contra Costa County Superior court, and two subsequent appeals
which are pending in the Court of Appeal , First Appellate `
District, Division Four : (1) Sierra Club, Mount Diablo Audubon
Society, and Greenbelt Alliance v. County of Contra Costa and
Board of Supervisors of the County of Contra Costa,
Respondents, and Chartered Land & Cattle Co . , A.J. Salomon,
Robert Dal Porto, and Dean S . Lesher, Real Parties in Interest
( "Specific Plan Case" ) , Contra Costa County Superior Court No .
C-90- 03464, First District Court of Appeal , Division Four ,
Civ. No. A056311 ; and (2) Sierra Club, Mount Diablo Audubon
Society, and Greenbelt Alliance v. County of Contra Costa and
Board of Supervisors of the Court of Contra Costa, Respondents,
and A.J. Salomon and Dean S. Lesher, Real Parties in Interest
( "Development Agreement Case" ) , Contra Costa County Superior
Court No . C-90-04384 , First District Court of Appeal , Division
Four, Civ. No . A059112; and
1
• r
Whereas, in the foregoing actions , Petitioners have
challenged the legality of the Bethel Island Area Specific Plan
and its underlying environmental impact report ( "EIR" ) , as well
as the legality of development agreements between the County
and real parties for developments within the Bethel Island plan
area; and
Whereas, in the Development Agreement case, the trial
court entered a judgment against Petitioners and upholding the
validity of the development agreements between the County and
Real Parties for development within the Bethel Island Area; and
Whereas, in the Specific Plan Case, the trial court
entered judgment against Petitioners and upholding the legality
of the Bethel Island Area Specific Plan and its EIR; and
Whereas, on November 4, 1992, the Court of Appeal
issued its opinion in the Specific Plan Case, ordering that a
writ of Mandate issue directing the County to vacate its
certification of the Bethel Island Area Specific Plan EiR and
its approval of the Bethel Island Area Specific Plan, and
awarding attorneys ' fees to Petitioners under Code of Civil
Procedure section 1021 . 5 (attached hereto as Exhibit A) ; and
Whereas, the Development Agreement Case is currently
pending in the Court of Appeal, with no briefs having yet been
submitted by the parties; and
Whereas, in August, 1992, the County issued and
circulated a draft EIR for the Cypress Lakes and Country Club
Project ( "Cypress Lakes" ) proposed for development in the
2
• t
Bethel Island Plan area by real party Chartered Land & Cattle
Co . ; and
Whereas, Petitioners filed comprehensive comments on
the Cypress Lakes project, raising a number of environmental
concerns; and
Whereas, in response to Petitioners ' and others '
comments the Cypress Lakes project draft EIR is currently being
revised for recirculation; and
Whereas , the parties have commenced settlement
negotiations with the view toward resolving the issues which
gave rise to the foregoing actions on terms mutually acceptable
to the parties; and
Whereas , having now reached an agreement on the terms
of a settlement, the parties desire to set forth that agreement
by way of this Settlement Agreement .
The parties therefore agree as follows :
1 . Vacation of Approvals : The County and Real
Parties will take all actions necessary to accomplish the
following:
a . Specific Plan EIR: The County will vacate
its July 10 , 1990 certification of the Bethel Island Area
Specific Plan EIR;
b. Bethel Island Area Specific Plan: The
County will vacate its approval of the Bethel Island Area
Specific Plan adopted July 10 , 1990 and amended on April 16,
1991 , as well as the findings and statement of overriding
3
considerations supporting that plan;
C . Development Agreements : The County and Real
Parties will rescind the development agreements adopted on
January 8, 1992 entered into with A.J . Salomon and Dean S .
Lesher for developments in the Bethel Island Specific Plan area.
2 . No Petitions for Review or Requests for
Depublication: The parties agree that they will file no
petitions for review by the Supreme Court of the Court of
Appeal decision in the Specific Plan case, nor will the County
or Real Parties file any request, or join in any request , for
depublication of the Court of Appeal decision with either the
Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court .
3 . Dismissal : Upon execution of this agreement,
Petitioners agree to inform the Court of Appeal in the
Development Agreement Case that the matter has been settled,
and to file within ten days a dismissal of their appeal in that
case.
4 . Revision and Recirculation of Cypress Lake EIR:
The County and Chartered Land & Cattle have determined to and
are currently revising and preparing to recirculate the Cypress
Lakes and Country Club Project EIR for further public comment
and hearing.
5 . Attorneys ' Fees : As further consideration for
this Agreement, Real PartleChartered Land & Cattle, A.J.
Salomon and will pay $122 , 500 . 000 and Real
Party Dean S . Lesher will pay $122, 500 . 000 to petitioners in
4
payment of their attorneys ' fees and costs incurred in these
matters .
6 . Future Permit Process and CEQA Review: The
parties understand and agree that Real Parties intend to seek
approvals from the County for developments in the Bethel Island
area. The parties understand and acknowledge that those
projects are described in the applications for : Rezoning (No .
2918-RZ) , Vesting Tentative Maps (Subdivision 7562) and
Preliminary and Final Development Plan (D.P. 3032-90) ; Rezoning
(No . 2917-RZ) , Vesting Tentative Map (Subdivision 7588) , and
Preliminary and Final Development Plan (D.P. 3131-90) .
Such permit processing will require the preparation
and review of additional environmental documents including, by
Real Party Lesher, an environmental impact report as required
by the California Environmental Quality Act ( "CEQA" ) , and by
Real Party Chartered, revision and recirculation of the draft
EIR for the Cypress Lakes Project .
7 . Review and Alternative Dispute Resolution
Process : The parties further acknowledge that Petitioners have
raised concerns regarding the environmental impacts of such
development . To attempt to avoid future disputes and
litigation as to the adequacy of future environmental documents
and/or the legality of future permits or approvals , the parties
agree to cooperate in good faith and work constructively to
ensure that the scoping, review and processing of further
environmental documents and regulatory approvals are undertaken
5
in a timely manner and will reasonably and adequately address
environmental concerns raised by the proposed projects .
By executing this Agreement, the parties acknowledge
and agree that it is their intent not only to resolve their
existing disputes which gave rise to the foregoing lawsuits ,
but also to establish a framework to avoid future disagreements
and litigation to the maximum extent possible in connection
with the development of Real Parties ' proposed projects in the
Bethel Island area, and to resolve expeditiously and
economically any disputes that might arise.
The parties therefore agree to the following process
which includes alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms
to avoid costly and time-consuming litigation to the maximum
extent possible . The County may, at its option, agree to
participate in the following or any additional procedures .
a. Real Parties and Petitioners shall meet
informally to discuss Real Parties ' proposed development plans ,
prior to the publication of the draft EIRs;
b . If a disagreement arises, Petitioners shall
promptly notify Real Parties of their objections, concerns or
claims of noncompliance, stated with specificity. Real Parties
may respond to these concerns either by making changes to the
projects or by explaining their reasons for not making
changes . If the disagreement continues, Petitioners and Real
Parties shall first attempt to resolve that dispute by
6
mutual discussions, and failing that, through a good faith meet
and confer process . The party desiring to implement such meet
and confer procedures, shall provide to the other affected
party( ies) a written notice describing the nature of the
disagreement and convene a meet and confer session within 10
days or as soon as reasonably feasible. Thereafter , if
necessary, Real Parties and petitioners shall mutually retain
an experienced third-party mediator to assist in the resolution
of the dispute, with the reasonable fees and costs of such
mediator to be borne by the developer .
C . Any action for judicial relief regarding any
subsequent regulatory approvals issued in connection with the
above developments, shall not be filed unless and until a good
faith effort has been made to comply with the foregoing meet
and confer process . Such a provision shall not prevent a party
from timely filing such a legal action in order to comply with
an applicable statute of limitations requirement prior to the
exhaustion of meet and confer process required above, in which
event such litigation would then be held in abeyance to the
extent possible until the forgoing meet and confer process was
fully pursued in good faith. The parties may establish
additional procedures , if deemed necessary.
8 . General Matters :
a. Understanding of Terms : The parties agree
that this Agreement creates no right to sue on the project
prior to project approval by the Board of Supervisors . The
parties to this Agreement have read and understand this
7
Agreement and each of its provisions . The parties mutually
warrant and represent that this Agreement is executed
voluntarily and without duress or undue influence on the part
of or on behalf of any party hereto . Each party to this
Agreement acknowledges that it has been represented by legal
counsel in the negotiations leading to the preparation of this
Agreement, has had this Agreement explained by its counsel , and
is fully aware of the contents of this Agreement and of its
legal effect .
b . Severability: If any term of this
Agreement, or the application thereof to any person or
circumstance, shall be found to any extent to be invalid or
unenforceable by a court of law, the remainder of this
Agreement, or the application of such term or provision to
persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is
found invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby,
and each remaining term and provision of this Agreement shall
be deemed valid and shall be enforced to the fullest extent
permitted by law.
C . Applicable Law: This Agreement shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
California.
d. Joint Announcement : The parties agree that
when this Agreement has been approved and executed by all the
parties hereto, they shall jointly announce the consummation of
this Agreement to the press and public intended to give equal
8
and due credit to all parties for their mutual cooperation in
arriving at this Agreement .
e. Counterparts : This Agreement is to be
executed in sextuplicate originals, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original of this Agreement . Each party shall
retain a fully executed original .
f . No Admission of Liability: The parties
agree that by entering into this settlement agreement , no party
admits liability for any alleged act of non-compliance with
statutes , nor any other alleged violation of any statute, rule
or ordinance.
PETITIONERS:
MOUNT BLO AUDUBON SOCIETY
By: Dated:
AlTstfer McNabney, Chair
GREENBELT ALLIANCE
By: Dated:
Larry Orman, Executive Director
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
By: ' Dated:
Kathryn Burkett Dickson
Attorney for the Petitioners
Sierra Club, Mount Diablo Audubon
Society, and Greenbelt Alliance
(Signatures continued on next page)
9
and due credit to .all parties for their mutual cooperation in
arriving at this Agreement .
e. Counterparts : This Agreement is to be
executed in sextuplicate originals, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original of this Agreement . Each party shall
retain a fully executed original .
f . No Admission of Liability: The parties
agree that by entering into this settlement agreement, no party.
admits liability for any alleged act of non-compliance with
statutes , nor any other alleged violation of any statute, rule
or -ordinance.
PETITIONERS :
MOUNT ,DIABLO AUDUBON SOCIETY
By: Dated:
Alister McNabney, Chair
GREENBELT LLIANC
.By: Dated:
Larry Ormi;a , Xxecut'ive Director
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
By: Dated:
Kathryn Burkett Dickson
Attorney for the Petitioners
Sierra Club, Mount Diablo Audubon
Society, and Greenbelt Alliance
(Signatures continued on next page)
9
J . ,
(Signatures continued from previous page)
RESPONDENTS:
COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA AND BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
BY: 4o low C 5 Dated: /lo2�� 7--.-)
Chair , Board of Supervisors
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
B37: Dated: 2 �9 3
Silvano B . Marc esi
Assistant County Counsel
REAL PARTIES IN INTEREST:
CHARTERED LAND & rCATTLE CO.
��
By: _��_ Dated
V
--D
Dated
A.J. alomon V Ili/
< Dated: /L
Robert Dal Porto
APPROVE AS T ORM:
Dated:
Pa ricia C
Counsel for Real Parties
Chartered Land & Cattle Co . ,
A.J . Salomon, and Robert Dal Porto
(Signatures continued on next page)
10
(Signatures continued from previous page)
Dated: C /41
Dean Lesher
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
/ • /����2%L-GG /Z /S� �1 Z.
Maria P. Rivera Dated:
Counsel for Real Party
Dean S . Lesher
2393I
11
r
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
This Agreement is entered into this A4,Aday
of 1913, by and between the California
non-profit corporation, the SIERRA CLUB, ( "Petitioners" ) and
the COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA and BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE
COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, ( "Respondents" or "County" ) and
CHARTERED LAND & CATTLE CO. , A.J . SALOMON, ROBERT DAL PORTO,
and DEAN S . LESHER ( "Real Parties" or "Developers" ) .
RECITALS
Whereas, Petitioners have filed two actions in the
Contra Costa County Superior court, and two subsequent appeals
which are pending in the Court of Appeal , First Appellate
District, Division Four : ( 1) Sierra Club, Mount Diablo Audubon
Society, and Greenbelt Alliance v. County of Contra Costa and
Board of Supervisors of the County of Contra Costa,
Respondents, and Chartered Land & Cattle Co . , A.J. Salomon,
Robert Dal Porto, and Dean S . Lesher, Real Parties in Interest
( "Specific Plan Case" ) , Contra Costa County Superior Court No .
C-90- 03464 , First District Court of Appeal , Division Four,
Civ. No . A056311; and (2) Sierra Club, Mount Diablo Audubon
Society, and Greenbelt Alliance v. County of Contra Costa and
Board of Supervisors of the Court of Contra Costa, Respondents,
and A. J. Salomon and Dean S . Lesher , Real Parties in Interest
( "Development Agreement Case" ) , Contra Costa County Superior
Court No . C-90-04384 , First District Court of Appeal, Division
Four, Civ. No. A059112; and
1
Whereas, in the foregoing actions , Petitioners have
challenged the legality of the Bethel Island Area Specific Plan
and its underlying environmental impact report ( "EIR" ) , as well
as the legality of development agreements between the County
and real parties for developments within the Bethel Island plan
area; and
Whereas, in the Development Agreement case, the trial
court entered a judgment against Petitioners and upholding the
validity of the development agreements between the County and
Real Parties for development within the Bethel Island Area; and
Whereas, in the Specific Plan Case, the trial court
entered judgment against Petitioners and upholding the legality
of the Bethel Island Area Specific Plan and its EIR; and
Whereas, on November 4 , 1992, the Court of Appeal
issued its opinion in the Specific Plan Case, ordering that a
writ of Mandate issue directing the County to vacate its
certification of the Bethel Island Area Specific Plan EiR and
its approval of the Bethel Island Area Specific Plan, and
awarding attorneys ' fees to Petitioners under Code of Civil
Procedure section 1021 . 5 (attached hereto as Exhibit A) ; and
Whereas, the Development Agreement Case is currently
pending in the Court of Appeal , with no briefs having yet been
submitted by the parties; and
Whereas, in August, 1992, the County issued and
circulated a draft EIR for the Cypress Lakes and Country Club
Project ( "Cypress Lakes" ) proposed for development in the
2
Bethel Island Plan area by real party Chartered Land & Cattle
Co . ; and
Whereas , Petitioners filed comprehensive comments on
the Cypress Lakes project, raising a number of environmental
concerns; and
Whereas, in response to Petitioners ' and others '
comments the Cypress Lakes project draft EIR is currently being
revised for recirculation; and
Whereas , the parties have commenced settlement
negotiations with the view toward resolving the issues which
gave rise to the foregoing actions on terms mutually acceptable
to the parties; and
Whereas, having now reached an agreement on the terms
of a settlement, the parties desire to set forth that agreement
by way of this Settlement Agreement .
The parties therefore agree as follows :
1 . Vacation of Approvals : The County and Real
Parties will take all actions necessary to accomplish the
following:
a . Specific Plan EIR: The County will vacate
its July 10, 1990 certification of the Bethel Island Area
Specific Plan EIR;
b. Bethel Island Area Specific Plan: The
County will vacate its approval of the Bethel Island Area
Specific Plan adopted July 10 , 1990 and amended on April 16,
1991 , as well as the findings and statement of overriding
3
considerations supporting that plan;
C . Development Agreements : The County and Real
Parties will rescind the development agreements adopted on
January 8, 1992 entered into with A.J. Salomon and Dean S .
Lesher for developments in the Bethel Island Specific Plan area.
2 . No Petitions for Review or Requests for
Depublication: The parties agree that they will file no
petitions for review by the Supreme Court of the Court of
Appeal decision in the Specific Plan case, nor will the County
or Real Parties file any request, or join in any request , for
depublication of the Court of Appeal decision with either the
Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court .
3 . Dismissal : Upon execution of this agreement,
Petitioners agree to inform the Court of Appeal in the
Development Agreement Case that the matter has been settled,
and to file within ten days a dismissal of their appeal in that
case.
4 . Revision and Recirculation of Cypress Lake EIR:
The County and Chartered Land & Cattle have determined to and
are currently revising and preparing to recirculate the Cypress
Lakes and Country Club Project EIR for further public comment
and hearing.
5 . Attorneys ' Fees : As further consideration for
this Agreement, Real Par t' s Chartered Land & Cattle, A.J.
Salomon will pay $122 , 500 . 000 and Real
Party Dean S . Lesher will pay $122, 500 . 000 to petitioners in
4
payment of their attorneys ' fees and costs incurred in these
matters .
6 . Future Permit Process and CEQA Review: The
parties understand and agree that Real Parties intend to seek
approvals from the County for developments in the Bethel Island
area. The parties understand and acknowledge that those
projects are described in the applications for : Rezoning (No .
2918-RZ) , Vesting Tentative Maps (Subdivision 7562) and
Preliminary and Final Development Plan (D. P. 3032-90) ; Rezoning
(No . 2917-RZ) , Vesting Tentative Map (Subdivision 7588) , and
Preliminary and Final Development Plan (D .P. 3131-90) .
Such permit processing will require the preparation
and review of additional environmental documents including, by
Real Party Lesher, an environmental impact report as required
by the California Environmental Quality Act ( "CEQA" ) , and by
Real Party Chartered, revision and recirculation of the draft
EIR for the Cypress Lakes Project .
7 . Review and Alternative Dispute Resolution
Process : The parties further acknowledge that Petitioners have
raised concerns regarding the environmental impacts of such
development . To attempt to avoid future disputes and
litigation as to the adequacy of future environmental documents
and/or the legality of future permits or approvals , the parties
agree to cooperate in good faith and work constructively to
ensure that the scoping, review and processing of further
environmental documents and regulatory approvals are undertaken
5
in a timely manner and will reasonably and adequately address
environmental concerns raised by the proposed projects .
By executing this Agreement, the parties acknowledge
and agree that it is their intent not only to resolve their
existing disputes which gave rise to the foregoing lawsuits ,
but also to establish a framework to avoid future disagreements
and litigation to the maximum extent possible in connection
with the development of Real Parties ' proposed projects in the
Bethel Island area, and to resolve expeditiously and
economically any disputes that might arise .
The parties therefore agree to work together to
develop a process, which includes alternative dispute
resolution (ADR) mechanisms to avoid costly and time—consuming
litigation to the maximum extent possible, and will consider
the following phases for inclusion into that process . The
County may, at its option, agree to participate in the
following or any additional procedures .
a. Real Parties and Petitioners shall meet
informally to discuss Real Parties ' proposed development plans,
prior to the publication of the draft EIRs;
b. If a disagreement arises, Petitioners shall
promptly notify Real Parties of their objections, concerns or
claims of noncompliance, stated with specificity. Real Parties
may respond to these concerns either by making changes to the
projects or by explaining their reasons for not making
changes . If the disagreement continues, Petitioners and Real
Parties shall first attempt to resolve that dispute by
6 '
mutual discussions, and failing that, through a good faith meet
and confer process . The party desiring to implement such meet
and confer procedures, shall provide to the other affected
party( ies) a written notice describing the nature of the
disagreement and convene a meet and confer session within 10
days, or as soon as reasonably feasible. Thereafter , if
necessary, Real Parties and petitioners shall mutually retain
an experienced third-party mediator to assist in the resolution
of the dispute, with the reasonable fees and costs of such
mediator to be borne by the developer .
C . Any action for judicial relief regarding any
subsequent regulatory approvals issued in connection with the
above developments, shall not be filed unless and until a good
faith effort has been made to comply with the foregoing meet
and confer process . Such a provision shall not prevent a party
from timely filing such a legal action in order to comply with
an applicable statute of limitations requirement prior to the
exhaustion of meet and confer process required above, in which
event such litigation would then be held in abeyance to the
extent possible until the forgoing meet and confer process was
fully pursued in good faith. The parties may establish
additional procedures, if deemed necessary.
8 . General Matters :
a. Understanding of Terms : The parties agree
that this Agreement creates no right to sue on the project
prior to project approval by the Board of Supervisors . The
parties to this Agreement have read and understand this
7
Agreement and each of its provisions . The parties mutually
warrant and represent that this Agreement is executed
voluntarily and without duress or undue influence on the part
of or on behalf of any party hereto . Each party to this
Agreement acknowledges that it has been represented by legal
counsel in the negotiations leading to the preparation of this
Agreement, has had this Agreement explained by its counsel , and
is fully aware of the contents of this Agreement and of its
legal effect .
b . Severability: If any term of this
Agreement, or the application thereof to any person or
circumstance, shall be found to any extent to be invalid or
unenforceable by a court of law, the remainder of this
Agreement, or the application of such term or provision to
persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is
found invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby,
and each remaining term and provision of this Agreement shall
be deemed valid and shall be enforced to the fullest extent
permitted by law.
C . Applicable Law: This Agreement shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
California.
d. Joint Announcement : The parties agree that
when this Agreement has been approved and executed by all the
parties hereto, they shall jointly announce the consummation of
this Agreement to the press and public intended to give equal
8
and due credit to all parties for their mutual cooperation in
arriving at this Agreement .
e. Counterparts This Agreement is to be
executed in sextuplicate originals, each of which shall be
deemed to bean original of this Agreement . Each party shall
retain a fully executed original .
t
f . No Admission of Liability: The parties
agree that by entering into this settlement agreement, no party
admits liability for any alleged act of non-compliance with
statutes , nor any other alleged violation of any statute, rule
or ordinance.
PETITIONERS :
THE SIERRA CLUB, a non-profit corporation
By: pa'6� Dated:
C pier Chair Bay Ch pter Sierra Club
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
By: Dated:
athryn Burkett Dickson
Attorney for the Petitioners
Sierra Club, Mount Diablo Audubon
Society, and Greenbelt Alliance
RESPONDENTS :
COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA AND BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
By: fDl Dated:
Chair., Board of Supervisors
. (Signatures continued on next page)
(Signatures continued from previous page)
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
By: . h Dated: 25 993
i vano B . Ma chesi
Assistant County Counsel
REAL PARTIES IN INTEREST :
CHARTERED LAND & CATTLE CO.
BY: \ Dated: / l
Dated:
A. J. alomon
Dated: �2 /�'
Robert Dal Porto
OVED AS TO FORM:
r—-),
Dated:
Pa ricia n
Counsel for Real Parties
Chartered Land & Cattle Co . ,
A.J. Salomon, and Robert Dal Porto
Dated,:
Dean S . Lester c
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Dated: /
Maria P. Rivera IF
Counsel for Real Party
Dean S . Lesher
2386I
10