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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02141995 - S4 S. LI TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson DATE: February 14, 1995 SUBJECT: CONSIDER LETTER TO THE CITY OF PITTSBURG EXPRESSING COUNTY ACCEPTANCE OF THE RECYCLING CENTER AND TRANSFER STATION PROJECT EIR PROCESS SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: Direct the Director of the Growth Management and Economic Development Agency, upon his concurrence, to send a letter to the City of Pittsburg or testify on behalf of the Board at the City Council hearing on the Recycling Center and Transfer Station project, expressing the County's support for certification of the project EIR. Further, if litigation is initiated that challenges the City's approval, direct County Counsel, in an appropriate manner, to represent county's acceptance of the City's environmental review and mitigation measures in the Final EIR as adequate. BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION: Since the closure of the Contra Costa Sanitary Landfill and other landfills in the Antioch-Pittsburg area, there has been no local disposal options creating a great inconvenience for East County businesses and residents. Some roadway dumping may be attributed to the fact that we have no local transfer station. We should communicate to the City of Pittsburg the county's acceptance of the City's environmental review of the Recycling Center and Transfer Station Project. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) : ACTION OF BOARD ON February 14 , 1995 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER AUTHORIZED the Director, Growth Management and Economic Development Agency, to send a letter to the City of Pittsburg expressing support for the certifica- tion of the City's Recycling Center and Transfer Station EIR review process, approval of the EIR certification (subject to staff's final review) , and stating that the Project is consistent with the County Integrated Waste Management Plan. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A UNANIMOUS (ABSENT TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: 1 , 2 ,4 , 5 NOES: 3 ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED February 14 , 1995 PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY d l0 DEPUTY CONTACT: cc: GMEDA County Counsel Gagan, McCoy, Armstrong Feb. 14, 1995 S.4 Torlakson: This item having once initiated a recycling and transfer station in East County and asked Delta Diablo to pursue that, our Board was actually very closely associated with that as a JPA partner with Delta Diablo. It turned out that another proposal came forward which had some greater logic momentum and actually simplicity and that was the one that was approved by the voters in Pittsburg. Pittsburg proposed a recycling center and transfer station by Contra Costa Waste, and the facility being proposed is consistent with our adopted County Solid Waste Plan which calls for an East County Transfer Station to provide for local and economical access. I think that will -be good for both businesses and citizens and help avoid some of the roadside dumpings that is occurring because people are frustrated and don't want to carry it all the way either to Vasco Road or some people going all the way to Acme. But I would first say that we should support the EIR process that staff has been interacting with the City on and express our support for that recycling center. I would like to bring back more specific language next week, but I am personally supporting and urging the Board to support the project because it is consistent with out own adopted Solid Waste Plan and makes sense to have that local accessible alternative available. Those are the thoughts I would like to share and move the item that is on the Agenda and I am going to ask the staff to put back or I'll be putting back some additional language because I don't think it is agendaed absolutely clearly about supporting the project itself. After talking to County Counsel today, I want to make sure that I get that language worded exactly right for next week in terms of actually supporting the project. The City is having a hearing on that next Tuesday so I could bring it back next Tuesday during the day for the project iself. I guess I can't. . . . I want to ask Counsel to give a little guidance in terms of the way it is worded. It is worded to "consider support for the adequacy of the environmental review process for the City of Pittsburg's Recycling Center and Transfer Station Project. " Is that wording adequate enough to endorse both the EIR certification and the project iself? I see Val has his hand up and Van can help along with County Counsel. Val: We have a deadline of commenting on that EIR next Tuesday. I have staff working on it. You will recall Belinda, who you loved at CDBG, used to be in solid waste. I have shangied her for a day to work on the final EIR. and to comment on the final EIR in connection with the draft comments that you made six months ago. I will have a report prepared under my signature forwarded to Pittsburg no later than next Tuesday. So what I can do is incorporate the Board's wishes to support the process in that letter if you would like. Torlakson: okay. I would so move. Smith: Second. Westman: Your comment that this proposed Transfer Station is consistent with the County's adopted plan I think is within the scope of the agenda to note that because it is a factual statement. Torlakson: I do think this is something again that the voters have voted on and is going to help bring about a further rate decrease that we discussed earlier today and is something we should help get behind and see implemented as quickly as possible. Bishop: I will not be supporting the motion. My recollection is that about a year ago at this time there was a great concern by this Board about the proliferation of transfer stations. I recognize that Delta Diablo is subsequently abondoned, and I also recognize that we did sue this transfer station. As a result of that lawsuit the Environmental Impact Report was prepared. They went through that process. I recognize that the voters in Pittsburg have given an indication of approval in concept of the project, but at the same time I think to say - my view is that we support the certification of the project EIR before having an opportunity to review the EIR and before our staff has reviewed and made comments on it. I for one will not be supporting the motion. Vote - Ayes: 1,2,4,5 Noes: 3