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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 24-8231 - Adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Report on Space Shuttle ExhibitRESOLUTION NO. 24-8231 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADOPTING THE MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM FOR THE DOWNEY SPACE SHUTTLE EXHIBIT AND EDUCATION BUILDING PROJECT WHEREAS, the City of Downey is the location of the Columbia Memorial Space Center, a historic site that included the manufacturing headquarters for Emsco, Kinner, Vultee, North American Aviation, Rockwell, and Boeing, all of which were involved in the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs; and WHEREAS, in 2009, the site opened as a memorial to Columbia Shuttle Crew STS-107, who were tragically lost on February 1, 2003, and since that time, the site has become a regional destination for a hands-on learning center and museum for STEM education; and WHEREAS, on average, the Space Center engages up to 100,000 visitors and hosts over 350 school field trips each year and includes the region's only public robotics lab; and WHEREAS, the Space Center is recognized as a Smithsonian- and NASA -affiliated institution with considerable regional impacts, with 20,000 people attending events such as City of STEM; and WHEREAS, in view of the growing interest and demand that the site has generated over time, the need was identified for additional resources for programs, community gathering, meeting space for audiences of 250-300 people, and a permanent display of the Space Shuttle Inspiration (an original mock-up of the Space Shuttle); and WHEREAS, the Downey Space Shuttle Exhibit and Education Building Project ("Project"), located at 12400 Columbia Way in the City of Downey, is planned for this purpose and will incorporate a separate building to house the Inspiration and other related infrastructure and facilities. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA, DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE, AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Downey hereby finds, determines, and declares as follows: A. The Project is required to undergo an environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the state CEQA Guidelines. Through its consultant, the City prepared an Initial Study leading to a Mitigated Negative Declaration ("IS/MND") for the Project. Based on the IS/MND, the Project would have no impact or a less than significant impact on the following environmental issue areas: Aesthetics, Air Quality, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Hydrology and Water Quality, Mineral Resources, Population and Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Utilities and Service Systems, and Wildfire. The Project's impacts on the following issue areas would be less than significant with the implementation of mitigation: Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Geology and Soils, Land Use and Planning, Noise, Transportation and Traffic, Tribal Cultural Resources, and Mandatory Findings of Significance. All impacts would be less than significant after mitigation. B. The Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Project reflects the City's independent judgment and analysis as lead agency for the project. RESOLUTION NO. 24-8231 PAGE 2 C. In accordance with California Public Resources Code section 21091 and State CEQA Guidelines Section 15073, the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Project was circulated for a 30-day public review and comment period from November 13, 2023 through December 14, 2023. The document was available for public review at the Downey City Hall, Downey Public Library, on the project's webpage on the City's website, and at the State Office of Planning and Research State Clearinghouse webpage (SCH Number 2023110340). At the completion of the comment period, six comments were received and incorporated as part of the Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration ("Final IS/MND") and are incorporated herein by reference. D. The mitigation measures set forth in the MND are fully enforceable and will be implemented using the related Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program accompanying the Final IS/MND in order to avoid or minimize adverse environmental impacts identified therein. SECTION 2. The City Council has independently reviewed and analyzed the information contained in the Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Project. The City Council has, as a result of its consideration and the evidence presented on this matter, determined that, as required pursuant to the CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines, the Final IS/MND adequately addresses the expected environmental impacts of the Project. On the basis of this review, the City Council finds that there is no substantial evidence from which it can be fairly argued that the Project will have a significant adverse effect on the environment. SECTION 3. The City Council hereby adopts the Final IS/MND and the related Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program appearing therein, attached hereto as Exhibit A, and directs that a Notice of Determination be prepared and filed within five (5) working days of final Project approval with the Clerk of the County of Los Angeles in the manner required by law. This decision is based upon the record and evidence submitted to the City Council on this matter, which includes, but is not limited to, the City Council Agenda Memo dated February 27, 2024 and exhibits attached thereto, all of which are incorporated herein by this reference. SECTION 4. The City Council hereby approves the Project, based upon the entire record before it and all written and oral evidence presented SECTION 5. Pursuant to Title XIV, California Code of Regulations, section 753.5(c)(1), the City Council has determined that, after considering the record as a whole, there is no evidence that the proposed project will have the potential for any significant adverse effect on fish and wildlife. The proposed project exists in an urban environment characterized by paved concrete, roadways, surrounding buildings and human activity. However, the payment of Fish and Game Department filing fees in conjunction with this Project is at the ultimate discretion of the State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife. SECTION 6. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the City Clerk shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this Resolution. RESOLUTION NO. 24-8231 PAGE 3 APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 27th day of February, 2024. MARIO TR LOM r ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: JOhN M. FUNK City Attorney I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Downey at a Regular meeting held on the 27th day of February, 2024, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Council Members: Frometa, Ortiz, Pemberton, Sosa, Trujillo NOES: Council Members: None. ABSENT: Council Members: None. ABSTAIN: Council Members: None. / ) AR A ALICIA DUARTE,' City Clerk