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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 General Plan EIR Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting ProgramRESOLUTION NO. 2016-86 ATTACHMENT "B" MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM 82 RESOLUTION NO. 2016-86 1. Introduction This document is the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) for the City of Palm Desert General Plan Update and University Neighborhood Specific Plan project (proposed proj:lct). An MMRP is required for the proposed project because the EIR has identified significant adverse impacts, and measures have been identified to mitigate those impacts. This MMRP has been prepared pursuant to Section 21081.6 of the California Public Resources Ccxle, which requires public agencies to "adopt a reporting and monitoring program for the changes made to the project or conditions of project approval, adopted in order to mitigate or avoid significant effects on the environment." 2. Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program As the lead agency, the City of Palm Desert will be responsible for monitoring compliance with all mitigation measures. Different City departments are responsible for various aspects of the project. The MMRP identifies the department with the responsibility for ensuring the measure is completed; however, it is expected that one or more departments will coordinate efforts to ensure compliance. The MMRP is presented in tabular form on the following pages. The components of the MMRP are described briefly below. • Mitigation Measure: The mitigation measures are taken from the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), in the same order they appear in the EIR. • Timing: Identifies at which stage of the project the mitigation must be completed. • Monitoring Responsibility: Identifies the department within the City with responsibility for mitigation monitoring. • Verification (Date and Initials): Provides a contact who reviewed the mitigation measure and the date the measure was determined complete. 83 RESOLUTION NO. 2016-86 Mitigation Measure Timing Monitoring Responsibility Verification (Date and Initials} 4.5 Biological Resources MM 4.5-1 Pertaining to special-status species (identified in Tables 4.5-1, Prior to the approval of City of Palm Desert 4.5-2, and 4.5-3) with the potential to occur in the Planning Area that are not part of the CVMSHCP: grading plans Planning Department Prior to the approval of grading plans for development associated with the General Plan update, the project applicant(s) shall retain a qualified biologist to perform a biological resources evaluation for private and public development projects in order to determine the presence/absence of non-covered special-status plant species with the potential to occur in and adjacent to (within 100 feet, where appropriate) the proposed impact area, including construction access routes. It is required that such surveys be conducted at the proper time of year when rare or endangered species are both evident and identifiable. For projects in which special-status species are found, likely to occur, or where the presence of the species can be reasonably inferred, the City shall require feasible mitigation of impacts to ensure that the project does not contribute to the decline of affected special-status species populations in the region to the extent that their decline would impact the viability of the regional population. Before the approval of grading plans or any ground-breaking activity for development associated with the General Plan update, the project applicant(s) shall submit a mitigation plan concurrently to the CDFW and the USFWS for review and comment. The plan shall include mitigation measures for the population(s) to be directly affected. The actual level of mitigation may vary depending on the sensitivity of the species, its prevalence in the area, and the current state of knowledge about overall population trends and threats to its survival. The final mitigation strategy for directly impacted plant species shall be determined by the CDFW and the USFWS through the mitigation plan approval process. 84 RESOLUTION NO. 2016-86 Mitigation Measure Timing Monitoring Responsibility Verification (Date and Initials) 4.6 Cultural Resources MM 4.6-2a For future projects that require excavation activity (e.g., During the City of Palm Desert clearing/grubbing, grading, trenching, or boring) into native soil and that have the potential to exhibit native ground surface environmental review Planning Department within or in the immediate vicinity of the excavation footprint, process preparation of an archaeological study (Phase I Assessment) shall be required by Project Applicants. MM 4.6-2b If resources are identified, they shall be evaluated for their During the City of Palm Desert eligibility for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources, the National Register of Historic Places (if environmental review Planning Department applicable), and/or a local listing and to determine whether the process resource qualifies as a unique archaeological resource pursuant to CEQA (Phase II Assessment). Methodologies for evaluating a resource can include, but are not limited to, subsurface archaeological test excavations, additional background research, and coordination with Native Americans and other interested individuals in the community. MM 4.6-2c If the resources are determined eligible for listing in the During the City of Palm Desert California Register of Historical Resources, appropriate mitigation shall be developed and implemented to mitigate environmental review Planning Department impacts to the resource. If resource avoidance measures, process such as resource "capping" (covering a resource with a layer of fill soils before building on the resource) or incorporating a resource into a park plan or open space, are deemed not feasible, additional subsurface archaeological excavations (i.e., data recovery) that serve to recover significant archaeological resources before they are damaged or destroyed by the proposed development shall be implemented (Phase Ill Assessment). Documentation (technical reports and California Department of Parks and Recreation Site Forms) and recovered materials (artifacts and other specimens) shall be curated at a suitable repository and/or museum for future study and research. 85 RESOLUTION NO. 2016-86 Mitigation Measure Timing Monitoring Responsibility Verification (Date and Initials) MM 4.6-2d Archaeological construction monitoring and construction During grading and City of Palm Desert personnel awareness training shall be conducted for development proposals that have a high potential to encounter construction Planning Department previously unknown buried resources during construction. If resources are encountered during construction, appropriate treatment measures shall be developed to preserve the resource. If it is not feasible to preserve the resource, a program to remove or recover the resource from the construction site shall be implemented. 4.13 Noise NOl-1 Construction Noise Impacts. Construction resulting from Prior to any earth City of Palm Desert future developments consistent with the General Plan update would potentially result in higher noise levels at nearby movement permit or Planning and Public Works sensitive receptors. The following best management practices activity Departments (BMPs) would reduce short-term construction-related noise impacts: Notification shall be mailed to owners and occupants of all developed land uses immediately bordering the construction site, and posted directly across the street from the construction site, providing a schedule for major construction activities that will occur for the duration of the construction period. In addition, the notification will include the identification of and contact number for a community liaison and a designated construction manager who would be available on- site to monitor construction activities. The construction manager will be located at the on-site construction office during construction hours for the duration of all construction activities. Contact information for the community liaison and the construction manager will be located at the construction office, City Hall, and the police department. During all construction site excavation and grading, the construction contractor shall equip all construction equipment, fixed or mobile, with properly operating and maintained mufflers consistent with manufacturers' standards. The construction contractor shall place all stationary construction equipment so that emitted noise is directed away 86 RESOLUTION NO. 2016-86 Mitigation Measure Timing Monitoring Responsibility Verification (Date and Initials) from sensitive receptors nearest the construction site. For off road construction the contractor shall utilize grading and excavation equipment that is certified to generate noise levels of no more than 85 dBA at a distance of 50 feet. All equipment designed for use on public roads shall be properly maintained with operating mufflers and air intake silencers as effective as those installed by the original manufacturer. The construction contractor shall locate equipment staging in areas that will create the greatest distance between construction-related noise sources and noise-sensitive receptors nearest the construction site during all project construction. 4.15 Transportation MM 4.15-1a The City of Palm Desert shall implement Policy 1.7 (System Efficiency) and optimize traffic signals at the intersections The City of Palm City of Palm Desert Public identified in this report that are under City jurisdiction. Desert should monitor Works Department. operations at these Two City intersections operate below the acceptable LOS D in facilities. Mitigation the PM peak hour (Washington Street & Country Club Drive measures should be and Monterey Avenue & Dinah Shore Drive) in the Buildout implemented when (2035) scenario. Optimization of the cycle length to 130 operations at these seconds at Washington Street and Country Club Drive (and intersections reach the coordinated intersections along Washington Street) would unacceptable levels. result in acceptable operations. Optimization of the cycle Signal timing updates length to 130 seconds at Monterey Avenue & Dinah Shore are considered Drive (and the coordinated intersections along Monterey standard maintenance Avenue) would result in acceptable operations when at traffic signals and implemented in combination with the identified improvements will be implemented by in mitigation measure MM 4.15-1 b. Mitigated level of service the Department of calculation worksheets are included in Appendix F of the Public Works. Draft EIR. 87 RESOLUTION NO. 2016-86 Mitigation Measure Timing Monitoring Responsibility Verification (Date and Initials) MM 4.15-1b The City of Palm Desert shall implement the following intersection and roadway improvements: The City of Palm City of Palm Desert Public Desert should monitor Works Department Monterey: Avenue & Dinah Shore Drive: Provide an additional operations at these (third) westbound through lane and restripe the eastbound facilities. Mitigation right turn lane to a shared through-right lane, which would measures should be necessitate a third receiving lane on the intersections eastern implemented by the leg. This mitigation measure requires reclassifying Dinah Department of Public Shore Drive (between the western city boundary and Portola Works when operations Avenue) as a six-lane vehicular-oriented arterial in the at these facilities reach proposed circulation network in the General Plan Mobility unacceptable levels. Element. Additionally, right-of-way acquisition may be required. Washington Street (north of Country: Club Drive}: Provide an additional (fourth) southbound lane between the 1-10 eastbound ramps and the Country Club Drive intersections. Suitable right-of-way can be acquired from the existing 23-foot median lane. The additional lane would transition directly to the outer southbound left turn lane at the intersection of Washington Street and Country Club Drive. 88