Item 22 - Resolution Adopting Local CEQA Guidelines Resolution

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Local Guidelines for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act (2023) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT 2023 City of Santa Ana Local Guidelines 7-28 ©Best Best & Krieger LLP If a state agency is a Responsible Agency, or if the Draft EIR is submitted to the State Clearinghouse for review and comment by state agencies, the public review period shall be at least as long as the review period established by the State Clearinghouse. The public review period and the state agency review period may, but are not required to, begin and end at the same time. The state agency review period begins (day one) on the date that the State Clearinghouse distributes the Draft EIR to state agencies. The State Clearinghouse is required to distribute the Draft EIR to state agencies within three (3) working days from the date the State Clearinghouse receives the document, as long as the Draft EIR is complete when submitted to the State Clearinghouse. If the document submitted to the State Clearinghouse is not complete, the State Clearinghouse must notify the Lead Agency. The review period for the public and all other agencies may run concurrently with the state agency review period established by the State Clearinghouse. Under certain circumstances, a shorter review period of the Draft EIR by the State Clearinghouse can be requested by the City; however, a shortened review period shall not be less than thirty (30) days for a Draft EIR. Any request for a shortened review period must be made in writing by the City to OPR. The City may designate a person to make these requests. The City must contact all Responsible and Trustee agencies and obtain their agreement prior to obtaining a shortened review period. (See the Shortened Review Request Form “P.”) A shortened review period is not available for any proposed project of statewide, regional or area-wide environmental significance as determined pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15206. Any approval of a shortened review period shall be given prior to, and reflected in, the public notices. In the event a public agency, group, or person whose comments on a Draft EIR are solicited fails to comment within the required time period, it shall be presumed that such agency, group, or person has no comment to make, unless the Lead Agency has received a written request for a specific extension of time for review and comment and a statement of reasons for the request. Continued planning activities concerning the proposed project, short of formal approval, may continue during the period set aside for review and comment on the Draft EIR. (Reference: Pub. Resources Code, § 21091; State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15203, 15205(d).) 7.29 PUBLIC HEARING ON DRAFT EIR. CEQA does not require formal public hearings for certification of an EIR; public comments may be restricted to written communications. (However, a hearing is required to utilize the limited exemption for Transit Priority Projects as explained in Local Guidelines Section 3.15; to adopt a bicycle transportation plan as explained in Local Guidelines Section 3.18; and for certain other actions involving the replacement or deletion of mitigation measures under State CEQA Guidelines section 15074.1.) However, if the City provides a public hearing on its consideration of a project, the City should include the project’s environmental review documents as one of the subjects of the hearing. Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given in a timely manner in accordance with any legal requirements applicable to the proposed project. Generally, the requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act will provide the minimum requirements for the inclusion of CEQA matters on agendas and at hearings. (Gov. Code, § 54950 et seq.) At a