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I Public Resources Code sections 21002, 21002.1, and 21084, regarding the requirements for <br /> 2 conducting environmental review, and determining that a project is exempt from CEQA. <br /> 3 55. CEQA requires public agencies to undertake environmental review of"projects", <br /> 4 like adoption of land use ordinances, that have the potential to result in "either a direct physical <br /> 5 change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the <br /> 6 environment[.]" <br /> 7 56. The City improperly concluded that Ordinance No. NS-3061 was not a "project" <br /> 8 under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines. <br /> 9 57. CEQA has two primary goals. First,it is intended to allow decision makers,via the <br /> 10 preparation of an Environmental hnpact Report("EIR"),and the public to understand the potential, <br /> 11 significant environmental effects ofaproject. Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 15002, subd. (a)(1); Citizens <br /> 12 of Goleta Valley v. Bd. of Supervisors, 52 Cal. 3d 553, 564(1990)("[CEQA's]purpose is to inform <br /> 13 the public and its responsible officials of the environmental consequences of their decisions before <br /> 14 they are made.") (citation omitted). "[The EIR's] purpose is to inform the public and its <br /> 15 responsible officials of the environmental consequences of their decisions before they are made. <br /> 16 Thus, the EIR `protects not only the environment but also informed self-government."' Citizens <br /> 17 of Goleta Valley, 52 Cal. 3d at 564. The EIR has been described as"an environmental `alarm bell' <br /> 18 whose purpose it is to alert the public and its responsible officials to environmental changes before <br /> 19 they have reached ecological points of no return." Berkeley Keep Jets Over the Bay v. Bd of Port <br /> 20 Comrs., 91 Cal. App. 4th 1344, 1354 (2001). <br /> 21 58. Second, CEQA requires that public entities avoid or reduce environmental impacts <br /> 22 when "feasible" by requiring "environmentally superior" alternatives and all feasible mitigation <br /> 23 measures. Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 15002, subds. (a)(2) and (3); Citizens of Goleta Valley, 52 Cal. <br /> 24 3d at 564. The EIR provides agencies and the public with information about the environmental <br /> 25 impacts of a proposed project and identifies "ways that environmental damage can be avoided or <br /> 26 significantly reduced." Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 15002, subd. (a)(2). <br /> 27 <br /> 28 <br /> VERTFTED PETTTTON FOR WRTT OF MANDATE <br /> 16 AND COMPLATNT <br />