TITLE
Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and adopt resolution amending the Local Coastal Program per the California Coastal Commission for consistency with the adopted Mobility Element of the General Plan; and accept the Categorical Exemption CE-15-165.
(Districts 2,3)
DISCUSSION
On October 15, 2013, the City Council adopted by Resolution the Mobility Element of the Long Beach General Plan. The Mobility Element establishes Citywide vision, goals, policies, and the implementation measures necessary to achieve a balanced multimodal system that serves the needs of all users of the public rights-of-way by implementing complete streets and context-sensitive design principles. Since the Mobility Element also relates to the Coastal Zone and coastal access, on December 19, 2013, staff submitted the Mobility Element to the California Coastal Commission (Commission) for their review and certification. On February 20, 2014, the Commission staff received a one-year extension to review the Mobility Element for consistency with the certified Local Coastal Program (LCP), adopted by the City Council on February 12, 1980.
On February 12, 2015, the Commission certified the Mobility Element of the General Plan, pending suggested modifications to the LCP. Commission staff identified some inconsistencies between the recently adopted Mobility Element and the City’s certified LCP. The suggested modifications to the LCP include replacing outdated language identifying Long Beach as lacking non-motorized public access opportunities. The new language identifies Long Beach as a city embracing public transit, cycling, and walking, and sets new strategies for motorized and non-motorized vehicle access and parking. Commission staff worked with City staff on the suggested modifications to the LCP.
On June 2, 2015, the City Council approved a Resolution amending the LCP for consistency with the adopted Mobility Element. On June 15, 2015, the City submitted a Resolution modifying the LCP related to certification of the Mobility Element by the Commission. In a letter dated July 7, 2015, Commission staff indicated that the City’s Resolution was not adequate because it did not explicitly acknowledge that the Existing Parking Impacted Areas map (Map 6) was excluded from the Commission’s certification of the Mobility Element. Map 6 identifies existing preferential parking streets in the City and includes streets in the Coastal Zone that have not been certified by the Commission. Further, the Resolution did not contain verbatim text changes to the LCP from the Commission action.
The purpose of this action is for the City Council to revise the previously submitted Resolution amending the LCP to include the language requested by the Commission to acknowledge exclusion of Map 6 for the LCP amendment, and inclusion of verbatim text changes to the LCP. Staff supports the text changes proposed in the LCP amendment.
In accordance with the Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act, a Categorical Exemption (CE 15-165) was issued for the proposed project (Exhibit A - Categorical Exemption).
This matter was reviewed by Assistant City Attorney Michael J. Mais on December 15, 2015 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on December 11, 2015.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on January 5, 2016, as it must occur within one year after the February 12, 2015 Commission action.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal or local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM ELEMENT OF THE LONG BEACH GENERAL PLAN FOR CONSISTENCY WITH THE MOBILITY ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN; AND AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO SUBMIT CERTIFIED COPIES OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL AND CERTIFICATION
Respectfully Submitted,
AMY J. BODEK, AICP
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER