Reso 1559 11/2019RESOLUTION NO. 1559
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE VALLECITOS WATER
DISTRICT MAKING FINDINGS, ADOPTING A MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION, AND ADOPTING A MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING
PROGRAM UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT FOR THE
DISTRICT -WIDE SOLAR PROGRAM
(STATE CLEARINGHOUSE #2019089061)
WHEREAS, the Vallecitos Water District ("District") provides potable, wastewater
and reclaimed water services within northern San Diego County, including service to the
City of San Marcos; parts of the cities of Carlsbad, Escondido, and Vista; and
unincorporated areas in north San Diego County; and
WHEREAS, the District -Wide Solar Program ("Project") consists of the
construction and operation of fixed -tilt solar panel arrays at the site of two existing District
facilities, including Lift Station #1 and the Twin Oaks Reservoir; and
WHEREAS, each site will include construction and operation of a fixed -tilt
photovoltaic solar panel array and alternating current ("AC") wire and conduit that will
serve to provide solar -generated electrical power to the facilities thereon; and
WHEREAS, the Project will generate electrical energy from a renewable source to
partially offset power purchases needed to operate existing District facilities at the Project
sites; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Public
Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.) and the State CEQA Guidelines (California Code of
Regulations, title 14, § 15000 et seq.) (collectively, "CEQA"), the District is the lead
agency for the proposed Project; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with State CEQA Guidelines section 15063, the District
prepared an Initial Study to analyze whether the proposed Project may cause a potentially
significant effect on the environment; and
WHEREAS, based on the information contained in the Initial Study, which
concluded that the proposed Project could have potentially significant impacts but that
those impacts could be reduced to Tess than significant levels with implementation of
proposed mitigation measures, the District determined that a Mitigated Negative
Declaration ("MND") should be prepared for the proposed Project, and a MND was
prepared pursuant to CEQA; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21081.6 and State CEQA
Guidelines section 15074(d), the District prepared a program for reporting on or
monitoring the changes which it has either required in the proposed Project or made a
condition of approval to mitigate or avoid potential significant environmental effects
Resolution No. 1559 Page 2
("Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program" or "MMRP"), a copy of which is attached
hereto as Exhibit "A"; and
WHEREAS, the District provided copies of the Initial Study and MND to the public
for a review and comment period beginning on August 22, 2019 and with an extended
public review period ending on October 16, 2019, pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines
section 15073, during which time the District received ten (10) comment letters; and
WHEREAS, during the public review and comment period, copies of the MND were
available for review and inspection at the Vallecitos Water District, 201 Vallecitos de Oro,
San Marcos, CA, and on the District's website; and
WHEREAS, on September 15, 2019 the District gave public notice of the District
Board of Directors' public hearing on the proposed Project by advertisement in a
newspaper of general circulation and to property owners within a 500 -foot radius; and
WHEREAS, on November 6, 2019, commencing at 4:30 p.m., the District Board of
Directors held a duly noticed public hearing at the District Office (201 Vallecitos de Oro,
San Marcos, CA) at which time all persons wishing to testify in connection with the Project
were heard; and
WHEREAS, all the requirements of the Public Resources Code and the State
CEQA Guidelines have been satisfied or complied with by the District in connection with
the preparation of the MND, which is sufficiently detailed so that all of the potentially
significant environmental effects of the proposed Project, as well as feasible mitigation
measures, have been adequately evaluated; and
WHEREAS, the MND prepared in connection with the proposed Project sufficiently
analyzes the feasible mitigation measures necessary to avoid or substantially lessen the
proposed Project's potentially significant environmental impacts; and
WHEREAS, prior to taking action, the Board of Directors has heard, been
presented with, reviewed, and considered all of the information and data in the
administrative record, including but not limited to the Initial Study, MND, MMRP, and all
oral and written evidence presented to it during all meetings and hearings; and
WHEREAS, the MND reflects the independent judgment of the District and is
deemed adequate for purposes of making decisions on the merits of the proposed
Project; and
WHEREAS, no comments made in the public hearing conducted by the Board of
Directors, and no additional information submitted to the District, have produced
substantial new information requiring substantial revisions that would trigger recirculation
of the MND or additional environmental review of the proposed Project under State CEQA
Guidelines section 15073.5; and
Resolution No. 1559 Page 3
WHEREAS, all other legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have
occurred.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE VALLECITOS WATER
DISTRICT DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE, AND ORDER AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. RECITALS. The Board of Directors hereby finds that the recitals set
forth above are true and correct and are incorporated herein as substantive findings of
this Resolution.
SECTION 2. COMPLIANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT. As the decision-making body for the proposed Project, the Board of
Directors has reviewed and considered the information contained in the MND, the Initial
Study, the administrative record, and all other written and oral evidence presented to the
District for the proposed Project, on file with the District and available for review at the
District Office, located at 201 Vallecitos de Oro, San Marcos, CA 92069, and on the
District's website; and based on the Board of Directors' independent review and analysis,
the Board of Directors finds that the MND, Initial Study, and administrative record contain
a complete and accurate reporting of the environmental impacts associated with the
proposed Project, and that the MND has been completed in compliance with CEQA and
the State CEQA Guidelines.
SECTION 3. FINDINGS ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. Based on the whole
record before it, the Board of Directors finds and determines that evidence in the
administrative record, including, without limitation, the analysis and conclusions set forth
in the staff reports, responses to comments, testimony provided at the proposed Project's
public hearings, the Initial Study, the MND and the supporting technical studies,
demonstrate that, with incorporation of the identified mitigation as set forth in the MMRP,
the proposed Project will not have any potential significant environmental impacts. The
Board of Directors has considered all comments and other information submitted to the
District in connection with the MND. The Board of Directors further finds and determines
that there is no substantial evidence in the administrative record supporting a fair
argument that the proposed Project may have a significant environmental impact. The
Board of Directors finds that the MND contains a complete, objective, and accurate
reporting of the environmental impacts associated with the proposed Project and reflects
the independent judgment and analysis of the District.
SECTION 4. ADOPTION OF THE MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION. The
District hereby approves and adopts the MND.
SECTION 5. ADOPTION OF THE MITIGATION MONITORING AND
REPORTING PROGRAM. In accordance with Public Resources Code section 21081.6,
the Board of Directors hereby adopts the MMRP, which is hereby attached to this
Resolution as Exhibit "A". In the event of any inconsistencies between the mitigation
measures as set forth in the MND and the MMRP, the MMRP shall control.
Resolution No. 1559 Page 4
SECTION 6. NOTICE OF DETERMINATION. The Board of Directors directs
District staff to prepare, execute, and file a Notice of Determination with the San Diego
County Clerk within five (5) working days of the passage and adoption of this
Resolution.
SECTION 7. CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS. The documents and materials that
constitute the record of proceedings on which these findings are based are located at the
District Office, 201 Vallecitos de Oro, San Marcos, CA 92069.
SECTION 8. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Resolution shall be effective upon its
adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Vallecitos
Water District at a Special meeting held on this 6th day of November, 2019, by the
following roll call vote:
AYES: ELITHARP, EVANS, HERNANDEZ, MARTIN
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT: SANNELLA
ATTEST:
Glenn Pruim, Secretary
Board of Directors
Vallecitos Water District
alartin, President
Board of Directors
Vallecitos Water District
Resolution No. 1559 Page 5
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
) ss
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO )
I, Glenn Pruim, Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Vallecitos Water District, hereby
certify that the foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of Resolution No. 1559 duly
adopted at a special meeting of the Board of Directors duly and specially held at the
special meeting place thereof on November 6, 2019, of which meeting all of the members
of the Board of Directors had due notice and at which a majority thereof were present;
and that at the meeting Resolution No. 1559 was adopted by the following roll call vote:
AYES: ELITHARP, EVANS, HERNANDEZ, MARTIN
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT: SANNELLA
An agenda of the meeting was posted at least 72 hours before the meeting at 201
Vallecitos de Oro, San Marcos, California, a location freely accessible to members of the
public, and a brief general description of the Resolution appeared on the agenda.
I further certify that I have carefully compared the same with the original minutes of the
meeting on file and of record in my office; that the foregoing Resolution No. 1559 is a full,
true and correct copy of the original Resolution adopted at the meeting and entered in the
minutes; and that the Resolution has not been amended, modified or rescinded since the
date of its adoption, and the same is now in full force and effect.
Dated: November 6, 2019
Glenn Pruim, Secretary
Board of Directors
Vallecitos Water District