CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA PACKET

5 Task 4. ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE As a subconsultant to Mark Thomas, Circlepoint will manage the environmental review effort and maintain close contact with City staff and the engineering team throughout the project design phase and the environmental review process. This scope of work outlines the tasks and associated costs necessary to obtain environmental clearance for the project. Based on our preliminary review, the project is anticipated to qualify for a Categorical Exemption (CE) under Section 15301, Class 1 – Existing Facilities of the CEQA Guidelines or for a Statutory Exemption (SE) under Senate Bill (SB) 922. This scope of services assumes NEPA clearance will not be required. The following scope of work reflects this level of effort. Task 4.1. CEQA Clearance Task 4.1.1. Project Management Under this task, Circlepoint will attend up to four (4) project meetings, coordinate with the project team, prepare and submit monthly invoices, and manage the schedule and budget for all environmental deliverables. Circlepoint will coordinate with Mark Thomas and the City on background information and data needs. Task 4.1.2. CEQA Clearance As mentioned above, the project is anticipated to qualify for CEQA CE under Section 15301, Class 1 – Existing Facilities or an SE under SB 922. The Class 1 exemption applies to minor alterations to existing structures or infrastructure that result in negligible or no expansion of use including alterations to existing highways and streets, restoration or rehabilitation of deteriorated facilities to meet current standards of public health and safety, or the addition of bicycle facilities. The SE under SB 922 applies to transportation projects statutorily exempt from CEQA and streamlining the environmental review process for the transportation projects, including “Pedestrian and bicycle facilities that improve safety, access, or mobility, including new facilities, within the public right-of-way”. Circlepoint will support Mark Thomas and the City in selecting the most appropriate exemption pathway based on project details and eligibility criteria. Circlepoint will leverage its knowledge of the project area and past work in the Las Positas corridor to prepare a concise memorandum to support the use of the selected CE or SE for the proposed project. The memorandum will outline the qualifying factors that justify the application of the chosen exemption, based on the project’s characteristics and scope. If the City prefers to pursue a Class 1 CE, the memorandum will also include a discussion of the exceptions to CEs (per CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2) and evaluate their applicability to the project. This assessment will be supported by recommendations and best management practices from technical studies (e.g., cultural resources) to be incorporated into the project description to avoid or minimize any potentially significant impacts. This documentation will provide a clear and well-supported rationale for the exemption and will serve as a key component of the administrative record. Circlepoint will work with the City as the CEQA lead agency to file a Notice of Exemption (NOE) with the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) and the County Clerk’s office. If the City prefers to pursue a SE under SB 922, the memorandum will include a discussion of the project’s consistency with the eligibility requirements specified to qualify for an SE under SB 922. These requirements include that the project must be led by a local agency, which is responsible for certifying the use of a skilled and trained workforce, unless an existing project labor agreement is in place. The project must also avoid increasing single-occupancy vehicle trips, adding highway lanes, or introducing new infrastructure, except for minor modifications to support transit, bicycles, or high-occupancy vehicles, and that the project should not involve the demolition of affordable housing units. For projects exceeding $50 million, the local agency must hold at least three public meetings to gather public input and conduct two additional meetings annually during construction. Public notice must be provided via various methods, including newspaper publications, onsite/offsite postings, and online announcements. If the project exceeds $100 million, it must be part of a regional transportation plan or undergo a programmatic-level environmental review. The lead agency must also complete a project business case and a racial equity analysis. Furthermore, the agency must hold at least three public meetings, including one focused on reviewing the business case and racial equity analysis. If the project is located in an area at risk of residential displacement, an analysis must be conducted, and anti-displacement strategies should be proposed. Should the project qualify for an SE under SB 922, then Circlepoint will work with the City to file a NOE with the LCI and the County Clerk’s office. Page 31 of 323