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Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and why the City is going through this EIR process; the approach for an EIR for a General Plan Housing Element; the CEQA process and the schedule, including dates for the Draft and the Final EIR. She continued that the Commission Chair would then open the public hearing and the Commission will receive Ms. Stern emphasized that this scoping session, while dedicated to this subject, is not the only venue for providing information about what the EIR should cover; there is a st 30-day review period for the scoping of this project, which runs through May 31, during which time written comments may be submitted. She added that staff can also take th comments at the Housing Element Update Task Force meetings on May 18 and st June 1. She indicated that staff will address any comments made, and depending on timing, staff may address some of those comments in greater depth. Ms. Stern stated that there will be additional opportunities for public input prior to the submission of the Draft Housing Element at the Housing Commission meeting on thnd June 15, the Planning Commission meeting on June 22, and the City Council th meeting on July 19. She noted that once the Draft Housing Element EIR is completed, there will be a 45-day review period to receive public comments, which will then be addressed in the Final EIR. She added that there will be additional public hearing sessions when the project goes through the formal hearing process for the re-zonings of the sites and the adoption of the Housing Element. Ms. Stern then proceeded to describe the project, which identifies the 17 potential land use changes to be considered for rezoning, as well as the Goals, Policies, and Programs for housing. She stated that the Housing Element Task Force has had the opportunity to look at the preliminary draft. She indicated that the Housing Element Draft EIR will be based upon those Housing Element Goals, Policies, and Programs and that land use changes that have been identified. She noted that the alternatives to the project are still being refined; however, the work on the EIR needs to be started in order to meet the deadline imposed by the Settlement Agreement. Ms. Stern stated that this project has been identified as one that could have significant environmental effects. She explained that if this were a simple program and plan with several policies and programs, staff would have approached it through a Negative Declaration; however, since staff would like to include addressing the impacts of making land use changes and General Plan amendments and rezonings, an EIR would be necessary. She then spelled out the objectives of the EIR: disclose any significant environmental effects; reduce any significant effects with mitigation measures or alternatives, which would be included in the EIR; and provide opportunity for public participation. Ms. Stern indicated that a Program EIR would be prepared and will also address the impacts of making the land use changes. She stated that the process would include a First Tier, which means that potential subsequent analysis for future proposed development could be required; it will address the environmental impacts of programs PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, May 11, 2011 Page 4 of 17