PC 071206 - Laserfiche WebLink

parts of the site support different habitat and vegetation sites; hence, on a would not have to look at all parts of the site for a particular plant or animal. Furthermore, for example, if Red-Legged Frogs are found in a pond, then one can stop looking because that is already a "yes," which puts the area under the jurisdiction of U.S. Fish and Wildlife for handling that endangered or threatened species, whatever it is. Therefore, it is not necessary to look at all 562 acres once the species in question is found. In addition, for any species, one would only have to look at that portion of the site where there is reasonable certainty that the species would be likely to be found. With respect to the question of the time of yeaz of the surveys, Ms. Mundie stated that it is much easier to find the California Red-Legged Frog in its breeding habitat when it is breeding, because it is not going to go anywhere else. Once it has bred, they spread out all over upland azeas, and they aze much more difficult to find. Hence, the protocol calls for looking for them in the place where they are most likely to be when they are most likely to be there, to maximize the chance of finding them when they aze there. She noted that the strategy involved with biology. is different from an Arhaeological survey. Archaeological resources can be found in lots of places on the site, and the surveyors would usually walk 10-, 20-, 50-foot transects and divide the property in stripes and absolutely cover it. In response to Chairperson Arkin's observation that not every squaze foot of the site was visually inspected, Ms. Mundie replied that while that is the case, they also had other resources, such as the California databases and reports of previous sightings, the aerial views, etc. Ms. Mundie then continued that for cultural resources, significant impacts were found not because cultural resources were found but because there is always a possibility they may be found during the course of site grading and site preparation, and mitigation measures have to be in place if one of those circumstances arises. With respect to soils, soils, geology, and seismicity, Ms. Mundie indicated that they were assisted by a firm in Emeryville and Petaluma called Baseline Environmental Consulting, again under contract to them. The firm looked at the three topics of soils, geology, and seismicity; hazazds and hazardous materials; and hydrology and water quality. She stated that in the case of soils, geology, and seismicity, the four different topics that come up under the CEQA guidelines aze seismic risk; soil stability, which has to do with landslides, for example; expansive or corrosive soils, which would be an issue if they were under a building or a piece of infrastructure, or corrosive soils; if you had a sewer pipeline; and potential for differential settlement. What would be done with any one of these is research the portion of the site that is proposed for development as closely as possible, and then develop mitigation measures to make sure that the site condition has been taken into account when the site design and construction aze done. Ms. Mundie noted that Pleasanton has a further safeguazd in that the General Plan requires that there be a technical review and analysis and geotechnical studies by a qualified consulting engineer under contract to the City. That person's recommendations aze to be incorporated by engineers into the project design. The firm of Cotton Shires is the City's 14