The purpose of this chapter is to provide a general framework
for the city's administration of its responsibilities under the California
Environmental Quality Act, California Public Resources Code Section
21000 et seq., including the orderly evaluation of projects and the
preparation, review, approval, adoption and certification of environmental
documents. This chapter additionally serves to expressly delegate
authority to city "decision-making bodies" as herein defined to take
any action or make determinations required by the city under CEQA.
(O2015-14, 12/1/15)
As used in this chapter:
means any decision by a decision-making body that commits
the city to a definite course of action in regard to a project intended
to be carried out by any person, and shall mean the same as the term
is defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15352.
means California Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.
means the "Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act," prepared by the State Office of Planning and Research (California Code of Regulations Title 14, Chapter 3, Sections 15000 through 15387).
shall mean that term as it is defined in CEQA Guidelines
Section 15356, and shall include the City Council, or any person or
group of people authorized by the City Council, to act in an advisory
or decision-making capacity regarding matters within the subject matter
jurisdiction of the city, including, but not limited to, any city
board, commission or committee.
shall mean that term as it is employed in California Public
Resources Code Subsection 21151(c). For the purposes of this chapter,
"elected decision-making body" shall be synonymous with the City Council
of the City of Napa.
shall mean the same as that term is defined under CEQA Guidelines
Section 15368. For the purposes of this chapter, "local agency" shall
be synonymous with the City of Napa.
shall mean the same as that term is defined under CEQA Guidelines
Section 15378.
(O2015-14, 12/1/15)
To the extent that the City Council has delegated authority
to a decision-making body to take a final action on any project under
CEQA, the City Council hereby expressly delegates concurrent authority
to each decision-making body to take any actions, or to make any determinations,
that are required to be taken by the local agency under CEQA. This
delegation shall include, but not be limited to: the authority to
certify an environmental impact report, the authority to adopt a negative
declaration or mitigated negative declaration, and the authority to
make determinations regarding the applicability of statutory or categorical
exemptions from CEQA.
(O2015-14, 12/1/15)
The City Council shall, by resolution, adopt local procedures
for administering its responsibilities as a local agency under CEQA,
including objectives, criteria and procedures for the evaluation of
projects and the preparation, review, approval, adoption and certification
of environmental documents. The local procedures shall supplement
CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines and provide the necessary administrative
rules and procedures to practically implement and fulfill the city's
obligations as a local agency under CEQA. Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines
Section 15022(d), the City Council hereby adopts and incorporates
by reference the CEQA Guidelines. Any local procedures adopted under
the authority of this section shall be construed consistent with CEQA
and the CEQA Guidelines, and to the extent any provision in the local
procedures proves to be inconsistent with CEQA and/or the CEQA Guidelines,
CEQA and/or the CEQA Guidelines shall prevail.
(O2015-14, 12/1/15)
