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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-03-29; Beach Preservation Committee; MinutesCARLSBAD BEACH EROSION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES MEETING DATE: MARCH 29, 1990 The Carlsbad Beach Erosion Committee was called to order by Chairman Monroy at 6:00 P.M., Thursday, March 29, 1990, in the City Council Chambers, 1200 Elm Avenue, Carlsbad, California. Members in Attendance: Members Absent: Mario Monroy, Chairman Sally Vigil Barry Noble Gary Nessim Pearl Johnson Don Jackson Dave Copley City Staff in Attendance: Jim Hagaman, Research Manager Dennis Turner, Principal Planner Gary Kellison, Associate Civil Engineer Guests in Attendance: Joe Vigil AGENDA TOPICS 1. Chairman Monroy introduced the meeting minutes of December 14, 1989 which were subsequently reviewed and approved by the Committee members. 2. Jim Hagaman and Dennis Turner of Carlsbad City staff gave a presentation regarding the permit process SDG&E must follow to expand capacity at the Encina power plant. The following is a summary of the information presented: The CEC (California Energy Commission) has the authority to issue permits for power plants. Their authority overrides that of both the local government jurisdiction and the California Coastal Commission. SDG&E proposes an expansion consisting of two "combined cycle" generating units housed in a separate structure immediately south of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon on the west side of the railroad tracks. For comparison, the present Encina Power Plant has a 920 Megawatt electrical generating capacity from five boiler units. The new power generating building includes two stacks, each about half the height of the old one, which would remain. Both the existing and planned generating units are capable of burning either natural gas or oil, but natural gas would be the predominate fuel. BEACH EROSION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Page 2 SDG&E is at the first step in its permit process with CEC. The utility has filed an NOI (Notice of Intent) with the CEC that lists five possible sites: 1. Sun Desert (near Elythe) 2. Chula Vista (at the site of SDG&E's existing South Bay power plant) 3. Sycamore Canyon (in the City of San Diego on the property of Miramar NAS) 4. Heber (about 30 miles south of El Centro at the site of a geothermal plant) 5. Encina (in the City of Carlsbad) The second stage of the certification process includes a detailed environmental review of all five plant sites, and results in the narrowing of the list down to at least two choices. The two best sites are then certified by the CEC. SDG&E can then select one of the two sites. In the third stage of the permit process, SDG&E applies to the Public Utilities Commission for plant licensing. In order to license a plant site, the PUC must make the following findings: 1. That there is a need for the plant. 2. That the proposed site is both acceptable and suitable. 3. That no other site is available. The City of Carlsbad has applied for intervenor status with the CEC. This means that the City will be able to call expert witnesses to testify at the public hearings and cross-examine SDG&E's witnesses. The first public hearing by the CEC is scheduled for May 10 at the Carlsbad City Hall Council Chambers. Dennis Turner identified several environmental issues that the City will raise in hearings before the CEC: 1. Air quality - Carlsbad's air basin is in a non-attainment area. This means that the air quality does not meet Federal air quality standards, and SDG&E must identify a method of off-setting the increased air pollution at a 1.0 to 1.2 ratio. BEACH EROSION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Page 3 2. Hazardous fuel storage - the proposed plant expansion requires a 7 million gallon increase in the site's fuel oil storage capacity. Present storage is 74 million gallons. 3. Tidal flushing through the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. 4. Possible biological effects of the electromagnetic field generated by the high-voltage power lines. 5. Visual impacts - Dennis Turner concluded by saying that this list was not exhaustive, and additional issues need to be identified. 3. The Committee discussed the recent construction of a new rip- rap seawall in front of the San Malo condominiums in Oceanside. The seawall was constructed immediately north of the mouth of the Buena Vista Lagoon, and the Committee expressed a desire that they be notified of Oceanside projects that adjoin Carlsbad's beach area. 4. Mario Monroy proposed that the Committee and its staff representative consider changing the sand survey method by skipping one interval of investigation. Mario said recent results have not showed a great period-to-period change and perhaps the money would be better spent by doing an intensive survey immediately before the next SDG&E dredging. 5. Mario Monroy also asked the City staff liaison if there was funding available from SANDAG or the California Department of Boating and Waterways to pay for a study to find a regional solution to the beach erosion problem. Staff will be getting in touch with SANDAG staff and determine the status of regional efforts underway by SANDAG and report back this information to the Committee. 6. The Committee asked that relevant information disseminated by the Regional Shoreline Protection Committee of SANDAG be forwarded to the Carlsbad Beach Erosion Committee. This perhaps could be done through Carlsbad's Councilperson representative on BEACh. Staff will be forwarding copies of all Agenda and Minutes received by the new BEACh Chair. 7. Mario announced that all Committee appointments expire this June, and those wishing to be reappointed should pick up and submit an application. BEACH EROSION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Page 3 The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Monroy at 8:30 P.M. GARY KEtLISON Associate Civil Engineer For JOHN J. CAHILL Municipal Projects Manager Secretary, Beach Erosion Committee GK: jkb Distribution:Beach Erosion Committee Members Mayor and City Council Members City Manager Assistant City Manager Community Development Director City Engineer Research Manager Acting Assistant Director of Planning Dennis Turner, Principal Planner