HomeMy Public PortalAbout22-068 - Declaring the City's Policy of Prioritizing (1) the Remediation and Development of Environmentally Challenged Properties withing the City, (2) Economic Development Programs Facilitating Such Remediation and Development, and (3) City CooperationRESOLUTION NO. 22-068
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA, FORMALLY
DECLARING THE CITY’S POLICY OF PRIORITIZING (1) THE REMEDIATION AND
DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTALLY CHALLENGED PROPERTIES WITHIN THE CITY,
(2) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FACILITATING SUCH REMEDIATION AND
DEVELOPMENT, AND (3) CITY COOPERATION WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF
ENVIRONMENTALLY CHALLENGED SITES
WHEREAS, there are certain unimproved real properties located throughout the City of Carson,
County of Los Angeles, State of California, that suffer from hazardous materials contamination or other
forms of environmental degradation, including without limitation well-documented soil and groundwater
contamination (collectively herein, the “Properties”). From the 1940s through the 1960s, many
environmentally harmful land uses operated within the City. More than 500 acres were occupied by 17
landfills, each with varying levels of toxicity, and a total of 88 auto salvage yards operated without any
regulations in place. Other industrial activities such as metal production, paper product production,
chemical processing, electronics manufacturing, automobile dismantling and petroleum refining have also
had negative impacts on the City’s environment. As a result, several such Properties are subject to formal
remedial action plans (“RAPs”) issued by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (“DTSC”);
and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding their environmental challenges, contaminated Properties located
throughout the City represent unique development potential given their location in the heart of Los Angeles
County and in proximity to major freeways. However, development proposals for the Properties are often
stymied due to the difficulty and costs arising from contamination and polluted soil conditions. As long as
environmentally challenged Properties remain vacant, substantial public benefit opportunities, such as
environmental clean-up, new business and economic prospects, potential sales tax revenues, and expanded
jobs and employment, may be thwarted; and
WHEREAS, with the elimination of the former Carson Redevelopment Agency by State law in 2012,
property owners are even less inclined to remediate environmentally challenged Properties. Therefore, the
City has determined that without providing assistance to owners of environmentally challenged Properties,
the constraints imposed by site remediation costs and associated infrastructure costs required for such
Properties are likely to continue hindering development and economic opportunities throughout the City;
and
WHEREAS, further, on November 6, 2018, the City’s voters approved a new Charter for the City
which included a comprehensive set of economic development incentives and programs to promote the
development of the City of Carson given its unique environmental constraints, to create jobs, and to
preserve the sound fiscal basis of City. The City has determined that, under the Charter, it has broad
economic development powers to enact measures, to enter into agreements, and to loan, grant, fund, or
finance projects which will provide public benefits and protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the
community, which programs may be carried out singly or in combination in a manner to promote economic
development; and
WHEREAS, the City of Carson City Council now desires to express its commitment to prioritizing
the remediation and development of environmentally challenged Properties throughout the City.
RESOLUTION NO. 22-068
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01007.0005/783490.3
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE,
AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals. The foregoing recitals are true and correct, and are incorporated herein by this
reference.
Section 2. Declaration of Intent. The City Council hereby declares its intention to formally prioritize
the remediation and development of vacant, environmentally challenged Properties in the City.
1. The prompt remediation and development of vacant, contaminated Properties throughout
the City is of a highest priority to the City.
2. Without remediation and development of said Properties, substantial public benefit
opportunities, such as environmental clean-up, new business and economic prospects,
potential sales tax revenues, and expanded jobs and employment, likely remain thwarted.
Yet, development proposals for the Properties are often stymied due to the difficulty and
costs arising from contamination and polluted soil conditions.
3. City staff is hereby directed to work with the City Attorneys’ Office to develop a
comprehensive economic development ordinance to include mechanisms that facilitate
remediation and development of contaminated Properties, as authorized by the City’s
Charter.
4. City staff is hereby directed to fully cooperate with and assist owners of Properties showing
an interest in remediating and developing their Properties towards the end of establishing
sales tax generating uses, which may include without limitation assistance with State and
Federal grant opportunities.
Section 3. Effective Date. This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its adoption.
Section 4. Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution
and enter it into the book of original Resolutions.
Section 5. Publication of Notice. Pursuant to Section 1001 of the City Charter, the City Clerk shall
publish this Resolution at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City, posted on the City's
website, and at other location(s) the City Clerk may designate. Publication of this Resolution shall occur
within fifteen (15) days after the passage of this Resolution and at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing
date set forth in Section 3 above and shall serve as notice of the public hearing. The 10-day and 15-day
requirements may be met with a single publication of this Resolution. The publication of this Resolution
shall have the title, "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA, FORMALLY
DECLARING THE CITY’S POLICY OF PRIORITIZING (1) THE REMEDIATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTALLY CHALLENGED PROPERTIES WITHIN THE CITY, (2) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS FACILITATING SUCH REMEDIATION AND DEVELOPMENT, AND (3) CITY COOPERATION WITH
THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF ENVIRONMENTALLY CHALLENGED SITES."
RESOLUTION NO. 22-068
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PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 19% day of April, 2022.
APPROVED AS TO FORM: CITY OF CARSON:
Sunny K. Soltani, City Attorney Mla Davis-Holmes, Mayor
ATTEST:
oa % Ur
Dr. Khaleah K. Bradshaw, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF CARSON )
|, Dr. Khaleah K. Bradshaw, City Clerk of the City of Carson, California, hereby attest to and certify that the foregoing resolution, being Resolution No. 22-068 adopted by the City of Carson City Council at its meeting held on April 19, 2022, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Davis-Holmes, Hilton, Dear, Hicks, Rojas NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMEBES: None | ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None i OUT
Dr. Khaleah K. Bradshaw, City Clerk
RESOLUTION NO. 22-068
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