City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: October 28, 2013 Item Number: A-1
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: (1) Consideration of a Recommendation from the
City Council Regional Oil Operations Subcommittee that the City Council Discuss
the Community Advisory Panel (CAP) for the Los Angeles County Baldwin Hills
Community Standards District and (2) (If Desired) Appoint a City Council Member,
and an Alternate, as the Culver City Representatives to the CAP.
Contact Person/Dept.: Carol Schwab/City
Attorney
Phone Number: (310) 253-5660
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [x] General Fund: Yes [] No [x]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [x] Attachments: [x]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [x] Date: _______________
Public Notification: Meetings and Agendas – City Council (10/22/13); Inglewood Oil Field
Email Distribution List (10/22/13)
Department Approval:
Carol Schwab (10/21/13)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (10/21/13)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (10/22/13)
City Manager Approval:
John M. Nachbar (10/22/13)
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider a recommendation made by the City Council
Regional Oil Operations Subcommittee (Subcommittee), at its October 15, 2013
meeting, to discuss the Citizens Advisory Panel (CAP) for the Los Angeles County
Baldwin Hills Community Standards District (CSD) and, if desired, appoint a City
Council Member as the City Representative, and another City Council Member as
the Alternate City Representative.
BACKGROUND:
In December 2008, the County of Los Angeles (County) created the Baldwin Hills
Community Standards District (CSD) which imposed a new set of standards to
regulate the portion of the Inglewood Oil Field that is located in the unincorporated
area of Los Angeles County. Section G.7 of the CSD requires that the County
conduct a comprehensive review of the CSD at least every five years to determine if
the provisions of the CSD are adequately protecting the health, safety, and general
welfare. The first five-year review, which is currently underway, shall consider
whether provisions should be added, appended, or removed from the CSD and
evaluate if proven technological advances, that would further reduce impacts of oil
operations on neighboring land uses, should be incorporated into the CSD.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Section J.1 of the CSD established the CAP “to foster communication about ongoing
operations at the oil field and to allow the community representatives to provide input
to the county and the operator.” The representatives include, in part, the operator
(Freeport McMoRan Oil & Gas (FM), formerly PXP), impacted governmental entities
(including Culver City and the Baldwin Hills Conservancy), landowners, each of the
major neighborhoods surrounding the oil field (including Ladera Heights, Windsor
Hills, Oak Park, View Park, Culver Crest, Blair Hills, and Raintree) and adjacent
school districts.
The CAP meets monthly to discuss activities in the oil field, review studies required
by the CSD, and provide an opportunity for the public to comment on issues relating
to oil field operations.
DISCUSSION:
In 2009, the City Council appointed then Council Member Gary Silbiger as the first
Culver City Representative to the CAP, with Council Member Andrew Weissman
serving as the Alternate. In 2010, the City Council appointed the current City
Representative, Paul Ferrazzi. Mr. Ferrazzi has represented the City at the CAP for
the past three years.
Currently, there are several important activities occurring, that relate to the Oil Field,
including:
* The CSD comprehensive five-year review;
* The revision of the City’s own Oil Drilling regulations; and
* Consideration of the Discussion Draft of the City’s regulations that was released for
public review and comment in April, 2013.
Given the critical nature of these items, the Subcommittee has recommended that a
Council Member should be the City Representative on the CAP, as was the case when
the CAP was originally formed. The Subcommittee expressed their appreciation for the
service that Mr. Ferrazzi has provided to the City by regularly attending the CAP
meetings.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
There is no fiscal impact related to this proposed action.
ATTACHMENTS:
Los Angeles County Baldwin Hills Community Standards District Section J.1 “CAP”
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
MOTION:
That the City Council:
1) Discuss the recommendation from the Regional Oil Operations
Subcommittee; and,
2) (If Desired) Appoint Council Member __________ as the Culver City
Representative, and Council Member __________ as an Alternate City
Representative, to the Community Advisory Panel for the Los Angeles County
Baldwin Hills Community Standards District.