Environmental
Impact Report

To read more about the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Process, click here: https://sidewalks.lacity.org/environmental-review-process

The City of Los Angeles (City) has prepared an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to evaluate the potential environmental effects of the proposed Sidewalk Repair Program (Project) that addresses the manner in which sidewalk repair projects are undertaken pursuant to the City’s obligations under the Willits Settlement Agreement (Settlement).

October 2019 Draft EIR:

The Sidewalk Repair Program Draft EIR was released for public review and public comments on December 26, 2019 through May 31, 2020.  Information regarding the Draft EIR, including links to the entire Draft EIR, availability of click here  to view the Draft EIR hard-copies, previous public meeting dates and locations, and the Public Meeting presentation slides

April 2021 Final EIR: 

The City has prepared the Final EIR for the proposed Project. All responses to comments submitted on the Draft EIR by public agencies are provided to those agencies at least 10 days prior to certification of the Final EIR.

The Final EIR includes the introduction to the Final EIR (Chapter 1), a summary of comments received on the Draft EIR during the public review period (Chapter 2), responses to comments received (Chapter 3), corrections and additions to the Draft EIR (Chapter 4), and Final EIR Appendices (Chapter 5). Regarding comments received, Chapter 2 includes a summary of comments received on the Draft EIR during the public review period from December 26, 2019 through May 31, 2020 via website, mail, email, and at the seven public meetings held throughout the City, and Chapter 3 includes the City’s responses to these comments. The Final EIR is available for download below.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The proposed Project is a Citywide program to modify the manner in which sidewalk repair projects are undertaken pursuant to the City obligations under the Settlement. Currently, the City is complying with the Settlement using existing ordinances and policies. The existing process requires case-by-case review and approval of each sidewalk repair project funded as a result of the Settlement. With the Project, the City is proposing to adopt a new ordinance with a primary goal of streamlining the Settlement implementation process. The key components of the ordinance include: 

• A ministerial approval process to enable sidewalk repair projects falling within certain specified parameters to proceed upon approval by the City Engineer or a designee, without undergoing further environmental review under CEQA;

• A streamlined discretionary approval process by the City Engineer or a designee for sidewalk repair projects falling outside the specific parameters for a ministerial sidewalk repair approval;

• A streamlined discretionary approval process by the Board of Public Works for sidewalk repair projects involving the removal of more than two street trees;

• A revised Street Tree Retention, Removal and Replacement Policy establishing a 2:1 street tree replacement to removal ratio requirement for years 1-10, 3:1 for years 11-21, and 2:1 for years 22-30, and;

• Mandatory Project Design Features (PDFs) generally consisting of regulatory compliance measures and standard construction conditions and procedures.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES: The following is a list of objectives for the proposed Project that support the underlying purpose, including the fundamental project objective which is to:

• Ensure the continued and efficient compliance with the requirements of the Settlement while amending the existing program for sidewalk and curb ramp improvements within the City, in accordance with the applicable accessibility requirements, including those required by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The following additional project objectives have also been identified:

• Retain existing street trees that are the cause of sidewalk barriers to the extent feasible, provided the sidewalk improvements would not result in street tree mortality or compromise public safety;

• If the removal of one or more street trees is required, ensure compliance with the City’s replacement requirements adopted to ensure no net street tree canopy loss at the end of the Project implementation period; and

• Identify the criteria and process for ministerial approval of future sidewalk improvements and street tree removals and replacements, with the goal of avoiding the need to undertake individualized environmental review of every repair of every City sidewalk or of every street tree removal and replacement and the potential legal challenge to each such approval; thereby streamlining the Settlement implementation and providing certainty to the City and its disability community.

BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS: The Board of Public Works Commissioners adopted the Final EIR Board Report, Street Tree Policy and Mandatory Project Features Policy on Friday, May 14, 2021. The official schedule and meeting agendas for the Board of Public Works is available at the City website: https://www.lacity.org/government/board-public-works-meetings.

CITY COUNCIL: After the Board of Public Works Commissioners’ review and City Council Committee(s) recommendations, on the Final EIR and proposed Project, the Los Angeles City Council will consider the Final EIR and proposed Project. The City Council will consider certifying the Final EIR, making the required CEQA findings, and approving the proposed Project, including the adoption of the proposed ordinance, at a future City Council meeting. The Public Works Committee approved the item as amended on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. The City Council meeting occurred on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.

The official schedule and meeting agendas for the City Council and applicable Council Committees are available at the City website: https://lacity.org/government/meeting-calendars/city-council-meetingsagendas.

Please see Council File 14-0163-S3 at the Los Angeles City Clerk Council File Management System at https://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect for the latest updates.

ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS FOR THE SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAM

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

Complete Document (without appendices) (Large File, 4.5 MB):

Sidewalk Repair Program Final EIR Compiled


Individual Files (Easier to Download, PDF Format):

1. Sidewalk Repair Program FEIR Cover Page and Table of Contents

2. Sidewalk Repair Program FEIR Chapter 1 - Introduction

3. Sidewalk Repair Program FEIR Chapter 2 - Public Review Process and Public Comments

4. Sidewalk Repair Program FEIR Chapter 3 - Response to Comments Part A

5. Sidewalk Repair Program FEIR Chapter 3 - Response to Comments Part B

6. Sidewalk Repair Program FEIR Chapter 4 - Revisions to the DEIR

7. Sidewalk Repair Program FEIR Chapter 5 - References

8. Sidewalk Repair Program Final EIR Appendix A

9. Sidewalk Repair Program Final EIR Appendix B

10. Sidewalk Repair Program Final EIR Appendix C


Updated April 30, 2021

MORE INFORMATION

The Bureau of Engineering's Environmental Management Group (EMG) is responsible for the environmental review of Engineering's projects in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The EMG also provides coordination with federal agencies for environmental review of projects that are subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and processes applications for coastal development permits for activities under the jurisdiction of the City Engineer.

For additional information on the environmental review process, please contact Shilpa Gupta, Environmental Supervisor I, City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering, at shilpa.gupta@lacity.org You can also monitor this BOE webpage for updates regarding the CEQA approval process.

Shilpa Gupta, Environmental Supervisor I
Department of Public Works
Bureau of Engineering, EMG
1149 S Broadway, Suite 600, Mail Stop 939
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Or email at Shilpa.Gupta@lacity.org

MEDIA INQUIRIES

If you are a member of the media, please contact Mary Nemick, Director of Communications, Bureau of Engineering at Mary.Nemick@lacity.org.