3.12 public services - los angeles mission college public... · facilities to be designed and...

3.0 Setting, Environmental Impact Analysis, Mitigation Measures

3.12 Public Services

Los Angeles Community College District 3.12-1 LAMC 2009 Facilities Master Plan DEIR

July 2009


As a result of the analysis undertaken in the Initial Study for the proposed 2009 Master Plan, the LACCD determined that the proposed project may result in environmental impacts to public services. Therefore, this issue is being carried forward for detailed analysis in this EIR. This analysis was undertaken to identify opportunities to avoid, reduce, or otherwise mitigate potential significant impacts to public services and to identify potential alternatives.

The analysis of public services consists of a summary of the regulatory framework that guides the decision-making process, the existing conditions at the proposed 2009 Master Plan area, thresholds for determining if the proposed 2009 Master Plan would result in significant impacts, anticipated impacts (direct, indirect, and cumulative), mitigation measures, and level of significance after mitigation. The potential for impacts to public services at the proposed 2009 Master Plan site have been evaluated in accordance with Appendix G of CEQA Guidelines.1

3.12.1 Setting

3.12.1.1 Regulatory Setting

Federal

There are no federal rules and regulations pertinent to the Public Services section.

State

State Emergency Services Act (Government Code Section 8550)2

The State Emergency Services Act requires that federal, state, local, other governing agencies work in close coordination to provide aid and assistance to all natural, manmade, or war-caused emergencies which result in conditions of disasters.

State Architect and State Marshall

For the proposed project, design, and construction plans will be submitted to the Division of the State Architect and the State Fire Marshall (Fire Life Safety) for review and approval, and to the County of Los Angeles and City of Los Angeles for concurrence and approval, to the extent required, as discussed below.

Los Angeles Community College District

Since the LACCD is a political subdivision of the state, its Administrative Regulations require design plans for district facilities to be reviewed and approved by the Division of the State Architect pursuant to the Education Code rather than the local city or county through the building permit process3. These District regulations also require grading plans, drainage plans, and on- and off-site improvements associated with a district facility to be processed pursuant to Government Code

1 California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Division 6, Chapter 3, Sections 15000-15387. Available at http://ceres.ca.gov/topic/env_law/ceqa/guidelines/ (5.20.2009).

2 http://law.justia.com/california/codes/gov/8550-8551.html (5.20.2009). 3 Los Angeles Community College District, Administrative Regulations, “ Guidelines for the Applicability of Local Development Permits in Los Angeles Community College District Facilities (5.20.2009).




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53097. To comply with section 53097, construction plans for grading, drainage, and on- and off-site improvements are submitted to the local city or county for review and approval, generally through the normal grading permit process. It is through these design review processes that the District also demonstrates compliance with local fire codes and the California Fire Code.

Local

The County and City of Los Angeles general plans are required to contain a safety element which addresses natural disaster hazards associated with fire, flood4, earthquake, landslides, and other hazards associated with or compounded by natural events.

County of Los Angeles General Plan Safety Element – Fire Protection Services

The County of Los Angeles Safety Element5 presents a policy in support of the goal to reduce threats to people and property from wildland and urban fire hazards:

• Policy S 1.2: Limit development in high hazard areas such as floodplains, high fire-hazard areas, and seismic hazard zones.

The County of Los Angeles Safety Element presents policies to provide effective county emergency response management capabilities:

• Policy S 2.3: Coordinate with other county and public agency emergency planning and response activities

• Policy S 2.4: Encourage the development of an early warning system for tsunamis, floods and wildfires.

Development review, fire prevention standards, interagency coordination, vegetation management, and watershed management are among the actions aimed at reducing the threat of wildland and urban fires. Policy Implementation programs include but are not necessarily limited to: development project review for adequate emergency access and water supply for fire protection purposes; code compliance; and vegetation management techniques such as brush clearance, flammable rubbish removal, erosion control, and slope stabilization.

County of Los Angeles General Plan Public Services and Facilities Element – Fire Protection

Services

The County of Los Angeles General Plan Public Services and Facilities Element6 presents policies in support to reliable and satisfactory projection for Fire Protection Services and Facilities:

• Policy PS 7.1: Promote phased development, whereby land-use proposals are developed in conjunction with approved fire protection facilities or capabilities.

4 State Emergency Services Act (Government Code Section 8550) requires the City Department of Water and Power to provide dam failure inundation maps to the State Office of Emergency Services via the County of Los Angeles.(5.20.2009).

5 http://planning.lacounty.gov/assets/upl/project/gp_web-ch08.pdf ( 5.19.2009). 6 http://planning.lacounty.gov/assets/upl/project/gp_web-ch09.pdf (5.19.2009).




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• Policy PS 7.2: Support the expansion of fire protection facilities where needed.

• Policy PS 7.3: Encourage ongoing evaluation of fire protection funding sources.

• Policy PS 7.4: All projects must comply with Los Angeles County Fire Department requirements, including access, water mains, fire flows, and hydrants.

County of Los Angeles Pre-Fire Management Plan

The County of Los Angeles Pre-Fire Management Plan7 is a guide for the County Fire Department’s fire-prevention efforts. Development and enforcement of fire codes and building codes in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, pre-fire planning, vegetation management, brush clearance, environmental review and fuel modification programs, and education programs are among the efforts described within the Pre-Fire Plan.

Title 32 (Fire Code), Appendix VII of the Los Angeles County Code defines zones subject to additional fire hazard precaution, such as installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems within certain types of occupancies (i.e., residential). One of these zones spans the San Gabriel mountain range and is referred to as the San Gabriel South Face Area. Although the project site is located within the San Gabriel South Face Area, the site is not within unincorporated Los Angeles County.

Title 20 of the Los Angeles County Code requires water system facilities to meet the minimum fire-flow requirements and the maximum daily water-flow requirements. Title 20 also requires water facilities to be designed and constructed to withstand, with safety factors, the physical stresses of a project site, such as the potential for seismic ground shaking. The existing County Recreation Area, along with the proposed Athletic Fields, are subject to County Fire Code requirements.

County of Los Angeles General Plan Public Services and Facilities Element: Law Enforcement

Protection Services

The County of Los Angeles General Plan Public Services and Facilities Element8 contains several policies that are pertinent to the provision of reliable and satisfactory law enforcement protection services. Policies applicable to the proposed 2009 Master Plan include:

• Policy PS 8.1: Promote phased development, whereby land use proposals are developed in conjunction with approved law enforcement capabilities.

• Policy PS 8.2: Support the expansion of law enforcement facilities and programs, where needed, to reduce the level of crime in the County.

• Policy PS 8.3: Encourage ongoing evaluation of law enforcement funding sources.

City of Los Angeles General Plan: Plan Safety Element

The City of Los Angeles General Plan Safety Element contains goals, objectives, policies, and broadly stated programs to continue maintenance, enforcement, and upgrading requirements, procedures, and standards to facilitate more effective fire suppression. The Safety Element reflects

7 http://www.fire.lacounty.gov/Forestry/PDF/LACoFDPre-FireMgmt.pdf (5.19.2009). 8 http://planning.lacounty.gov/assets/upl/project/gp_web-ch09.pdf (5.20.2009).




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the comprehensive scope of the Emergency Operations Organization, including emergency preparedness, response, and recovery programs. Safety Element Exhibit D (Selected Wildfire Hazards Areas) identifies the “Additional Areas of High Fire Hazard” zone wherein the proposed 2009 Master Plan site and areas to the north are located. The Sylmar portion of this zone adjoins the open space of the San Gabriel Mountains, portions of which are identified by the City as Fire Zone 4.

City policies and standards specify criteria for fire station distribution and location, fire-flow requirements, fire hydrant standards and locations, access standards, emergency ambulance service, and fire-prevention activities. According to the City’s Safety Element, the total number of companies that would be available for dispatch would vary with the required fire flow and distance as follows: 1) less than 2,000 gallons per minute (gpm) would require not less than 2 engine companies and 1 truck company; 2) 2,000 gpm but less than 4,500 gpm, not less than 2 or 3 engine companies and 1 or 2 truck companies; and 3) 4,500 or more gpm, not less than 3 engine companies and 2 truck companies9.

City of Los Angeles General Plan: Police Protection Services

The City of Los Angeles General Plan10 contains goals and policies that are pertinent to the provision of police services. The city’s goal is for every neighborhood in the city to have the necessary police services, facilities, equipment, and manpower required to provide for the public safety needs of that neighborhood. To achieve this goal, the city monitors and reports police statistics, as appropriate, the population projections for the purpose of evaluating police service based on existing and future needs (Policy 9.13.1), works through its police department to maintain standards for the appropriate number of sworn police officers to serve the needs of residents, businesses, and industries (9.14.1), and implements other policies germane to police services, such as the maintenance of mutual assistance agreements with local law enforcement agencies, state law enforcement agencies, and the National Guard to proved for public safety in the event of emergency situations (Policy 9.15.1).

Los Angeles City Fire Protection and Prevention Plan

The Fire Protection and Prevention Plan11 of the City of Los Angeles provides an official guide to city departments, other governmental agencies, developers and interested citizens to protect property from fire through fire-prevention programs. Based upon the Fire Protection and Prevention Plan, it maybe necessary to expand or relocate existing fire stations as land-use patterns change.

The adequacy of fire protection for a community is based on the required fire flow, response distance from existing fire stations, and the fire department’s needs assessment for the area. Required fire flow, which is based on the type of land development, ranges from 2,000 gpm for low-density residential use to 12,000 gpm for high-density commercial or industrial use. Response distance, which is considered in conjunction with the required fire flow, ranges from ¾ mile to 1½ miles from an engine company and 1 mile to 2 miles for a truck company.

9 http://www.ci.la.ca.us/PLN/Cwd/GnlPln/SaftyElt.pdf 10 http://www.ci.la.ca.us/PLN/Cwd/GnlPln/Elements.htm 11 http://www.ci.la.ca.us/PLN/complan/pdf/sylcptxt.pdf




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Sylmar Community Plan – Fire Protection Services

The city’s Sylmar Community Plan12 defines goals, objectives, and policies for the provision of fire-protection services to the Sylmar area. The Sylmar Community Plan states that it may be necessary to expand or relocate existing fire stations as land-use patterns change throughout the area. Fire-protection policies relevant to the proposed 2009 Master Plan include consulting with the fire department to assess that adequate fire-protection facilities and fire-service personnel are provided by periodically evaluating population growth, land use, LOS (response time and staffing), and fire hazards in the city (Policy 9-1.1), and consulting with the fire department as part of the review of new development projects and proposed land-use changes to determine services needs and demands (Policy 9-1.2).

Sylmar Community Plan – Police Protection Services

The Sylmar Community Plan13 defines goals, objectives, and policies for the provision of police-protection services to the Sylmar area. The policies include consultation with the police department as part of the review of new development projects and proposed land-use changes to determine law enforcement needs and demands (Policy 8-2.1). Through its policies, the city seeks to insure that landscaping around buildings be placed so as not impede visibility (Policy 8-2.2), and that adequate lighting be provided to improve security (Policy 8-2.3).

3.12.1.2 Environmental Setting

Regional

Police

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department provides basic police-protection services to LAMC through the Community College Bureau of the Sheriff’s Department, Field Operations Region II, which has an office within the Plan Facilities temporary building on the Main Campus. This sheriff’s unit serves LAMC as well as the LAMC centers located at 13000 Sayre Street (Cultural Arts Center), 2843 Foothill Boulevard (Physical Education Building), and 11623 Glenoaks Boulevard (EDD Building). Table 3.12-1 lists the personnel assigned to the sheriff’s on-campus unit. The office is approximately 1,605 gsf in size14. The unit currently consists of one sergeant, eight armed officers, and two armed deputies. The deputies are sworn personnel of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, while the officers have a civilian status. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Department recruits on average nine student-worker cadets to assist the officers in policing the campus. The sheriff’s office operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For an event that necessitates greater security, the sheriff’s office recruits and deploys additional student-worker cadets.

The eleven County Sheriff Personnel employed to serve the LAMC Campus work 8- to 10-hour shifts. Monday through Friday, the day shift is from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; while the night shift is from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. There is also a graveyard shift from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. The most current schedule for Monday through Friday includes two officers and one deputy during the day

12 http://www.ci.la.ca.us/PLN/complan/pdf/sylcptxt.pdf 13 http://www.ci.la.ca.us/PLN/complan/pdf/sylcptxt.pdf 14 http://lasd.org/divisions/for2/inex.html (May 18, 2009)




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shift and the night shift, and one officer during the graveyard shift. On the weekends, the campus is patrolled by one officer and one deputy or a sergeant15. The county uses the broadly accepted national standard of one officer for every 1000 persons as its guideline16. The maximum campus population during daytime peak hours (7:00 a.m. to 3:59 p.m.) for Spring 2009 was an average of 2,549 people (2,230 students and 319 staff)17. Assuming this maximum campus population, the current sheriff’s schedule for Monday through Friday equates to one officer for every 850 people on campus during daytime peak hours and one officer for every 1,244 people on campus during the evening hours. On the weekends, the current schedule equates to one officer for every 301 people on campus. With the exception of the evening peak hours, the police-to-population ratios are well within the county and national standard of one officer for every 1,000 persons. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, scheduling changes occur on an as-needed basis to maintain police services at LAMC at county-acceptable levels.

Table 3.12-1 Existing Police Protection Services and Response Times

Agency/Station Address Officers Response Time Coverage

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s

Office at LAMC 13356 Eldridge

Avenue Sylmar, CA 91342

1 sergeant, 8 armed officers,

2 armed deputies, and an

average of 9 student-worker

cadets

<5 LAMC Campus and off-campus

facilities (Cultural Arts Center,

Physical Education Building, EDD

Building)

LACOPS: County Office of Public

Safety Castaic Station

32113 Castaic Lake

Castaic, CA 91384

3 sergeants and 18 officers Varies according to

calls for service

Santa Clarita Valley, San Fernando

Valley, Antelope Valley (Quartz

Hill Substation) and portions of La

Canada Flintridge area

Los Angeles Police Department

Mission Community Station

Mission Hills, CA 91345

285 sworn officers and 26

civilian support staff

11.4 minutes Reporting District 1609

(62-square mile Foothill area)

Source: PCR

Los Angeles County Office of Public Safety (LACOPS)

The Los Angeles County Office of Public Safety (LACOPS) is a specialized law enforcement agency. As a result of the January 1, 1998, consolidation of the former Park Police from the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Safety Police from the Departments of Health and Internal Services, the agency began its operation as the Los Angeles County Police Department. LACOPS employs 580 sworn and 144 civilian personnel with a $60 million budget, which makes it the fourth largest law enforcement agency in the County of Los Angeles and one of the largest in the State of California. LACOPS provides services to the patrons, employees, and properties of county departments who contract for such services and for a safe environment of those who use county parks and recreational facilities.

The Parks Services Bureau is one of three law enforcement bureaus within the Office of Public Safety. The Parks Services Bureau’s primary duty is to provide law enforcement throughout the County of Los Angeles parks. The county parks are under the direct management of the Department of Parks and Recreation.

15 Personal communication with Laura Murphy, Officer, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (May 22, 2009). 16 PCR Services Corporation, LAMC Master Plan and Public Recreation Improvement Program, Page IV-263 (October 2005).

17 Institutional Research and Planning, M Pearl (5.18.2009).




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The county police are charged with providing a safe environment for all county facilities, and especially to visitors and employees of the Department of Parks and Recreation. These include all trails and pathways that border between the proposed project and El Cariso Community Regional Park and Golf Course.

City of Los Angeles Police Department

City of Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Mission Community Police Station provides secondary police protection to the LAMC Campus through mutual aid agreement with the County of Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. The Mission Community Station jurisdiction area covers 28.18 square miles and has an estimated population of approximately 202,000 persons. The station is located at 11121 Sepulveda Boulevard in the community of Mission Hills, California. It is located approximately 5 miles west of the LAMC Main Campus. The Mission station employs approximately 2 sworn officers and 26 civilian support staff. The estimated police-to-population ratio is one officer to every 976 persons, based on the population estimate of 278,280 for the Foothill community area18. The average response time to emergency calls for the Mission Area during 2002 was 11.4 minutes. The citywide average during 2002 was 10.2 minutes. The predominant crimes in the Foothill Area are aggravated assault, vehicle theft, and burglary of vehicles. Figure 3.12-1 shows police station locations in the area.

Fire

County of Los Angeles

The Los Angeles County Fire Department provides first-response fire-protection services to the unincorporated areas of the County—approximately 2,278 square miles—and 57 cities within Los Angeles County. However, the proposed 2009 Master Plan is not located within the county’s first-response service area. County Fire Station 74, located at 12587 North Dexter Park Road in the foothills of the Sylmar area, is the county fire station situated nearest to the proposed 2009 Master Plan site, at an estimated travel distance of 6.4 miles. Figure 3.12-2 shows the fire station locations in the area. Station 74 includes two engine companies, two patrols, and three personnel19.

City of Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) provides first-response fire-protection services to the project site. The adequacy of fire protection for a given area is based on required fire flow, response distance from existing fire stations, and the LAFD’s judgment for needs in the area. In general, the required fire flow is closely related to the community’s land use. The quantity of water necessary for fire protection varies with the type of development life hazard, occupancy, and the degree of fire hazard.

Fire flow requirements vary from 2,000 gpm in low-density residential areas, to 12,000 gpm in high-density commercial or industrial areas20. A minimum residual water pressure of 20 pounds per square inch (psi) is to remain in the water system, with the required gpm flowing. The required fire

18 Fax/Letter from Gary J. Brennan, Commanding Officer, Community Affairs Group, City of Los Angeles Police Department, dated February 5,2003; cites 2000 Census data.

19 Augmented reserved staff includes 4 additional personnel during peak fire seasons. 20 LAFD Bureau of Fire Prevention and Public Safety, http://lafd.org/prevention/hydrants/division_9_fc.html (5.21.2009).




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flow for the proposed project has been set at 4,000 gpm from four fire hydrants flowing simultaneously at 20 psi per minute.

There are four LAFD fire stations located in the general area of the project site. Table 3.12-2 provides information on each fire station, including its address, equipment, personnel, and travel distance of each fire station.

Table 3.12-2 Existing Fire Protection Services

Station No. and Address Equipment Personnel

Travel Distance to

Project Site

County of Los Angeles Fire Department

Fire Station 74 – 12587 N. Dexter Park

Road, San Fernando, CA 91342

• Engines (2)

• Patrol (2)

3

(+4) reserved

6.4 miles

Los Angeles City Fire Department – Fire

Station 91 -14430 Polk Street, Sylmar,

CA91342

• Single Engine

• Paramedic Rescue

Ambulances (2)

6-8 2.2 miles

Los Angeles City Fire Department –

Fire Station 98 – 13035 Van Nuys Blvd.,

Pacoima, CA 91331

• Task Force

• Engines (2)

• Rescue Ambulance

16 4.4. miles


Fire Station 75 – 15345 San Fernando

Mission Blvd, Mission Hills, CA 91340

• Task Force Truck

• Engines (2)

• Rescue Ambulance

12 6.9 miles


Fire Station 77 – 8943 Glenoaks

Boulevard, Sun Valley, CA

• Single Engine

• Paramedic Rescue Ambulance

6 10.9 miles

Source: Personal Communication with Trey Espy, Captain, County of Los Angeles Fire Department Fire Station 74 (5.20.2009) Source: Personal Communication with Donald Darby, Captain, City of Los Angeles Fire Department Fire Station 91 (5.21.2009) Source: Personal Communication with Craig White, Captain, City of Los Angeles Fire Department Fire Station 98 (5.20.2009) Source: Personal Communication with Ray Hime, Captain, City of Los Angeles Fire Department Fire Station 75 (5.20.2009) Source: Personal Communication with Daryl Prosser, Captain, City of Los Angeles Fire Department Fire Station 77 (5.21.2009)

Fire Station 91 is located 2.2 miles from the proposed 2009 Master Plan site. Access to the project site from Fire Station 91 is via Polk Street, traveling north to Eldridge Avenue, then east to Hubbard Street. Fire Station 91 includes a single engine company, two paramedic rescue ambulances, and six to eight personnel21.

Fire Station 98 is located 4.4 miles from the proposed 2009 Master Plan site. Access to the project site from Fire Station 98 is via north on Van Nuys Boulevard, traveling west to Foothill Boulevard, then north towards Maclay Avenue or Hubbard Street. Fire Station 98 includes one task force, two engine companies, one rescue ambulance, and sixteen personnel.

21 Day shift includes 8 staffed personnel and night shift includes 6 staffed personnel.




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Figure 3.12-1, Police Station Locations




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blank page for back of figure




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Figure 3.12-2, Fire Station Locations




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blank page for back of figure




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Fire Station 75, which is situated 12 miles from the proposed 2009 Master Plan site, provides services through one task force and two engine companies, one paramedic rescue ambulance, and a staff of sixteen personnel. Access to the project site from Fire Station 75 and is traveling north on Maclay Street or Hubbard Street.

Fire Station 77, which is located 10.9 miles from the proposed 2009 Master Plan site, provides services through one engine company, one paramedic rescue ambulance, and a staff of personnel. Access to the project site from Fire Station 77 and is via west on Glenoaks Boulevard, then traveling north on Maclay Street or Hubbard Street.

Local

Main Campus

The existing LAMC Main Campus currently has nine fire hydrants throughout the campus to provide for sufficient coverage of all existing buildings. Water for fire-protection services is conveyed from a 16-inch pipeline within Hubbard Street. According to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, existing fire flow to the LAMC campus is 2,500 gpm from an 8-inch water main within the campus boundaries.

A fire hydrant on Hubbard Street north of Lexicon Avenue serves the LAMC Main Campus, western portions of the El Cariso Community Regional County Park, the surrounding residential area, and the Nursery Property.

East Campus

The East Campus would have water for fire-protection services conveyed from a 16-inch service pipeline on Hubbard Street.

El Cariso County Recreation Area

The existing El Cariso County Recreation Area, which abuts the Main Campus, includes underground water lines and domestic use, irrigation, and fire-protection services. These waterlines serve existing landscaping, surface parking, and park restrooms.

No water lines or fire hydrants exist within the proposed Athletic Fields as the site is undeveloped, with the exception of an access road and drainage culvert.

3.12.2 Significance Thresholds

As noted in the Initial Study, for the purposes of this EIR, and in accordance with Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines, an impact to Public Services is considered significant if the proposed project would:

Result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times, or other performance objectives for any public services, including:




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• Fire protection

• Police protection

• Parks

The following threshold question was found not to be applicable to this project in the Initial Study and is therefore not discussed below:

Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for any public services:

• Schools

• Other public facilities

3.12.3 Environmental Impact Analysis

3.12.3.1 Methodology

Potential project impacts on police services were evaluated based on the adequacy of existing and planned facilities, staffing, and equipment of both the County Sheriff and LACOPS to meet the additional demand for police protection resulting from the anticipated increase in the maximum campus population and development of the proposed 2009 Master Plan. Current data on existing and planned police facilities, staffing, resources, patrolling practices, and response times were collected and project demand for police protection was ascertained using the maximum campus population assumptions and the maximum park participation estimates for the proposed 2009 Master Plan. The District, the County Sheriff, and the LAPD recognize the national standard of one officer for every 1,000 persons as a guide.

The LAFD and the Los Angeles County Fire Department were contacted to obtain current information on staffing, equipment, fire-flow requirements, and response times to ascertain demand on fire services. To estimate proposed 2009 Master Plan demand for fire-protection services, the proposed construction, existing and projected proposed 2009 Master Plan campus population and park usage estimates were considered. Existing site conditions such as roadway widths, fire hydrant service, brushfire hazard areas, and topography also were considered. In addition, proposed 2009 Master Plan features proposed to meet the fire protection needs of the project were identified, and the state, county and city plans and codes were reviewed to identify fire protection policies and requirements to be considered in the impact analysis.

3.12.3.2 Campus Impacts

Construction Impacts

Fire Protection Services

The general plans of County of Los Angeles and the City of Los Angeles designate the portions of the Sylmar Community north of the Interstate 210 Freeway as “Additional Areas of High Fire




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Hazard.”22 The Main Campus and adjacent southern portions of El Cariso Park, western portions of El Cariso Golf Course, and residential areas are located within this zone. The construction planned for the campus areas would use heavy equipment powered by small amounts of flammable liquid (diesel or other fuels). The Main Campus maintains its campus clear of dry vegetation and flammable brush. Combustible features present in the landscape and building materials would pose accidental fire risk resulting from errant sparks from construction equipment. Construction procedures would adhere to the standard National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 5000 Building Construction and Safety Code. With the use of standard construction practices and adherence to the California Fire Code23, the potential for an accident to occur during construction is very low and impacts would be less than significant. No mitigation would be required.

Prior to construction, plans for each individual 2009 Master Plan facility would be submitted to the Division of the State Architect for approval, and the City of Los Angeles for concurrence with the California building and fire codes and the City Fire Code provisions on fire hazard prevention and protection. At the time when construction plans and specifications for individual 2009 Master Plan facilities are developed, the number, size, location, and type of water facilities needed to satisfy the fire flow and fire services requirements would be precisely defined and incorporated into construction plans. Thus, the proposed 2009 Master Plan facilities will be constructed as to minimize the need for additional fire services. Impact would be considered less than significant.

Police Protection Services

Construction of the Nursery Property and Eldridge Avenue Streetscape Improvements, along with ancillary facilities such as utilities and off-site circulation and parking, would involve a temporary workforce on the campus. The extensive labor force of the Los Angeles metropolitan area is expected to supply the required workforce for construction. Thus, no impact on housing supply is expected to result from construction of the proposed project. The Nursery Property and Eldridge Avenue construction areas would be secured with temporary fencing to separate the construction activity, equipment, and materials from ongoing LAMC academic and related activities on/off campus. With existing campus lighting and individual construction-site fencing, the existing and planned resources (personnel and equipment) available to the on-campus sheriff’s department office would be sufficient to provide adequate police service during the construction period. Therefore, police services associated with construction of the proposed 2009 Master Plan would be less than significant and no mitigation measures would be required.

Parks

The implementation of proposed 2009 Master Plan would not result in significant impacts to existing neighborhood, regional parks, or other recreational facilities. LAMC would fully contain and not encroach into existing park lands. The proposed 2009 Master Plan consists of expanded facilities to serve existing community and would not be expected to induce growth. Therefore, the project

22 http://planning.lacounty.gov/assets/upl/project/gp_web-ch08.pdf ,County of Los Angeles General Plan Safety Element,(5-21-2009)

http://www.ci.la.ca.us/PLN/Cwd/GnlPln/SaftyElt.pdf, City of Los Angeles General Plan, (5-21-2009) 23 California Building Standards Commission, California Fire Code, 2001 Edition. Although public school facilities are exempt from local building codes, the District will consider implementation of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, Chapter 5, Article 7 (Fire Protection and Prevention)




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would not be increasing the level of demand on existing park facilities in the community of Sylmar (see Recreation 3.13.3.2 Campus Impacts).

Operational Impacts

Expansion of Fire Protection Services

The amount of new building space proposed for the Nursery Property is approximately 20,000 gsf. Approximately 195,490 gsf is proposed on the LAMC East Campus. The new proposed building space is 22,200 gsf which would result in a college campus with approximately 631,340 gsf24.

According to the LAFD, the estimated flow fire flow for build-out of the LAMC Main Campus would increase from the existing service of 2,500 gpm to a project fire flow demand for 4,000 gpm, flowing simultaneously and with a minimum residual water pressure in the water system of 20 psi. At this level of project planning for the campus areas, the project would comply with the fire-flow requirements using one of two methods:

(1) Installing a 10-inch water line with a capacity of 5,000 gpm; or

(2) Adding a connection to the existing 8-inch line in Eldridge Avenue.

Both of these methods would be expected to meet the fire-flow requirement for the proposed project and would include construction within the public street right-of-way. Upgrades to existing water lines to serve the project would be constructed with no anticipated interruption to existing local water service. In addition to water improvements, the existing fire hydrants serving the campus would need to be augmented and possibly relocated to ensure compliance with the city’s fire hydrant code requirement of minimum 300-feet separation.

The proposed project site lies outside the recommended response distance of the nearest fire station (Fire Station 91), as identified in the City Fire Code, Division 9 (57.09.07)25, and is located within the city-designated Additional Areas of High Fire Hazard. The City Fire Code recommends that the first due engine company should be within 1.5 miles and the first due truck company should be within 2.0 miles. Fire Station 91 provides one engine company and is located a travel distance of 2.2 miles from the project site. As stated previously, the project requires a fire flow of 4,000 gpm, which, according to the city’s policy on emergency response,26necessitates the fire-protection services of no less than 2 or 3 engine companies and 1 or 2 truck companies. Proposed project features including fire extinguishing systems, including but not limited to, fire-alarm systems, water-flow alarm devices, and fire sprinklers within buildings and structures. These proposed fire extinguishing systems would reduce the impact associated with the project site location within the city-designated Additional Areas of High Fire Hazard, and its location outside the response distance of 1.5 miles to the nearest fire station (Fire Station 91).

The operation of the proposed Nursery Property and Eldridge Avenue Streetscape Improvements would result in adverse less-than-significant physical impact associated with the provision of new or

24 Leo A. Daly, May 2009; LAMC Space Inventory, October 2008; Project Construction Contract Documents 25 http://lafd.org/prevention/hydrants/division_9_fc.htm 26 City of Los Angeles. November 26,1996. City of Los Angeles General Plan Safety Element. Policy 2.1.6




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physically altered governmental facilities or the need for new or physically altered government facilities because:

1) The project proposes to improve existing water lines to accommodate project fire-flow requirements;

2) The number and location of fire hydrants to serve the campus would be located in accordance with state and local fire codes; and

3) Fire extinguishing systems, including but not limited to fire alarm systems, water-flow alarm devices, and fire sprinklers within buildings and structures, are project features proposed to reduce the risk to people and property associated with fire hazards.


As mentioned earlier, the maximum campus population during daytime peak hours (7:00 a.m. to 3:59 p.m.) would be 2,549 people (2,230 students and 319 staff). During weekday evening hours (4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.) there would be an estimated 3731 people (3,660 students and 71 staff). On the weekend, there would be an estimated 602 people (515 students and 87 staff). Assuming this is the maximum campus population, the current sheriff’s schedule for Monday through Friday would equate to one officer for every 850 people on campus during the daybreak peak hours and one officer for every 1,244 people on campus during evening hours. On the weekends, the current sheriff’s schedule would equate to one officer for every 301 people on campus. Without adjustments to the current service schedule for on/off campus patrol, the police-to-population ratio could be exceeded during the evening hours Monday through Friday. The proposed campus developments would require a total of three sheriff personnel during the weekday daytime peak hours (7:00 a.m. to 3:59 p.m.) and four sheriff personnel during the weekday evening hours (4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.). Without adjustments to the current service schedule, the personnel to accommodate this demand would be available. A significant impact would occur if the number of on-site sheriff personnel would be fewer than four officers during the weekday evening hours, and one officer during the weekend hours.

The LAMC component of the proposed project is expected to result in a change to on-campus sheriff services, and the demand generated would required new or physically altered police facilities; such new or altered facilities are included as part of the proposed project. Propositions A and AA would fund the expansion and creation of a Sheriff/Safety Information Center consisting of approximately 6,000 gsf of building space within the existing Campus Services Building, which would provide the space necessary for additional personnel, locker-room accommodations, report writing, briefing rooms, team leader and deputy officers, as well as restrooms and showers.

Although the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department provides primary police protection services to the LAMC Campus, the LAPD provides police-protection services to the adjacent residential areas. From time to time, LAMC events and academic programs cause temporary influx of local area populations ( e.g., commencement ceremony or athletic events). These temporary concentrations of local residents and visitors would increase commensurate with the anticipated change and growth of the LAMC programs and facilities. The LAPD opined27 that the increase in new students would

27 Baaed on LAMC Zip Code data for existing students, faculty and staff, nearly 85% of the College population originates from 11 communities within Northeast San Fernando Valley (October 2005).




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primarily come from the immediate area, such as those graduating from local area high schools. Rather than an increase in the area population attributable to student enrollment, a redistribution and concentration of the local area population would occur around the LAMC Campus, resulting in a need for more focused patrolling by the LAPD of the County Recreation Area and adjoining residential areas, but not necessarily an increase in the number of police officers. Thus the proposed project would not generate a demand for the expansion of LAPD facilities that would cause physical change in the environment. Therefore, no impacts would be anticipated and no mitigation measures would be required.

Parks

The operation of the proposed Nursery Property and Eldridge Avenue Streetscape Improvements would not result in significant impacts to existing neighborhood, regional parks, or other recreational facilities. LAMC would be fully contained and would not encroach into existing park lands. The proposed campus areas would consist of expanded facilities to serve the existing community and would not be expected to induce growth. Therefore, the project would be a less-than-significant impact the level of demand on existing park facilities in the community of Sylmar (see Recreation 3.13.3.2 Campus Impacts).

Cumulative Impacts

Police Protection Facilities

Operation of the related projects is expected to generate demand for additional police protection services in the Sylmar area. Since this demand would be funded from existing sources (e.g., property taxes) to which each related project would contribute, or other mechanisms to which publicly owned lands, including the proposed 2009 Master Plan, would contribute, cumulative impacts would not be significant. Each of the related projects would be evaluated by the appropriate lead agency to determine its individual impact on the County Sheriff and LACOPS services and the need for new facilities and to identify mitigation measures if necessary. Thus, less-than-significant operation-related cumulative impacts on police-protection services are expected to occur with implementation of the proposed project and the related projects.

Fire Protection Facilities

Twenty-two of thirty-four related projects are located within four miles of the proposed 2009 Master Plan site and would rely on the first response fire-protection services of City Fire Station 91. If the measures below were not already incorporated into the projects, the impact of the proposed project on Fire Station 91, when considered in combination with the impacts of the related projects that would also rely on the services of Fire Station 91, would be cumulatively considerable. This would occur because the equipment currently available to the fire station requires a response distance of 1.5 miles, and because the proposed project is located with city designated fire hazard zones.

There would be a less-than-significant cumulative impact because the following types of fire prevention and extinguishing features are part of the proposed 2009 Master Plan:

1. Improvements to existing water lines to accommodate project-specific fire-flow requirements;




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2. Increase in the number and location of fire hydrants in compliance with the state and city fire codes; and

3. Addition of fire extinguishing systems such as fire alarm systems, water-flow alarm devices, and fire sprinklers within project buildings and structures.

In addition, each of the related projects would be individually subject to environmental review with respect to the demand for fire protection services and availability and capacity of the existing facilities and services. Implementation of the types of fire prevention and extinguishing features described above, compliance with state and local fire codes, and adherence to standard construction practices would reduce cumulative impact on fire protection and the need for new facilities to a less-than-significant level.

3.12.3.3 Athletic Fields Impacts

Construction Impacts


The proposed Athletic Fields are located within the county—designated San Gabriel South Face Area and the city-designated zone of Additional Areas of High Fire Hazard. Currently, the site is undeveloped land with natural vegetation (dry brush), debris, an access road, and drainage culvert. The project proposes a 100-foot drainage easement over the existing channel and culvert which would limit construction at that location to minor drainage, access road, and pedestrian pathway improvements.

The Athletic Fields construction phases would include demolition, site clearing, grading, and building. The construction planned for the proposed Athletic Fields would include the use of heavy equipment powered by small amounts of flammable liquid (diesel or other fuels). The site would be cleared of vegetation, flammable rubbish, and any other combustible features28 prior to the use of graders, tractors, loaders, and other heavy construction equipment. Required watering for dust and erosion control would reduce the potential for accidental fires. With the use of standard construction practices and adherence to the state, county, and city fire codes to the extent required, the potential impact for an accidental fire to occur during construction is very low and would be less than significant. No mitigation measure beyond compliance with requirements would be necessary.


Construction of the proposed Athletic Fields would involve a temporary workforce on the construction sites during weekdays for a period of approximately 10 months. This project component is expected to draw its construction sites during weekdays for a period of approximately 10 months. This project component is expected to draw its construction workforce from the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Therefore, no permanent project-related increase in population would be expected during the construction period. The individual construction staging sites within the proposed project would be secured with temporary fencing, separating the construction activity, equipment, and materials from ongoing activities within the proposed Athletic Fields site. The construction contractor would provide security from the fenced construction area as necessary and would be responsible for installing temporary security lighting within the proposed Athletic Fields

28 City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Municipal Code (5.02.02)




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site to further secure equipment and materials. With the proposed lighting and individual construction site fencing, the existing resources (personnel and equipment) available to the LACOPS would be sufficient to provide adequate police service during the construction period. Therefore, impacts on police services associated with the construction of the proposed Athletic Fields would be less than significant and no mitigation measures would be required.

Parks

This analysis concludes that the proposed Athletic Fields would not have potentially significant impacts to existing neighborhood, regional parks, or other recreational facilities. LAMC would be fully contained and would not encroach into existing park lands. The proposed Athletic Fields consist of expanded facilities to serve the LAMC growth and would not be expected to induce growth.

Operational Impacts


The proposed Athletic Fields exhibits minimal structural development other than planned site amenities such as restrooms, concessions stands, restrooms, press boxes, batting cages, bull pens, a walking path, par course, and two surface street parking lots. Water lines for domestic water, irrigation, and fire-protection fire hydrants would be installed on-site with connections to existing facilities.

As mentioned above, the proposed Athletic Fields site lies outside of the response distance of the nearest fire station (Fire Station 91), and it is located within the city-designated Additional Areas of High Fire Hazard. Project features proposed to reduce fire hazard include landscape irrigation, regular maintenance of Athletic Fields and landscape areas, a pre-evacuation alarm notification system, and a procedure for emergency evacuation of the ball fields.

In an event of a wildfire, during the recreational use of these fields, an emergency evacuation procedure would include advanced notification from LAMC to dispatch law enforcement personnel to evacuate patrons from the proposed Athletic Fields. The Athletic fields would be evacuated well in advance. The personnel would follow up with safely guiding southbound traffic from Mountain Glenn Terrace and surrounding homes via Maclay Street.

In addition, residents north of the LAMC Main Campus and El Cariso Community Regional Park would have direct access through the SIBL fields via Simshaw Avenue for emergency evacuation and safety purposes. The guard that currently patrols the fenced entryway would open and coordinate traffic through the site.29

With the implementation of proposed Athletic Fields features, compliance to state and local fire codes, and adherence to standard construction practices, the impact on fire protection would be less than significant. No mitigation would be necessary.

29 Source: Personal Communication with Fred Duran, President, SIBL (6.30.2009)




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Operation of the proposed Athletic Fields would involve county program management and maintenance responsibilities for the 16.06 acres of parkland and improvements that would be accessible from a roadway that connects to Harding Street. The existing fields on El Cariso Community Regional Park currently attract up to a maximum of 800 patrons30 each day year-round (covering programming hours of 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.). The proposed Athletic Fields would shift the current El Cariso Community Regional Park field and soccer activities and associated concentration of people (including personal belongings) from the west side of the County Recreation Area. Any new recreational facilities on the proposed Athletic Fields would continue to service the same population of users from a 20-mile radius, the typical service area for a regional park with the types of amenities offered at El Cariso Community Regional Park. Any new patrons utilizing the fields are assumed to be from within the same 20-miles service radius. As a result, the proposed Athletic Fields would not cause the project to exceed the existing 1:1000 police–to-population service ratio. The project would necessitate a change in police practices but not necessarily a change in the number of police officers assigned to the LACOPS and to the project site. An increase in recreational activity and incidence of petty crime associated with the concentration of people (and personal belongings) would be reduced by an adjustment in LACOPS’ patrolling practices and the proposed installation of security lighting within the parking areas.

While the development of the proposed project is expected to result in a change to police patrolling practices, the demand would not require new or physically altered police facilities. With the adherence and implementation of mitigation measures, impacts to police protection services would be less than significant.

Parks

The existing campus would fully contain and not encroach into existing park lands. The proposed Athletic Fields consist of expanded facilities to serve existing community and would not be expected to induce growth.

Cumulative Impacts

Police Protection Facilities

Operation of the related projects is expected to generate demand for additional police-protection services in the Sylmar area. If this demand is not funded from existing sources (e.g., property taxes) to which each related project would contribute, or other mechanisms to which publicly owned lands would contribute, cumulative impacts may be significant. However, each of the related projects would be evaluated by the appropriate lead agency to determine its individual impact on the County Sheriff’s and LACOP’s services and to identify mitigation measures, if necessary.

Fire Protection Facilities

Twenty-two of thirty-four 31 related projects are located within four miles of the proposed Athletic Fields site and would rely on the first response fire-protection services of City Fire Station 91. If the measures below were not already incorporated into the projects, the impact of the proposed Athletic

30 PCR EIR, LAMC Master Plan and Public Recreation Improvement Program (October 2005). 31 LADOT, Related Projects List (5.19.2009).




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Fields on Fire Station 91, when considered in combination with the impacts of the related projects that would also rely on the services of Fire Station 91, would be cumulatively considerable. This would occur because the equipment currently available to the fire station requires a response distance of 1.5 miles, and because the proposed Athletic Fields are located with city-designated fire hazard zones.

The significant cumulative impacts would be avoided because the following types of fire prevention and extinguishing features are part of the proposed Athletic Fields:

1. Improvements to existing water lines to accommodate project-specific fire-flow requirements;

2. Increase in the number and location of fire hydrants in compliance with the state and city fire codes; and

3. Addition of fire extinguishing systems such as fire alarm systems, water-flow alarm devices, and fire sprinklers within project buildings and structures.

In addition, each of the related projects would be individually subject to environmental review with respect to the demand for fire protection services and availability and capacity of the existing facilities and services. Implementation of the types of fire prevention and extinguishing features described above, compliance with state and local fire codes, and adherence to standard construction practices, would reduce cumulative impact on fire protection and the need for new facilities to a less–than-significant level.

3.12.4 Mitigation Measures for Significant Impacts

No significant impacts would occur, so no mitigation measures would be necessary.

3.12.5 Level of Significance after Mitigation

Impacts would be less than significant.