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MINUTES Page 4 City of San Leandro City Council and San Leandro Redevelopment Agency Joint Meeting-September 7, 2004 City Manager J ermanis introduced the item and outlined the staff recommendation to establish a 45-day moratorium on the approval of new crematorium facilities within the City to allow time for staff to review the zoning issues. Mr. Jermanis introduced Communi ty Development Director Hanson Horn. Mr. Horn announced that, for the benefit of some of the audience members, Senior Transportation Engineer Reh- Lin Chen would provide a Mandarin interpretation of his comments. Mr. Horn gave additional background and staff recommendation on the application for a crematorium on Tin10thy Drive. He stated that if the City Council adopts the ordinance establishing the 45-day lTIOratorium, a public hearing will be held on October 18 to consider an extension of the moratorium for a total of one year. Mr. Horn noted that \vhile the n10ratorium is in effect, no building permits or construction approvals will be allowed, regardless of actions taken by other agencies such as the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD). Mr. Horn stated that many cities, including San Leandro, currently allow crematoriums as a permitted use in industrial zoning districts. However, Mr. Horn noted that in San Leandro, many industrial-zoned properties abut residential areas, so there is a need to assess the appropriateness of locating these facilities near residential areas. He described some of the options available for consideration by the Council. Mayor Young commented that the City Council has received letters expressing concerns regarding the permit application from the Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program and As sen1blYffiember Wilma Chan, and she received a phone call from AssemblYl11ember Leland Yee. She noted that Bay Area Cremation and Funeral Services sent a letter in support of its application. Brian Bateman, BAAQMD, provided information on the Air District's permit review process and an update on the status of All Faith Crematory's application. Mr. Bateman stated that the permit review process is a staff function. The Board does not playa role in the process, and Board men1bers generally do not have knowledge of permit applications within their jurisdictions. Mr. Bateman noted that, at Mayor Young's suggestion, the District is consideling changing its procedures to notify the Board of those projects for which public comn1ent is solicited. Mr. Bateman stated that the 30-day public comment period has recently ended, and the BAAQMD received a large number of comments. BAAQMD is required to respond to all the COlTIments prior to taking action on the permit, and Mr. Bateman estimated it will take BAAQMD staff approxin1ately 60 days to respond to all the comments. Councilmember Santos asked Mr. Bateman whether BAAQMD staff was familiar with the proposed location for the crematorium. Mr. Bateman indicated that District staff was familiar with the area as it was necessary in order to perform its site-specific health risk assessn1ent.