Mountain View Whisman School District

Agenda Item for Board Meeting of 4/1/2021

Agenda Category:  CONSENT AGENDA

Agenda Item Title:  Adoption of Resolution No. 02-040121 for Determination that the District Administration Office Reconfiguration Project is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, Approving the Project, and Directing the Filing of a Notice of Exemption

Estimated Time: 

Person Responsible:  Rebecca Westover, Ed. D., Chief Business Officer

Background: 

The District has developed the District Administration Office Reconfiguration Project (“Project”), which consists of interior renovations to the District Administration site, including relocation of interior walls to expand and renovate existing offices.

The Project is located at the existing District Administration building at 1400 Montecito Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94043.

Before the District may determine to carry out the Project, it must complete environmental review under CEQA, which exempts certain defined projects from completing a negative declaration or environmental impact report.  District staff has determined that the Project meets the definition of the Class 1 Categorical Exemption, set forth in CEQA Guidelines section 15301. 

RATIONALE:

The Class 1 Categorical Exemption exempts a project that consists of the repair or minor alteration of existing public structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination; an example is interior or exterior alterations involving such things as interior partitions, plumbing, and electrical conveyances.  Here, the Project consists of interior renovations only, which would not increase the building’s capacity or square footage, and is therefore exempt from further CEQA review, as set forth in the Resolution. 

Once a project is determined to be exempt, it is no longer subject to either the procedural or substantive requirements of CEQA.  Thus, CEQA review would be complete should the Board determine that the Project is exempt and to carry out the Project.

There are no known unusual circumstances that would otherwise except the Project from the categorical exemption.  Accordingly, it is proper to determine the Project categorically exempt under CEQA.

Should the Board adopt the Resolution, District staff will file a Notice of Exemption with the Santa Clara County Clerk and the State Clearinghouse.

That the Board adopt Resolution No. 02-040121 Determining that the District Administration Office Reconfiguration Project is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, Approving the Project, and Directing the Filing of a Notice of Exemption