Upcoming Council Meeting Agenda Highlights

  • September 12, 2021, 8:15 am America/Los_Angeles

SCAQMD Presentation on the All American Asphalt Plant

(Agenda item 1.1-1.3)

Since 2018, more than 800 Irvine residents have filed formal complaints with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) reporting noxious odors, sore throats, breathing problems and have expressed concerns over potential exposure to high levels of potentially dangerous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s).

Residents attribute the cause of their concerns to the All American Asphalt (AAA) plant located just miles from their schools and neighborhoods. As a result, neighbors have organized, lobbied, held public meetings, sought out scientific support from volunteer experts from the University of California at Irvine (UCI), and spoke out at council meetings and public forums begging the City for empathy, assistance, and more support.

At the upcoming council meeting, Mayor Farrah Khan and Councilmember Anthony Kuo have requested a presentation (Agenda item 1.1-1.3) be made by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) to the city council. The presentation is expected to provide SCAQMD air quality testing results conducted near Portola Springs, Orchard Hills, Eastwood Village, and other affected neighborhoods in the north Irvine area.

The memo requesting the presentation reads:

“SCAQMD recently finalized air emission studies related to AAA and also reviewed studies commissioned by the City as well as conducted by UCI professors. Separately, SCAQMD determined that air sensors supplied to residents for testing by the Jun Wu Research Group at UCI are unreliable, and Professor Wu sent a letter to the community activists with this information on August 4.”

“SCAQMD will soon issue a fact sheet for the community to be informed of all relevant AAA air emission study results. We request a presentation at the Irvine City Council meeting of September 14, 2021, to review the latest air studies and answer any questions from the community. We request that staff invite representatives from SCAQMD and UCI to this meeting.”

Since this item has been agendized as a presentation only and not a council business item, no council action will be taken.

For more information on the AAA issue and past council action, testing, resident complaints, and more, read past reporting by Irvine Watchdog HERE.

Additional Resources:

  • Watch the public study session hosted by Councilmember Larry Agran on July 28, 2021, at City Hall, where over two hours of public testimony was heard from concerned residents on this issue. Click HERE.
  • Watch this city council candidate webinar hosted by Non-Toxic Neighborhoods in October 2020 with local candidates HERE.

 

Extension of Employment Agreement with Interim City Manager Marianna Marysheva

(Agenda item 2.5)

As previously reported by the Irvine Watchdog, the current employment agreement with Interim City Manager is due to expire, and the City has engaged a recruiter to search for a new city manager. Unfortunately, it appears more time is needed to complete the search.

Agenda item 2.5 will extend the current employment agreement for four months, covering September 9, 2021, to January 10, 2022. The staff report reads, “Other than extending the term of the Interim Contract, no other modifications to the agreement are proposed.”  

The City has conducted no public forums to solicit community input on what residents want in a new city manager. The recruiter has created a simple online survey to gather some limited input which you can take HERE.

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To view the entire council agenda click HERE.
To submit an e-Comment click HERE.