CEQA Primer

Since 1970, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) has provided environmental law and policy for the state. Public agencies provide a public-engagement process to identify significant environmental impacts and provide mitigations, where feasible, before making a final decision on projects. Some projects, like a development ballot initiative, or certain projects falling under certain State Laws such as “SB 35”, bypass the CEQA process. The city presented an training on the CEQA process to the Planning Commission with Council Members Chao and Willey in attendance, and a specific presentation to the Environmental Review Committee in order to explain the role of and decision-making parameters for that committee more specifically. Watch the video below and read the CEQA presentation here. The CEQA process flow chart is available here.

The Association of Environmental Professionals 2020 CEQA Statute and Guidelines is available online: