Updates for Hermosa oil documents, master plan approved for South Park
E&B’s rendering of its proposed oil drilling site. Courtesy of E&B Natural Resources
The Hermosa Beach City Council on Tuesday night asked for additional changes to a cost benefit analysis currently underway examining the proposed E&B oil drilling project. The council also approved a concept design for improvements to the playground at South Park.
DOCUMENTS FOR PROPOSED OIL PROJECT
City Council asked Kosmont Companies, the firm selected by the city to compile the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), to include responses to the roughly 300 public comments that were submitted, look at geological data specific to Hermosa Beach and include expert testimony in the final CBA. City Manager Tom Bakaly said this would cost the city $50,000 in addition to the original $125,000 that was budgeted for the CBA. He said the CBA should be finalized by the end of June.
A revised Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is now slated to be available in early July. The HIA was withdrawn by the city in April at the request of McDaniel Lambert, Inc., the consulting group that compiled it. The final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be available June 9. State law requires the city to provide an EIR, but not a CBA or HIA, prior to a vote on the proposed oil drilling project. Council also voted to have a joint study session with the city’s planning commission on June 18 at 6 p.m. on the final EIR.
An early draft of the development agreement between the city and E&B Natural Resources will be available at the June 10 City Council meeting.
SOUTH PARK PLAN
City Council voted unanimously to approve a final concept design for the first phase of improvements to the playground area at South Park that would include play areas for different ages, a double slide, sand and water play areas and more. An existing skate rink will be removed from the park.
City staff estimate that the first phase of construction for the project will cost $563,000. The city received a grant from Los Angeles County for $150,000 in 2011 for the first phase. Construction costs for the entire project could cost up to $960,000. Other elements to be added in later phases of the project include a children’s community garden, fencing and picnic areas. Work on the first phase of the project will begin in July.