The Arcadia City Council authorized staff to award an environmental review contract to Helix Environmental Planning, Inc. for the Rogers Garage affordable‑housing project and approved a 10% contingency at the council meeting.

Motion and vote: the council approved a contract in the amount of $115,190 to Helix Environmental Planning for CEQA/NEPA services for the Rogers Garage project, authorized a 10% contingency, and authorized the city manager to execute related documents. Council recorded a 4–0 vote in favor with Council member Atkins Salazar recused from the matter.

Why the item was pulled and what residents said: the item had been pulled from the consent calendar for public comment. Neighbors and community groups urged a broader environmental review than the focused EIR described in the city’s request for proposals. Public commenters cited several site‑specific issues they said the focused scope must address or should expand to cover: historical contamination and ongoing Regional Water Quality Control Board oversight; a small wetland feature on the property; vapor intrusion concerns; a decades‑old storm drainage pipe that plaintiffs say crosses under Jacoby Creek School; and potential impacts to the adjacent school and neighborhood traffic and safety. Several speakers asked the city to defer awarding a consultant contract until the project applicant submits a complete project application and an initial study identifies the full scope.

Staff response and process notes: planning staff said the city initially thought the project qualified for a categorical exemption, but the Cortese‑listed contamination on the site and new information prompted a move to an EIR. Staff told the council the RFP solicited a focused, project‑level EIR but that scoping — and the subsequent EIR process — could add subject areas if new issues emerge during scoping or agency review. Staff said a community meeting and additional outreach material (a short project film) are planned to ensure all residents have access to consistent project information before public scoping and that the planning commission will continue to review the matter.

Public commenters: several neighborhood residents and community organizations urged a comprehensive approach. Kathleen Stanton (Building Bayside Better) argued approving a contract before the city receives a complete project application was “procedurally improper” and could unfairly narrow analysis; Lisa Brown (Bayside) said neighbors remain “gun‑shy” because of prior unpermitted activity and urged a full assessment including traffic, hydrology and noise; other speakers highlighted the Cortese list designation and the newly identified wetland.

Council action and next steps: with the Helix contract awarded, staff will begin the scoped environmental review and coordinate with resource agencies, including the Regional Water Quality Control Board, and bring draft documents and notices through the required CEQA/NEPA steps. Staff also committed to a community scoping meeting this winter with preparatory materials and an online posting of draft documents so residents can follow revisions.

Ending: the vote advances the environmental review work; council members and residents said they expect the scoping process and draft EIR to respond to the contamination and school‑adjacent impacts raised during public comment.