16.06.070 Environmental checklist required.
A. Whenever a department determines that a proposal is a nonexempt action for which appropriate environmental review has not been conducted or commenced, the department shall prepare or shall require the action proponent to prepare and submit an environmental checklist. Upon completion or receipt of a completed environmental checklist, the department shall immediately transmit the following to the responsible official or the responsible official’s designee:
1. The original, signed copy of the environmental checklist; and
2. A copy of any completed application form in the department’s possession relating to the proposal; and
3. A copy of any project description, conceptual plan or plot plan which may have been prepared or submitted; and
4. Any additional information in the department’s possession touching upon the environmental impacts of the proposed action.
B. The environmental review process shall begin when an environmental checklist application is received by the responsible official. Incomplete applications shall be returned to the applicant for completion as directed by the responsible official as provided in ACC Title 14. Checklist applications include the completed environmental checklist form together with any site plans, studies or other information needed to adequately review the application.
C. A department initiating a nonexempt city action may request that the responsible official or the responsible official’s designee assist the department in preparing the necessary environmental checklist.
D. The provisions of this section shall not apply when the responsible official and the proponent of a nonexempt action agree in writing that the proposal is likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts, and further agree that an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared.
E. The responsible official may determine that the city will complete all or a part of an environmental checklist for a private proposal with its own staff, or may contract with one or more consultants to prepare or assist in preparation of a checklist, and may charge and collect fees from the applicant to cover costs incurred by the city in preparation of the checklist, if either of the following circumstances exist:
1. The city has technical information on a question or questions that is unavailable to the applicant; or
2. The applicant has provided inaccurate or incomplete information on previous proposals or on proposals currently under consideration.
F. If fees are to be collected, the applicant shall be advised of the estimated costs, and shall be required to secure payment of such costs prior to the actual preparation of all or part of the environmental checklist. (Ord. 4840 § 1, 1996.)