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Aii guidelines, will inform public decision-makers and the general public of the environmental effects of projects they propose to carry out or approve. The EIR process is intended to enable public agencies to evaluate a project to determine whether it may have a significant effect on the environment, examine and institute methods of reducing adverse impacts, and consider alternatives to the project as proposed. These things must be done prior to approval or disapproval of the project. An EIR may not be used as an instrument to rationalize approval of a project, nor do indications of adverse impact, as enunciated in an EIR, require that a project be disapproved--public agencies retain existing authority to balance environmental objectives with economic and social. objectives. IV. EXEMPTIONS. The following projects shall be exempt from the require- ment of an environmental impact report: a) ONGOING PROJECTS. Those set forth in Guidelines 15070, subparagraph b,c,d and e. b) EMERGENCY PROJECTS. Those set forth in Guidelines 15071 . c) . FEASIBILITY AND PLANNING STUDIES. Those set forth in Guidelines 15073. d) MINISTERIAL PROJECTS. Those set forth in Guidelines 15073. (1 ) Also deemed to be ministerial is the issuance of permits under the uniform building, electrical , plumbing, mechanical and housing codes adopted by the Town. e) CATEGORICAL EXEMPTIONS. Those set forth in Guidelines 15100 through 15112. (1 ) Except that Guidelines 15114 may modify the right to the exemptions based on location as determined by the Decision Making Body. V. EXEMPTION DETERMINATION. The decision concerning the exemptions set forth in Paragraph IV hereof shall be made by the City Manager or his designated representative and shall be recorded in writing on an Exemption Determination Form prepared by the Town. Each Exemption Determination made pursuant to subsections b, c and e of Section IV above shall be promptly reported to the City Council . VI. ALTERNATE DETERMINATION. In the event the City Manager or his desig- nated representative is unable to determine that the project comes within the exemptions set forth in Paragraph IV, then the matter shall be referred in writing to the Decision Making Body for a deter- mination as to whether or not the project may have a significant effect upon the environment. The applicant shall submit information required by the Town on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet form prepared by the Town. In the event the Decision Making Body determines that said project may not have a significant effect upon the environment, the Town Clerk shall file a Notice of Determination with the County Clerk of the County of Santa Clara. In the event the Decision Making Body determines that the project may have a significant effect on the environment, an environmental impact report shall be prepared, in accordance with the _Guidelines, 15085, subsections (a) through (h). VII. NEGATIVE DECLARATION. In the event the Decision Making Body deter- mines that the project, which would ordinarily, be expected to have -2-