2014-04-28 Development & Transportation

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CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION Special Meeting Minutes April 28, 2014 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:10 p.m. in Room 1600 of the City Hall Ross Annex. ATTENDANCE The following Committee Members were Present: Vincent Sarmiento, Michele Martinez, David Benavides Staff Present: David Cavazos, City Manager; William Galvez, Interim Executive Director /Public Works Agency; Ryan Hodge, Assistant City Attorney; Karen Haluza, Interim Executive Director /Planning and Building Agency; Jason Gabriel, Principal Civil Engineer; and Lorrie Ortiz, PWA Executive Secretary. Consultants Present: George Pla, President -CEO Cordoba Corporation; Cathy Higley, Vice President of Transportation, Cordoba Corporation Orange County Transportation Authority Representatives Present: Jim Beil, P.E. Executive Director /Capital Programs, OCTA; Kelly Hart, Project Manager, OCTA PUBLIC COMMENTS Craig Durfey spoke in favor of expanding the Orange County Bicycle Club Committee; and the need to include more non - profit organizations to increase awareness and publicize events such as the upcoming Ciclavia event in October 2014. Suggested ordinances for more bicyclist visibility and securing more noticeable vests for activities. He hopes that the efforts of his organization have helped educate the public about pedestrian /bicycle safety. Carl Benninger, resident, spoke in support of the streetcar project, and the need to move ahead on this key project. He noted the project's importance to the development of the City, stating that other cities such as Portland have successful streetcar projects. Mark Lopez, resident, expressed concern about the streetcar alignment on 4th Street because the street is already crowded and has existing parking issues, so designing a train and vehicles on that street is impractical. He inquired about the proposed alignments and was provided with the project website for more detailed information concerning the project.