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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13B - COUNCIL COMMITTEES CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT/CODE ENFORCEMENT Meeting Minutes April 26, 2005 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:34 p.m. in Room 831 of City Hall. ATTENDANCE The following Councilmembers were present: Lisa Bist and Carlos Bustamante Councilmember Alberta Christy excused absence Staff present were: Kenneth Adams, Assistant Director/Planning and Building Agency; Ben Kaufman, Chief Assistant City Attorney; and Bruce Dunams, Community Preservation Manager. AGENDA ITEMS 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MARCH 22, 2005 ADJOURNED MEETING Approved by a vote of 2:0 (Christy absent) 2. VENDING TRUCK ORDINANCE UPDATE Bruce Dunams provided an update describing the code enforcement activities related to the vending truck enforcement over the past several months. At the time of the meeting no communication had been received from the mobile vendors group or its representative. The committee asked staff to prepare a presentation of the previous proposed program in its entirety so that the committee could make a determination of its proposal to present to the City Council. 3. DUE ON SALE GARAGE INSPECTION PROGRAM Ben Kaufman gave an overview of the research that he prepared from various programs throughout the country. He discussed a variety of programs in the state of California, and also outlined the program in Minneapolis, Minnesota which he believed to be the most comprehensive. The programs were as varied as the jurisdictions. Tim Rush presented the committee with historical efforts to develop a due on sale inspection program in the city. He discussed the resistance of the local real estate brokers association to such a program due to the potential negative consequences to their real estate transactions. The committee asked staff to prepare a brief history of the work efforts of the organization to date. 13B-1 4. REAL ESTATE BROKER DISCLOSURE ISSUES Ben Kaufman presented a legal perspective of the real estate disclosure issues. His comments suggested that many of the cases that had been brought to the attention of the committee were most likely issues of fraud which would best be dealt with in the legal system. He did not recommend the committee attempt to develop new legislation to address this issue as he felt there are adequate protections under the current system. 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS Julie Stroud commented that the police response time to shots being fired at Bristol and Santa Clara was very slow. 6. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS - None 7. ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING A. Continuous discussion of the Vendor Truck Ordinance - Staff B. Update of City/County Deputy Inspection Program - Bustamante C. Review of the Ice Cream Truck Ordinance - Staff D. Discussion of Due on Sale Garage Inspection Program - Staff (if time allows) 8. NEXT MEETING DATE: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 ADJOURNMENT - 7:42 P.M. ~~~ Kenneth Adams Assistant Director Planning & Building Agency S:CouncH CommINlCE CC/NICE Minutes 04-26-05 Neighborhood ImprovemenUCode Enforcement Council Committee Minutes 2 April 26. 2005 13B-2 SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE PUBLIC SAFETY Minutes of Meeting March 28, 2005 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was convened at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall, 20 Civic Center Plaza, 8th Floor, Room 831, Santa Ana, California. ATTENDANCE Councilmembers present: Councilmembers Alberta Christy, Claudia Alvarez and Carlos Bustamante. Staff present: Assistant City Manager Debra Kurita, Assistant City Attorney Paula Coleman, Police Chief Paul Walters, Fire Chief Phil Garcia, Fire Marshal Lori Smith, Lieutenant Carlos Rojas, Sergeant Lorenzo Carrillo, Officer Adrian Silva, Police Service Officer Georgina Rivas. Public present: Ray and Evangeline Gawronski, and Dave Guccione, TNT Fireworks. SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approved Minutes of the January 10, 2005 meeting. 2. TRUANCY UPDATE - POSSIBLE GRANT FUNDING Chief Walters distributed a memorandum written by Lt. Bill Tegeler detailing the continuing efforts to obtain grant funding for the OC Truancy Program. The Police Department is working with the Parks, Recreation & Community Services Agency in submitting an application for a Federal Department of Corrections Title V Grant in which we have specifically identified truants as a risk factor and gateway to juvenile delinquency. The grants are scheduled for a mid-May award. The Police Department will advise the Committee as to the progress of this application. 3. CRIME-FREE MULTI-HOUSING PROGRAM PSO Rivas presented a pilot program for the Northeast Division entitled Crime-Free Multi-Housing. The targeted area boundaries are 17th to 1 st and Flower to Grand. The purpose of the program is to partner with apartment owners and managers of rental property to help keep drugs, gangs and other illegal activity off of their property. 13B-3 2 The Fire Department and Community Preservation were included in the manual and will also be involved in the project. The program consists of three phases: 1) A free 8-hour training program to equip apartment managers with skills in protecting the rental property investment; 2) Crime prevention through environmental design; and 3) Tenant safety meetings. The first training class for apartment managers is scheduled for May 4, 2005. 4. POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY RELATIONS TEAM (CRT) Lt. Rojas reviewed the Police Department's Community Relations Team and some of the projects they have been involved with in the community. The Team consists of 15 Police Department volunteer employees from various Divisions who desire to reach out and share information with the community. They are available to speak to community groups and forums on specific topics, conduct question and answer forums about public safety and attend community events. Sgt. Carrillo will be the new contact person for the CRT. 5. ILLEGAL FIREWORKS EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN Fire Chief Garcia, Fire Marshal Smith, Lt. Rojas and Officer Silva reviewed the proposed educational campaign and presented newly prepared flyers regarding illegal fireworks to the Committee. The campaign has three components: Awareness, Education and Enforcement. Businesses are supporting the program by displaying posters and flyers, paid for by John Kelly of TNT Fireworks. The campaign includes public service announcements on Spanish TV stations and press conferences with visual illustrations of the dangers of using illegal fireworks. Presentations will be conducted at elementary schools with special celebrity speakers and pledge certificates will go home to parents. The Police and Fire Departments are committed to reducing the negative impact of the use/possession of illegal fireworks and the irresponsible use of legal fireworks in the community. 6. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mr. Guccione spoke about successful programs in other cities of placing surcharges on fireworks permits for administrative costs. Mr. Gawronski asked about targeting PTA meetings regarding illegal fireworks. 13B-4 C~TY OF SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON MAIN STREET DEVELOPMENT MINUTES March 30, 2005 CALL TO ORDER The meeting convened at 5:45 p.m. in City Hall, Room 831, 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, California. ATTENDANCE City Council Committee members present: Councilmember Claudia Alvarez and Council member Lisa Bist. Staff members present: Community Development Agency Executive Director Patricia C. Whitaker, Planning and Building Agency Executive Director Steve Harding, Planning Manager Jay Trevino, Chief Assistant City Attorney Benjamin Kaufman, Principal Planner Karen Haluza, Community Preservation Inspector Alvaro Nunez, Downtown Development Manager Matthew Lamb and Redevelopment Assistant, Danell Mercado. Community members present: None AGENDA ITEMS 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - February 16, 2005 Action: The minutes were approved 2:0 2. PROPOSED CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS A citation was issued to Auto Zone. A frame signs on South Main are receiving citations. The sidewalk sales in Downtown are encroaching into the pedestrian pathway. Staff will work with businesses to review the location for merchandise during a sidewalk sale. 13B-5 3. BILLBOARD AT RAILROAD TRACKS ON SOUTH MAIN Staff discussed with Clear Channel the condition of the billboard. Clear Channel stated they would put up advertising and fix the broken area. Staff will investigate the possibility of getting the owner cited for public nuisance. 4. SPURGEON BUILDING Code Enforcement met with the owner. Some of the improvements have been made with some tenant being evicted. Code Enforcement recommended replacement of carpet and pad before they will sign off. The owner will not paint and put carpet in because of possible agreement to do flats in the building. The owner was granted a 30-day extension for compliance. 5. DOWNTOWN RETAIL SURVEY Staff distributed and discussed the survey for Downtown that was done at the Celebrate Santa Ana event in April 2004. The committee would like to see a survey done with the loft owners in Downtown with more specific questions regarding where they shop now, and what shops they would shop at in Downtown. 6. PROJECT UPDATES a) SWC First and Main Streets - Oriqinal Mike's- Occupancy has been approved on the units upstairs. The owner is proposing changes to the CUP that will require him to go back to Planning for approval. The committee asked to have this item removed from the agenda. . b) City Place - Grading will start in late spring with permits for the residential component coming in July. Committee asked to have this item removed from the agenda. c) YMCA- The two proposals will go to City Council closed session on April 18, 2005. City Council Commit,tee on Main Street Developmen't - Minutes 2 March 30, 2005 13B-6 d) 4th Street Pushcart Status- The agreement will go to City Council for approval on April 18. Once approved, new carts will be ordered. e) Sav-On Lofts - Windows and Mailboxes Public Works will send a letter to Save-On and Loft owners to remove the mailboxes from the sidewalk within 30 days. If the boxes are not removed, Public Works will remove them. Staff will investigate for the committee if a portion of all the windows can be covered, with a remainder at the top open for light. 7. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None 8. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS - Lisa Bist inquired about the possibility for a permit to be issued to the loft owners for metered spaces with an annual cost associated with the permit. The City Attorney, Ben Kaufman, will report back to the committee. List Bist informed staff that additional signage is needed during the Artist Openings on the first Saturday's of the month. The public is coming to the Artist Walk, however, they don't know additional galleries and exhibits are located in the lofts on the East side of Main. Staff will pursue placing signs up during the event to direct the public. 9. ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS a) Finalize downtown survey for loft owners. b) Parking Meter Permit Program for loft owners. c) Directional signage for 1 st Saturday of the month openings. City Council Commit~ee on Main Street Development - Minutes 3 March 30, 2005 13B-7 ---- -1 I 10. NEXT MEETING - April 20/2005 ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. to April 20, 2005. Pat icia C. Whitaker Recording Secretary Community Development Agency PCW/lf City Council Committ.ee on Main Street Development - Minutes 4 March 30, 2005 13B-8