HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-17-1995MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA
APRIL 17, 1995
At 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 22 Civic Center Plaza, Clerk of the Council Janice C. Guy
announced the regular meetings of the City Council and the Community Redevelopment Agency
were adjourned to the 2nd Floor Conference Room of the Santa Ana Library, to commence at
6:10 p.m. or as soon as possible thereafter.
CALLED TO ORDER
BY COUNCILMEMBER
McGUIGAN
6:30 P.M.
2nd Floor Conference Room
Santa Ana Library
26 Civic Center Plaza
ATTENDANCE:
COUNCILMEMBERS
Present:
ROBERT L. RICHARDSON, Mayor Pro Tern
(6:41 P.M.)
TONY ESPINOZA
TOM LUTZ
PATRICIA A. McGUIGAN
LISA MILLS
TED R MORENO
Absent: MIGUEL A. PULIDO, Mayor
STAFF:
DAVID N. REAM, City Manager
RICHARD E. LAY, Assistant City Attorney
JANICE C. GUY, Clerk of the Council
RECESSED TO COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY - 6:30 P.M.
RECONVENED - 6:32 P.M. - All Councilmembers present except Mayor Pulido and
Councilmember Richardson
WORK STUDy SESSION
Planning and Building Agency Executive Director Robyn Uptegraff reviewed the agenda for the
session, indicating the content would include completion of the discussion regarding the project
review process, the plan check process, public safety policies and review procedures, and the
inspection process as time permitted. She distributed a copy of a Los Angeles Times article
demonstrating sign blight, a memo outlining the scope of work for a consultant to conclude the
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 101 APRIL 17, 1995
review of the City's development policies and processes, and a statistical abstract of Building
Safety permit and instruction activity from 1980 to the present. In response to her inquiry
regarding the schedule for the work study session on the Logan area zoning designation, the
Council informally agreed to reschedule that meeting to June 1, 1995.
PROJECT REVIEW
Senior Planner Charles View distributed a memo comparing Santa Ana's project review fees to
those of Rancho Santa Margarita for two typical developments, noting Santa Ana's fees were
significantly lower. He explained that the Planning Division currently uses a "front-loaded"
review process (all variances from codes, standards, and policies are identified before allowing the
project to proceed) rather than a "back-loaded" review (identifies areas of non-compliance as
project review progresses). View commented that staff`believed the "front-loaded" system
reduced overall processing time. He noted, however, staff`was considering amending the process
to allow site plan review and plan check to proceed simultaneously, and to invite applicants to
attend staffs all-department project review sessions.
PLAN CHECK
Building Safety Manager Jim Lindgren explained the mission of the Building Safety Division was
to insure the buildings constructed in Santa Ana insured a reasonable degree of safety for the
building owners, occupants, and uses carried on within them. He indicated the responsibility of
the Division was to comply with all federal, state, and local laws concerning building safety and
noted the primary functions of the Division were plan check and inspections.
Senior Plan Check Engineer Robert Tyler demonstrated the plan check process through a flow
chart, reviewed several plan check forms, and provided current statistics regarding allocation of
plan check hours by function. Tyler then showed a chart that compared Santa Ana's plan check
staff, time required by plan check category such as tenant improvements and under $20,000
projects, hours of service, and fees with eight other jurisdictions. Planning and Building Agency
Executive Director Uptegraff noted all Santa Ana plan check staff members were certified by the
International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO).
Uptegraff`indicated staff`was considering the feasibility of a new surcharge to cover costs for
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title 24 handicapped plan check evaluations and also
planning to set up a "one-stop" development review counter when the Police Department vacates
its current facility.
RECESSED - 8:00 P.M.
RECONVENED - 8:10 P.M. - All Councilmembers present except Mayor Pulido
PUBLIC SAFETY DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
Police Chief Paul Walters reported that the Santa Ana Police Department had been recognized
nationally for its leadership in Crime Prevention through Environmental Design by the United
States Conference of Mayors, and explained the Department worked to prevent crime by
evaluating projects for safety and security features. He introduced Police Community Services
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
102 APRIL 17, 1995
Specialist Mike McCoy who reviewed the elements that went into the design of a safe and secure
environment such as window and landscaping placement.
McCoy noted that the Police policy stressed a balance of aesthetics and safety for projects as
opposed to "siege mentality" elements such as window bars and floodlights.
Councilmembers discussed the land use certificate process and several land uses with safety
concerns including laundromats, carnivals, and recycling centers. In response to Councilmember
Lutz' inquiry, staff explained the process for revoking a conditional use permit on a site where the
owner would not remove view-obstructing window signs. Councilmember Mills requested staff
investigate the recent installation ora recycling center at the Bristol/Memory Lane Shopping
Center. Mayor Pro Tem Richardson requested the Police inform adjacent residents of
applications for carnival permits prior to their approval.
Lieutenant Ken Hall provided the Council with an overview of the alcoholic beverage control
(ABC) licensing permit process. He noted a direct relationship between alcohol availability and
crime, and that Santa Ana currently contains approximately 450 ABC-licensed premises.
Police Investigative Specialist Yolanda Pefia enumerated the various kinds of ABC licenses such
as originals and premises-to-premises transfer and explained the differences between various off-
sale and on-sale license types. She provided the Council with maps showing the location of
existing ABC licenses, discussed the Police conditions imposed on a typical ABC license, and
noted that the Alcoholic Beverage Control agency did not grant additional ABC licenses in areas
with an oversaturation of existing licenses and high crime statistics.
Councilmembers discussed several tactics for imposing more stringent ABC licensing controls.
Noting the lateness of the hour, the Council agreed to defer staffs presentation on the Inspection
Process to the April 27 Workstudy Session.
By unanimous informal consent, the Council approved the scope of work and hiring of an
independent consultant to conclude the review of the City's development policies and processes.
ADJOURNMENT - 9:34 P.M. - In memory of Newport Beach Police Officer Robert Henry
recently killed in the line of duty
To 5:30 p.m., April 27, 1995 in the Conference Room of the
Santa Ana Library, 26 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 103 APRIL 17, 1995