HomeMy WebLinkAbout13B - COUNCIL CMT MINUTES - DEV AND TRANSCITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON
DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION
Meeting Minutes
September 4, 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, David Benavaides
Absent: Michele Martinez
Staff present were: Karen Haluza, Interim Executive Director /Planning & Building Agency;
William Galvez, Interim Exec. Director /Public Works Agency; Ryan Hodge, Assistant City
Attorney; Scott Kutner, District Manager; Alma Flores, Senior Management Assistant; Nabil
Saba, Water Resources Manager; Taig Higgins, Acting City Engineer; Gerald Caraig,
Building Safety Manager; Vince Fregoso, Acting Planning Manager; Alvaro Nunez,
Community Preservation Coordinator; and Rosa Barela, PBA Executive Secretary.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Gilad Salmon noted concern on the impact on Fourth Street business and events with the
Streetcar Project and requested mitigation of any potential impacts, and requested to make
this project bikeable.
Chris Garrett, attorney for Latham & Watkins LLP, representing TelePacific
Communications, noted concern on the possible conversions of industrially designated land
to residential use and urged Council to consider compatibility and spoke on the proposal of
residential at their site.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — June 30, 2014 Special Meeting
Motion by Committee member Benavides and seconded by Chairman Sarmiento to
approve the June 30, 2014 Special Meeting minutes and approved unanimously by a
vote of 2:0 (Martinez absent).
Taken out of Agenda Order
8. UPDATE ON YMCA {Strategic Plan No. 3, 5A}
Scott Kutner provided an update on the reuse of the YMCA Building noting Council
voted to authorize staff to enter into discussions with St. Joseph Health and Taller
San Jose development team; will bring to the Council for their consideration at their
13B -1
September 16, 2014 meeting the approval of an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement,
authorization of a Reimbursement Agreement and agreement for security
enhancements and physical improvements to the exterior of the building; and noted
the completion of a lead and asbestos survey to assess the air quality which
provided recommendations for entry into the building.
4. NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES)/
CLEAN WATER EFFORTS PRESENTATION {Strategic Plan Nos. 6, 1 B; 6, 1 G}
Taig Higgins provided a brief overview on the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) Program to improve quality and reducing quantity of
urban stormwater runoff with the goal to keep pollutants out of the receiving waters;
discussed the Clean Water Act regulatory requirement which requires all agencies to
secure a permit before discharging water in which Santa Ana and other cities are all
under one permit with the County of Orange; discussed permit requirements, the
three main approaches to improving stormwater quality which include private land
development and capital improvement projects, discussed the improving water
quality inspection programs and municipal maintenance activities, noted staff also
provides education which consists of community awareness programs, events,
presentations and outreach, and includes rigorous staff training.
5. LEVEL 1 WATER SHORTAGE DECLARATION — IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
CITY'S STAGE 1 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE SWRCB DROUGHT REGULATIONS {Strategic Plan
No. 5, 6F}
William Galvez provided an overview on the Drought State of Emergency proclaimed
by Governor Brown in January 2014 which called for a voluntary 20% reduction and
in July the California State Water Resources Control Board ( SWRCB) passed a
resolution adopting emergency drought regulations which apply to all cities and
imposed mandatory outdoor irrigation restrictions, noted in 2009 the city adopted a
water conservation ordinance that include four levels of water conservation which
include: Permanent Measures, Level 1 Water Shortage, Level 2 Water Shortage
and Level 3 Water Shortage Emergency Condition; noted the city is currently in
permanent water conservation level and in compliance with most of the State
requirements; in order to reach full compliance to the State the city must declare a
Level 1 Water Shortage which imposes restrictions to irrigating, plumbing leaks and
breaks must be repaired within 72 hours, and a mandatory reduction (2.5% or 5 %) in
consumption compared to the previous year. Mr. Galvez noted the first violation will
result in a notice of violation, the second is a 15% penalty fee, and third and
subsequent violations will result in the installation of a water flow restrictor; spoke on
the notification and outreach to resident users, and comparisons to the city's
permanent measures and the new State law.
Committee member Benavides inquired on users who already take serious
measures to conserve water and might not be able to make reduction. Mr. Galvez
noted residents who receives a notice can appeal and would take on a case by case
basis.
Development & Transp. Council Committee Minutes September 4, 2014
Mr. Galvez noted Santa Ana daily water consumption is very low in comparison to
other large cities; discussed water production /use trends; noted the average
residential bi- monthly use and anticipated reduction per household, discussed the
fiscal impacts on the water production, water sales, penalty fee & customer
notification; discussed the water bill revisions; spoke on the increase water
conservation messaging and contact for water wasting complaints; and asked for the
Committee's input on the amount of mandatory reduction of 2.5% or 5 %.
Resident noted concern for those who have reduced water consumption and meet
reduction and asked that Community Preservation not issue citations for those who
remove lawn and plant native gardens with drought resistant plants.
Resident commented that a household with a history of wasting water over the years
would not be affected by cutback and still waste water and show a reduction.
Peter Katz noted concern indicating statistics show 80% of water consumption is
agriculture and 20% by residents and commercial combined and questioned how to
control the number of people in a household.
Chairman Sarmiento supported a 2.5% or 3% mandatory reduction and requested
that when the item goes to Council on September 16 to include a breakdown of what
other cities have imposed.
Committee member Benavides noted 3% seemed reasonable for mandatory
reduction and asked when the item goes to Council to add an analysis of what an
average home would pay with the different fee options.
2. STREETCAR PROJECT UPDATE {Strategic Plan Nos. 6, 1 G; 3,2C}
Mr. Galvez provided a brief update on the environmental assessment and the
remaining steps for the Streetcar Project indicating the responses to questions and
comments that were received during the public review period has been completed
and incorporated into the public record, the document is now known as Final
Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and was sent by OCTA to the Federal Transit
Administration (FTA), and will then be certified by the City Council, with the final
action of filing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) by the FTA. Mr. Galvez
then provided a timeline of the project noting OCTA will take over the project and
procure preliminary engineering design.
Committee member Benavides noted the importance of keeping the City of Garden
Grove informed and engaged in discussions.
3. CONVERSION OF NON - RESIDENTIALLY ZONED LAND — PRESENTATION
AND DISCUSSION OF THE CITY'S POLICIES REGARDING THE
CONVERSION (RE- ZONING) OF NON - RESIDENTIAL LAND TO RESIDENTIAL
USES {Strategic Plan Nos. 3, 1C; 3, 5A; 5, 3A; 5, 4B}
Written communication received from Christopher Garrett of Lastham & Walkins LLP
representing TelePacific, who has a data center at 2001 East Dyer Road, noted
Development & Transp. Council Committee Minutes 13ts-3 September 4, 2014
opposition to The Heritage Project which proposes to convert the site from light
industrial into an apartment complex with associated retail.
Karen Haluza noted staff has received applications as well as serious inquiries
regarding rezoning of property that is not zoned for residential development to allow
for residential or mixed -use development; briefed committee on how staff evaluates
these requests and what criteria, standards and policy that is used to make analysis
and recommendations; noted adjacent cities have completed major re -zones to
accommodate residential development in previously industrial, office or commercial
areas; discussed the city's re -zone activity and projects in site plan review, plan
check or completed in the last 18 months; discussed the evaluation criteria which
include the Housing Element and the Land Use Element; noted U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics identifies the LA/Long Beach /SA area is one of the largest states in
manufacturing; discussed overarching considerations; noted residential land uses
are one of the most enduring, residential populations are always deemed to be
"sensitive receptor" for CEQA purposes, residential development patterns form the
primary back -bone for overall land use and resource allocation; and residential uses
tend to consume more in services than they generate in revenue.
Chairman Sarmiento requested the item be brought as a study session item at a
future Council meeting and requested staff revisit the western boundary of the Metro
East Mixed Use Overlay Zone to possibly extend from the 1 -5 Freeway on First
Street to Grand Avenue to help improve the residential conditions and public safety.
Ms. Haluza noted the corridor is identified in the Housing Element and may use
revenue generated from the Housing Opportunity Ordinance for acquisition and
rehabilitation in the area.
6. BUILDING INSPECTION STAFF LEVEL IMPROVEMENTS — PRESENTATION
ON CURRENT BUILDING INSPECTION STAFFING LEVELS AND THEIR
IMPACT ON INSPECTION TURN - AROUND TIME AND RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS {Strategic Plan No. 3, 3C}
Ms. Haluza introduced Gerald Caraig, Building Safety Manager. Mr. Caraig
discussed the 11 parts to the California Code of Regulations Title 24 that building
inspectors are required to enforce, noted the inspection turnaround time is over one
week, and invited committee members on a ride along.
Ms. Haluza commented on the rise in development projects submitted this last fiscal
year and the valuation of permits issued indicates larger complex projects submitted;
discussed the building inspection staffing reductions, number of days until
inspection, building inspection comparisons to other cities, tied item to the Strategic
Plan Goal No. 3C becoming a more business friendly environment, noted in order to
reach the Gold Standard of providing next -day inspection is the addition of one
Senior Combination Building Inspector, three Combination Building Inspectors and
one Permit Processor which would be funded with increased revenues received in
excess of projected budgeted revenue of approximately $772,000; noted future
revenue projection rates are stable for the foreseeable future, noted they brought
item to the Economic Development Task Force on August 12, 2014, requested to
reallocate excess revenue back to budget for staffing costs, and will go to the
Council for approval on September 16.
Development & Transp. Council Committee Minutes -4 September 4, 2014
Committee member Benavides thanked staff for the great report and working with
and receiving feedback from the Chamber of Commerce to improve the process, and
asked that staff send out a press release to the public and business community.
Chairman Sarmiento echoed comments and noted to revisit if there is an excess of
revenues and possibly get back to what those numbers were and continue
improving.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
REVIEW OF DRAFT RFQ FOR THE PREPARATION OF A COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PLAN AS THE FIRST STEP IN THE PREPARATION TO THE
VISIONING PLAN, GENERAL PLAN UPDATE AND ZONING CODE UPDATE
{Strategic Plan No. 5, 1A}
Ms. Haluza noted authorization coming before the Council at the September 16,
2014 meeting is two requests to release the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for
both the Community Engagement Plan and Third & Broadway Development Project.
Ms. Haluza provided copies of the plan to Committee members for their review and
feedback.
9. UPDATE ON THIRD AND BROADWAY PROJECT {Strategic Plan No. 3, 5A}
Chairman Sarmiento suggested for the Third and Broadway RFQ to include that
input was received from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and inquired if there were
height restrictions. Ms. Haluza noted there is no height restriction, adding there are
renderings from John Kaliski that illustrate two development scenarios and represent
an actual building with real uses with the first being a lower intensify version of 4 -5
stories and another model slightly lower than the Ronald Reagan Federal
Courthouse. Chairman Sarmiento thanked staff for their work on the new and
improved RFQ.
Committee member Benavides noted to also add in RFQ that staff collaborated with
Larry Kosmont of Kosmont Associates and John Kaliski of John Kaliski Architects,
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS - None
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - None
ADJOURNED 6:59 P.M. - The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 6,
2014 at 5:00 p.m.
Z- 1 7 -�
Karen Haluza
Interim Executive Director
Planning & Building Agency
RB &COundl CammlDevel& Trenep CC \09 -04-14 Devel& Trensp CC Minutes
Development & Transp. Council Committee Minutes 1313-5 September 4, 2014
13B -6