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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/02/2000 - City CouncilREGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF COSTA MESA OCTOBER 2, 2000 The City Council of the City of Costa Mesa, California, met in regular session October 2, 2000, at 6:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. The meeting was called to order by the Mayor, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Mayor Monahan, and invocation by the Reverend Joseph Robillard, St. Joachim Catholic Church. ROLL CALL Council Members Present: Mayor Gary Monahan Mayor Pro Tem Libby Cowan Council Member Joe Erickson Council Member Heather Somers Council Member Linda Dixon Council Members Absent: None Officials Present: City Manager Allan Roeder City Attorney Jerry Scheer Development Services Director Donald Lamm Public Services Director William Morris Associate Planner Mel Lee Deputy City Clerk Mary Elliott MINUTES On motion by Council Member Erickson, seconded by Council September 18, Member Dixon, and carried 5-0, the minutes of the regular meeting 2000 of September 18, 2000, were approved as distributed. ORDINANCE AND A motion was made by Council Member Erickson, seconded by RESOLUTIONS Council Member Dixon, and carried 5-0, to read all ordinances and resolutions by title only. PRESENTATION Mayor Monahan congratulated Kimberly Brandt on being named Employee of the Employee of the Month for October, 2000, in appreciation of her Month contributions as an Associate Planner in the Development Services Department, Planning Division. Mrs. Brandt was recognized for her efforts to ensure the success of many projects, including Home Ranch and South Coast Plaza Town Center, and for her handling of complex projects such as the property maintenance and residential development standards ordinances. ORAL COMMUNI- Martin Millard, 2973 Harbor Boulevard, Costa Mesa, referred to an CATIONS article in the Daily Pilot regarding demolition of a low cost housing Low Cost Housing development in Corona del Mar. He suggested that Costa Mesa endorse a:yredevelopment project to eliminate slum areas. Special Interest Robert Graham, 3260 Dakota Avenue, Costa Mesa, addressed the Groups special interest group who spoke to Council regarding the 69 homes being constructed on Mesa Verde Drive East. He reported that Council then modified the entrance of the project and eliminated the possibility of a bicycle lane interchange. He indicated that other special interest groups have influenced placement of the City's skateboard park, decisions rendered on Fairview Park, and the proposed construction of a bridge on 19th Street. Westside Code Janice Davidson, 1982 Arnold Avenue, Costa Mesa, commented on Enforcement the City's Code Enforcement Division, commending their work but noting that the officers are sometimes overzealous. Eleanor Egan, 1893 Parkview Circle, Costa Mesa, representing the Westside Improvement Association, reported that from June through September, 2000, 36 complaints were forwarded to Code Enforcement, but only one has been corrected. She showed photographs of a Placentia Avenue apartment building surrounded by trash, litter, and garbage, and asked that Code Enforcement concentrate on the properties that are in the worst condition. A resident on National Avenue, Costa Mesa, stated that he had received a citation from Code Enforcement for a portable canopy which covers his new truck. He expressed confusion as to why a ticket was issued. Candidate Forum Trudy Ohlig-Hall, 3080 Johnson, Street, Costa Mesa, Chairperson of the Mesa North Homeowners Association, announced that a candidates forum will be held on Tuesday, October 10, 2000, at Paularino School, at 7:00 p.m., She invited City Council, Water Board, and School Board candidates to participate. Mrs. Ohlig-Hall reported that the Beautification Committee of the Homeowners Association is arranging for four cement waste receptacles to be placed in Paularino Park. Westside A member of the Westside Improvement Association distributed Newsletter copies of their newsletter to Council. CONSENT The following item was removed from the Consent Calendar: Item CALENDAR No. 4, Bid item No. 1052, Two New Regenerative Air Sweepers; Item No. 5, Amendment No. 3 to Cooperative Agreement No. C-95- 968 with the Orange County Transportation Authority; and Item No. 9, Agreement with 'Newport -Mesa Christian Center, for use of the City Hall and Police Department parking lots for their annual Harvest Festival. MOTION/Approved On motion by Council Member Erickson, seconded by Council Except Items 4, 5, Member Somers, and carried 5-D, the remaining Consent Calendar and 9 items were approved as recommended. READING FOLDER The following Reading Folder Items were received and processed: Claims Claims received by the Deputy City Clerk: Nancy Bridgeman; and Mary Y. Palomo. Alcoholic Beverage Alcoholic Beverage'Control (ABC) License requests: Licenses Yanaki, 1870 Harbor Boulevard, Suite A200, for an original Type 41 ABC license (on -sale beer and wine for a bona fide eating place). Hillgren Square Liquor, 250; East 17th Street, for a person-to- person transfer of a Type 21 ABC license (off -sale general). WARRANTS The following warrants were approved: Approved Warrant Warrant Resolution 1816, funding Payroll 019 for 1816/Payroll 019; $1,618,578.40, and. City operating expenses for $1,413,694.97, including payroll deductions. 211 Approved Warrant Warrant Resolution 1817, funding City operating expenses for 1817 $1,054,658.91. ADMINISTRATIVE Budget Adjustment No. 01-32 was approved for $759,390.00, to ACTIONS/Approved allocate fiscal year 1998-99 General Fund Capital Improvement Budget Adjustment Project Net Revenue, pursuant to action taken at the City Council 01-32 meeting of September 18, 2000. Accepted Work for The Stage Floor at the Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Stage Floor at NCC, Park Avenue, Project No. 00-09, was completed to the satisfaction Project No. 00-09, of the Public Services Director on August 14, 2000, by South-West by South-West Floor Company, Inc., Post Office Box 519, Ramona. The work was Floor accepted; the Deputy City Clerk was authorized to file a Notice of Completion; authorization was given to release retention monies 35 days thereafter; the Labor and Material Bond was ordered exonerated 7 months thereafter; and the Performance Bond was ordered exonerated 12 months thereafter. Adopted Resolution Resolution 00-74 was adopted: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY 00-74, Establishing COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, 401(a) Plan for ESTABLISHING A DEFERRED COMPENSATION 401 (a) MONEY Management PURCHASE PLAN FOR PARTICIPATING EXECUTIVE MANAGE - Employees MENT EMPLOYEES. Bid Item No. 1052, Item No. 4 on the Consent Calendar was presented: Award Two Air Sweepers contract for Bid Item No. 1052, Two New Regenerative Air Sweepers, to Kelly Equipment, 9400 Seventh Street, No. D-2, MOTION/Continued Rancho Cucamonga, for $247,598.73. On motion by Mayor Pro to December 4, Tem Cowan, seconded by Council Member Somers, and carried 5- 2000 0, this item was continued to the meeting of December 4, 2000, or following the staff presentation on the Clean Air Alternative Fuel Program. Amendment No. 3 Item No. 5 on the Consent Calendar was presented: Amendment to OCTA Agreement No. 3 to Cooperative Agreement No. C-95-968 with the Orange C-95-968 County Transportation Authority, which revises the list of open projects (Exhibit A). Robert Graham, 3260 Dakota Avenue, Costa Mesa, asked about the next major item for bikeway funding.. The Public Services Director replied that additional grant funding available from the County for bikeways has been diverted in order to make bus stops more accessible to the handicapped countywide. He stated that when the restriping is accomplished on Mesa Verde Drive East, bicycle lanes will be installed. On motion by Council MOTION/Approved Member Erickson, seconded by Council Member Somers, and Amendment carried 5-0, the amendment was approved, and the Mayor and Deputy City Clerk were authorized to sign on behalf of the City. Agreement with Item No 9 on the Consent Calendar was presented: A license Newport -Mesa agreement with Newport -Mesa Christian Center, 2599 Newport Christian Center to Boulevard, for use of the City Hall and Police Department parking Use City Parking lots for their annual Harvest Festival on October 31, 2000, from Lots 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The City Manager asked that signature authority for future agreements for the Harvest Festival be MOTION/Approved designated to staff. On motion by Council Member Somers, Agreement seconded by Council Member Erickson, and carried 5-0, the agreement was approved, the City Manager was authorized to sign on behalf of the City, and the handling of future agreements was delegated to staff. PUBLIC HEARING The Deputy City Clerk announced that this was the time and place Council Review of set for the public hearing to consider a request from Council DR -00-11/T-16070, Member Somers for Council Review of the Planning Commission's Pelican Homes approval of Development Review DR -00-11 and Tentative Tract Map T-16070, Brian Johnson, Pelican Homes, 33971 Selva Road, Dana Point, authorized agent for Instant Jungle Properties, LLC/Greg Wallace, 2100 Canyon Drive, Costa Mesa, for a proposed 18 -unit, single-family development with a subdivision for 18 numbered lots and 2 lettered lots; variances to allow 3 stories (2 permitted); a 10 -foot rear yard setback for second story balconies (20 feet required); administrative adjustments to allow a 12 -foot front setback (20 feet required);a 15 -foot rear building setback (20 - feet required); and a minor modification to allow a 34 -foot building height (30 feet permitted); located at 2100 and 2130 Canyon Drive, in an R2 -MD zone. Environmental Determination: Negative Declaration. The Affidavits of Publishing and Mailing are on file in the City Clerk's office. A communication was received from Greg Wallace, President, Instant Jungle International, requesting Council support for the project proposed by Pelican Homes. The Development Services Director ,'reviewed the Agenda Report dated September 26, 2000. Council Member Somers expressed her concern regarding topography problems, lot sizes, and the ficus tree on the site. Brian Johnson, President of Pelican Homes, reported on the site topography, noting a 27 -foot grade separation between Lot 5 and the lower Lot 16. He indicated that a 27 -foot grade separation also exists progressing in an easterly direction across Lots 1, 10, and, 13. Mr.� Johnson reported that the design of the homes has accommodated the :'concerns! expressed by the West Bluff Homeowners Association, and � they are amenable to looking at removing the ficus tree. He responded to questions from Council. Mike Berry, 2064 Meadow View; Lane, Costa Mesa, member of the West Bluff Homeowners Association, stated that issues regarding the project had been resolved ''with Pelican Homes, and withdrew any objections to the plan. He supported approval of the plan, and mentioned that the community is interested in preserving the ficus tree. Council Member Dixon commented that if the tree is removed, additional trees will be planted as a. replacement. Robert Gunderson, 1094 Sea Bluff Drive, Costa Mesa, expressed concern regarding parking relative to congestion. The Development Services Director replied that every home will have a double -car garage with a full-length driveway, with a total of 12 parking spaces on the private street. He addressed the additional spaces should the ficus tree be removed. Eric Bever, 1046 Westward Way, Costa Mesa, felt that removal of the tree would be ill advised since it is a landmark and an asset to the community. Todd Garbella, a resident in the West Bluff Village area (no address given), stated he may lose a partial coastal view and the ocean breeze if the property is developed, but supported the project, stating that an up -scale housing tract will benefit the entire area. He proposed that the number of! homes on the site be reduced. 213 Jose Cabanillas, 1062 Westward Lane, Costa Mesa, noted that the original site plan contained large retaining walls which would negatively impact the community. He approved of the setbacks and the compromises which have been made. He hoped to retain as many trees as possible, especially the ficus tree. Roger Blanchard, 1144 Sea Bluff Drive, Costa Mesa, suggested revising the standards so variances would not be required, and commented on the proposed houses with six bedrooms. Robin Leffler, 3025 Samoa Place, Costa Mesa, stated that the ficus tree is magnificent and may not be easily replaced. She stated that some of the lots are 2,655 square feet with 2,300 square -foot homes, and asked if this is the direction Council intends for Costa Mesa. She proposed asking the builder to provide adequate parking within the tract. Mayor Pro Tem Cowan commented that the homes appeared to be too large for the lot size. She queried Mr. Johnson on the prices of the homes and the size. The Development Services Director and Associate Planner responded to questions from Council. MOTION/Continued A motion was made by Council Member Erickson, seconded by to October 16, Council Member Dixon, and carried 5-0, to continue this item to the 2000 meeting of October 16, 2000, directing the applicant to create a site plan showing the development with the ficus tree, the tot lot, and a minimum of an additional four to seven parking spaces; a site plan showing the development with the tree removed, the tot lot, and an additional seven parking spaces; and a site plan with two fewer units and three -car garages. OLD BUSINESS The Deputy City Clerk presented a request for City Council direction Measure "O" Infor- regarding formulation and distribution of informational material on mational Material Measure "O", which is on the ballot for the November 7, 2000, election, concerning an increase in the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). The City Manager summarized the Agenda Report dated September 28, 2000. MOTION/Approved A motion was made by Council Member Dixon, seconded by Mayor Draft; Gave Direc- Pro Tem Cowan, and carried 4-1, Mayor Monahan voting no, to tion to Staff approve the draft information letter (Exhibit A to the Agenda Report), to consider a budget of up to $15,000.00 for total advertising at the discretion of the City Manager, directing that a one-half page advertisement be placed in the Daily Pilot two weeks prior to the election, that the advertisement also be placed on the City's website, distributed at City facilities, and mailed directly to the Editorial Board of the Orange Coast Daily Pilot, Orange County Register, Los Angeles Times/Orange County Edition, and the Costa Mesa Breeze. NEW BUSINESS The Deputy City Clerk presented a request from Mayor Monahan for Proposition 35 adoption of a resolution supporting Proposition 35, the Fair Competition and Taxpayer Savings Initiative. Mayor Monahan reviewed the Agenda Report dated September 18, 2000. Council Member Somers opposed the request, expressing concern that it overrides the California constitution to benefit a special interest group, and may not necessarily require competitive bidding for government contracts. Doug Scribner, 321 Avocado Street, No. P, Costa Mesa, encouraged Council to adopt the resolution which would encourage competitive bidding and discourage monopolies. Motion to Adopt A motion was made by Mayor Monahan, seconded by Council Resolution Failed Member Erickson, to adopt a resolution supporting Proposition 35. to Carry The motion failed to carry 3-2, Council Members Cowan, Somers, and Dixon voting no. Council Member Erickson supported the motion, observing that the City of Costa Mesa currently contracts with private firms, and felt that conceptually, the plan was good. NEW BUSINESS The Deputy City Clerk presented a request to allocate of Costa Mesa $138,946.00 in discretionary funds from the Orange County Public Libraries Library for improvements to Costa Mesa libraries; and a request to arrange a stakeholders meeting with representatives of the community to begin work on the recommendations identified in the Arroyo Associates Study. The City Manager summarized the Agenda Report dated September 26, 2000. Tom Egan, 1893 Parkview Circle, Costa Mesa, representing the Library Foundation, supported the recommendations which are the result of an extensive effort over a long period of time. MOTION/Approved A motion was made, by Mayor Pro Tem Cowan, seconded by Recommendations Council Member Somers, and carried 5-0, to approve the uses for allocation of the discretionary balance of $138,946.00 from the Orange County Public Library for the addition of one part time Library Clerk for the Donald Dungan Library; purchase of two personal computer workstations; furniture for the children's area and a mezzanine ceiling fan for the Mesa Verde Branch; augmentation of the book and materials budget for the Mesa Verde Branch; establishment of a pilot "Technology Branch" at a third location in the City; and to approve a stakeholders meeting with representatives of the community. NEW BUSINESS The Deputy City Clerk presented a request for City Council direction East 17th Street regarding the proposed Community Forum on the East 17th Street Widening Forum Widening Project. Mayor Monahan had presented this request, and asked that it be withdrawn until additional information is obtained. Council Member Erickson thanked Mayor Monahan for being the Council liaison, and supported a forum at some time in the near future. CITY ATTORNEY'S The City Attorney requested a closed session pursuant to REPORT/Request Government Code Section 54956.9(a) to discuss Edward Gonzalez for Closed Session: v. City of Costa Mesa, Orange County Superior Court Case No. 76 - Gonzalez v. City 68-71. At 8:15 p.m., Mayor Monahan left the Council Chambers. MOTION/Approved A motion was made by Council Member Erickson, seconded by Recommendation Council Member Somers, and carried 4-0, Mayor Monahan absent, to approve the recommendation of the City Attorney as contained in his confidential memorandum dated September 26, 2000, declining the need for a closed session. COUNCIL Council Member Dixon announced that that Costa Mesa Senior COMMENTS Center Monte Carlo Night will be held on Saturday, October 7, Monte Carlo Night 2000, 7:00 p.m., and the cost is $25.00. 1 Council Candidate Council Member Somers announced that a City Council Candidate Forum Forum will be held at the Neighborhood Community Center at 6:30 p.m., and encouraged citizens to attend. Crime Statistics; Council Member Erickson reported that a memorandum from the Carol Jacobs; Chief of Police indicates a drastic drop in crime in Costa Mesa. He League of Cities recognized community organizations, parents, and churches which Meeting contributed to the drop in gang crime. He recognized Carol Jacobs, ADJOURNMENT 1 the City's Budget and Research Officer, for her excellent work, and wished her well in her new endeavor. Council Member Erickson stated that he would be unable to attend the public/private sector salary comparisons at the League of California Cities meeting Thursday, October 12, 2000, and noted his commitment to adequate compensation for City employees. Mayor Pro Tem Cowan replied that she will attend the meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Cowan declared the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. City of Costa Mesa ATTEST:' Deputy City lerk of the City of Costa Mesa 215