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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-15-1977MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA September 15, 1977 Mayor Vernon S. Evans called the meeting to order at 4:40 P.M., in the City Council Chambers, 22 Civic Center Plaza. The following Council members were present: Gordon Bricken, Harry K. Yamamoto, John Garthe, David L. Brandt and Mayor Evans. Councilman James E. Ward was absent and Councilman David F. Ortiz arrived at 4:45 P.M. Also present were the following members of staff: City Manager Bruce C. Spragg, City Attorney Keith L. Gow, Assistant City Manager Ronald Wolford, Director of Community Redevelopment Richard Goblirsch and Clerk of the Council Florence I. Malone. INVOCATION PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, the Invocation was given by Councilman Garthe. TRANSPORTATION PLAZA Council reaffirmed the area PARK-AND-RIDE STRUCTURE between Broadway and Birch, LOCATION REAFFIRMED Fifth and Santa Ana Boulevard as the location for the con- struction of the proposed Transportation Plaza and an adjoining Park-and-Ride structure, contingentupon completion and certification of the necessary Environmental Impact Reports, on the unanimously approved 6:0 motion of Councilman Yamamoto, seconded by Councilman Ortiz. The motion included an instruction to staff and to the architect, Blurock and Partners, to work with representatives of the First Presbyterian Church, the Masonic Temple and the Orange County Transit District to address fully the problems of personal safety in and about the Transportation Plaza with the assistance of the Police Department. Prior to the motion, Mayor Evans announced that the meeting was not a public hearing; that it had been scheduled to review the proposed location of the Santa Ana Transportation Plaza and an adjoining Park-and-Ride structure between Broadway and Birch Street, Fifth Street and Santa Ana Boulevard; and that public hearings would be held in conjunction with the environmental re- view process, at which time comments on the Plaza and structure would again be appropriate. Mayor Evans requested Mr. Goblirsch to provide a review of the projects. Mr. Goblirsch stated that the results of a feasibility study, urged and promoted by the City Center Association, had indicated that a transportation terminal was a desirable element for the downtown area; that a site study was performed jointly by Orange County Transit District and the Santa Ana Redevelopment Agency for a specific location; and that' an architectural firm had been employed to prepare preliminary plans for the development of a transportation terminal. Further, he stated that the first stage of the development, a 700-car park-and-ride structure, had aroused concern in the community for the preservation of the Smith-Tuthill-Lamb Mortuary, 518 North Broadway; and that the design proposed and negotiations effected will preserve the mortuary. The Director continued, stating that the membership of the Masonic Temple and the First Presbyterian Church are opposed to the site selected for the Transportation Plaza and have indicated their intention to take legal action to prevent its development. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 331 SEPTEMBER 15, 1977 Councilman Ortiz arrived and took his Council seat at 4:45 P.M. Mr. Goblirsch emphasized that the site studied is the most feasible, does conform to the downtown redevelopment plan and has been the subject of approximately 40 meetings held since 1973; that the site answers the problem of the person who will use public transportation and has a desire to do business in the downtown area; that it will be an asset, not a liability, to the area; and that staff is prepared to respond to the pros and cons presented at this meeting. Mr. Bob Hench, architect with Blurock and Partners, and Mr. Brian Pearson representing the Orange County Transit District, presented a series of slides depicting the schematic master plan for the Transportation Plaza along with a sketch and model to show how the Project will fit into the site. It was stated that the site is on the Orange County Transit District Corridor; so it will be close to any future mass rapid transit development; that the location, being the center of the County, will serve the center of the City. In their presentation, the proposed traffic patterns were de- scribed as well as the landscaping and amenities of the project. Mayor Evans asked for comments or questions from anyone opposed to the location site and the following persons spoke: Milford Dahl, Jr., Elder, First Presbyterian Church 401 Civic Center Drive Santa Ana Doy Henley, representing the Masonic 1932 Heliotrope Drive Santa Ana Temple Francis Griset 2324 Oakmont Santa Ana Donald Dobmeier Orange County Historical 13132 Pleasant Street Garden Grove Commission The opponents stated that a petition, sponsored by the Presbyterian Church and the Masonic Temple, containing approximately 800 sig- natures, opposing the Transportation Plaza site, had been filed with the City; that neither the Church nor the Masonic Temple had ever been officially notified of the proposal; that the major objection to the Plaza is its incompatability with the Church and the Temple; that it will discourage women and children from attending church and temple functions because they will fear for their safety, particularly when nearby surface street parking is eliminated; that the added noise and congestion and pollution would also be incompatible with the two facilities; that there are other more suitable locations for the Transportation Plaza; that the Orange County Historical Commission is on record favoring preservation and adaptive re-use of the Smith-Tuthill- Lamb Mortuary building; that the impact on it and other histor- ical structures in the area, such as the Old Courthouse and the Waffle House, should be taken into consideration. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 332 SEPTE~BER 1S, 1977 The following persons spoke in favor of the location site: Dave Flaherty, Businessman & property owner, 116 W. 4th St. Billy C. Hall, Executive Director, City Center Association Dick Beem, 223 W. Fourth Street Bill Hill, 1117 N. Concord Lorin Griset, 2321 N. Linwood Rudy Montejano, 2360 Riverside Drive Ted Jessee, 1013 S. Main Street Paul Guzman, 1S32 E. Chestnut Alexander Nalle, 1926 Heliotrope Drive Zika Djokovich, 211 N. Main Street Clifford L. Benson, 1802 N. Main Street Howard W. Way, 925 N. Flower Street Michael T. McLean, 1326 W. Park Lane Carol Benson, Executive Director, Orange County Transportation Commission, 1020 N. Broadway, Suite 100 The proponents stated that the Plaza site had been publicized and discussed since early in 1973; that the subject area is going to change and if the Plaza is not built, something else will be; that the project is well designed; that the Plaza will improve downtown business by bringing people into the area and providing ample parking; that historical buildings and a Trans- portation Plaza are very compatible; that the impact will be sociologically and economically positive and that the facility will prove to be an asset to the Church and Temple; that the Police Department will take the necessary measures to insure the safety of all visitors to the area; that the Plaza will help solve the energy crisis by encouraging convenient bus usage instead of the private automobile; and that the project will help Santa Aha get off dead center and grow again. Mr. Milford Dahl spoke in rebuttal, for the opponents, stating that the Session of the Presbyterian Church had voted unani- mously to oppose the project and initiate legal action, if it is necessary, to block it and that he was speaking as an elder and the Church representative; that the same action had been taken by the Masonic Temple; that neither organization objects to the concept of the need for the parking and the Transportation Plaza; that they are attacking the location because other loca- tions could be considered; and that neither organization was properly noticed. Each of the Councilmen expressed his reasons for supporting the motion prior to its adoption. CA 84.5 TRAVEL REQUEST Mr. Goblirsch stated COUNCILFLIN BRANDT that a meeting has been APPROVED scheduled with officials of Montgomery Ward, at their corporate headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, regarding the relocation of the Santa Aha Store to the Fashion Square Complex on North Main Street, and he requested that Councilman Brandt be authorized to attend the meeting to be held on Monday, September 19. Councilman Brandt's attendance and travel expenses were authorized on the unanimously approved 6:0 motion of Coun- cilman Garthe, seconded by Councilman Bricken. CA 80 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 333 SEPTEMBER 1S, 1977 MAYOR'S ABSENCE Because he will be out SEPTEMBER 19 of the City, the absence EXCUSED of Mayor Evans from the next Council meeting, September 19, was excused on the unanimously approved motion 6:0 of Councilman Garthe, seconded by Councilman Brandt. CA 80 ADJOURNMENT Mayor Evans adjourned the meeting at 7:10 P.M. FLOI~NCE I. MALONE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 334 SEPTEMBER 15, 1977 I I , i