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Home My WebLink About11-20-1995MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA NOVEMBER 20, 1995 At 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 22 Civic Center Plaza, Clerk of the Council Janice C. Guy announced the City Council and the Santa Aha Redevelopment Agency would convene their scheduled meetings in the 2nd Floor Conference Room of the Santa Aha Library, 26 Civic Center Plaza, at 6:10 p.m. She declared the regular meeting of the City Council and the adjourned regular meeting of the Santa Ana Redevelopment Agency adjourned to that time and place. CALL TO ORDER BY MAYOR 6:10 P.M. Library Conference Room 26 Civic Center Plaza ATTENDANCE COUNCILMEMBERS Present: MIGUEL A. PULIDO, Mayor ROBERT L. RICHARDSON, Mayor Pro Tern TONY ESPINOZA TOM LUTZ PATRIClA A. MCGUIGAN LISA MILLS(& 13 p.m.) TED R MORENO Absent: NONE STAFF Present: DAVID N. REAM, City Manager EDWARD J. COOPER, City Attorney JANICE C. GUY, Clerk of the Council PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Mayor Pulido RECESSED TO COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY - 6:10 P.M. RECONVENED - 6:12 P.M. - All Councilmembers present but Mills CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 328 NOVEMBER 20, 1995 WORK STUDY SESSION Planning and Building Agency Executive Director Robyn Uptegraff reviewed the study session agenda indicating the major topics were the status of the development review process; regulation of mini-markets, 24-hour restaurants and used car lots; and the Santa Ana 2000 Scholarship Fund. She commented that staff wished input from the Council in order to prepare appropriate ordinance and procedural changes. Councilmembers indicated their mini-market concerns such as loitering, trash and poor property maintenance, and used car lot concerns such a:s a proliferation of lots on Harbor Boulevard, poor and distracting signage, and lots that may be operating illegally. DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS Uptegraff then briefed the Council regarding the Development Process and Policy Review report prepared by Paul Zucker. She indicated staff had reacted positively to suggestions for procedural changes, was currently in the process of implementing the changes, and had in fact processed three major developments using the improved procedures. Mayor Pro Tem Richardson requested Planning present an overview of its new Hearing Officer procedures at the January 2 Council meeting. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REGULATIONS - MINI-MARKETS Senior Planner Charles View explained zoning districts permitted three alternatives for governing land use: a use could be prohibited, permitted by right, or conditionally permitted. He then outlined the options for the operative conditions of Conditional Use Permits indicating standards could be set to apply to all districts, to specific districts, to a specific use, or to specific projects through discretionary action. View delineated the steps for issuing and enforcing Conditional Use Permits. Police Community Services Specialist Mike McCoy presented 1995 Santa Ana statistics prepared by the Police Department showing the impact of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) licenses and operating hours on the crime rate: mini-markets with ABC licenses had a 75% higher crime rate than mini-markets without such licenses, and that during the hours of 12:00 a.m to 5:00 a.m. such markets had an 85% higher crime rate than non-licensed markets open during the same hours. McCoy outlined potential crimes associated with mini-markets including such offenses as armed robbery, drug dealing, loitering, and petty theft; and provided an extensive list of mitigation measures that might be incorporated into Conditional Use Permits or the Santa Ana Municipal Code. The Council discussed issues relating to more stringent regulation of mini-markets including but not limited to: the definition of a mini-market, application of the standards to existing and/or new markets, the number of markets that would be impacted, a "window" period whereby existing markets might apply for a Conditional Use Permit without fees, and hours of operation. Mayor Pro Tem Richardson requested a list of the locations of the 10 worst mini-market "offenders." CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 329 NOVEMBER 20, 1995 City Manager David Ream indicated staffwould propose regulations for new stores whose business hours include operations between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. for consideration by the Council at the December 4 Council meeting. Scott Peotter, the proponent for a mini-market at 1913 W. Edinger scheduled for consideration by the Council on December 4, 1995, suggested that his project be "grandfathered." The City Manager indicated the upcoming Conditional Use Permits regulations would apply to Peotter's project, but said that staffwould expedite his project. CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS - USED CAR LOTS Executive Director Uptegraffreported that staff,had investigated and concluded that the Conditional Use Permit process was not an appropriate mechanism to regulate used car lots. In response to Councilmember Moreno's request, Uptegraff indicated she would explore Department of Motor Vehicles regulations the City might apply to used car lots. Councilmember Moreno also requested that staff,investigate changing State law to provide more local control over used car lots. SANTA ANA 2000 SCHOLARSHIP FUND Assistant City Manager Debra Kurita presented stafffs report regarding the Santa Ana 2000 Scholarship Fund which included a brief history of the fund, list of scholarship recipients, balance sheet, and a recommendation that $300,000 be deposited in the Orange County Community Foundation account for the Scholarship Fund. Councilmember Mills expressed support for the program but recommended the proposed allocation to the Scholarship Fund be reduced and the balance disbursed to current programs in order to immediately benefit more kids. Councilmembers discussed various issues relating to the Fund including but not limited to: establishing a Scholarship Fund cap, encouraging more involvement by the Garden Grove Unified School District, giving annual awards rather than building an endowment fund, and reaching children younger than high school age to program them to go on to college. Councilmembers Moreno and Espinoza expressed concern that a reduction in the Fund would not allow the program to reach its goal of making higher education accessible to every Santa Ana student wishing to attend Rancho Santiago College. Dr. Audrey Yamagato-Noji and Socorro Chacon spoke in support of the Santa Ana 2000 Scholarship program. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 330 NOVEMBER 20, 1995 Motion: Authorize the deposit of $300,000 #~ the Orange County Community Foundation account for the Santa Aha 2000 Scholarship Fund. Substitute Motion: 1. MOTION: Moreno SECOND: Espinoza Authorize the deposit of $IO0, 000 m the Orange Coun(y Community Foundation account for the Santa Aha 2000 Scholarship Fund. 2. Authorize the allocation of $200, 000 to the follow#~g City Library programs: $100,000 to Project Knowledgelink $ 80, 000 to the Homework Centersprogram $ 20, 000 to purchase library books for students K-12 Direct the Community Foundation Board to fund as many scholarships as possible. MOTION: Mills SECOND: McGuigan VOTE: AYES: Lutz, McGuigan, Mills, Pulido, Richardson NOES: Espinoza, Moreno ABSENT: None COMMENTS 90.A. PUBLIC COMMENTS Phil Yarbrough provided the Council with a comparison of the costs of obtaining a business license for a business operating from a home in Santa Ana and Yorba Linda, noting that the $396 Santa Ana fees versus the $18.75 Yorba Linda fees had caused him to locate his business in Yorba Linda. Margaret Farris shared with the Council the fact that she had earned an "A" in a recent psychology test and requested to meet with Police Chief Walters ather the Council meeting. Ron Cooke reported that 300 parking meters were sited in the area bounded by Flower Street, Broadway, Civic Center Drive, and Washington Avenue and reiterated his request for alternatives that would permit residents of the area to park in front of their houses without paying meter fees. In response to Florence Leach's inquiry as to how the Council might take an action (see Santa Ana Scholarship Fund) at a Council study session, the City Attorney explained the meeting was open to the public and the item had been listed on the Agenda. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 331 NOVEMBER 20, 1995 90.B. COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS Councilmember Lutz reported on the successful community fair sponsored by Project Sabado and Carver Concerned Parents on November 18 in the Flower Street Park Neighborhood, and commented on the positive changes that had occurred in that neighborhood in the wake of "Operation Round- up." Project Sabado Director Zelenne Cardenas and Eric Flores expressed their pleasure with the increased safety and changed environment in the Neighborhood. Councilmember McGuigan wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! CLOSED SESSION - None ADJOURNMENT - 8:40 P.M. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 332 NOVEMBER 20, 1995