HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-20-1996MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA
MAY 20, 1996
At 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 22 Civic Center Plaza, Senior Deputy Clerk Elizabeth
Dang announced the City Council would meet in the Santa Ana Library for a Work Study Session
and declared the City Council and the Community Redevelopment Agency meetings adjourned to
the Santa Aha Library 2nd Floor Conference Room, 26 Civic Center Plaza.
CALLED TO ORDER
6:08 P.M.
SANTA ANA LIBRARY
2ND FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM
26 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA
ATTENDANCE
COUNCILMEMBERS
Present:
ROBERT L. RICHARDSON, Mayor Pro Tern
TONY ESPINOZA
TOM LUTZ
PATRICIA A. McGUIGAN
LISA MILLS
TED R MORENO
Absent:
MIGUEL A. PULIDO, Mayor
STAFF
Present:
DAVID N. REAM, City Manager
RICHARD LAY, Acting City Attorney
WILLIAM Z. NAVAJA, Assistant Clerk of the Council
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (6:08-6:09 P.M.)
55.A.
WAL* MART - 3600 W. McFADDEN AVENUE
Motion: Adopt resolutions.
RESOLUTION 96-048 - A resolution of the City Council of the City of Santa Ana
amending Resolution 96-027, which approved in part Variance No. 95-009 for a
shopping center at the southeast corner of Harbor Boulevard and McFadden
Avenue - Planning and Building Agency
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 173 MAY 20, 1996
RESOLUTION 96-049 - A resolution of the City Council of the City of Santa Aha
amending Resolution 96-028, which approved Conditional Use Permit 95-31 for a
shopping center at the southeast corner of Harbor Boulevard and McFadden
Avenue - Planning and Building Agency
MOTION: McGuigan
VOTE: AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT: Pulido
SECOND: Mills
Lutz, McGuigan, Mills, Richardson
None
NON-VOTE: Espinoza, Moreno
FILE CA
WORK STUDY SESSION
ORANGE COUNTY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (OCCOG)
City Manager David Ream gave a brief historical account of the intergovernmental collaboration
among Orange County local governments that started in 1973 and evolved into the present-day
Regional Advisory and Planning Council (RAPC). Ream then introduced Senior Management
Assistant Jill Arthur who presented the staff report on the proposal to constitute RAPC as a
formal entity to be known as the Orange County Council of Governments (OCCOG).
Arthur described OCCOG's proposed functions, membership, staffing, funding, and organizational
relationships and benefits. Among the benefits cited were the potential cost savings from a
coordinated approach to common issues, a more unified voice for advocacy, and increased
bargaining power for competitive grant funding. Arthur stressed the need for Santa Ana to be
part of OCCOG noting the proposal's viability required the membership of a majority of Orange
County cities with a majority of population.
Arthur introduced the following representatives from the Orange County Division of the League
of California Cities: Fountain Valley Councilmember and OC Division League of California Cities
President Laurann Cook, and League staff members Janet Huston and Daryl Halls.
The Council discussed the OCCOG proposal with City staff and League representatives,
addressing several issues which included but were not limited to the following: reactions from
and/or concerns of entities that have not yet endorsed OCCOG (County of Orange, Anaheim,
Garden Grove, and Huntington Beach); the timing of the proposal given the upcoming elections;
possible duplication of efforts vis-a-vis such entities as the League of California Cities and the
Southern California Association of Governments; Santa Ana 2000's collaboration goals; the
availability of and competition for grant funds; OCCOG voting strength versus that of Los
Angeles and the Inland Empire; and regional issues such as land use and social services that might
be better addressed through a COG.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 174 MAY 20, 1996
In response to Councilmember Lutz' query, Ream explained that no Council action was required
on the OCCOG proposal at this time. Ream thanked the League representatives for participating
in the discussions.
MAIN STREET CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT
Overview
Planning and Building Agency Executive Director Robyn Uptegraffindicated her study session
would only cover the North Main Street District and the Museum District components of the
Main Street Corridor, and explained the Corridor's other Districts (Mid-town, Downtown-Artist
Village, and South Main) were slated for a future meeting. Uptegraffexplained the session was
premised on three factors that drive property development--land use regulations, market demand,
and the desire and ability of property owners to exploit market opportunities--and would focus on
land uses and types of businesses envisioned for each district.
Senior Planner JeffRice gave a historical overview of the Santa Ana corridors which included
Harbor, Bristol, and Main Street. Using a map, Rice highlighted the various district boundaries
and reported the Main Street Corridor had recently generated strong interest from the Council,
residents from adjacent neighborhoods, and private developers.
North Main Street District
Senior Planner Linda Hale stated the vision for the North Main Street District was to be a
regional shopping district with high intensity, upscale mixed-use activities, then showed slides of
Santa Ana MainPlace and South Coast Plaza's Anton Blvd. for illustration.
Hale enumerated North Main's advantages (e.g., central county location and freeway access),
constraints (e.g., a transportation system already loaded to capacity), and development
opportunities (e.g., Discovery Science Center) and proposed the following immediate actions for
the North Main Street District: (1) amend the General Plan Land Use Map to redesignate
properties south of Main Place Drive/Memory Lane to Professional and Administrative Office;
(2) rezone C-2 properties south of Main Place Drive/Memory Lane to Professional Office; and
(3) revise uses permitted in the Professional Zoning District.
Hale cited the current uses permitted in the P (Professional) Zoning District with and without a
Conditional Use Permit (CUP), added uses to be permitted with and without a CUP, and uses to
be deleted. The Council also discussed such issues as the exclusion of 24-hour retail markets and
inclusion of art and culinary schools. Hale concluded by proposing as a future action the
development and adoption of a District Center zoning classification for properties north of Main
Place Drive/Memory Lane and west of Main Street.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
175 MAY 20, 1996
Museum District
Hale stated the vision for the Museum District was to be a center for shopping, cultural, and
entertainment activities, and to attract a third museum, then showed slides of Old Pasadena to
depict some of the streetscape and design themes envisioned for the Museum District. Hale
enumerated the Museum District's advantages (e.g., regional museums), constraints (e.g., many
small lots that may require consolidation), and development opportunities (e.g., reuse of Weight
Watchers building).
Hale proposed rezoning properties with Main Street frontage to C-1 Museum District as an
immediate action. Hale cited the current uses permitted in the C1 District with and without a
Conditional Use Permit (CLIP), added uses to be permitted with and without a CUP, and uses to
be deleted. The Council also discussed excluding certain uses (e.g., laundromats) from and
confining certain uses (e.g., science centers) to the Museum District. Hale concluded by
proposing as a future action the development and adoption of a Museum District-wide Plan to
address signage, parking, pedestrian circulation and other such issues.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Michelle Morfisey expressed support for the City's development planning efforts, spoke about
Planning and Building Agency customer perceptions, and urged Council to limit certain types of
land uses and to plan for open space.
John Kendrick contended Santa Ana had the demographics to make businesses viable and urged
the Council to more aggressively promote the City's outstanding amenities such as national
award-winning music and eating establishment, Crazy Horse.
John MacDowell expressed support for the City's planning efforts and cautioned the City about
interim projects that may prove incompatible with the development envisioned for the area.
Suzanne Esber thanked the Council for attending her recent neighborhood meeting, related
concerns that her neighborhood was mistakenly perceived by some quarters as anti-business, and
expressed support for the City's planning efforts.
Jim Carter, representing James McClure, expressed concerns that a blanket zone change such as
expanding the P (Professional) zone would cut property values and penalize property owners.
Mci Vernon opined that uninteresting architecture was partly to blame for Main Street vacancies,
indicated his neighborhood's opposition to certain development projects, thanked Councilmember
Mills for accepting his invitation to "walk" his neighborhood, and extended the same invitation to
other Councilmembers.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 176 MAY 20, 1996
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilmember Mills thanked City staff for the Corridor planning efforts and urged the City to
move as swiftly as possible on the proposals.
Councilmember Lutz asked staff for recommendations to ensure that interim projects are
compatible with the area's vision, requested a timeline for related Council actions, and encouraged
staff to work with the Chamber of Commerce and the neighborhoods to promote Santa Ana.
Mayor Pro Tem Richardson recapped the Corridor's advantages and development potential, then
echoed Councilmember Mills' request for staffto move with dispatch on the proposals.
RECESSED - 8:24 P.M.
RECONVENED - 8:40 P.M. - All Councilmembers present except Mayor Pulido
PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following individuals requested Council assistance regarding an Irvine Ranch Water District
(IRWD) water well drilling operation at Emmett Street in Santa Ana that was reportedly creating
excessive noise, dust, circulation, and other problems for neighborhood residents:
Tony Valdivia
Leah DuPont Gallegos
Josie Cordova
Frank Bravo
Eva Smith
Fatima Silva
Martha Verdin
Rick Rodriguez
The above speakers also stated that another well is scheduled to be drilled at Adams Street, a
block away from Emmett Street, and asked the Council to help ensure proper notification
procedures and mitigation measures for such projects were in place.
In response to queries from Councilmembers Espinoza and McGuigan, City Manager Ream
explained that under Public Utilities Commission regulations, the City cannot prohibit IRWD from
drilling in Santa Ana but that the City can enter into an agreement with IRWD to stipulate
mitigation measures and other conditions. Ream indicated staff will review IRWD's compliance
with conditions set forth in an existing agreement and report back to Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Richardson asked staff to investigate the option of asking IRWD to stop drilling
while mitigations were being worked out.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
177 MAY20,1996
Councilmember Moreno asked staff to develop proactive plans to protect City neighborhoods,
particularly low-income neighborhoods, from similar problems.
City Manager Ream indicated staff will prepare a chronological history of the matter for Council.
The following Madison Concerned Parents representatives reiterated their request for a traffic
signal to be installed at Hobart Street and Standard Avenue:
Ignacio Toledo
Eusebia Diaz
Robertina Figueroa
The above speakers acknowledged the budget problems facing the City of Santa Ana and the
Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) and announced that Madison Concerned Parents will
hold a public fair at Madison Park on May 30, 1996 to help raise funds for the traffic signal.
In response to Councilmember Lutz' query, City Manager Ream estimated the cost of a traffic
signal at $125,000 and a flashing beacon at $15,000 then noted the Council had already approved
a flashing beacon for the Hobart-Standard site (the contract to be awarded at the June 3, 1996
Council Meeting). Ream also explained the City could not compel SAUSD to pay for the traffic
signal out of City funds given to SAUSD since the use of those funds was covered by an existing
agreement.
Mayor Pro Tem Richardson requested City Manager Ream to provide an update on the matter at
the June 3, 1996 meeting.
Councilmember Lutz requested Council Services Manager Lorraine Lazarine to inform the
members of Madison Concerned Parents of the Council's actions.
CLOSED SESSION - 9:26-9:40 P.M.
CLOSED SESSION - ROOM 147
The Brown Act permits the City Council to discuss certain matters without members of the public
present, provided the items to be discussed are posted 72 hours prior to the City Council meeting.
The following items were received for the May 20, 1996 Closed Session.
95.A.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT (G.C. Section 54957)
Title: City Attorney
95.B.
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (G.C. Section 54957.6)
Agency Negotiator: Kathie Romero
Employee Organization: SACEA/SEIU
Employee Organization: Firemen's Benevolent Association
Employee Organization: Police Officers Association
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 178 MAY 20, 1996
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
No action was reported out of Closed Session.
ADJOURNMENT - :40 P.M.
/"'--~A~i~ant Clerk of the Council
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 179 MAY 20, 1996