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Home My WebLink About09-15-1997MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA SEPTEMBER 15, 1997 At 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 22 Civic Center Plaza, Assistant Clerk of the Council William Z. Navaja announced'~the City Council would meet in the Police Department's Community Meeting Room for a Work Study Session and declared the City Council meeting adjourned until 6:15 p.m. or as soon as possible thereafter in the Police Administration and Holding Facility, 60 Civic Center Plaza. CALLED TO ORDER 6:34 P.M. COMMUNITY MEETING ROOM POLICE ADMINISTRATION AND HOLDiNG FAC1LITY 60 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA ATTENDANCE COUNCILMEMBERS present: MIGUEL A. PULIDO, Mayor (7:17 p.m.) ROBERT L. RICHARDSON, Mayor Pro Tem TONY ESPINOZA (7:04 p.m.) BRETT FRANKLIN TOM LUTZ PATRICIA A. McGUIGAN TED R MORENO (6:42 p.m.) Absent: NONE STAFF present: DEBRA KURITA, Assistallt City Mallager JOSEPH W. FLETCHER, City Attorney JANICE C. GUY, Clerk of the Council INTRODUCTIONS Planning Commissioners Hanna, MacDowell, Oliver, Verino BOARDS/COMMISSIONS/COMMITTEES Mayor Pro Tern Richardson announced his intention to nominate Jose $olorio to the vacancy created on the Planning Commission by Commissioner Glenn Mondo's resignation at the next City Council meeting. CITY COUNCIL MlNUTES 268 SEPTEMBER 15, 1997 13.A. Motion: APPOINTMENTS Appoint. John Vu, 1403 N. Westwood Avenue, recommended by Mayor Pro Tern Richardson as the Ward 2 representative to the Library Board for a partial term expiring November 30, 1998 (Replacing Hernandez) MOTION: Richardson SECOND: McGuigan VOTE: AYES: Franklin, Lutz, McGuigan, Richardson NOES: None ABSENT: Espinoza, Moreno, Pulido, FILE BC WORK STUDY SESSION Planning and Building Agency Executive Director Robyn Uptegraff reviewed the agenda for the meeting and noted the primary topics of discussion were the General Plan Update and Orient Finance site. W.S.A. GENERAL PLAN UPDATE Executive Director Uptegraffexplained that a "General Plan" is a long-range planning document for the physical development of a jurisdiction and contains seven mandated elements such as Land Use and Circulation, and may contain optional elements such as Education and Cultural Resources. She then briefed the Council on the General Plan revision process fi.om initial preparation of draR policy documents to final adoption of revised Elements by City Council. Uptegraffemphasized the essential nature of the Land Use element in a General Plan, outlined Land Use Element goals, enumerated major development areas and sites in the City, and discussed a proposed 4-phase schedule to adopt nine General Plan Elements by July 1998. She indicated that staff`wished to ensure they (staff) were "in synch" with Council especially regarding major development decisions. W.S.B. ORIENT FINANCE SITE Hopkins Real Estate Group President Steve Hopkins introduced members of the development team for the Orient Finance site on North Main Street. Executive Director Uptegraff explained this meeting constituted the starting point for a dialogue between Hopkins Development and the community regarding development plans for the Orient Finance site and an opportunity to provide policy direction to staff and the developer. Senior Planner Jeff'Rice and Associate Planner Vince Fregoso reviewed the entitlements for the site, noted the project was part of a District Center around MainPlace, showed slides of mixed-use developments throughout Southern California, and indicated staff`needed to verify ifa project smaller than a 1993 proposal but "high end" quality was a viable development option for the site. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 269 SEPTEMBER 15, 1997 Developer Steve Hopkins and Dan Zinke from CB Commercial Investment discussed the current development market, commercial vacancy and rental rates in the John Wayne Airport and Central County areas, and Hopkins' development expertise (primarily in retail development.) Planning Commissioners and Councilmembers raised project-related issues such as traffic mitigation plans and development of the adjacent Town and Country site, to which staff and the developers responded. Commissioners, Councilmembers and several members of the public proposed the following be considered as the project is designed and developed: Integration with the adjacent Town and Country development project and coordination with the City of Orange on project planning; Continuing the previously approved requirements relating to mixed uses on the site and building materials designed standards; Phasing the project with retail/restaurant uses developed first and office uses second; Need for retail establishments to match/continue the high quality caliber of MainPlace businesses A hotel/convention center use; Accessibility for neighborhood residents and response to neighborhood concerns particularly traffic; Coordination of transportation planning with Orange County Transit Authority projects already in process; The opportunity for a unique "public space" experience on this "Gateway to the City" site; Emphasis on quality and patience to assure the "right" project is approved and constructed; Involvement of neighborhood associations in the project planning process; and Development of sufficient square footage to allow spaces to be amortized. Planning and Building Agency Executive Director Robyn Uptegraff thanked the developers for participating in this exploratory phase of the project. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 270 SEPTEMBER 15, 1997 CLOSED SESSION - 8:38-10:42 P.M. 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 September 15, 1997 Closed Session. 95.A. 95.B. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ~ EXISTING LITIGATION pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a) Hendrickson v. Personnel Board of the City of Santa Ana Appellate Case No. G02053 S Gilbert Sepeda v. City of Santa Ana Case No. 0301039 Hoffman v. City of Santa Ana OCSC Case No. 781106 City Attorney Annual Performance Review - Charter Section 705 CLOSED SESSION REPORT - 10:42 P.M. ,~ulhorize selllemetlt Gilbert Sepeda v. City of Santa gala Case No. 0301039, compromise and release in the amount of $89,061.00 MOTION: McGuigan VOTE: AYE S: NOES: ABSENT: None SECOND: Richardson Espinoza, Franklin, Lutz, McGuigan, Moreno, Pulido, Richardson None ADJOURNMENT- 10:42 P.M. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 271 SEPTEMBER 15, 1997