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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-09-19_BVAC_Minutes_ApprovedCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH BALBOA VILLAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES Marina Park, Bay Island Room (2nd Floor) 1600 West Balboa Boulevard, Newport Beach Wednesday, September 19, 2018 – 4-5:30 p.m. I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Dixon called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. The following persons were in attendance: Balboa Village Advisory Committee Members: Diane Dixon, Council Member (Chair) Grace Dove, Central Newport Beach Community Association Colleen D'Aluisio, OceanQuest Representative Jim Stratton, At-Large Representative Staff Members: Jim Campbell, Deputy Community Development Director Dave Webb, Public Works Director Mike Sinacori, Assistant City Engineer Eric Loke, Senior Civil Engineer Benjamin Zdeba, Associate Planner II. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS Committee Member Stratton complimented OceanQuest for its maintenance of the boardwalk and surrounding area. Wayne Zippi requested the alley at the rear of the 400 block of East Bay be swept. W.R. Dildine asked if the Balboa Village Advisory Committee would sunset at the end of 2018. Associate Planner Ben Zdeba agreed to investigate the issue. Chair Dixon announced that Item Number 4 would be heard following Item Number 1. III. ITEMS FOR REVIEW 1. MINUTES OF JULY 18, 2018 Recommended Action: Approve July 18, 2018 Minutes MOTION: A motion was made by Committee Member Stratton, seconded by Committee Member Dove, to approve the minutes of the July 18, 2018 meeting as presented. The motion passed unanimously. 4. RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT PROGRAM (RP3) SURVEY RESULTS Recommended Action: No Action Required Deputy Community Development Director Jim Campbell reported the survey for an overnight residential parking program was conducted over the summer. Staff sent 1,087 ballots and received 576 ballots, 337 or 31 percent in support and 239 or 22 percent in opposition. The Municipal Code requires a majority of residents support the program before it can be implemented. Staff will discontinue pursuit of the program given the limited support for it. At the current time, staff could develop a different program and conduct a survey for it. Support for the RP3 program was higher in the area closer to the Parking Management Balboa Village Advisory Committee September 19, 2018 Draft Minutes Page 2 District. Theoretically, a new program could be developed for a smaller geographic area. In the 2015 survey, support for a parking program increased east of Island. Based on that support and the consensus of BVAC, staff eliminated the area west of Island, and divided the area east of Island into two phases. If BVAC wishes, he can map the results of the 2018 survey and present it at the next meeting. Committee Member Stratton advised that three professional studies have indicated there should be some sort of parking relief for residents living west of Balboa Village. The residents who did not return a ballot may not care about providing parking relief. He, as a member of the parking committee, requested staff provide the demographic data of the first and second surveys, the letter accompanying the second survey, and the final results. Committee Member Dove did not believe BVAC or staff should pursue a parking program. Lesley Miller remarked that everyone could agree that the merchants and homeowners in the area need help. Homeowners in the Wedge area would support a parking program. Newport Beach homeowners should have a priority for parking. Employees and fisherman should not be allowed to park in Balboa Village, so that visitors and shoppers can park near businesses and homeowners can park near their homes. Kelly O'Donald Carlson reported she received four ballots, one as a business owner, one as a property owner, and two for two housing units located on the property. She could neither support nor oppose a parking program because the program was convoluted and confusing. Wayne Zippi noted the issues around use of accurate addresses and addressing ballots to occupant. Parking congestion is extremely bad during the summer months. Deputy Community Development Director Campbell explained staff's methodology for mailing ballots. Ballots were not provided to merchants. Staff is working with fishing and excursion services to have their customers park in the lots outside residential areas. Staff will share the results of the survey and the decision not to pursue an RP3 program with residents in the coming week. 2. BALBOA PENINSULA TROLLEY 2018 RECAP Recommended Action: No Action Required Senior Civil Engineer Eric Loke noted the changes between the 2017 and 2018 trolley program. The trolley operated 15 weeks in 2018. 2018 ridership, per hour, was slightly lower than in 2017, but well above the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) guideline. Peak ridership occurred between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Riders used the Avon lot and the Balboa Pier stops more than other stops. Use of the Avon lot was comparable to use of the Hoag Hospital lot. Use of the trolley removed approximately 5,000 cars from the Peninsula. Total ridership for 2018, was approximately 25,000. In a survey of trolley riders, riders awarded four and five stars out of a possible five stars, and 95 percent reported they would ride the trolley again. With respect to wait times, 95 percent of riders reported waits of less than 15 minutes. The 5 percent of riders who waited more than 15 minutes were using the trolley over the July 4th holiday. Of the total number of riders, 64 percent were visitors. The majority of survey respondents had used the trolley one or two times. 2018 total ridership was 60 percent greater than in 2017. 2017 ridership, per hour, averaged 20, while 2018 ridership, per hour, averaged 18. The total cost of the trolley program was higher in 2017 because of startup costs. Staff will increase marketing for the 2019 program. Staff recommends continuing the trolley program for the four remaining fiscal years of the OCTA grant and beginning daily operations at 10 a.m. in 2019. In response to Committee Member Stratton's request for the number of cars per day in the Avon parking lot, Assistant City Engineer Mike Sinacori advised that the shuttle operator tracked the number of cars in the lot that used the trolley. Staff was sensitive to advertising the Avon lot as free parking because businesses also utilize the lot. Next year, the shuttle operator will track the total number of cars in the lot. Balboa Village Advisory Committee September 19, 2018 Draft Minutes Page 3 Committee Member Stratton related that trolley parking was not well advertised, and more wayfinding signage is needed. In reply to questions, City Engineer Sinacori reported the City originally applied for an $800,000 grant and received $600,000-plus. The City applied for and received a supplemental grant to expand the trolley program for five weeks. The trolley program must meet OCTA guidelines each year in order to receive the funding awarded. The City can apply for additional grant funding, only if OCTA makes additional grants available. The average ridership is 18 per hour, but trolleys are full during peak times. Chair Dixon departed the meeting at approximately 5:05 p.m. 3. CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PARKING AND MANAGEMENT Recommended Action: No Action Required Deputy Community Development Director Campbell provided an overview on the City’s efforts related to better construction project management. He discussed a potential ordinance that would prohibit construction on Saturdays; however, homeowners would be exempt from the prohibition. Eliminating one workday could delay construction projects, but contractors report Saturdays are not particularly productive. The potential ordinance would allow construction to occur on Saturday in unique circumstances; would limit the duration of construction to five years; would require construction signage; and would require the communication of best practices. A contractor cannot control his subcontractors and the subcontractors' employees; therefore, the proposed ordinance did not address the issue. Staff proposed an additional fee on building permits to fund code enforcement, but it was strongly opposed. The signage would be 2 feet by 4 feet or 3 feet by 5 feet. Code enforcement officers can issue citations for violation of these provisions. Lesley Miller supported allowing Saturday construction in special circumstances. 5. GENERAL UPDATES a. Streetscape Improvements b. Wayfinding Signage Program Recommended Action: No Action Required Assistant City Engineer Sinacori reported a contract for streetscape improvements should be awarded in January, and the project should be completed before Summer 2019. The subcommittee and consultant are moving forward with proposals for wayfinding signage. Lesley Miller shared information about trash cans being used in New York. IV. ADJOURNMENT (Meeting End Time: 5:25 p.m.) The meeting ended at 5:25 p.m. Next meeting Date: November 7, 2018 at 4 p.m. in the Science of Sailing Exhibit at OceanQuest.