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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/15/1997 - Adjourned Regular Meeting® CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Minutes Adjourned Regular Meeting December 15, 1997 - 7:00 p.m. HULL CALL Present: O'Neil *, Thomson, Debay, Hedges * *, Glover, Noyes, Mayor Edwards Absent: None *Mayor Pro Tem O'Neil arrived at 5:20 p.m. * *Council Member Hedges left at 6:00 p.m. 1. CITY COUNCIL GOAL SETTING FOR 1998. Mayor Edwards provided the following review of the goals established for 1997: Airport - ® In 1997 `the Council continued with this goal and on the basis of what Council Members Glover, Thomson and Noyes set forth in the proposed outreach newsletter, it will probably remain to be a goal in 1998. The Council recently determined that City Attorney Burnham will be in charge of the airport issue and hired Peggy Ducey to report to Mr. Burnham to coordinate activities for the City. It is anticipated that the Council will have an update on-this issue by January 12, 1998 regarding the strategic planning for the upcoming year. Advanced Planning - Annexation The City had an outreach program last week and the Council set a timetable to outreach to various community groups. Water Service Delivery The City completed the groundwater project, therefore this goal will probably go off for 1998. Crime Prevention Last January the Council wanted greater emphasis on crime prevention, therefore a special crime unit was established which appears to be making good progress. The Police Department will continue to place an emphasis on the security and safety of the City and this will probably be kept somewhere ® in the monitoring process. Volwne 51 - Paige 558 City Council Goals (33) City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes December 15, 1997 ® 11:(!(1T11T11P nPVPI/TT1PT{ 1 ,_ Under this umbrella group the City has NCEO, PROP and TPO and there has been an emphasis in this area. It was suggested that for this next year this might come under the category of infrastructure. Employee Relations The City concluded the negotiations with the various employee groups and met the goals. Financial Forecasts The City Manager and the Administrative Services Director prepared a ten - year financial forecast model which will be reviewed soon by the Finance Committee. Tidelands Administration/Management The administration of the Tidelands Management was accomplished and in the coming year this issue may come under the Marine Environment and Water Quality category. ® Marine Environment and Water Quality The City has obtained some of the funding on the dredging issue, however some of the Council may want to address the greater issue of overall water quality in the bay. It was the consensus of the Council to remove the goals of Crime Prevention, Water Service, Employee Relations, and Financial Forecasts from the 1997 list, however these areas will continue to be monitored. Each of the Council Members reviewed their priorities for 1998 and they are summarized as follows: Council Member Noyes • Open Space • Outreach to community (newsletter, town hall meetings) • Revitalize villages with balance to residents and businesses • High level of police and fire service (evenly dispersed) • Financial stability via privatization/cost savings Council Member Glover • Traffic Phasing Ordinance (TPO) - consensus via meetings to overview issues ® New quality of life committee • Airport - change Aviation Committee appointments/meeting times • Annexation (open dialogue) Volume 51 - Page 559 City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes December 15, 1997 ® Reserve funds ($3 million) • Bay - improved TMDL • Mariners Mile Council Member Hedges • Peninsula revitalization • Fiscal policy review (reserve policy - amounts /uses) • Oil Spill settlement uses • Organization /privatization/savings Council Member Thomson • Litter /debris (cleaner, park ranger, fines) • Public safety /disaster preparedness • Improve & preserve quality of life & maintain village atmosphere Council Member Debav • Airport • Future dredging funds • Community outreach • Disaster preparedness ® PROP • Undergrounding of utilities • Cal Trans West Mayor Pro Tern O'Neil •. Airport/MCAS El Toro (internal and external) . • Bay water quality /dredging • Newport Coast annexation • NCEO (build -out at Newport Center - Sr. housing, Four Seasons) Mavor Edwards • Airport • Annexation • Water quality in bay • Infrastructure planning (TPO, PROP, litter, streets, water, bridges, bulkheads) • Community outreach After discussion of the individual goals, the Council reached a consensus on the following goals for 1998: • Airport (JWA/El Toro) • Annexation ® • Water Quality (TMDL's & dredging) - ocean/bay management • Community Outreach/Feedback (newsletter, committee(s)) • Infrastructure Planning (TPO, PROP, Mariners Mile) Volume 51 - Page 560 -. City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes December 15, 1997 INDEX Fiscal (policies on reserves, examining organization for savings) City Manager Murphy reported that he will bring this information back to the Council on January 12, 1998 for finalization. Philip Bettencourt, 110 Newport Center Drive #150, on behalf of the Building Industry Association and the Newport Harbor Chamber of Commerce, addressed concerns regarding the delay with the Traffic Phasing Ordinance (TPO). RECESS AND RECONVENE The Council recessed at 6:00 p.m. and reconvened at 7:00 p.m. with all members except Council Member Hedges present. 2. JOINT MEETING WITH BOARDS/COM USSIONS /COMMITTEES TO DISCUSS ACTIVITIES FOR THE PAST YEAR AND PLANS FOR 1998. Civil Service Commission ® Steve Bromberg, Chairman, introduced the members present and recognized those that were not in attendance. He explained that earlier this year the Civil Service Board submitted an annual report to the Council. He noted that they are a Charter board with five members and reviewed their function, which is to handle disciplinary appeals. He stated that the Civil Service Rules have not been updated for 25 years and it is their goal to update those rules and bring them to Council in 1998 for approval. Building Code Board of Anueals Brion Jeannette reported that the seven member board is established by the model code, the Building and Administrative Codes that have been adopted by the City. It's main role is to hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions, or determinations made by the Building Official and the Building Department relative to applications and interpretations of the Uniform Building Code and its standards. In 1986 the Boards responsibility was expanded to serve as the rehabilitation commission related to the rehabilitation and demolition of existing substandard structures. The last hearing they held was in 1986. The Board was further expanded in August of 1997 by changing its composition to include two disabled members required in order to provide appropriate expertise in disabled access. Their first meeting this year was on December 5, 1997 and they heard a situation concerning disabled access and the issues surrounding it in a commercial building. The Board also directed staff to prepare the rules and procedures ® for the Boards' conduct. He said they expect the next year to be quite active since disabled access has become quite an issue due to the enactment of Title 24 and the ADA requirements. He explained that generally complaints are Volume 51 - Page 561 C City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes December 15, 1997 INDEX filed with the City, the City Building Official responds to that complaint and if the person who the complaint was filed against corrects the error everything is okay, but if not the decision of the Building Official would be appealed to the Board and then the Board would. act on it using the Title 24 standards as their guidelines. He further explained that their rulings are final unless appealed to the courts. Arts Commission Pat Brubaker, Vice Chairman, acknowledged the other commission members, as well as their coordinator, Karin Schnell. She reported that they have worked on the grants that have served the seniors and children of the community. She said they have continued the tradition of the fall and spring juried art shows and are working on the Bob Henry Memorial with the Police Department and with the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission on a policy for park benches. They voted to approve the request from the Balboa Theater as historical property, as well as the saloon. They are working on an Arts Foundation to help them with funding, conducted a cultural arts survey, and currently have had representatives from the commission on the Arches Reconstructive Committee. They are also working in collaboration with the painters on the Back Bay and will have a reception on January 24, 1998 to benefit the dredging of the bay. The Newport Beach Film Festival is scheduled for March 26 - April 5, 1998. On behalf of the Commission, she ® requested that the Council consider changing the Cultural Arts Coordinator position from a three - quarter position to a full -time position and with the assistance of Karin Schnell explained the types of things that the coordinator handles for the City. Public Works Director Webb explained that the City has put together a group to offer input on the beautification or improvement of the appearance of Public Works projects. The committee consists of a member from the Arts Commission, Environmental Quality Affairs and Parks, Beaches and Recreation and they will look at the projects and offer suggestions on improvements from an aesthetic standpoint. Council Member Debay requested that the Arts Commission help with the trash cans that are in the public areas, specifically in the tourist traveled areas. Board of Library Trustees Jim Wood, Chairman, introduced the members of the Board, and voiced concerns with parking and traffic issues. He explained that they only have 200 parking spaces at the present time and they are hopeful that if the senior housing project is approved that they can gain another 100 spaces. He also proposed that the Council consider extending Faralon Drive onto MacArthur to improve access. He reported on where the library is technologically and explained that the Board has arrived at a non - resident use policy for the library. He also noted that the library has established committees to determine what the library will look like in the future. He said they also want the library to become more of a gathering point for the Volume 51 - Page 562 City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes December 15, 1997 111 community values through the compliance with codes and approved conditions. In the upcoming year the Commission expects to take up the service station ordinance, the alcohol outlet ordinance, the Traffic Phasing Ordinance (TPO), and the possible pre - annexation zoning of the downcoast. He also noted that the Commission would encourage revisiting the tradition of holding joint workshops with the Council so that the Commission's decisions would more closely reflect the goals and philosophies of the Council. Aviation Committee Dan Gilliland explained that the Aviation Committee is an ad hoc committee providing an interface between City staff, the Council and the community. They serve as a means to disseminate information regarding aviation concerns from City and County sources and providing City staff with an ongoing awareness of attitudes and concerns held by the residents. He said they are chaired by Council Member Glover, the committee is composed of nine regular members representing all of the geographic areas of the City and a number of special members whose expertise is called upon as needed. He said they have been able to provide the community input to the numerous provisions to the Newport Beach airport policy and have provided rapid feedback to staff with regard to citizens feelings about actions that were under consideration. Their mission prior to the opportunity for a ® commercial airport at El Toro was to minimize the impact of JWA on the quality of life for Newport Beach residents by monitoring the noise reduction compliance and operational procedures at JW'A. Now they are moving toward a more active role in the El Toro reuse planning process and finding ways to more completely disseminate critical information to the community and to enlist help from the community to take advantage of this opportunity. RECESS AND RECONVENE The Council recessed at 7:55 p.m. and reconvened at 8:15 p.m. with all members except Council Member Hedges present. Economic Development Committee Rush Hill, Chairman, reviewed the roster for the EDC membership, thanked them and staff members, Sharon Wood and John Douglas. He reported that in 1993 the City revenues were dramatically dropping, City staff was being reorganized and reduced, services were being rethought and the quality of life in Newport Beach was in jeopardy. The choices before the City Council were to lower the cost of services, reduce services, raise residential fees and taxes, raise business fees and taxes, or improve the economic climate of the business districts and therefore increase City revenues. Under the direction of City Manager Murphy and Mayor Clarence Turner the City decided to lower the cost of services, raise the business taxes and fees, and to improve economic conditions of the business villages. The EDC was created at this ® time and proceeded with the mission to achieve a nationally recognized business friendly City that generates adequate municipal revenue to provide quality services for residents and visitors. At this time the City revenue has Volume 51 - Page 564 City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes December 15, 1997 ® dramatically increased and some feel the City is financially healed, however it is only superficial. The City survived the bankruptcy and the County recession in part by deferring funding for the infrastructure and that is now catching up with the City. He reported on the condition of the facilities and infrastructure and he said that it is the opinion of the EDC that their mission is just as valid today as when they began. The City must continue to increase the tax base with diversity and sustainability, continue to expand the successes of the Business and Conference trade with hospitality services, and continue the image of a supporting business climate that has taken three years to achieve. Specifically, the EDC recommends that the Council support and expand the Business Improvement Districts (BIDS) by providing better communication and organization at no cost to the business. He reported that the Council will soon receive a proposal from the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce to carry out this :mission. He asked that the Council do the following: 1) complete the modernization and legalization of the Traffic Phasing Ordinance before it is thrown out by the courts; 2) continue to push for the enhancement of Newport Center as the City's most significant single business district source of :revenue; 3) maximize the revenue potential of the airport area by changing zoning and land use policies to provide a reward for combining small business parcels into larger single project sites that will support appropriate development that is also revenue enhancing for the City; 4) continue to enhance the image of the business villages which serve as the front doors to the residential communities, in particular the Balboa Peninsula and Mariners Mile; 5) focus ® on harbor quality and water oriented services by increasing harbor access and user services; 6) expand the visiting yacht facilities and add high quality hospitality activities for the residents and visitors; and 7) continue to compete with neighboring communities for the right tenant mix of business. He said the City doesn't have the luxury of relaxing the economic activity and the City must continue to move forward so as not to fall behind. He said if the City is successful, the Council will continue with the luxury of debating the value of new programs or noting that there is enough government in Newport Beach and renewing the discussion of a possible tax reform. If the City fails, it will be back in the business of reducing services or facing the increasing tax dilemma again. He commended the Council and staff and announced that he will be stepping down as Chairman sometime within the next two months. Bicycle Trails Committee Don Harvey reported that during the last year the committee reviewed the Arches project detour plans, reviewed the City's bike master plan, had ongoing discussion of the use of bike surreys on the peninsula, reviewed plans for improvements to the Newport Bay bike trail, reviewed bicycle safety issues and recommended improvements or changes including Bayside and Marine, and discussed bike licensing with the Police Department. He said their big item during the year was their bike tour around the bay in October. This year they had approximately 85 participants. In response to ® Council Member Debay's concerns about the falling attendance at the meetings he explained that activities go with the membership. He said that what is not needed is narrow curb lines and explained that bikes need to be Volume 51 - Page 565 INDEX City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes December 15, 1997 1 1 on the streets since that is where people live and work. He noted that bicyclists get discouraged by cars. Environmental Quality Affairs Committee Judy Ware reported that over the past year they'have had a great turnout with committed citizens. They started out the year with the coyote program, set up a City hotline, disseminated information to the local homeowners, hosted a booth at the Earth Day, conducted an outreach on environmental issues, set up a City website, and well as worked on the urban runoff ordinance, the City beautification program, and the litter control problem. She said they have worked on the refinement and restructuring of the committee. She said she made a presentation to the Legislative Committee on the proposed changes. She explained that they set up subcommittees during the year to work on different issues - beautification, recycling, community awareness, the calendar and the theme contest. They have revised their mission statement and are looking; forward to bringing their proposal to the Council. She noted that she received a proposed resolution from Evelyn Hart and her group. One of the key items in the restructuring is the proposal to add a commissioner and other Council appointees from the homeowner groups and the refinement of their mission statement. She recognized the committee members present at the meeting. ® Council Member Noyes said he would propose that each Council Member appoint three rather than two members per district with the third person someone that is a member or representative of a community association. The membership would also include a staff member, Sharon Wood, from the Economic Development Committee. Harbor Quality Committee Bud Frenzel reported that the committee addressed twelve issues in 1997. They are: 1) the Irvine Water District demonstration project; 2) total maximum loading standards which involves the heavy metals and nitrogen content and other chemicals in the bay; 3) Upper Newport Bay sedimentation project; 4) charter boats in the harbor; 5) Lower Bay/West Newport Beach closures; 6) vessel pump out stations in the harbor; 7) AB 541 (reporting on reclaimed water spills to the Regional Board); 8) Orange County Health Care Agency bacterial summary reports; 9) water quality ordinances; 10) Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Sea Scouts in the City; 11) monitoring the activities of the Newport Bay Coordinating Council; and 12) establishing committee goals. He said they will set their goals for 1998 in January and February. Youth Council Megan Schuler, Chair, and Edward Madokoro, reported that they held their first meeting tonight and elected their officers. The goals -that were ® established were to coordinate the City Government Day, coordinate a beach cleanup day wherein they hope to work with restaurants to provide food for volunteers and possibly music, and to host an interschool dance. She noted Volume 51 - Page 566 0 City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes December 15, 1997 that all of these activities are tentative based upon the approval of the City and the School District. She noted that their next meeting is scheduled for January 5, 1995. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor Edwards wished everyone a happy new year. Council Member Noyes thanked his colleagues for attending this meeting, as well as the volunteers who serve on the various boards, commission and committees. He announced that if anyone is interested in applying to serve on any of these boards they can contact the City Clerk's office (644- 3005). ADJOURNMENT - 9:10 p.m. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The agenda for the Regular Meeting was posted on December 10, 1997 at 4:30 p.m. on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. City Clerk �\a o(0.7"A . Recording Secretary _ Volume 51 - Page 567 INDEX