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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/14/1998 - Adjourned Regular MeetingCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH • City Council Minutes Adjourned Regular Meeting (Study Session) September 14, 1998 - 3:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Thomson, Debay, O'Neil, Hedges, Glover, Noyes, Mayor Edwards Absent: None CURRENT BUSINESS 1. ORAL REPORT INTERRA PRESENTATION ON MILLENNIUM PLAN (contd. from 8/24/98). At the request of Mayor Edwards and staff, this item was continued due to proposed changes to be made to the Millennium Plan. 2. PRESENTATION OF REVISED BALBOA BAY CLUB DEVELOPMENT PLAN. Beverly Ray, Balboa Bay Club (BBC), 1221 W. Coast Highway, stated that an enormous amount of work and attention to detail went into the plans. She stated that advice and suggestions were received from the BBC Board of • Governors, president, department managers, and supervisors to make certain that the members' needs were met; that a world -class hotel expert with more than 50 -years of experience and a world -class chef with 40 -years of experience are on staff to assist with the redevelopment; that the President of IBC David Wooten and the Chief Financial Officer Jerry Johnson are also on board to ensure the financial success of the development; and that the BBC has over 25 years of experience in providing successful stewardship as the parent company, International Bay Club, Inc. David Wooten, 912 Alden Place, stated that IBC commissioned Lee & Sakahara to carry out the design and create the architectural drawings following approval of the conceptual plan in August 1997. The development plan is being submitted to Council for approval and construction is expected to begin as early as October 1999, lasting about 2 years. Ron Sakahara, Lee & Sakahara Architects, 16842 Von Karman, Irvine, utilized drawings to highlight the revised development plan. He stated that the goal was to refine the design to ensure a five star hotel project. He noted that the view corridor was increased between the two buildings and along the east side of the banquet area; one of the buildings was lowered to two stories; the clubhouse building was shifted to the north to create a better view of the harbor for the residents; and the public access was maintained. Mr. Sakahara reviewed the layout of the clubhouse, the dining facilities, the varying views, and the landscape plan. He introduced the tower which was not in the original plan and stated that the design is considered "classic - Italian renaissance." He further compared the differences between the previous and revised development plans. Mayor Pro Tem O'Neil entered the Chambers at :3:25 p.m Volume 52 -• Page 158 INDEX No Report C -519 Balboa Bay Club (38) City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes September 14, 1998 INDEX • Planning Director Temple reported that the changes to the project (outlined in the staff report) will require amendments to the previous development plan that was already approved by Council. In response to Council Member Thomson's questions, Ms. Temple stated that the hotel accommodations and dining facilities will be a public facility. Further, that walking access will be provided in certain areas, particularly along the bayfront. Regarding parking, she stated that a substantial number of additional spaces will be provided and that the parking analysis was done assuming a typical public hotel. In response to Council Member Noyes' question regarding public access, Ms. Ray stated that BBC currently has one public access gate but will have an additional gate for heavily attended functions. Douglas Lee, Lee & Sakahara Architects, explained the location of the guard house and the public access gate. Regarding Council Member Noyes' question about an increase in the guest count, Ms. Ray believed that there would be a great increase because of the facility's beauty and the quality of the hotel and dining facilities, even though, she does not have an actual estimate. Council Member Debay requested and received clarification from Ms. Ray that the beach building will be torn down and replaced with the clubhouse building, a members' only pool, and a children's pool. The hotel and • restaurant facilities will be built next. She expressed hope that everything will be kept open since they are phasing the project. Ms. Ray estimated the completion date to be approximately 2 years after. groundbreaking. In response to Mayor Edwards' question, Ms. Ray confirmed that they intend to have the organization that owns /operates the facility make the improvements. Ms. Ray confirmed Council Member Glover's comment that the new design will create better views from Kings Road. She added that the view from the harbor, looking at the hotel, will also be spectacular. Ms. Ray stated that there will be open fencing along Coast Highway so that drivers can see the property and the bay. She hoped that this project will be the gateway to Newport Beach and a landmark to the City. Apologizing for his tardiness, Mayor Pro Tem O'Neil requested to visit the firm to look at the plans and receive the details he might have missed. In response to Council Member Debay's questions, Ms. Ray stated that changing the existing fagade of the apartments is not part of this project, but may be in the future. She also noted that the BBC currently has facilities for visiting boats to tie up while going to a restaurant. In response to Council Member Thomson's question about the availability of • marina parking, Ms. Ray stated that the new project provides more parking spaces and even enables the employees to park on the property. Volume 52 - Page 159 • City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes September 14, 1998 Regarding Mayor Edwards' concern about public input and reconsideration by the Planning Commission, Ms. Ray stated that they would be happy to involve them but that she is not sure if that is part of what was needed. Ms. Temple stated that she and Mr. Wooten discussed the outline of an outreach program with the most interested surrounding neighbors. She reported that a contract with the original environmental consultants is about to be initiated to compare the prior certified EIR with the changes in the project. She pointed out that the subterranean parking structure will have to be looked at since it is larger. Ms. Temple believed that this would take about 8 to 10 weeks, then the changes to the PC text will be done, and finally it will be rescheduled for the Planning Commission. Louise Fundenberg, 808 W. Balboa Boulevard, expressed the opinion that the BBC has a Class 1 -A beach that may not be accessible to the public and that the public may be intimidated by the gate guards and fences. 3. BONITA CANYON PARK REVIEW PLAN. Acting City Manager Danner stated that this park development was included as part of the Bonita Canyon annexation. He reported that the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission (PB &R) met many times with the community and came up with what they believe to be the best design. Pat Beek, Chairperson of the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission, . stated that earlier this year the Commission assisted with the planning of the park site which has almost 34 -acres of open space. She reported that they held a total of 9 meetings and that the working sessions included Public Works, Traffic Engineering, Police, Fire and Marine, General Services, and Community Services Departments. She believed this made for a well- thought out park that is aesthetically pleasing, houses multiple uses, is maintenance - friendly, and safe for all participants and spectators. Ms. Beek indicated that the Commission was not provided any budget amounts until last week, and that they were not made aware of the "bare - bones" revisions made by staff which they do not agree with. She believed the $3.2 million budget would only provide a grazing area with a few trash cans and port -a- potties. She pointed out that, under the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA), $3.125 million must be used for the area known as the east sports area, noting that the parks are separated into the west and east sections. Ms. Beek stated that, with the new budget, the Commission recommends that this project be referred back to allow them to plan the build -out of the east, mid, and east off -site park area of the east park. The current estimate for the project is about $4 million. She indicated that the Commission would rework the assigned sports usage and come closer to the budgeted amount, with the Council to vote on the allocation of the additional funds if there is a shortfall. In response to Mayor Edwards' question, Ms. Beek explained that the east park is separated into 3 sections: east, mid, and east off -site parking. Rick • Vanderwood, EPT Landscape Architects, reviewed the boundaries of the east park, and the sports amenities and parking for each section. Volume 52 - Page 160 INDEX Bonita Canyon Park (62) City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes September 14, 1998 INDEX • In response to Council Member Debay's questions, Me. Beek indicated that the original budget estimate was $3.5 million from the Community Facilities District 98 -1 but the amount was reassessed to $3.125 million when the buyers looked at the fair market value. She emphasized that the Commission's job was to plan the park and not to worry about the budget because they were still working out what was to be the available amount. Ms. Beek stated that the public believes they are going to get the park that is depicted but, with the actual cost estimate, the City will end up with just grading, soil amenities, and irrigation. Regarding Mayor Pro Tern O'Neil's question regarding the cost of the project, Ms. Beek believed that PB &R is recommending quality materials that will not need replacing for many years. She stated that, if the project is referred back to PB &R, they will probably be able to reduce the costs and not look at the west park at this time. She believed that they need to see more than just grass after all the community involvement that took place. In response to Council Member Glover's questions, Ms. Beek stated that the landscaping does include palm trees and that the trees may be negotiable items as part of another build -out, not necessarily with the parks. She stated that The Irvine Company did not ask for any improvements and were basically spectators who volunteered the services of EPT. In response to Council Member Noyes' questions, Mr. Danner stated that the $3.25 million will be provided through a bond that the JPA will issue is probably in October. Council Member Noyes expressed concern about reserving the school site area for 10 years. Ms. Beek stated that it was her understanding that, in talking with the school district, they do not foresee utilizing that area and that this gave PB &R the confidence to move forward with the project. Mr. Danner confirmed that the City does have to hold this piece of land and that the JPA will hold the land title for the 10 year period. Council Member Thomson requested clarification relative to how it was decided to design the park as proposed with the various sports amenities. Ms. Beek stated that they worked with the President of the Newport Beach Little League, Region 57 AYSO Soccer and Bobby Sox representatives, and all of the youth organizations to create fields in which multiple uses, with varying ages, can be used. Ms. Beek explained that the fields were developed around the natural berms in the park but that PB &R will rework the plan to make the eastern portion of the park a grass area. Mr. Vanderwood assured that the plan can be reworked to incorporate more fields in the east park. Council Member Thomson stated that, since creating the west park soccer fields will be delayed, the east park should accommodate them and make it as multipurpose as possible. Council Member Thomson suggested making the entrance big enough for a larger car to be able to easily turn around after dropping off children and that an exit be installed at the eastern portion of the park to have continual circulation in the parking lot. . Council Member Hedges entered the Chambers at 4:07 p.m. Volume 52 - Page 161 City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes September 14, 1998 INDEX • In response to Council Member Debay's question, Ms. Beek stated that not having permanent restroom facilities was one of the revisions made by staff. She hopes that they would be able to come up with a plan to have restrooms as nice as the ones at Bob Henry Park. Regarding Mayor Edwards' question regarding traffic circulation especially over the weekend, Public Works Director Webb stated that they can provide that information, however, they have yet to do anything. Council Member Thomson stated that it may be worthwhile to also have a meeting place for parents to pick up their children at an identifiable landmark. Mr. Vanderwood noted that the design includes a water feature. Carol Hoffman, The Irvine Company, stated that the community told them that they wanted the school site (east sports area) as a park at the time they worked through the annexation process. She stated that the Mello Roos financing mechanism created an opportunity for The Irvine Company to acquire the school site and the freeway reservation site, which was a unique opportunity to add a major recreational amenity to the overall community and also provide recreational amenities that would be important to the new Bonita Canyon residents, as well as the Harbor View homes area. Ms. Hoffman reminded Council that the Community Facilities District (CFD) is acquiring the school site and the freeway reservation site, and that the school site would always be dedicated. Regarding the mitigation agreement, • she stated that it required that The Irvine Company make that land available through the CFD and that the City cooperated with the school district. She indicated that, since they maintain community facilities districts in all cities in which they work, it was important that they be consistent in the way funding is applied. Further, since funding has always been primarily used for the acquisition of schools, it was important that they had an agreement with the school district in order to acquire this land. She reported that the school district indicated that their projections for students in the area are such that they would never really expect to need the site for a school. Referencing the articles regarding attendance at Anderson School, they can redraw the attendance boundaries because they are not expecting full attendance at Eastbluff, Lincoln School capacity will increase, and the Newport Coast School will soon be built. She emphasized that, with the remote chance they need the site for a school, a well- designed school facility can be constructed with very minimal disruption because of the large area in the middle that is not being devoted specifically to ball fields. Further, the 14 -acres is larger than needed for an elementary school. She stated that, if Council decides to proceed, the expenditure is not going to be frivolous. Ms. Hoffman pointed out that the JPA specifies that improvement funding be spent on a school site. This was in direct recognition of the focus of the community, the commitments The Irvine Company feels they made to the community, and the representations they made during the annexation procedures. She expressed The Irvine Company's concerns that the money • be spent in the way that it is going to benefit not only the citizens of the City, but the Bonita Canyon citizens whose assessments will be paying for the improvements, and that the dollars be focused in that location to create the amenity that was promised. She stated that they were happy to volunteer Volume 52 - Page 162 City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes September 14, 1998 • the services of the landscape architect that has Company on other parks in the area. Ms. Hoffman stated that as part of the overall community, in addition to this park development area, the Arroyo Park on Bison, east of MacArthur, is being fully funded by The Irvine Company. She pointed out that this park has a lighted, adult -sized ball field, that a trail connects this park with the east park, and that there are also private recreational amenities within the community that is gate guarded. In response to Mayor Pro Tem O'Neil's question, Ms. Hoffman confirmed that the CFD bond proceeds are restricted and can only be used to improve the east half of the property. In response to Council Member Debay's question whether there would be any sites to supplement this park in the Downcoast for activity parks if the City decides to annex that area, Ms. Hoffman noted the Newport Ridge Park, Newport Coast school site, and two other private parks. Council Member Noyes questioned if it would be prudent to meet with the school district to see if the 10 year dedication provision can be removed. Ms. Hoffman stated that she would like to sit down with City staff and school district staff to see if there is a way to address this issue. However, it is important that this be retained because of their relationship with the City of Irvine and other kinds of considerations. • Mayor Edwards requested and received clarification from Ms. Hoffman that there is language in the JPA that specifies the way the parcels that will be acquired by the CFD and the area where the improvement dollars are allocated would be expended. She noted that the amount was actually $2.5 million, but The Irvine Company increased it to $3.25 million as a result of allocating certain costs to each parcel when determining the boundaries of the district. Ms. Hoffman confirmed Mayor Edwards' question that these were dollars funded by the owners of the houses. Mayor Edwards asked if there was a way to increase the funding, without requesting more from the residents, so that the City has a park that would benefit everyone. Ms. Hoffman stated that having the Bonita Canyon residents take on a certain level of responsibility was discussed in one of the early annexation process meetings. She noted that the value of their land is reduced since The Irvine Company creating the CFD. Further, that the City does has in -lieu park fees as a way of paying for improvements. She believes that funding could come from these fees and that she hopes that the City will see this as enough of a benefit to maybe even use General Fund moneys. Council Member Thomson stated that he would like to see this move on and go back to PB &R to rework some of the suggestions and make it the most flexible for all the different levels of sports teams in the City. He believed that the financial part can also be worked out. • Council Member Hedges stated that PB &R will require a budget. In response to Council Member Hedges' questions, Ms. Hoffman stated that the CFD would bear the burden of the acquisition of the school site and the construction of the school, if it were needed, at a cost of about $21 million. Volume 52 - Page 163 INDEX • City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes September 14, 1998 INDEX She noted that, in addition to the acquisition, there is also the cost of the mitigation agreement to the school district for the improvements that will be made at Eastbluff and Newport Coast. By the time the site is acquired and the improvements are made, it was almost the same dollar amount as it would have been just to build the school and acquire the site. Mr. Danner clarified that $6 million for Newport -Mesa (acquisition of the site) and $3.25 million for improvements to the park site was included in the current size of the bond issue. In response to Council Member Hedges' questions, Mr. Danner confirmed that the building excise tax fund has about $400,000 or $500,000. Council Member Hedges suggested taking a loan from the General Fund to the Building Excise Tax Fund, which can then be paid out to improve the park, as an additional way to fund the project. The Fund can be repaid as Building Excise Tax comes in over time. Council Member Hedges stated that PB &R will be looking very closely at what type of money is available. He cautioned them not to just decide what they want and ask Council to find out how to pay for it. He suggested that they determine what the needs should be, how the park fits in with the overall needs, and have Council work from there. Mayor Edwards stated that there was a strong concern from the parent organizations about people coming into the area and impacting their schools. • Council Member Debay hoped that PB &R will not want to use all of the in -lieu park funds for this project because some of it should be guarded for the opportunity to develop a playing field at the CalTrans park, should the City take over the property. Community Services Director Kienitz requested more direction as to the budget that the PB &R will be working with, noting that the public's requests were considered but a budget was not provided. Mayor Edwards believed that they will be starting with the CFD's $3.25 million for the east and mid - portion of the east park. In response to Council Member Hedges' question regarding the use of in -lieu park fees, City Attorney Burnham clarified that, under Council Policy, park fees generated by developments anywhere in the City may be spent on park improvements. Council Member Hedges requested that the policy be checked as he believes the City is not particularly interested in depleting all the funds to support one park. Mayor Edwards stated that he is sensing that the east area of the Bonita Canyon Park is the primary goal, using the $3.25 million budget. Chip Green, Harbor View Homes resident, expressed concern with the direction as it was their understanding that the entire park would be built out. He stated that he is a coach and that they need quantity, not quality. He reported that they practice on soccer fields in which they share the field • with 3 teams. He believed that the west park is the gateway to the City and is interested to see what the City plans for it if all the money is going to be spent on the east park. He expressed the opinion that the west park is only currently good for a bicycle motorcross course and that, even if it is minimal, Volume 52 - Page 164 City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes September 14, 1998 • the children need more ground area for soccer and little league practices. Mike Wade, AYSO Region 57, noted that he attended most of the meetings regarding the annexation and the park. He stated that this is the first time he learned that all funding needs to be allocated to the east site. He stated that they were looking forward to the larger soccer field in the mid -site, as well as the smaller fields along the west site. Mr. Wade expressed pleasure that PB &R is at least willing to reconfigure the east site and encouraged everyone to consider using some of the money for the west site. He reported that there are 1,705 children in his AYSO area and that there are at least 3 teams on each site every weekday for practices. Mr. Wade stated that he is using the Newport Coast Homeowner Ridge Association site for practices, but pointed out that the grass is almost unusable for soccer. He recommended redoing the grass if that area ever falls into City control. Phil Glasgow, Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission, expressed the opinion that this plan is the best thought out, planned facility in the City. He stated that they initially did not know what to put in the parks, so they listened to every suggestion and worked with the homeowners. He stated that they wanted to see what could be created with quality. He took issue that he found out about the budget issue by reading the newspaper and emphasized that PB &R never knew the budget amount even though they asked. He stated that they did a good job, will come back with good ideas that will fit everybody's needs, and will find the money to do the project since this is the front door to a very good community. He reported that The Irvine • Company has been very helpful and urged everyone to work as a team. He asked Council to make sure that staff gives them, the budget so that they can help support them. He reported that, if the west site cannot be completed, the City needs to do something to make sure that at least grass is installed and that the noise continuation plan goes into effect to help the homeowners. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments presented. ADJOURNMENT — 4:49 p.m. to Closed Session. xrr+*, r���,ts�,wt +ttraa•rt * * * *s�t•,t* The agenda for the Adjourned Regular Meeting was posted on September 9, 1998, at 2:30 p.m. on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. City Clerk Volume 52 - Page 165 INDEX