HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 - Minutes - Amended PagesSeptember 10, 2019
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Agenda Item No. 1
City Council Minutes
Study Session and Regular Meeting
August 13, 2019
I. ROLL CALL - 4:10 p.m.
Present: Mayor Diane Dixon, Mayor Pro
Member Joy Brenner, Council
Council Member Kevin Muldoon
II. CURRENT BUSINESS
Tem Will O'Neill, Council Member Brad Avery, Council
Member Duffy Duffield, Council Member Jeff Herdman,
Mayor Dixon announced that Item SS4 would be discussed before Item SS3.
SS1. Clarification of Items on the Consent Calendar - None
SS2. Proclamation Recognizing Spaghetti Bender's 50th Anniversary
Mayor Dixon read the proclamation and presented it to Joyce Hoskinson and her son, Michael.
Michael thanked the City for its support, Joyce thanked the Spaghetti Bender staff, and Council
Member Brenner shared her experiences with the restaurant.
SS4. Marine Avenue Trees Maintenance
Council Member Herdman recused himself out of an abundance of caution due to real
property interest conflicts.
Public Works Director Webb, Deputy Public Works Director Martin, and City Arborist and
Landscape Manager Pekar utilized a PowerPoint presentation to review the Marine Avenue
Rehabilitation Project, discuss the maintenance and history of the Marine Avenue trees, the
committee that was formed in 2017, why a design consultant was utilized for a concept plan, the
options for new types of trees, the empty tree wells, the role of PB&R on tree issues/removals of
Special Trees, report on fallen limbs due to recent weather events, annual tree inspections, and
display examples of Eucalyptus in similar cities, confirmed that the Applegate report and Walt
Warriner report were reviewed, and discussed the recommendations.
In response to Council questions, John Noyes, chair of the committee and the Balboa Island
Merchants Association detailed the composition of the committee and why it was formed, and
indicated former Council Member Selich requested money in the budget to hire a consultant to
develop drawings.
Staff outlined the definition of Special Trees under City Council Policy G-1 (Retention, Removal
and Maintenance of City Trees), and discussed site conditions, maintenance history and
practices, the reason for trimming early in the morning, and the trial basis to plant an African
Tulip tree and Ginko trees.
Council Member Brenner explained that, in the late 1980s, as Chair of the Parks, Beaches, &
Recreation Commission (PB&R), they often recommended removing hazardous trees,
particularly on Poppy Avenue. However, the Council at that time chose not to remove the trees
which recently resulted in the removal of all the Eucalyptus trees due to sidewalk damage.
Regarding the risk of failure and liability to the City, City Attorney Harp explained the liability
risk to the City based on these assessments and City Arborist Pekar reviewed the International
Society of Arboriculture (ISA) tree assessment form.
In response to Council questions, staff stated that, if part of the tree is high risk, the whole tree
is considered high risk, agreed there are 27 high risk trees, but there are 10 trees with the
highest risk, explained the difference between the Applegate and Warriner reports, and clarified
Great Scott's fees based on diameter of tree and the recent changes to their contract.
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City of Newport Beach
Study Session and Regular Meeting
August 13, 2019
Attended an ad hoc committee meeting regarding short term lodging with Mayor Dixon and Council
Member Herdman; a tour of the Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living with Terry Moore
and Michelle Rose; and the monthly meeting with the Corona del Mar Residents Association's
Executive Committee
Met with her Newport Harbor High School Mentee, Vanessa Conejo; former Mayor Evelyn Hart
about possible plans to add an exercise pool at OASIS Senior Center; City Manager Leung, Public
Works Director Webb, Traffic Engineer Brine, and others to ensure traffic is a consideration in
project planning; and Mayor Dixon, Mayor Pro Tem O'Neill, Public Works Director Webb, Assistant
City Engineer Sinacori, Balboa Island Improvement Association (BIIA) leadership, and Southern
California Edison (SCE) staff regarding undergrounding utilities costs
Filmed a tour of the new Corona del Mar Branch Library for NBTV with the head Librarian
Council Member Herdman:
• Announced he will be attending the Korean War and WWII Veterans Luncheon on August 15, 2019
• Attended the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) summer Teen Academy Graduation with
Mayor Pro Tem O'Neill and Council Member Brenner
• Judged at the Balboa Island Sandcastle Contest
• Continued talking to people about homeless issues and responding to emails regarding the proposed
Marine Avenue rehabilitation project
• Requested a future agenda item to consider if the Friends of the Newport Beach Animal Shelter
(FONBAS) can be allowed to insert membership information into the City's dog license renewal
mailers
Mayor Pro Tem O'Neill
• Attended NBPD's National Night Out event, the Teen Academy Graduation, and the TCA Board
Meeting
• Announced office hours on September 11, 2019, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Newport Coast
Community Center
• Introduced his mentee from Newport Harbor High School, Timothy Tizon
Mayor Dixon:
• Announced that the library was the California History Section's featured City of the Month for July;
the upcoming Concert on the Green on August 25, 2019; and a college application workshop in the
Friends Room on August 31, 2019
• Displayed slides to discuss Earth Day messages from children in the City and a Sunday New York
Times article, "Where Hollywood's Golden Age Stars Found Safe Harbor"
Tim Stoaks, President of FONBAS, announced that FONBAS is ready to purchase a permanent site for
the animal shelter, discussed how they obtained the funding, introduced several FONBAS Board
Members in the audience, and proclaimed Mayor Dixon as the first Member of FONBAS.
Mayor Dixon commended FONBAS members for all their efforts and recognized the benefits of public-
private partnership.
XIII. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CONSENT CALENDAR
Prior to discussing Item 14, Council Member Muldoon recused himself due to real property
interest conflicts.
Ruth Sanchez Kobayashi congratulated the City for joining the litigation (Item IV.B) and believed that
75% of the people served in the programs listed under Item 14 are non-residents.
Wendy Weeks from Youth Employment Center Services requested that Council continue to provide
funding to her organization (Item 14).
XIV. CONSENT CALENDAR
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City of Newport Beach
Study Session and Regular Meeting
August 13, 2019
The motion carried unanimously.
XVI. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON -AGENDA ITEMS
Jim Mosher expressed his concerns regarding the lack of viewable contracts on the City's webpage.
Arthur Pesco discussed a proposal to build a monorail through the City.
XVII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
15. Mesa Drive Townhomes Call for Review (PA2017-218) [100-2019]
Council Member Duffield recused himself due to real property interest conflicts since he is
a member of the Santa Ana Country Club.
Community Development Director Jurjis, Deputy Director Campbell, and Associate Planner
Westmoreland utilized a PowerPoint presentation to describe the project, display the vicinity map,
site plan, and project renderings, address traffic, compatibility and density concerns, and reviewed
staff recommendations.
Discussion ensued between Council and staff regarding City density versus County density, the
quality of the project's building materials, the proposed lower first floor and the benefits associated
with it, building height restrictions, traffic visibility, congestion at the project intersection, access
to the property, the need for housing in the City, and the City's limited building design guidelines.
Mayor Dixon opened the public hearing.
Tim Stoaks, former Chair of the Santa Ana Heights Project Advisory Committee, discussed the
annexation agreement with Santa Ana Heights and questioned if the City has taken the zoning
changes to the County for approval. Staff clarified that this RMD area is not part of the specific
plan and does not need to go back to the County.
Anastasios Nikolaou, applicant, indicated he wanted to provide more visibility for the area due to a
prior accident at the intersection and noted he used the same designer as the Lido House Hotel.
Jim Mosher believed the area is cansidered has been made high density, not medium density, and
expressed concerns with this type of construction.
Berkley Egenes disagreed with Costa Mesa's traffic incident report, suggested installing stop signs
at the intersection, and questioned if emergency vehicles would be able to utilize the driveway.
In response to Council questions, staff indicated the intersection belongs to the County, they
installed the traffic light, and the Fire Department reviewed the plans and is comfortable with
staging on the street in the event of an emergency.
Chris White expressed support for the project.
Jane Nikolaou, applicant, requested Council support for the project.
Hearing no further testimony, Mayor Dixon closed the public hearing.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem O'Neill, seconded by Council Member Avery, to a) find this
project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15332
under Class 32 (In -Fill Development) of the CEQA Guidelines, because this project has no potential
to have a significant effect on the environment; and b) adopt Resolution No. 2019-73, A Resolution
of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach, California, Upholding the Planning Commission's
Approval of Major Site Development Review No. SD2017-008 for an Eight -Unit Residential
Condominium Project Located at 1501 Mesa Drive and 20462 Santa Ana Avenue (PA2017-218).
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