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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/08/1999 - Study SessionCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Minutes Study Session February 8, 1999 - 4:00 p.m. INDEX ROLL CALL Present: Adams, Glover, Thomson, Ridgeway, Noyes (arrived at 4:10 p.m.), Mayor O'Neil Absent: Debay (excused) CURRENT BUSINESS 1. CLARIFICATION OF ITEMS ON THE EVENING AGENDA. Regarding Item 4, 1999 Local Coastal Program Planning Grant Application, Council Member Ridgeway asked if the grant request could be made for a sum larger than the $407,135. Planning Director Temple stated that there is a total of $500,000 available on a statewide basis and that the City put together a comprehensive certification work program with the costs identified. She added that one of the criteria of the application is that the City provide a local match. • Regarding Item 5, Amendment to the Newport Place Planned Community District, Council Member Gary Adams asked if Footnote 29 was site specific. Planning Director Temple stated that this particular planned community text does have many special criteria and development standards established for particular development sites or land uses. Council Member Adams confirmed that Footnote 29(g) addressed the decrease in the setback for the Spruce side of the property. Planning Director Temple stated that Footnote 29(f) is not a change from the original proposal. Council Member Adams asked how long the residents of the Lido Sands Association will be required to water the Queen :Palm trees as stated in Item 6, River Avenue Street Rehabilitation. Public Works Director Webb stated that the Lido Sands Association has agreed to water and fertilize the trees for as long as they're in place, and confirmed that he is confident that they will do so. Council Member Adams asked for clarification of Item 8, Acceptance of Dedications Required with the Approval of Freeway Reservation North Resubdivision. Public Works Director Webb stated that the parcel is complicated because it is over a number of places where streets used to be located. He stated that the parcel map is being prepared to establish the outer parcel boundaries to allow The Irvine Company to ultimately dedicate this parcel to the City for park purposes. • Council Member Noyes asked if a competitive bid was received for Item 10, Tower Replacement and Repair. Fire Marshal Lockard explained why the replacement towers were necessary and why the funds needed to be Volume 62 - Page 338 • City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes February S, 1999 allocated. Acting City Manager Danner stated that for projects below $30,000, three written quotations are received, but the formal bid process is not required. Mayor Pro Tem Thomson corrected the agenda for Item 12, Appointments by the City Council to the Citizens Advisory Committees, by stating that Judy Ware is one of his regular appointments to the Environmental Quality Affairs Citizens Affairs Committee, not his at -large appointment. 2. INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING. Public Works Director Webb stated that the staff report attempts to list all of the City's different infrastructure pieces. He stated that the funding programs for each of the areas is also presented. Public Works Director Webb then referred to the report and outlined the various infrastructure items: streets and highways master plan; pavement management plan for the streets; alley reconstruction; sidewalks, curbs and gutters; water system master plan; wastewater master plan; storm drain master plan; traffic signals; street light replacement and upgrades; and parks, medians and parkway trees. Public Works Director Webb went on to discuss major structure refurbishment and replacement issues which included City buildings such as • the City Hall complex, the libraries, general services yard, police station, fire stations and lifeguard facility, the park, theater arts and community youth center buildings and the public restrooms. He stated that major structure refurbishment and replacement also includes the ocean and harbor facilities and bridges. Public Works Director Webb continued his outline by stating that dredging and sand replenishment is also included in the list of the City's infrastructure pieces. He noted that other areas to be considered in infrastructure planning include: signage; emergency response program emergency repairs; off field operation; quality of life; village revitalization; open space planning; beautification and fiscal planning. Public Works Director Webb then handed out a chart, 1999 Infrastructure Planning Projected Annual Costs, and stated that it illustrates the annual average spent in the past four years on each of the infrastructure areas, as well as the projected needs. He stated that an average annual total of nearly $15 million has been spent, while approximately $11 million is needed in the upcoming year. He stated that part of the reason for the average being higher than the projected is due to the large projects over the past four years, which included the groundwater development, Arches interchange and MacArthur Boulevard projects. In response to Council Member Ridgeway's question, Public Works Director Webb stated that the projected costs listed in the chart correspond with the • desired annual programs presented in the staff report. Council Member Ridgeway specifically asked about programs for the Balboa Volume 52 - Page 339 INDEX Infrastructure Planning (74) • City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes February 8, 1999 1 `!J IJ Peninsula. Public Works Director Webb confirmed for him that the storm drain master plan includes both underground and surface projects, and that the streets will continue to flood during periods of high tides and heavy rains due to the natural drainage flow. Council Member Ridgeway asked about the alleyways on the Peninsula and whether they would be reconstructed of concrete or asphalt. Public Works Director Webb stated that alleys of fifteen feet or greater width are generally made of asphalt. Council Member Ridgeway stated his concern is that some of the asphalt alleys in the area have no concrete ribbon to assist in water flow and he'd like any reconstruction to take flow direction into consideration. Council Member Ridgeway lastly requested that the next budget cycle include funds to rehabilitate the signs in the City. Council Member Noyes requested that Public Works Director Webb check whether Upper Castaways Park stayed within budget or if there is a surplus available. Council Member Noyes asked Public Works Director Webb for clarification on a few items listed in an expenditure status report, the amounts spent to date and some of the notations made. • Council Member Noyes asked about the feasibility of the City purchasing a dredge for such things as the channel dredging project, or other specific areas. Council Member Ridgeway asked the same about the sand replenishment projects. Public Works Director Webb stated that the matter could be looked into, but that such equipment would probably need to be used regularly to justify the expense. Council Member Glover inquired about the dirt alleys in her district and the new homes being built in the area. Public Works Director Webb stated that the policy requires newly constructed alleys to be paid for by the property owner. He said that 75 to 80% of the alleys in her district were originally constructed with assessment district funds. Council Member Glover suggested that the oil field operations be shut down since more money is being spent than earned, but that she will await the sub - committee's recommendation. Council Member Glover asked if Bluff Road as referenced in the chart in the staff report, Major Projects from 7 -Year Highway Master Plan, was intended to go from 19th Street to Coast Highway. Public Works Director Webb stated that the Master Plan would have it do so, but that the primary costs would be developer costs. He further confirmed that the 17th Street project, from Bluff Road to the easterly City limits, would also be a part of the development process. • Council Member Glover requested that Public Works Director Webb check on the extension of the 22- Freeway and if it would be going to just the 405 - Freeway or on down to Coast Highway. Volume 52 - Page 340 E • • City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes February 8, 1999 In response to Council Member Glover's inquiries regarding the West Coast Widening project, Public Works Director Webb stated that the master plan shows that eight lanes are needed, which would be one additional lane to what currently exists. He stated that creative lane striping would have to be done over the bridge and that some land would need to be acquired. Council Member Noyes expressed his concern over the addition of a lane and the tapering that would have to occur. Public Works Director Webb stated that the seven -year plan provides the numbers and requirements of the circulation element, but not the specifics on how those needs will be met. Mayor O'Neil suggested that the Infrastructure Planning report be updated on a quarterly basis. 3. UPDATE ON NEWPORT VILLAGE SENIOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS OF THE IRVINE COMPANY AND FORD MOTOR LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. Assistant City Manager Wood stated that Council Member Ridgeway requested the report. She stated that the City Council Newport Center Economic Opportunities Committee had been working with The Irvine Company on a senior affordable housing project for the Newport Village site, but that the negotiations were not concluded. Assistant City Manager Wood stated that the Newport Village site is designated in the Circulation Improvement and Open Space Agreement ( CIOSA) as an open space site that The Irvine Company was required to dedicate to the City. She stated that this was done last month. Further, CIOSA also provides that the Newport Village site may be used for senior affordable housing if the City and The Irvine Company agree. Assistant City Manager Wood stated that the uses for the money received through the Ford Development Agreement include developing a senior affordable housing site, or rehabilitating existing apartment projects, converting existing mobile home parks or extending the covenants in place for several apartments in the City. Council Member Noyes inquired about the process of changing an affordable unit to a market rate unit. Assistant City Manager Wood stated that the covenants in place in Newport Beach have been in existence for ten to thirty years and that, oftentimes, the affordable units are alongside and among market rate units. She cited Big Canyon as an example. Assistant City Manager Wood answered Council Member Ridgeway's question about Big Canyon by stating that the authority to include affordable housing in the project was probably due to implementation of the Housing Element policy. She stated that the Planning Commission sets a percentage, usually 20% of an approved project, which must be affordable housing. Volume 52 - Page 341 INDEX Newport Village Senior Affordable Housing /Affordable Housing (68) City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes February 8, 1999 • Council Member Ridgeway asked about the covenant time period and how that is determined. Assistant City Manager Wood stated that the time period is set in each project's agreement. She further responded that 225 apartment covenants expire this year, and that extending their time period is one use of the Ford money, as stated previously. Council Member Ridgeway inquired about the requirement of The Irvine Company to provide-172 affordable housing units, as stated in the staff report. Assistant City Manager Wood stated that affordable housing requirements and Housing Elements are requirements of the State. She further responded that affordable housing is not required on just new development. She stated that replacement needs, vacancy factors, and growth and employment are also considered in the calculations, and that the Housing Element must incorporate the needs of the region as determined by the Council of Governments (COG). Assistant City Manager Wood confirmed for Council Member Ridgeway that the Newport Coast area, similarly, would have had affordable housing components through the County's Housing Element. She stated that she believes the County also uses an inclusionary program, such as Newport Beach does, meaning that the developers have to include a certain percentage of affordable housing in their developments. When asked by Council Member Ridgeway if the City is deficient in is providing its required affordable housing, Assistant City Manager Wood stated that the City only has an outstanding obligation by a developer. She stated that the City is not responsible for developing the units, only a responsibility to have a program in place to facilitate them. She further stated that possible outcomes of the development not happening could be a lawsuit, or if the City's General Plan and Housing Element are found to be inadequate, the City may no longer be allowed to issue building permits to developers. Council Member Noyes asked about the uniformity of the percentages that are applied to each developer and about a single home being built in the future, when the City may be built out. Assistant City Manager Wood stated that the single home could be determined by the City Council, at that time. She further confirmed for Council Member Noyes that at some point in the future, when all covenants have expired, the City could end up with no affordable housing. Council Member Ridgeway stated that he requested this item be brought to the City Council for discussion, and referenced his land use background. He feels that the Newport Village site could be developed with everyone's thoughts and needs in mind, and that it is an excellent site for senior affordable housing. He disagrees that a passive park would be the best use of the site. He further feels that the views from southbound MacArthur Boulevard could be maintained with a senior affordable housing project. He also feels that some of the library's future needs could be accommodated. • Council Member Ridgeway referenced a letter from Thomas Ashley, Planning Commissioner, which included the benefits of senior affordable Volume 52 - Page 342 INDEX • City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes February 8, 1999 INDEX housing at the Newport Village site. The letter cited the many services in close proximity to the site that would be utilized by senior citizens. Council Member Ridgeway concluded that he couldn't think of a better site in Southern California for senior affordable housing than the Newport Village site. Mayor Pro Tem Thomson confirmed with Assistant City Manager Wood that The Irvine Company's requirement to create affordable housing did not require that it be senior housing, that it could occur anywhere in the City and that there were alternatives to building brand new units. Assistant City Manager Wood went on to explain the criteria for who's allowed to lease affordable units. She stated that the criteria is set by State law and based on income. She stated that there are three income categories for which affordable housing is provided: very low income which is 50% of the median income, lower income which is 80% of the median, and moderate which is 120% of the median. She stated that the annual median income for a four- person household in Orange County in 1998 was $65,800. Mayor Pro Tem Thomson stated that he researched the topic at the library and found out that the formula also includes the assets available to the individual. He stated that a new senior affordable housing complex could be built anywhere in the City. Assistant City Manager Wood stated that the City establishes the selection procedure as part of the agreement with the • developer. Mayor Pro Tem Thomson stated that the argument that the Newport Village site is not suitable for a park due to its proximity to busy streets should also be true of a senior housing project on the site. He stated that the walks to the nearby services are long walks, and that his preference would be to rehabilitate an existing building in the City and maintain the Newport Village site as open space. Mayor Pro Tem Thomson stated that the return to the City on the rental of the property, if a developer were allowed to build affordable housing, would be approximately $1.4 million over a fifty -year period, and not a good value for the site. He presented a Newport Central Park Concept and pointed out some of the details of the site. He expressed his appreciation for the view available from the site's bluff and that the bluff area should remain untouched. He said the water table in the area is high and if a building were to be built on the site, this would have to be taken into consideration. Mayor Pro Tem Thomson concluded by stating that he agrees that affordable housing and senior affordable housing is needed in the City, but he doesn't think the prime piece of property in the City needs to be used for that purpose. Don Beebe, Lindo Avenue resident, stated that his grandparents were farmers in the area in the early 1900'x, and that he's heard a lot of stories of • how the area used to be. He feels that open space is a necessity for quality of life. He supports the open space alternative for the Newport Village site and thanked Mayor Pro Tem Thomson for proposing it. Mr. Beebe is certain that Volume 52 - Page 343 u City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes February 8, 1999 INDEX meet their commitment in H. Ross Miller, Advocacy Chairman for Friends of Oasis, thanked Council Member Ridgeway for trying to revitalize the effort of constructing senior affordable housing at the Newport Village site. He knows of the concerns of the library, the environmentalists and the nearby residents. He stated that Friends of Oasis does not feel that this site is suitable for a tranquil park because it's surrounded by busy streets. Mr. Miller said that there is a great need for senior affordable housing in Newport Beach. Jon Robertson, 2509 Harbor View Drive, complimented Mayor Pro Tem Thomson for his great vision of the future of the City. Mr. Robertson stated that his home is about the same distance from MacArthur Boulevard as the site, and he feels that he can fully enjoy the view from his backyard without disruption from noise. He feels that the park proposal makes the most sense for the community at -large and that there isn't another site with such views that could be put to use so affordably. Elaine Linhoff, 1760 E. Ocean Blvd., complained that she couldn't hear Assistant City Manager Wood's comments earlier. Ms. Linhoff went on to say that she agrees with Mayor Pro Tem Thomson's proposal. She said that she prefers to leave the site as is, but she likes some of the things he is including. She feels that the site provides the most spectacular view in the City and should be made available for everyone to enjoy. She said she's a . senior herself, and she feels that the Bayview Landing site is a much better site for senior affordable housing because it's a flatter site. Dr. Jan Vandersloot, 2221 16th Street, commended Mayor Pro Tem Thomson for his idea. Dr. Vandersloot stated that he is in support of this park because it combines the views of the area with an appreciation for the environmental sensitivity of the site. He listed some of the environmental assets of the site. He stated that noise is not a problem at the site. Dr. Vandersloot suggested that the Ford money be used to extend the covenants as discussed earlier in the evening. Dr. Vandersloot also spoke in support of senior affordable housing at the Bayview Landing site. Elizabeth Stahr, 4639 Roxbury Road, stated that. she has been involved with the library for several years. She stated that her primary concern for placing senior housing at the Newport Village site is the traffic in the area. She feels that the area is too dangerous to have seniors walking to the services in the area, and that more pedestrians will only add to the traffic congestion that already exists. She feels that the other alternatives for senior affordable housing should be pursued, and that this site should be left as open space. She also stated that the library needs more parking. Ernest Bastien, 1215 Surfline Way, stated that the reason the site was dedicated as open space, in the first place, was because of the over - building in the area. He sees two alternatives for the site: leave it as open space or build on it. He thinks the decision to leave the site as open space would • enhance Newport Beach and represent the image that Newport Beach is a beautiful place. Volume 52 - Page 344 • City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes February 8, 1999 INDEX Jim Warren, 1201 Surfline Way, stated that he has lived at this address for thirty years and has been heavily involved in development of the site. He said the people in his neighborhood have always wanted a park or for the site to remain as open space. Mr. Warren stated that Mayor Pro Tem Thomson covered many of the topics that have been discussed over the years. He knows that affordable housing is a problem in the area, but thinks there are alternative sites. Mayor O'Neil clarified that there is no project currently before the City Council and that no decision will be made at the current meeting. He wanted to let the audience know that the City Council is not close to making a decision, but that the input is good to hear. Claudia Owen, a Bluffs resident, stated that housing can really go anywhere but open spaces are harder to come by. Mayor O'Neil stated that the concept of senior affordable housing could incorporate a mixed use of the site. Lucille Kuehn, 1831 Seadrift Drive, stated that she has lived at this address for over forty years. She stated that she is pro senior services and has served on the advisory board for Oasis Senior Center. She said that when she was on the City Council, they secured the Housing & Urban Development Block Grant that provided the land for Oasis. She stated that • she is also actively involved with the library and wants Council Member Ridgeway to understand the history of past decisions made in the City. She concluded by stating that the view should be maintained since it is an irreplaceable asset. Jim Wood, Chairman of the Library Board of Trustees, stated that he is a member of an exploratory committee that is looking into an annex to the library that would house an auditorium. He stated that the annex might also include a small gallery, a reception hall and possibly a garden and an amphitheater. He stated that the annex is in the concept stage only, but that an area close to the library is desired. Carol Hoffman, The Irvine Company, stated that it is important to recognize that the Housing Element and State law are guidelines only, and provide direction to cities and counties in providing affordable housing. She stated that The Irvine Company worked with a committee for two years to help meet the objective of balancing The Irvine Company's requirement to provide affordable housing while presenting projects that would be of interest to the City. She stated that the committee never completed its objective but that The Irvine Company fulfilled its CIOSA requirement by dedicating the Newport Village site to the City on January 25, 1999. Carol Hoffman also responded to some earlier comments. She stated that when development for Newport Coast was approved, the affordable housing requirement was removed from the Coastal Act, so no mandatory • requirement was in place. She stated that the requirement was voluntary and they met that obligation through an affordable housing implementation plan with the County, which was only a five -year requirement. She said that Volume 52 - Page 345 • • • City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes February 8, 1999 The Irvine Company will continue to cooperate with the City. Council Member Noyes stated that he sees five options for the site: affordable senior housing, a park, library use, mixed use or leaving it alone. He feels that all the options should be looked at and discussed before a decision is made. Council Member Glover stated that she feels it's a wonderful piece of property and should remain as open space. She said that her district does not include a lot of open space and reminded the Corona del Mar residents that once you build on land, it is not returned to open space. Council Member Ridgeway stated that he respected the opinions presented at the meeting and confirmed that he doesn't want to remove the view seen when traveling southbound on MacArthur Boulevard. He stated that the City has only accepted the dedication of the land and that there is much discussion that will take place regarding the use of the site. He knows the City has a senior affordable housing need. S4. ALTERNATIVE USES FOR THE NEWPORT VILLAGE SITE (NEWPORT CENTRAL PARK) [Discussed concurrently with Item #3]. - None ADJOURNMENT - 6:00 p.m. o: o ,t,r,r,r.00t * *a « *tr•ttx *txxx *rx :t The agenda for the Study Session was posted on February 3, 1999, at 3:15 p.m on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. The supplemental agenda for the Study Session was posted on February 5, 1999, at 3:15 p.m on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. Recording Secretary / � �i(k Mayor w. ►� '' IP City Clerk Volume 52 - Page 346 INDEX Newport Village Site Use (68)