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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/28/2005 - Study SessionA 0 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Minutes Study Session June 28, 2005 - 3:00 p.nL HULL CALL Present: Selich, Rosansky, Webb, Ridgeway, Daigle, Mayor Heffernan Absent: Nichols (excused) CURRENT BUSINESS 1. CLARIFICATION OF ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR - None 2. CENTENNIAL FUNDING UPDATE. Recreation & Senior Services Director Knight announced that approximately $200,000 has been raised through volunteer efforts for the City's Centennial. She introduced Dayna Pettit, the sponsorship development co- chair. Ms. Pettit stated that it's important for the City Council to support the efforts of the volunteers. She listed the contributions received to date, which included $100,000 from Hoag Hospital, $25,000 from Saunders Property Management and $25,000 from Pacific Life. Mayor Pro Tern Webb stated that it's an excellent start and he knows that the donations will continue. He and Ms. Pettit both confirmed that additional sponsors are being talked to. Mayor Heffernan asked if sponsors are donating for specific events or aspects of the Centennial celebration, such as the Rose Parade float. Ms. Pettit responded in the affirmative, and Ms. Knight added that a list of opportunities and benefits related to sponsorship levels has been prepared. For example, the $25,000 donated by Saunders Property Management will allow them to have a rider on the float. Ms. Knight also noted that approximately $500,000 in free advertising, marketing and media coverage has been confirmed. In response to Mayor Heffernan's additional question, she stated that the float will be able to accommodate eight to ten riders. She stated that there are also potential benefits for smaller donors, as well. She complimented the volunteers and stated that they've done a fantastic job. In response to Council Member Daigle's question, Ms. Knight stated that there are currently over 200 volunteers. Those interested in participating can access the Centennial website at www.newportbeachlOO.com. In closing, Ms. Knight stated that it is hoped that the necessary funding will be raised through donations, but the City Council is being asked to commit City funds for deposits and related payments that will be due in advance. She stated that the evening meeting's agenda includes two Centennial related items for City Council consideration. 3. TRAFFIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF GENERAL PLAN UPDATE LAND USE ALTERNATIVES. Volume 57 - Page 313 "Ltlw [No report) (100 -2005) City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes June 28, 2005 INDEX Assistant City Manager Wood reported that approximately 250 people attended the public workshops held on Saturday, June 25, 2005. She introduced Carleton Waters of Urban Crossroads, the traffic consultant who would be providing the presentation on the preliminary traffic analysis. At the request of Mayor Heffernan, Assistant City Manager Wood explained that land use alternatives were developed for twelve special study areas in the City, and then analyzed through the fiscal impact and traffic models. Mayor Heffernan asked if the traffic studies are done prior to a land use alternative being selected. Assistant City Manager Wood responded in the affirmative. She added that on July 16 and 23, 2005, staff and the consultant team will be meeting with the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC). On both August 16 and 30, 2005, the matter will be addressed by the Planning Commission at 4:00 p.m. and the City Council at 7:00 p.m. She stated that the City Council will be asked to approve the preferred land use plan at the meeting of August 30, 2005, which is what the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be based on. Using a PowerPoint presentation, Mr. Waters stated that the traffic analysis included traffic volumes anticipated on the City's arterial roadway system, as well as 65 key intersections. He stated that baseline conditions were examined, and then traffic count data was collected and evaluated to determine how well the City's roadway system is performing under existing conditions. He reported that six of the 65 intersections are experiencing deficient operations, which is defined as Levels E and F, similar to a report card. Seventeen of the 65 intersections are expected to experience deficient operations upon buildout of the currently adopted general plan combined with the effects of regional growth in the surrounding areas. Council Member Daigle asked Mr. Waters to address the regional effect on the City's intersections in the airport business area. Mr. Waters stated that information was obtained from three speck entities, which included the City of Irvine, the John Wayne Airport expansion plan and the University of California at Irvine (UCI) master plan, and this information was included in the analysis. Council Member Daigle asked what the magnitude of this regional growth would be compared to what Newport Beach is contemplating. Mr. Waters stated that they're all fairly equal, so Newport Beach would account for approximately 25% of the growth that is expected to impact the intersections in the airport area. In response to Mayor Pro Tem Webb's question, Mr. Waters stated that the City of Irvine general plan data is consistent with the overall growth anticipated within the Irvine Business Complex. Council Member Ridgeway confirmed with Assistant City Manager Wood that Newport Beach has asked the City of Irvine to do full EIR's with traffic analysis and that some progress has been made. In response to Council Member Rosansky's question, Mr. Waters stated that the data for Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach are consistent with the regionally adopted forecasts and included in the modeling efforts. Council Member Selich asked if the 19th Street bridge is included in the analysis. Mr. Waters stated that the baseline analysis did include planned infrastructure Volume 57 - Page 314 10 E 0 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes June 28, 2005 throughout Newport Beach and the County, such as the 19th Street bridge. In the next phase of analysis, those projects that were less certain were removed. These included the 19th Street bridge, the extension of the 55 Freeway and the widening of Mariners Mile. Mr. Waters continued with his PowerPoint presentation by stating that several subareas were defined throughout the City. They encompass approximately 14% of the City's land area. Approximately 3% of the land area would actually change from the various alternatives, reflecting the relatively built out nature of the City. Several land use changes were evaluated for each of the subareas and trip generations were calculated for AM peak hour, PM peak hour and daily traffic. He displayed a chart showing the minimum trip generation, maximum trip generation and currently adopted general plan trip generation for each of the subareas. He noted that five subareas had substantial trip generation changes when calculating different land use alternatives. These included the airport area, Banning Ranch, Mariners Mile, Newport Center/Fashion Island and West Newport industrial subarea. Mr. Waters displayed a summary of the overall general plan buildout preliminary alternatives for each of the subareas and a trip generation summary. Council Member Selich noted that maximum trip generation for each of the subareas would result in a 9% increase in trip generation, Citywide, from the City's currently adopted general plan, and asked how this number would change if the effect from the airport area were removed. Mr. Waters stated that it accounts for approximately one third of the increase citywide. Council Member Selich had the same question for the Newport Center/Fashion Island, and Mr. Waters stated that it accounts for approximately one fourth of the increase. Council Member Daigle asked how the environment of an area is taken into consideration when conducting an analysis, noting that some areas can handle substantial increases in traffic while others cannot. Mr. Waters stated that one way to do it is to look at the change in terms of the percentage in change for the area. Additionally, the types of land uses also affect the impacts of the increases. He explained that a mix of uses can improve the way the traffic system is performing in an area. In response to Council Member Rosansky's question, Mr. Waters stated that travel demand behavior studies have been done in Southern California and have been built into the analysis. He stated that mixed use development has also been the subject of a number of studies. In response to Council Member Rosansky's additional question, Mr. Waters stated that the analysis will also identify improvements that can provide acceptable levels of service and are consistent with the vision of the community. Mayor Pro Tem Webb asked if other cities allow for a lower level of service in industrial or business areas. Mr. Waters responded in the affirmative. Mr. Waters displayed a map showing that 19 of the 65 intersections studied would be operating at deficient levels if the infrastructure improvements listed earlier weren't completed. This is also known as the "constrained" alternative. Mayor Pro Tem Webb asked if the deficiency at the Irvine Avenue and Volume 57 - Page 315 INDEX City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes June 28, 2005 INDEX I. University Avenue intersection is based on existing conditions. Mr. Waters stated that it is based on future improvements at the intersection of Irvine Avenue and Mesa Drive. Mayor Pro Tem Webb confirmed that if widening were done in the vicinity of Irvine Avenue and University Avenue, the level of service would be improved to an acceptable level. Mr. Waters displayed maps showing the deficient intersections for various alternatives and noted that the number and location of the deficient intersections are similar among the various alternatives, and range from 17 to 22. He stated that the deficient intersections are, in general, related to three areas or corridors, which are the airport area, Coast Highway and MacArthur Boulevard. Mayor Pro Tem Webb noted the deficient intersection at Coast Highway and the future Bluff Road, and stated that the master plan circulation element includes an extension of 15th Street. He asked if this was included in the modeling. Mr. Waters stated that it was included in the "unconstrained" alternative, but not in the constrained alternative. Mr. Waters displayed a summary of the maps and graphs shown throughout the presentation. He noted that improvements have been identified that will provide acceptable levels of service throughout the City, and that the next task will be to determine the feasibility of these improvements. Mayor Heffernan confirmed with Mr. Waters that intersections with acceptable • levels of service range from 66% to 74% with the various alternatives. Assistant City Manager Wood noted that a fairer comparison is a range of 66% to 71 %, since the 74% number is based on the infrastructure improvements being made. Council Member Rosansky stated that the goal of the general plan update should be to improve the deficiencies identified in the City's currently adopted general plan. Council Member Daigle asked when an intersection is defined as being deficient. Mr. Waters stated that an intersection is identified as being deficient if it is below the acceptable levels for either AM peak hour traffic or PM peak hour traffic, or both. Council Member Daigle additionally asked when the City Council would see the list of improvements that have been identified. Mr. Waters stated that it was included in the staff report. Estimated costs could be determined, but would need additional work. Mayor Pro Tem Webb asked how changing the acceptable level of service in the airport area would affect the number of deficient intersections. Mr. Waters displayed an earlier map and noted that ten intersections in the airport area have been identified as being deficient. By lowering the acceptable level of service to Level E, four of the intersections would be removed from the list. Additionally, the improvements needed to the remaining intersections would be significantly less costly and intrusive. In response to Council Member Selich's question, Assistant City Manager Wood stated that the analysis hasn't been sent out to any specific individuals in the community but the information has been available for two to three months, and presentations have been made to the General Plan Update Committee (GPUC), GPAC, the Planning Commission, and at public workshops. Council Member Volume 57 - Page 316 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes June 28, 2005 Sehch stated that his reason for asking is that when the issue is formally addressed by the City Council, he wants the focus to be on the conclusions and not on the methodology behind the conclusions. In closing, Assistant City Manager Wood stated that once the land use element is completed, the EIR can be prepared. While this is occurring, the policies for the other elements can be addressed. Assistant City Manager Wood stated that the public hearings for the draft EIR and general plan are scheduled for May 18, 2006, before the Planning Commission and May 23, 2006, before the City Council. Mayor Heffernan confirmed that for the matter to be presented to the voters in November of 2006, the ballot language will have to be certified in July of 2006. He noted that he is planning to appoint Council Member Selich as the GPUC chair and requested that he have the opportunity to review and approve the scheduled dates also. 4. TRUCK RESTRICTIONS ON RIDGE PARK ROAD City Manager Bludau stated that since annexing the Newport Coast area, the City has tried to make the traffic and pedestrian situation around Newport Coast Elementary School safer. The specific issue being addressed at the current meeting are the sizable trucks that use Ridge Park Road and two recent accidents. Transportation/Development Services Manager Edmonston displayed an aerial photo showing Newport Coast Drive, Ridge Park Road and Vista Ridge Road. He stated that the truck traffic is for residential construction taking place in the area and is expected to continue for another 18 to 30 months. Several meetings have been held with the school about the problem, and traffic studies have been conducted. Mr. Edmonston reported that 6,000 cars per day travel on Ridge Park Road, of which 280 are large trucks. On Vista Ridge Road, there are 3,900 cars per day and 80 trucks. Additionally, he reported that both roads have fairly lengthy sections of 10% grades, which is considered a steep grade, and both roads are primarily 40 feet wide, with Ridge Park Road widening in front of the school near the Newport Coast Drive intersection. Mr. Edmonston added that Ridge Park Road is 9 /10's of a mile long and Vista Ridge Road is 1.5 miles long. He continued pointing out features on the aerial photo and stated that there are 650 homes on Vista Ridge Road and less than half that on Ridge Park Road. Mayor Heffernan noted that the intersection at Ridge Park Road and Newport Coast Drive is more open than the Vista Ridge Road and Newport Coast Drive intersection. Mr. Edmonston added that there's also a concentration of pedestrians at the Ridge Park Road intersection that doesn't exist at the Vista Ridge Road intersection, which is really the distinguishing factor. Council Member Daigle referred to the staff report and the recommendation to consider an 8,000 -pound truck limit on Ridge Park Road and asked what types of trucks this would affect. Mr. Edmonston stated that all of the streets in the City that currently have weight restrictions have limits for trucks of three tons. He explained that staff is recommending four tons to accommodate today's larger vehicles and that it would affect trucks larger than dual - wheeled pickups. He stated that the proposal is to limit these trucks on Ridge Park Road from Newport Coast Drive to Vista Ridge Road. Vehicles with a destination directly Volume 57 - Page 317 INDEX (100 -2005) City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes June 28, 2005 INDEX off of Ridge Park Road California Vehicle Code. proposal adheres to the In response to Mayor Heffernan's question, Mr. Edmonston explained that the California Vehicle Code allows cities to establish restrictions on roadways based on the weight of vehicles by adopting ordinances. He stated that the proposed restriction on Ridge Park Road would be in effect 24 hours a day in both directions with the exemption, as previously described. He added that nonpermanent types of restrictions are more difficult to enforce and the signage required would be more difficult for drivers to comprehend. In response to Mayor Pro Tern Webb's question, Mr. Edmonston stated that placing a weight limit on both Ridge Park Road and Vista Ridge Road would limit the City's control because the trucks that have deliveries above the Ridge Park Road and Vista Ridge Road intersection would be exempted since those roadways would be the only route to reach their destination. Al Willinger stated that everyone's concerned about the safety of the children. He noted that Sand Canyon Road was supposed to be the access roadway to the 73 Freeway, but instead Newport Coast Drive became the access roadway, which is the reason why there is so much traffic on Newport Coast Drive. Mr. Willinger asked the City Council to consider a solution to the problem rather than just transferring the problem from Ridge Park Road to Vista Ridge Road. He stated that there may be other options to consider, such as prohibiting pedestrians from crossing Newport Coast Drive at Ridge Park Road. In response to Council Member Rosansky's question, Mr. Willinger stated that he lives off of Vista Ridge Road. Jeannine Eckenweiler, Newport Coast Elementary School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) board member, stated that the problems that have been encountered and the accidents that have been witnessed are a real concern, and a safer environment for the children needs to be created. She noted that the student population would be increasing by 20% to 25% in the upcoming year. Ms. Eckenweiler stated that the temporary inconvenience of restricting traffic for 18 to 30 months would be appropriate when considering the risk of not establishing the restriction. In response to Mayor Heffernan's question, Ms. Eckenweiler stated that 720 students, kindergarten through sixth grade, are expected in the upcoming school year. She further noted that there will be one start time and three release times. Mayor Heffernan asked if the PTA has formally endorsed what the City is proposing. Ms. Eckenweiler responded in the affirmative. Barry West stated that his home overlooks Vista Ridge Road and he is on the board of the Altezza Community Association. He stated that he and his neighbors have already endured years of truck traffic on Vista Ridge Road, and don't support the staff recommendation. He noted that there are pedestrians on Vista Ridge Road, as well, and asked what other alternatives had been looked at. Council Member Ridgeway asked how difficult it would be to enforce one way traffic going up Ridge Park Road and down Vista Ridge Road. Police Chief McDonell stated that anytime that routes are inconsistent or uncommon, it promotes confusion and is difficult to enforce. It would be problematic for the Volume 57 - Page 318 E A 0 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes June 28, 2005 drivers and would not be recommended by the police department. Council Member Ridgeway asked if it's third party contractors that are using Ridge Park Road and Vista Ridge Road. Planning Director Temple stated that The Irvine Company has informed her that nearly all of the land in the area under discussion has been sold to merchant builders, who have already entered into agreements with their subcontractors. She explained that the subcontractors are the ones operating the trucks and it would be difficult to require the use of new routes, particularly since the agreements have already been executed. Council Member Rosansky asked what was determined to be the cause of the two recent accidents on Ridge Park Road. Police Chief McDonell stated that they were both the result of driver error. He added that confusing drivers with unusual routes would likely result in more error. Council Member Rosansky confirmed that the steepness of the roadway was probably a contributing factor also. Council Member Daigle asked if the trucks would have a problem going up Vista Ridge Road due to the steepness. Mr. Edmonston responded in the negative and stated they have traveled that route in the past. In addition, its grade is similar to that of Ridge Park Road. Mayor Heffernan noted that the line of sight is much better at the Vista Ridge Road and Newport Coast Drive intersection than at the Ridge Park Road and Newport Coast Drive intersection. Council Member Ridgeway confirmed Planning Director Temple's earlier comments with Tom Lee of The Irvine Company, who was in attendance at the meeting as a resident of Newport Coast. Mr. Lee stated that it is his understanding that the infrastructure in the area is built out and the only remaining construction is by merchant builders and their subcontractors. He offered to confirm this with The Irvine Company. Mayor Heffernan acknowledged the presence of the Newport Coast Elementary School principal in the audience. Mayor Pro Tem Webb asked if there was enough room on Vista Ridge Road for a truck to pull over to let other vehicles pass. Mr. Edmonston responded in the affirmative. In response to Mayor Pro Tom Webb's next question, Mr. Edmonston stated that an alternate access route from the 73 Freeway to the construction sites was not pursued due to the toll charged on the freeway and the sensitive habitat in the area. Mayor Heffernan asked if there would eventually be access from the Crystal Cove area. Mr. Edmonston stated that there would not be a continuous road joining the two areas. Council Member Ridgeway stated that there is clearly a safety issue involved and felt that the matter should be agendized. Mayor Heffernan agreed that it should be agendized. City Manager Bludau noted that there is a timing issue, and City Attorney Clauson confirmed that if an ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting of July 26, 2005, and adopted at the City Council meeting of August 9, 2005, it would be effective 30 days from the date of adoption, which would coincide with the start of the new Volume 57 - Page 319 INDEX City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes June 28, 2005 school year. Council Member Rosansky also agreed that the matter should be agendized and stated that the safety of the children needs to come first. Mayor Pro Tem Webb confirmed that the City Council is asking for the staff recommendation to return to the City Council for formal action. Council Member Ridgeway requested that the staff recommendation incorporate how signage and/or clearance will be handled on Vista Ridge Road. Police Chief McDonell noted that the drivers will need to be notified of any new regulations, and that the staff recommendation will probably include a request to begin early notification before the effective date. Mayor Heffernan noted that there will also be a new group of parents with the start of the new school year and this needs to be taken into consideration also.. Council Member Rosansky added that the PTA and the school can also help by educating parents that their children shouldn't be walking in the roads and that the school loop road should be utilized. He explained that other vehicles travel on Newport Coast Drive also and that addressing the trucks is only one facet of the problem. Council Members Selich and Daigle also agreed that the matter should be agendized. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None ADJOURNMENT - at 5:00 p.m. The agenda for the Study Session was posted on June 22, 2005, at 1:00 p.m. on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. Recording Secretary Ma or City Clerk Volume 57 - Page 320 `I.I 17 D1:1 40