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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 - Minutes - AmendedCity of Newport Beach Study Session and Regular Meeting October 8, 2019 October 22, 2019 Agenda Item No. 1 Anthony Tabarsi announced he is a rehabilitated sex offender, expressed concern for himself and people who live on the streets, and believed the solution is to talk to the politicians in Washington DC. Christine Nunez believed Council is working in the best interest of the City, discussed how the homeless crisis has affected the City, stated she visited the Peninsula and saw the homeless issues in the area, encouraged the City to continue to find a location for the shelter and offer services for those who want help so the City can enforce its anti -camping laws, and believed some of the issues the City is facing are due to issues at due Share Our Selves (SOS). Barbie George read a Daily Pilot article which discussed the cost of Costa Mesa's permanent homeless shelter, Costa Mesa's shelter model; and how there has not been an increase in crime around the shelter in Anaheim. She noted that the City would use a similar model, the model works, but believed the City needs the opportunity to let it work. Albert Lin expressed concern with the City building a homeless shelter near his home and requested the City find a better location than the Corporate Yard since it may increase crime, decrease home values, and create unsanitary conditions. Ryan Reza Farsai expressed support for the City finding a resolution to the homeless issue and keeping it under budget, but suggested looking into housing that is portable or converting shipping containers into residential space. Vladimir Ljubaren noted the influx of motorized vehicles on the boardwalk, even though they are prohibited, believed more enforcement is needed, and stated the boardwalk is the face of the City. Jack Rose, Ebb Tide resident, believed that the Corporate Yard homeless shelter should have been on tonight's agenda if the City declared a crisis or at least provided an update about the homeless crisis, discussed the amount of solid waste the Corporate Yard is permitted to collect, expressed concern that the City wants to place its homeless population there, and requested the City permanently withdraw this location from consideration. Gary Osterberg stated he is in the mobile home park business, believed 50 people can be housed for $600,000 to $700,000, and noted mobile homes provide more location flexibility and can be used for medical and training facilities. Unidentified speaker thanked Murphy McCann and Jack Rose for organizing people to attend tonight's meeting, applauded everyone for attending, and believed the Corporate Yard is not an appropriate location for a homeless shelter. Luke Dru stated that a UCLA study indicated that a major percentage of the homeless have drug and/or mental health problems, suggested painting white speed limit numbers on the roads near the Newport Heights schools, and requested more traffic enforcement and stop signs in the area. Max Johnson noted there is not a perfect location for the homeless shelter in the City, agreed this is a complex issue, and urged people to be involved and volunteer at a shelter. Brandon Caudle urged the City to continue to work with the neighboring cities and the State, move forward with a temporary homeless shelter, and thanked Council for tackling this issue. Council Member Herdman emphasized the importance for child safety and that he wants something to be done while he is still on Council, expressed appreciation to the parents who attended today's meeting, and noted there was a rumor that there was no support for making any changes in Newport Heights. He added that the City is not considering purchasing the Campus Drive property. Council Member Muldoon assured that, no matter where the homeless shelter is located, they will not be able to exit and enter as they please, encouraged everyone to visit Tustin's shelter, and emphasized the City wants to deal with this crisis. He requested a future agenda item to consider installing bike lanes and sidewalks in Newport Heights. Volume 64 - Page 221 City of Newport Beach Study Session and Regular Meeting October 8, 2019 Council Member Brenner noted that, several months ago, she requested an item be placed on a future agenda to look at creating a Traffic Affairs Commission so the City would not be looking at traffic issues piecemeal, suggested incorporating this with the Planning Commission, and indicated traffic needs to be given its due importance. Council Member Avery noted that Newport Heights is in his Council District, reviewed the outreach that occurred in the area, noted residents who attended the meetings opposed installing bike lanes and slowing traffic, indicated he informed Murphy McCann that people needed to show up and demand this type of change, believed the City can install sidewalks in its right-of-ways, and emphasized a majority of the Newport Heights neighborhoods need to make it clear that this is the desire of the community. Mayor Dixon reported Council is wrestling with many issues, including assisting the homeless while keeping the City safe, assured that there will be police presence at the shelter wherever it is located, asked everyone to be patient because they are trying to do what is best for all the residents of Newport Beach, confirmed that the City is working diligently with the negotiating partners, and expressed hope that Council can report back soon. XVIII. PUBLIC HEARING 12. Resolution No. 2019-90: Code Amendment to Allow the Transfer of Development Rights in the Coastal Zone (PA2019-154) [100-2019] Community Development Director Jurjis reported the item is to allow the transfer of development rights in the Coastal Zone, similar to what is allowed in the T Ma' mast^' D'aB (1,9P) Zoning Code, emphasized Council has the final decision on any transfer of development rights, and noted there are no requests for transfers tonight. Mayor Dixon opened the public hearing. Jim Mosher expressed opposition to this because he believed transfer of development rights has caused the General Plan to not match what is written, believed the California Coastal Commission will not support this since this would not allow Coastal Development Permits (CDP) in half of the Coastal Zone to be appealed to them, noted the circumstances in which Coastal Commission would allow transfer of development rights, and took issue that this gives special rights to Newport Center. Community Development Director Jurjis noted this is already allowed in the Zoning Code but is missing in the Coastal Zone, and emphasized staff will work with Coastal Commission staff to explain the justification as to why the City is requesting the amendment. Hearing no further testimony, Mayor Dixon closed the public hearing. Motion by Council Member Muldoon, seconded by Mavor Pro Tem O'Neill, to a) find this project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 21065 of CEQA and State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060 (c)(2), 15060 (c)(3), and 15378. The proposed action is also exempt pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it has no potential to have a significant effect on the environment; and b) adopt Resolution No. 2019-90, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach, California, Authorizing Submittal of Local Coastal Program Amendment No. LC2019-003 to the California Coastal Commission to Amend Title 21 (Local Coastal Program Implementation Plan) of the City of Newport Beach Municipal Code and the City of Newport Beach Local Coastal Program Coastal Land Use Plan Regulating the Transfer of Development Rights (PA2019-154). The motion carried unanimously Volume 64 - Page 222