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Home My WebLink About07/24/2007 - Study SessionCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Minutes Study Session July 24, 2007 — 4:00 p.m. I. ROLL_CALL. Present: Council Member Henn, Council Member Curry, Mayor Pro Tem Selich, Mayor Rosansky, Council Member Webb, Council Member Daigle, Council Member Gardner II. CURRENT BUSINESS - 1. • CLARIFICATION OF ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. Regarding item 9 (Buck Gully Wetlands), Council Member Gardner expressed concern about the controllingiblocking of sediment because the sediment in Little Corona comes from Buck Gully and it is critical that it gets as much as possible. Regarding item 14 (Grand Jury Response to the Report "Newport Harbor Moorings "), Council Member Daigle stated that she plans on pulling the item for discussion and that there isn't any economic analysis that establishes that profits are being made. In response to Council Member Henn's question, Fire Chief Lewis stated that Item 5 (Execution of Fiscal Year 2006 Homeland Security Grant Programs Transfer Agreements) is receiving funding from 2006. Item 12 (Request for Additional Funding for Proposed Underground Assessment Districts 92, 100, 101 and 103), Council Member Henn stated the he will be pulling item 12 tonight. Regarding Item 16 (Purchase of Police Department Digital. Video for Jail and Police Facility), Council Member Henn expressed concern that it seems like the Police Department is doing single source bids. Mayor Pro Tem Selich stated that he would like to know the useful life of the DVR system since there is a possibility that the Police facility will be moved. He also wanted to know if the system can be relocated to another building. City Manager introduced the new Utilities Director Steve Myrter. Utilities Director Myrter gave a background of his career and spoke briefly about his personal life. 2. REVIEW OF PROGRAMS AND GRANT DEALING WITH WATER QUALITY. It was the consensus of Council to continue this item to a future study session. 3. BIG CANYON PROJECT. Assistant City Manager Kill introduced the Public Works Consultant Mark Reader and the Lead Consultant to the project, Lan Weber, from WRC Consulting. Mr. Reader utilized a PowerPoint presentation to explain the existing conditions and Dredge/Fill history. He stated that in 2003, the Community Conservancy International (CCI) led a project team to address various issues within the Big Canyon Nature Park in which scientific research and analysis was conducted to develop possible restoration alternatives. In April 2004, CCI completed the Phase 1 report and made the following recommendations: restore the historic title zone, improve water quality issues, restore functioning wetlands & fresh water marshes, repair upland habitats, improve public trail access, scenic opportunities, and Volume 58 — Page 220 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes July 24, 2007 interpretive facilities, remove invasive non - native plants, encourage public participation, and provide educational and recreational opportunities. In August of 2005, the City selected WRC to move forward with Phase 2. They have completed the feasibility assessement, water quality analyses and preliminary engineering. He explained the changes to the grading, drainage, utilities plan, planting/habitat plan, trail and facility plan, ampitheater plan, restroom plan, interpretive education/park use, and the trail and facility' plan. He stated that the next step is a meeting on August 1, 2007, at 6:30 p.m. at The Bluffs' Community Room and the comment period for the CEQA process closes on August 17, 2007. In response to Council Member Gardner's question, Ms. Weber explained why the maintenance of the sediment will not be a problem. He reported that an operation and maintenance manual will be provided at the end of the study that will recommend annual cleanings. Council Member Gardner stated that she would like the issue of having to distill or test the sediment considered. Regarding the ampitheater, Ms. Weber stated that the 100 seat ampitheater will be on the slope and comingled with the nature. Further, the seating will be concrete but, between the seats, there will be grass. In response to Council Member Daigle's questions, Assistant City Manager Kiff stated that the Orange County Department of Education will be the most likely organization using the ampitheater and that the City will not get involve with the curriculum, but will keep track of the schedule. He stated that the City might want to enter into an agreement with the County to determine the use of the location and to deal with other issues as they arise. Ms. Weber stated that they will not introduce new species,- but will remove the invasive species and replace them with willow trees. In response to Council Member Webb's questions, Ms. Weber stated that the focus of the project is to get better drainage control at Back Bay Drive and, when the water exceeds its capacity, to have the roadway solid enough to sustain the overflow. She stated that the restoration project budget will determine the level of protection; but the whole facility can't be lined because regulatory permits can not be obtained. In response to Council Member Curry's questions, Assistant City. Manager Kiff stated that the major funding participants are the State Water Resources Control Board and the .. California State Coastal Conservancy via Propositions 40 and 50. He confirmed that the City .is a partner of about 15 percent of the overall cost to date. He added that there is money set aside by The Irvine Company for the interpretive elements and they have proposed about $900,000 for the trail systems, overlook, benches and ampitheater area. In response to Mayor Pro Tem Selich's questions, Assistant City Manager Kiff stated that they will first get construction estimates and then approach the funding agencies. He reported that the City can set it up so that certain elements of the project are deferred if there is no funding. He indicated that the project is considered a research improvement, so he does not expect the City to pay for improvements over the budget. In response to Council Member Curry's questions, Assistant City Manager Kiff stated that the estimated amount of the project is about $8 million to $10 million dollars. He reported that the State passed another bond measure for $5.2 billion and the State has supported this project in the past. In response to City Manager Bludau's questions, Ms. Weber stated that speed can be limited and stop signs can be installed for vehicles. Assistant City Manager Kiff reported that the Upper Newport Bay Ecosystem project has a requirement that states there should not be a net loss of no more than 10 percent of one habitat, and noted that, in this case, it is the mudflats. He confirmed that it is possible to widen the road upstream and . Volume 58 - Page 221 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes July 24, 2007 consider providing a pedestrian lane for safety reasons. Council Member Daigle stated that there will be a meeting at the Bluffs and it is up to the community. Pat-Krohn, representative from the Homeowners Association, stated that the owners in her condiminium are very interested in the Big Canyon. Project and believe that it will be an enhancement to the community. She asked how the additional people in the area will affect her neighborhood. Assistant City Manager Kiff explained that there will not be a new paved public road, no increase in public access, and all of the trails are already existing. Diana Blazer stated that her biggest concern is the vehicles because people do not pay attention to the speed limit which makes the road hazardous. She believed that the stop signs will be ignored, but widening for ingress and egress would be helpful. She reported that City crews leave the dead branches and debri when they clean the culvert. Council Member Gardner stated that the City should consider speed bumps. In response to Council Member Webb's questions, Ms. Weber stated that they decided to keep the same amount of parking spaces because the parking lot is underutilized. He added that the parking area will be mostly utilized by school buses bringing children to the area. III. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None IV. ADJOURNMENT - 5:00 p.m. The agenda for the Study Session was posted on July 19, 2007, at 12:30 p.m. on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. Recording Secretary o� P ,�, hU4 #Pefc�— City Clerk o� '�t`yGMDR��P Volume 58 - Page 222