HomeMy WebLinkAbout3_Additional Materials Received_MosherSeptember 2, 2020, HEUAC Agenda Comments
These comments on items on the Newport Beach Housing Element Update Advisory Committee agenda
are submitted by: Jim Mosher ( jimmosher@yahoo.com ), 2210 Private Road, Newport Beach 92660
(949-548-6229)
Item III. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Relinquishing the Circulation Element Update to the Planning Commission
It is surprising to see the assumption in Item V.a that although the HEUAC will somehow assist
in guiding the public outreach efforts for the Circulation Element update, any actual changes to
the Circulation Element will go directly to the Planning Commission with no review by the
HEUAC.
Given that the City Council charged the HEUAC with updating the Circulation Element, and that
the HEUAC has never publicly discussed passing that responsibility on to another body, it is
even more surprising to see nothing about that transfer of duty on the current agenda.
Who made this decision? And on what authority?
Indeed, adding to the confusion, what the HEUAC now seems to see as its primary function –
that is, having its members volunteer to assist City staff in locating willing owners of opportunity
sites – is a function not clearly spelled out in the enabling resolution, whereas guiding the
revisions to the Circulation Element is.
Should the HEUAC decided, after proper discussion, that it is not able to complete its assigned
task of revising the Circulation Element, I do not think asking the Council to re-assign that
responsibility to the Planning Commission is the best solution.
That is because first our City Charter requires the Planning Commission to review all the final
proposed General Plan amendments and make a recommendation to the Council. And second
because asking them to generate the amendments is a poor fit to what they normally do. Like
the HEUAC members they have no special expertise in traffic or transportation matters. And
they have not engaged in public outreach-driven policy making in the past.
I would instead suggest the HEUAC ask the Council to appoint a separate Traffic
Advisory Committee to conduct public workshops to vet and develop needed changes to
the Circulation Element.
Newport Beach actually had such a standing citizens advisory body on traffic matters from 1970
through 1986, when it got lost in the shuffle during an ill-conceived merger with other
committees. Many other cities have such committees. And given the public’s continuing concern
with traffic issues in many parts of the city, Newport could likely use such a body again.
Housing Element Update Advisory Committee - September 2, 2020
Item No. III Additional Materials Received 1
Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items