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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-15_BVAC_Minutes_ApprovedCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH BALBOA VILLAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES City Council Chambers – 100 Civic Center Drive Wednesday, July 15, 2020 – 4:00 p.m. I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Dixon called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. Balboa Village Advisory Committee Members: Chair Diane Dixon, Council Member Brad Avery, Council Member (absent) Gloria Oakes, Balboa Peninsula Point Association (absent) Kelly Carlson, Balboa Village Merchants Association (arrived at 4:07 p.m.) Grace Dove, Central Newport Beach Community Association Colleen D'Aluisio, OceanQuest Representative Jim Stratton, At-Large Representative Staff Members: Community Development Director Seimone Jurjis Deputy Community Development Director Jim Campbell Public Works Director Dave Webb Tony Brine, City Traffic Engineer Benjamin Zdeba, Senior Planner II. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS In response to Committee Member Stratton's inquiry about revenues from the Parking Management District, Deputy Community Development Director Jim Campbell reported the funds allocated to Balboa Village have been reallocated to reserves, but sufficient funds remain for wayfinding signage. Public Works Director Dave Webb clarified that all BVAC projects listed in the capital program have been completed, including wayfinding signage. Any remaining funds have been reallocated to the base fund. Revenues are deposited into the parking fund, but none of it is programmed. Chair Dixon noted BVAC monies continue to fund the trolley and sidewalk cleaning. Committee Members Carlson and Stratton advised that some days sidewalk cleaning is interrupted such that the Village is not always as clean as it could be. Jim Mosher remarked that Committee Member Stratton is referring to a Parking Benefit District. When a previous Parking Benefit District was dissolved, its funds were used for Balboa Village improvements. A Parking Management District is a planning tool. III. ITEMS FOR REVIEW a. MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 19, 2029 Recommended Action: Approve Minutes of February 19, 2020 Jim Mosher suggested the minutes include the Committee Members who are absent as well as present. At the end of the second paragraph under Item c, "The Corner" should not be capitalized. In the next paragraph, "View" should be "VUE." MOTION: A motion was made by Committee Member Stratton, seconded by Committee Member Carlson, to approve the minutes of the February 19, 2020 meeting as amended. The motion passed unanimously. Balboa Village Advisory Committee July 15, 2020 Minutes Page 2 b. CURRENT STATE OF BALBOA VILLAGE Recommended Action: Discuss what is currently happening in the Village with respect to business, tourism, maintenance, etc. Committee Member Carlson reported business during COVID has been up and down. Retail businesses and restaurants are suffering the most. Businesses involving outdoor activities are financially okay. Masses of people are visiting the Peninsula because of all the COVID closures and requirements. Committee Members agreed that overflowing trash cans, litter, fireworks, usage of fire rings, and open containers in public are the main problems, and enforcement is needed. City staff is working hard, but they are overwhelmed. Junior Lifeguards are not social distancing or wearing masks. In answer to Chair Dixon's question, Committee Member Carlson advised that Visit Newport Beach prepared a plan and budget, but the plan focuses on attracting visitors during September and October. Community Development Director Seimone Jurjis indicated the City has received $219,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding in addition to the $250,000 it received earlier. The Council adopted a program that allocates those funds to the creation and retention of jobs. The program can provide at least 20 jobs, but there are many restrictions on use of the funds. The City will begin marketing the program in the next few weeks. Businesses with less than 30 employees can apply for the funding. Public Works Director Webb stated he is aware of the trash problem, and pick-ups have increased to twice a day in the Village. The unusual amount of trash is caused by restaurants offering takeout service only. The flood on July 3rd left a lot of debris in the streets, and staff is still working on it. In addition, Public Works is short staffed because of COVID. The trolley has been canceled for the year, but the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) allowed the City to carry the grant funding forward a year. The trolley is budgeted for next year. c. FUTURE VISION FOR BALBOA VILLAGE Recommended Action: Discuss how the Village may adapt to the current state and what the priorities for its rebounding should be moving forward At Chair Dixon's request, Senior Planner Ben Zdeba reported the facade program has ended even though there were some pending applications. Approximately 30 businesses received funding, but there was not much interest in the program until the pandemic hit. Public Works Director Webb added that the median landscape project remains in the capital program and is funded in 2021. Committee Members and Deputy Community Development Director Campbell discussed cleaning up the area around the City parking lot, public restrooms and dumpsters. Chair Dixon proposed converting Main Street to a pedestrian walkway. Deputy Community Development Director Campbell indicated staff has considered closing Main Street but altering traffic circulation would be a real challenge. Committee Member Dove noted no restaurants offer quality food and service at a walk-up window. Many people want good food quickly without going inside a building. Committee Members and Senior Planner Zdeba discussed the Balboa Theatre project, the mixed-use project at the corner of Main Street, the project at 500 East Balboa Boulevard, the Junior Lifeguard Headquarters, and the project at OceanQuest. Committee Member Dove suggested the City encourage investment by making things as easy as possible. Perhaps one staff person with knowledge of City operations could act as the contact person for Village property and business owners. Balboa Village Advisory Committee July 15, 2020 Minutes Page 3 Committee Member D'Aluisio noted the empty buildings contribute to Balboa Village's lack of vibrancy. Committee Member Carlson believed investment in quality businesses would help the Village. Community Development Director Jurjis reported Santa Barbara and Catalina have tapped the cruise industry to boost their economies during their off-seasons. A cruise line is interested in a trial. In reply to Chair Dixon's question, he indicated a cruise ship would have to anchor 3-5 miles offshore. Committee Member Carlson believed merchants would probably support a proposal, but residents would not. Committee Member Stratton felt it could work if Newport Beach is a port of call rather than a point of embarkation. Jim Mosher indicated cruise ships may not be able to anchor offshore because of an underwater canyon. d. ROLE OF BVAC MOVING FORWARD Recommended Action: Discuss how BVAC first into the future vision and consider (a) how might the role of BVAC change; and (b) what is purpose; and (c) if none, should BVAC consider sunsetting. Committee Members Stratton and Dove related that BVAC has accomplished good things in the Village, but it should probably sunset. Committee Members D'Aluisio and Carlson wanted BVAC to continue because it advocated for the Village with the Council. Chair Dixon proposed scheduling a visioning session with Visit Newport Beach in September. Deputy Community Development Director Campbell reported Coastal Commission staff has suggested modifications to the proposed ordinance amending parking requirements. Based on a preliminary review, he did not believe the modifications would achieve the community's desired results. Jim Mosher commented that many of the problems discussed are not unique to Balboa Village. Other areas of the City have public parking, but revenue from the parking is not dedicated to improvements in those areas. He hoped the City Council would want input from all areas and focus on citywide solutions to these problems that affect the whole City. A disproportionate amount of City resources is being expended for the small area of Balboa Village. Chair Dixon remarked that Balboa Village is the oldest part of Newport Beach, and the problems are impacting economic activity in the Village. IV. ADJOURNMENT Next meeting Date: TBD The meeting ended at 5:35 p.m.