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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 - Minutes - AmendedCity of Newport Beach City Council Meeting August 24, 2021 XI. • Proclamation Recognizing U.S. Olympic Athletes from Newport Beach September 14, 2021 Agenda Item No. 1 Mayor Avery highlighted several Olympic gold medalists with ties to Newport Beach and presented proclamations to gold medalists Maddie Musselman and Alys Williams from the U.S. Women's Water Polo Team. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ORAL REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL ON COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES Council Member Brenner: • Attended the Housing Element scoping meeting, a meeting with Dan Moody, Wake Up Newport featuring Sheriff Barnes, a telephonic meeting with Greg Nickless from the State Department of Housing and Community Development, and a meeting of the Mosquito and Vector Control Board that provides information at ocvector.org • Utilized slides to announce the September 10, 2021 Movie in th rk, Raya and the Last Dragon, and the Shermanwin Gardens Annual Garden Party on August 1 • Requested a future agenda item regarding waiving all fees rela Evening Canyon Road • Noted B -Candy vandalism and the arrest of one perp tratft Council Member O'Neill: • Attended a tree planting and the Chabad Center • Reminded the public of the 25 mph.- speed limit N • Utilized a slide to announce voting options for tA Council Member Dixon: • Updated Aviation Committee act: (FAA) senior staff members, and the City's website • Utilized a slide to announce th, Council Member B: • Participated in Mayor Avery: • Attended an Orar. • Utilized a slide to grand opening 14, 2021 special election a meeting with Federal Aviation Administration st 2021 Aviation Activity Update is available on Trolley will operate through Labor Day for the Junior Lifeguard building , Sanitation District (OCSD) meeting the Vessel Turn -In Program XIII. MATTERS WHICH COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ASKED TO BE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA • Consideration of extending the outdoor dining temporary permits until the end of the year [Muldoon] Council Member Blom recused himself due to business interest conflicts. Mayor Avery, Mayor Pro Tem Muldoon, Council Member Brenner, Council Member Dixon, Council Member Duffield, and Council Member O'Neill concurred to bring the item back at a future meeting. • Consideration of adopting a resolution supporting a Veterans' Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon in Anaheim Hills [Muldoon] It was unanimous to bring the item back at a future meeting. Volume 65 - Page 111 City of Newport Beach City Council Meeting August 24, 2021 17. Visit Newport Beach, Inc. FY 2022 Destination Business Plan Supplement and Budget, and FY 2021 Performance Standards Report [100-20211 Council Member Blom reported he has been looking at how marketing dollars are spent and how the City is promoted, his desire to continue promoting the City, there has been a cataclysmic change in the way revenue is generated by tourism and sales tax which affects the marketing plan, a huge amount of money focused outside the local market is a concern, foreign dollars may not be coming in the same way they previously did, local dollars are coming in at a greater rate than ever, Visit Newport Beach has been a great partner with the City for a long time, marketing is always on the cusp of change, the budget should reflect adjusted forecasts and more money for growing local markets, spending huge amounts of money on international markets is a concern, his goal is fiscal responsibility, the City's marketing arm needs to understand that fiscal responsibility is the first and foremost goal, and the budget should reflect changes rather than the past. Gary Sherwin indicated Visit Newport Beach canceled all international efforts in the first week of March 2020 and has not activated any international market ince then, the proposed funding reflects anticipation that markets for Canada and the United K om will open in 2022, there are no plans to reactivate any other markets, the plan will change to e the two markets if COVID- 19 surges, hotels ask for international marketing, a $200,000 was targeted in Southern California to stimulate business over the summer, $1 1 1 be strategically deployed depending on market performance, internationa fort o build market share in key markets with long-term potential, the plan for 20 re international and group markets will not return until the public is comfortable with t the plan's style, focus, and strategy are different from anything developed in 2019, the committee, which is composed of sales leaders, unanimously approved the plan. AIL Debbie Snavely added that hotel gener 1 meet with marketing leaders who work with Mr. Sherwin's team to draft the mar n, the international market is huge for Newport Beach, and hopefully the internation will return by April 2022 so that funds can be invested in it. In response to Council question, Mr. Sherwin advised that sit Newp Bea�'sNew ort Be & C fees of $1.9 million are overhead costs, and the Board and City staff review the f ost Council Member Di ted that future budgets include comparisons of actual and proposed funding and the per age of variance for the prior two years, and indicated Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue h ecreased significantly, a comparison will help tell the story of investments, and understanding the rationale for changing the allocations of resources would be helpful. In response to Council Member Dixon's questions, Mr. Sherwin related that 2019 data is almost an irrelevant comparison due to significant financial and market changes since 2019, the marketing plan lays out the rationale, research, and most fruitful markets, the budget is adjusted several times a year, Visit Newport Beach is set up as an independent nonprofit corporation so that it can be market-driven and entrepreneurial, and the marketing plan is an internal document prepared for Council and the industry. Ms. Snavely indicated revenue comparisons can be provided and decisions regarding the allocation of capital can be articulated. Council Member Dixon liked the section about strengths and weaknesses, wanted to be supportive, noted Visit Newport Beach is doing significant work that brings in significant revenue, and wanted a financial discussion instead of a marketing presentation. Homer Bludau was amazed by the science of Visit Newport Beach's methodology for determining the effectiveness of ad campaigns and the target audience, and its financial situation. In response to Council Member O'Neill's question, Mr. Sherwin indicated community relations may include arts grants but will review the information, and the amount may not be $600,000. Volume 65 - Page 118 City of Newport Beach City Council Meeting August 24, 2021 Council Member Dixon recalled a previous Council discussion about Special Trees and reported that Council revised the policy to designate trees and include professional opinions. In response to her questions, Landscape Manager Pekar discussed the blue gum eucalyptus tree that was responsible for the accident, noted blue gums are more prone to failure after root pruning, the consultant is more concerned about the amount of pruning rather than the frequency of pruning, trees are evaluated when they are pruned, infrastructure repairs are needed regardless of development on the lot, and the tree could live much longer than eight years if repairs are not made. Council Member Dixon supported the policy and PB&R's decision. In response to Council Member Brenner's questions, Landscape Manager Pekar advised that staff would work with the homeowner to ensure development does not cut through large, structural roots, staff would negotiate a tree protection zone that extends into private property, and preserving the trees could require a redesign of the development project. Shanel Arnold noted that relocating utilities away from trees requires 3 -feet of excavation, and one of the trees has grown around a water meter access. LandscalManager Pekar agreed that the water meter would have to be relocated regardless of constructs In response to Council Member Duffield's question, Public W City would abandon the water meter and install a new ones Mayor Avery stated trees make a difference in between neighbors, and residents value trees. categorically exempt from the California 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15304 California Code of Regulations, Title classes of projects which have been de and b) adopt Resolution No. 2021-7 Denying the ApplicantsAppe Prohibit the Removal of Two S Webb advised that the location. trees are sometimes an issue led r Avery, to a) determine this action is Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections IgOWMtions to Land) of the CEQA Guidelines, rt , Chapter 3, because the activities are in the o have a significant effect on the environment; ;on of the City Council of Newport Beach, California, Beaches and Recreation Commissions Decision to ood City Trees at 1317 and 1323 Ashford Lane. With Council M s B Duffield voting "no," the motion carried 5-2. -7 21. Resolution No. 20 - eal of Director's Determination No. DD2021-001 Interpreting Accessory Reside as an Allowed Use within Resort Hotels (PA2021-096) [100-2021] Mayor Avery opene he public hearing. Michelle Black, representing Stop Polluting Our Newport's (SPON), utilized a presentation to discuss the statutory interpretation, Charter Section 423 ("Greenlight"), the Director's Determination as a project, the Coastal Act, required findings, finality of Council's direction, and the General Plan Update. She urged Council to reject the Director's Determination. Charles Klobe, President of SPON, believed Council did not understand the ramifications of City Council Policy K-4 when it adopted it in March 2021, indicated adding this to the General Plan Update would satisfy SPON, and expressed the opinion that staffs written response to the California Coastal Commission was a mistake for Newport Beach. Jim Mosher discussed changing the rules through a Director's Determination, hotels affected by the Determination, and the Director's inability to make the required findings. He expressed the opinion that a change in land use should be incorporated into the General Plan Update. David Tanner suggested that staff and Council should refer an interpretation in writing to the Coastal Commission for input or a determination, and the City should seek the Coastal Commission's assistance. Volume 65 - Page 123