Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout18 - General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) Bi-Monthly Update to the City CouncilQ SEW Pp�T CITY OF z NEWPORT BEACH c�<,FORN'P City Council Staff Report TO: June 13, 2023 Agenda Item No. 18 HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: Seimone Jurjis, Community Development Director - 949-644-3232, sjurjis@newportbeachca.gov PREPARED BY: Benjamin M. Zdeba, AICP, Principal Planner - 949-644-3253, bzdeba@newportbeachca.gov TITLE: General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) Bi-Monthly Update to the City Council ABSTRACT - Since the previous update to the City Council in February 2023, the General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) held two meetings. This report provides an update to the City Council on the discussions and actions taken. RECOMMENDATIONS: a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and b) Receive and file the report. DISCUSSION: The GPUSC is chaired by Nancy Gardner with Phillip Brown and Kimberly Carter as members. Below is a list and recap of each meeting held since the previous, February 2023 update to the City Council. Recap of the March 22, 2023, GPUSC Meeting • The GPUSC reviewed the single proposal received from Dudek in response to the Request for Proposals for General Plan Update Consulting Services and provided feedback to City of Newport Beach (City) staff on potential changes to the scope of services, which mostly focused on the outreach and engagement component. • The GPUSC considered and agreed with the General Plan Advisory Committee's recommendation to hold off on pursuing any additional elements, including a potential sustainability element, until the selected General Plan Update consultant is retained and can provide guidance on best practices. The GPUSC has not yet made any further recommendation for the City Council's consideration on this matter. This action is discussed as Item No. 4 in Attachment A to this report. 18-1 General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) Bi-Monthly Update to the City Council June 13, 2023 Page 2 Recap of the May 3, 2023, GPUSC Meeting The GPUSC revisited Dudek's proposal for consulting services related to the General Plan Update and received an update from City staff on how Dudek is revising the proposal to be responsive to the GPUSC's guidance from its March 22 meeting. After some discussion, the GPUSC voted to recommend the City Council authorize the City to enter into an agreement with Dudek. City staff anticipates putting the draft professional services agreement on the City Council's June 27, 2023, agenda for consideration. This action is discussed as Item No. 3 in Attachment A to this report. • The GPUSC considered and agreed with the General Plan Advisory Committee's recommendation to move the timeline for the Charter Section 423 vote out from March 2024 to November 2024. This would allow additional time for input from the GPUSC, GPAC and the community on the policy changes to implement the 6t" Cycle Housing Element. This action is discussed as Item No. 5 in Attachment A to this report. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact related to this item. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. NOTICING: The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item). ATTACHMENT: Attachment A — GPUSC Memo to the City Council 18-2 Attachment A GPUSC Memo to the City Council 18-3 GENERAL PLAN UPDATE Council Members, The update of the General Plan is well under way. Over the last two months: 1. Several resignations from GPAC have occurred. Fortunately, there is a waiting list of eager applicants ready to fill any gaps. GPUSC will continue to forward our appointment suggestions to you as they arise. 2. GPUSC is recommending that the city hire Dudek as the consultant. This was not without a great deal of discussion centering primarily on the outreach component. It was widely felt among GPAC members and GPUSC that the previous effort left a great deal to be desired. Staff sat down with Dudek and discussed the comments, revising certain aspects of the proposed agreement. We are hopeful that the outcome will be what we want, but we will be keeping a close eye on the progress. 3. Subcommittees have been formed for the various elements, all of which have met except for one at this point. A GPUSC member is in attendance at these meetings. The first meetings have been largely informational, but already there is a lot of productive discussion. 4. As reported previously, GPAC voted to add a sustainability element, a proposal which was questioned by several of you. In the subcommittee meetings, a recurring question has been, "Do we have to adhere to the present format? Can we add elements? Can we combine elements where there is overlap?" At the May meeting it was decided to take no further action until the consultant comes on board and then look to the consultant's experience with other cities to determine whether GPAC would like to propose any changes to Council. 5. Staff has recommended, and we agree, that pushing the Charter Section 423 vote from March, 2024 to November, 2024 will provide valuable time to prepare the Land Use Element with more input from the community. At the May meeting, GPAC was presented with suggested revisions to the Land Use Element as a first step. A question arose about the inclusion of Banning Ranch: There will not be housing on what is now the Randall Preserve, but the housing numbers are still reflected in both the Housing Element and the Land Use Element. The question: Does the Circulation Element act as if those units will be built? Staff will follow up with the city's traffic engineer for an answer. Cordially, GPUSC Nancy Gardner Philip Brown Kimberly Carter 18-4