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HomeMy WebLinkAbout16 - General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) Bi-Monthly Update to the City CouncilQ �EwPpRT CITY OF s NEWPORT BEACH `q44:09 City Council Staff Report January 28, 2025 Agenda Item No. 16 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: Seimone Jurjis, Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director - 949-644-3232, sjurjis@newportbeachca.gov PREPARED BY: Benjamin M. Zdeba, AICP, Planning Manager - 949-644-3253, bzdeba@newportbeachca.gov TITLE: General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) Bi-Monthly Update to the City Council Since the previous update to the City Council in September 2024, the General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) and the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) have each held two public meetings, and various subcommittees held 10 public meetings. City staff also coordinated with the GPUSC and GPAC to host four community workshops. 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. The primary purpose of the GPUSC is to guide the 30-member GPAC and to report to the City Council. The City's dedicated website for the General Plan Update is www.newportbeachca.gov/gpupdate. It provides information on the progress made and upcoming events, as well as opportunities for community input and engagement. Attachment A to this report was prepared by GPUSC Chair Gardner and summarizes some of the notable recent progress made by both committees. Below is a list and recap of each meeting held since the September 2024 update to the City Council. Recap of the October 2, 2024, GPAC Meeting • The GPAC received a brief overview of the City Council meeting on September 24, 2024, regarding implementation of the Housing Element, appointment of two new GPAC members, and the City Council's willingness to consider amending the Professional Services Agreement with Dudek to provide support in updating the Noise Element. 16-1 General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) Bi-Monthly Update to the City Council January 28, 2025 Page 2 • A revised Vision Statement was presented based on feedback received at the GPAC meeting on September 4, 2024. Despite support from the GPAC and the GPAC Vision Statement Subcommittee for the initial version shared at the previous meeting, the GPAC voted to send it back to the Vision Statement Subcommittee for additional refinement based on the comments provided by members at this meeting. • Lastly, City staff shared draft materials for upcoming workshops, including dates, locations and the content proposed to be shared for public input at the first two workshops in November. Draft goal ideas to support the topic of "resilience" alongside the Recreation, Natural Resources, and Safety Elements were shared along with contextual information. After some discussion, the GPAC voted to have each responsible GPAC Subcommittee review the content before it was finalized for the workshops. Recap of the October 15, 2024, GPUSC Meeting • The GPUSC reviewed applications to recommend new appointments to fill two unscheduled vacancies left by GPAC members who violated the attendance policy. After some discussion, the GPUSC recommended Rita Goldberg and Charles Ebner, both of whom are yet to be confirmed by the City Council given the changes discussed at the January 14, 2025, City Council meeting. • The GPUSC briefly reviewed the actions of the GPAC and expressed support for the workshop materials being shaped by each responsible GPAC Subcommittee. • City staff shared a progress report on the General Plan Update with a brief overview of the upcoming schedule and remaining budget. It was noted that the effort is still tracking to conclude in summer 2025, but the desire to revise draft documents and bring them back to various subcommittees for review may cause delays and issues with the budget. On whole, the GPUSC supported the efforts and current workflow. • Lastly, City staff provided an update on the site of the former Coyote Canyon Landfill as it relates to the City's Housing Element and the County's Housing Element. Recap of the November 6, 2024, GPAC Meeting • Tony Petros, CEO of LSA Associates and a former City Councilmember, provided the GPAC with a presentation on circulation topics, such as the concept of "complete streets," and how they are included in the General Plan. • Between this meeting and the prior meeting in October, the Vision Statement Subcommittee, Recreation and Natural Resources Subcommittee, Safety Subcommittee, and Noise Subcommittee all convened. A summary of those meetings and the GPAC's related actions follows. 16-2 General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) Bi-Monthly Update to the City Council January 28, 2025 Page 3 o The Vision Statement Subcommittee, led by GPAC Member and Subcommittee Chair Debbie Stevens, reviewed the revised version of the draft Vision Statement considering the comments and discussion received at the October 2, 2024, GPAC meeting. The Subcommittee provided feedback and generally supported the Vision Statement and sharing it with the public at upcoming community workshops for additional feedback to see which parts resonate with the public. At the November meeting, the GPAC expressed support for the Subcommittee's efforts and received and filed the draft content for the workshop. o The Recreation and Natural Resources Subcommittee, led by GPAC Member and Subcommittee Chair Charles Klobe, reviewed the draft ideas to support the Recreation Element and Natural Resources Element. The Subcommittee provided feedback and generally supported the content being shared with the community for reaction and input. At the November meeting, the GPAC expressed support for the Subcommittee's efforts and received and filed the draft content for the workshop. o The Safety Subcommittee, led by GPAC Member and Subcommittee Chair Nancy Scarbrough, reviewed the draft ideas to support the topic of resilience and the Safety Element. The Subcommittee provided feedback and generally supported the content being shared with the community for reaction and input. At the November meeting, the GPAC expressed support for the Subcommittee's efforts and received and filed the draft content for the workshop. o The Noise Subcommittee, led by GPAC Member and Subcommittee Chair Jim Mosher, reviewed the draft scope of work for additional support and services from Dudek regarding updating the Noise Element. The Subcommittee also reviewed noise complaints and citation data from the Police Department and determined next steps. At the November meeting, the GPAC expressed support for the Subcommittee's efforts. • City staff presented plans for the two workshops in December related to the Arts and Cultural and Historic Resources Elements and the Land Use and Harbor and Bay Elements. It was shared that, given time constraints, it would not be possible for the GPAC to convene and review the workshop material. After some discussion, the GPAC voted to allow the responsible subcommittees to review the draft materials prior to sharing with the public at the December workshops. o The Arts and Cultural/Historic Resources Subcommittee, Land Use Subcommittee, and Harbor and Bay Subcommittee, all convened on November 20, November 25, and November 26, respectively. Each reviewed the workshop content planned for the December community workshops and supported moving forward with minor revisions. • Lastly, City staff provided an update on upcoming deliverables and provided clarification on how the draft General Plan Goals and Policies will be developed for GPAC and GPUSC consideration. 16-3 General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) Bi-Monthly Update to the City Council January 28, 2025 Page 4 Recap of the December 18, 2024, GPUSC Meeting • The GPUSC briefly reviewed the actions of the GPAC and highlighted the Noise Subcommittee, as it had met twice since the November GPAC meeting. GPUSC Chair Gardner commended the Noise Subcommittee for its review of other cities' general plans. • City staff shared an overview of the four community workshops noting that a formal summary is being prepared by the consultant team for GPAC and GPUSC consideration at a future meeting. Although attendance at the first two workshops was light, the third and fourth workshops saw better attendance. Despite the attendance, it was shared that great input was received from those who participated. • The GPUSC and members of the public briefly discussed the pending City Council item regarding changes to the rules and procedures for the GPUSC and GPAC. It was noted that the matter would be discussed and considered at the January 14, 2025, City Council meeting. • Lastly, City staff provided an overview of all the work completed by the GPUSC and GPAC in 2024. The City's consultant, Dudek, presented on the upcoming work program for the General Plan Update in 2025, and focused the presentation on the structure or format of the new General Plan. After some discussion by the GPUSC and members of the public, it was generally agreed that the effort is heading in the right direction. As highlighted in Attachment A to this report, the new format is intended to streamline the General Plan and make it more usable. The Implementation Program will clearly identify responsible departments with an anticipated implementation timeline identified. Outreach Updates and Upcoming Meetings • As touched upon above and in Attachment A, the outreach and engagement effort ramped up in November and December 2024 with four community workshops: o November 14, 2024, 6 to 8 p.m., Community Workshop on Recreation and Natural Resources held in the Central Library's Friends Room o November 21, 2024, 6 to 8 p.m., Community Workshop on Coastal Resilience and Safety, held in the Civic Center's Community Room o December 4, 2024, 6 to 8 p.m., Community Workshop on Arts and Cultural and Historical Resources, held in the Civic Center's Community Room o December 5, 2024, 6 to 8 p.m., Community Workshop on Land Use and Harbor, Bay, and Beaches, held at the Marina Park Community Center (pictured on the following page in Figures 1 and 2) 16-4 General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) Bi-Monthly Update to the City Council January 28, 2025 Page 5 Since last reported in September 2024, the project website has seen an increase in 4,725 unique visitors for a total of 9,840 unique visitors since efforts began in March 2024. The General Plan Update continues to be advertised on the City's website and social media, as well as in Stu News, the Daily Pilot, and the City Manager's newsletter, The Week In Review. Figures 1 and 2, photographs of members of the public providing input at the Land Use, Harbor, Bay, and Beaches Community Workshop on December 5, 2024 The Noise Subcommittee is anticipated to convene in late January or early February, with the full GPAC and GPUSC meeting again in February or March 2025, once both committees' membership has been confirmed by the City Council on February 11, 2025. The General Plan Update remains on track to conclude in the summer of 2025. 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 — Steering Committee Chair Gardner's Memo to the City Council 16-5 Attachment A GPUSC Memo to the City Council 16-6 December 19, 2024 GPUSC REPORTTO COUNCIL FORMAT The goal is to make the General Plan more accessible and its implementation smoother. To the first point, it is proposed that the electronic version have something similar to an executive summary for each element with the ability to easily access background documents and make it simple to search across the different elements for topics appearing in more than one. As for the implementation, it is proposed that unlike our current General Plan which attributes no responsibility, in the new plan the responsible department will be listed as well as the expected time frame for accomplishment. If the council approves of this direction, the question would then be do we want to reformat the Housing and Land Use elements for consistency or leave them in their current format. WORKSHOPS Four public workshops were held in the last month [November and December 2024]. The first two were poorly attended, unfortunately, but the third and fourth were much better with residents exchanging ideas on proposed goals and the Visioning Statement. The consultant is preparing a report on everything gathered from the workshops. ELEMENTS The Harbor and Bay subcommittee has proposed that it become the Harbor, Bay and Beaches element since the beaches are a bit of an orphan. 16-7