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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-14_BVAC_Minutes_ApprovedCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH BALBOA VILLAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES Location: ExplorOcean 600 East Bay Avenue Wednesday, May 14, 2014 - 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. I. Call Meeting to Order Chair Henn called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. The following persons were in attendance: Balboa Village Advisory Committee Members: Michael Henn, Council Member (Chair) Grace Dove, Central Newport Beach Community Association Tom Pollack, ExplorOcean Representative Jim Stratton, At -Large Representative Ralph Rodheim, Balboa Village Merchant Association Member Absent: Tony Petros, Council Member Gloria Oakes, Balboa Peninsula Point Association Staff Members: Kimberly Brandt, Community Development Director Brenda Wisneski, Deputy Community Development Director Tony Brine, City Traffic Engineer Fern Nueno, Associate Planner II. Public Comment on Non - Agendized Items Interested parties were invited to address the Committee on Non - Agendized Items. Jim Mosher stated that the purpose of the agenda is to let people know if a topic of interest to them will be discussed and he does not know what Item 3 refers to. He also reported on the City Manager's Newsletter which is available on the City's website. He stated pursuant to the Newsletter the plans for ExplorOcean had been received by the Planning Division. He suggested the Committee agendize ExplorOcean as an item so people can understand what the proposal is. Chair Henn asked for an overview of the ExplorOcean project. Deputy Community Development Director, Brenda Wisneski briefed the Committee on the Parking Management Program and stated public hearings will occur before the Planning Commission and City Council in August and September, 2014. She confirmed the plan will include reorganization of the reserve accounts and identification of funding. Discussion ensued regarding conducting a public meeting with homeowner's associations, Planning Commission, and City Council and providing additional documentation to the Committee. Ms. Wisneski provided an update on the establishment of an alley dining area and Committee Member Rodheim provided an update on the Sliding Door Cafe. Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) requirements were discussed and Associate Planner, Fern Nueno indicated she would contact the ABC and clarify what the requirements were. The entry archway was discussed and Chair Henn stated it would be included in the budget for the coming year. He further stated he was very appreciative of staff. Alison Ryffel stated the Village does not look like a village. She commended the arborist who planted the trees along Balboa Boulevard and stated the trees along Main Street look terrible. She recommended bringing in an arborist. Chair Henn stated landscaping was part of the master plan and that the Capital Improvements budget includes design money to re -do the median landscaping from 32nd Street to the Village. There being no one further wishing to address the Committee, Chair Henn closed the Public Comment on Non - Agenda Items portion of the meeting. III. Items for Review 1. Approval of Minutes Recommended Action: Approve April 9, 2014 Minutes Chair Henn stated Jim Mosher had submitted changes to the minutes. Action: Committee Member Rodheim moved to approve the minutes of the April 9, 2014 meeting as amended, Committee Member Pollack seconded the motion; which carried unanimously. 2. Update on Village Maintenance Recommended Action: Receive and file Chair Henn introduced the item and deferred to Deputy Community Development Director, Brenda Wisneski for a presentation. Ms. Wisneski stated that Committee Members and staff from the maintenance division did a walkabout through the Village to identify concerns. Those concerns were better steam cleaning and replacement of trashcans. Maintenance will be replacing complete trashcans as well as the lids to many trashcans. Steam cleaning has been performed and it was acknowledged that the streets look much better after the cleaning. Committee Member Rodheim thanked staff and stated there was a maintenance challenge and within days staff took care of it. Chair Henn requested a Receive and File relating to maintenance cycles so the Committee can see what the changes were and have a record of what the plan is now. Ms. Wisneski stated the outstanding issue is how many additional trashcans need to be replaced. Chair Henn encouraged staff to be more aggressive rather than less. Committee Member Stratton suggested routine street washing year round. Ms. Wisneski stated it is done "as- needed" during winter. Chair Henn suggested making this an Action Item for the next meeting and asked staff to come back with specifics including open items so the Committee can make recommendations. Ms. Wisneski reported that the boardwalk is a public easement and there are benches, tables and trashcans that the City does not replace because those items are on private property. She asked if that was an opportunity for the City to step in and replace those items. Action: The Committee discussed the Village Maintenance and requested that this item be brought back at the next meeting for the Committee to make recommendations on any remaining open items. 3. Update on Solicitation for Proposals for Integrated Improvements Recommended Action: Receive and file Deputy Community Development Director, Brenda Wisneski updated the Committee on a Request for Proposals requesting expertise to help the City develop a revised streetscape plan, revised design guidelines, and revised sign program. Five (5) responses were received and will be reviewed in the next week and a team will be selected to bring those items to the Committee. She indicated the Bicycle Committee comments will be incorporated into the plan where necessary. Discussion ensued about ensuring the residents are informed and are part of the Village plan, as they are needed in order for the Village to be successful. 4. Facade Improvement Program Options Recommended Action: Review program components. Provide direction for next steps. Associate Planner, Fern Nueno summarized the program for the Committee. She explained the first tier is the minor improvements including signs, painting, awnings; and tier two (2) is major exterior improvements including fagade extension and re -doing structural components. She spoke about identifying priority blocks. Further, Ms. Nueno stated that funding will be through a combination of community development block grants and the general fund. Staff will provide outreach to property owners and tenants, provide assistance with applications, administer the program, and evaluate it to see if any changes need to take place. Chair Henn stated he was impressed with the detail and logical approach. With regard to tier one (1), Committee Member Pollack commented the plan was well thought out and a good starting point. Committee Member Dove asked if there was a design committee. Ms. Nueno responded the design guidelines are being revamped so every project will be reviewed by staff for consistency with the guidelines. With regard to the priority block, Chair Henn stated he was nervous about 100 percent of the grant money being provided upon project approval with return of remaining balance. Ms. Nueno responded that some people do not have the money or do not want to put the money up front, so providing them the full cost upfront will ensure that people take advantage of the program. She further stated staff will work with the City Attorney's Office on the contracts to guarantee the money back at the end. Chair Henn requested to have more control over the money. Ms. Wisneski suggested having people submit proposals prior to grant application. Committee Members and staff discussed potential checks and balances and staging payments. Bill Dildine discussed contractor limits and instituting a voucher system. Chair Henn commented that staff needs to find a balance. With regard to tier two (2), Committee Member Rodheim was concerned about the 100% up front. Community Development Director, Kim Brandt suggested having one priority block at a time to get more bang for the buck. Committee Member Dove commented that the word "block" sounds like a physical block, not a block of work, and the suggestion was made to use "Priority Street Area" instead of block. In response to an inquiry, Ms. Nueno explained that if an owner does not want to participate, there is no way to force them but part of the outreach program is to let owners know this is free money available for improvements. Chair Henn asked about the linear feet categories relating to frontage. Ms. Nueno stated most of the properties on Balboa Boulevard belong to the 25 -50 feet category with a few in the 50 -75 feet category. Ms. Brandt suggested color- coding a map showing how the parcels fall within the ranges. Chair Henn stated that CDBG and general funds have been identified and questioned if funds were coming out of parking revenue and the parking benefit district. Ms. Nueno responded that she understood parking money would go toward public street improvements but she could look into using those funds. Committee Member Rodheim stated he thought the parking funds were to advertise the Village, improve streetscapes, and construct an archway along with other improvements that would benefit the general Village. Committee Member Rodheim commented that as the Village looks better, people will take better care of it. Chair Henn stated communities that are well cared for tend to be safer. Committee Member Pollack talked about the curbs in the Village and commented that they are beat up and could use an upgrade and commented on a transformer box that is making a lot of noise. Bill Dildine commented about application criteria and prevailing wages and asked where the money was coming from. Chair Henn stated he thought there was a maintenance exception for prevailing wages. Chair Henn stated the next step would be a target date for completion for recommendations and approval by City Council. Ms. Nueno stated that at a future meeting the Committee will be presented with a final Facade Improvement Program with a map of the area showing the lot frontage as a Receive and File item, and that the goal is to take everything as a package to City Council in August 2014. Action: The Committee discussed the Facade Improvement Program, commented on various components, and concurred with the presented information. The Program and a map of the area will be brought back to the Committee as a Receive and File item. IV. Public Comment Tom Pollack, ExplorOcean Representative, discussed the Sustainable Seafood Fest and lecture series. Committee Member Pollack briefly described the ExplorOcean project that was submitted to the City. He discussed a Coastal Commission grant and that this project could be a catalyst for Village revitalization. Committee Member Rodheim mentioned the annual Balboa Village Merchant Association meeting. There being no one wishing to address the Committee, Chair Henn closed the Public Comment portion of the meeting. V. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Balboa Village Advisory Committee, Chair Henn adjourned the meeting at 5:19 p.m. Next Meeting Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 - 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.