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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-13_BVAC_Minutes_Approved CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH BALBOA VILLAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES Location: Marina Park, Bay Island Room (2nd Floor) 1600 West Balboa Boulevard, Newport Beach Wednesday, January 13, 2016- 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Mayor Dixon called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. The following persons were in attendance: Balboa Village Advisory Committee Members: Diane Dixon, Mayor (Chair) Tony Petros, Council Member Gloria Oakes, Balboa Peninsula Point Association — Absent Ralph Rodheim, Balboa Village Merchant Association Grace Dove, Central Newport Beach Community Association — Absent Vacant, ExplorOcean Representative Jim Stratton, At-Large Representative Staff Members: Kimberly Brandt, Community Development Director Brenda Wisneski, Deputy Community Development Director Benjamin Zdeba, Associate Planner II. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS (comments limited to 3 minutes) Interested parties were invited to address the Committee on Non-Agendized Items. Jim Mosher commented that the nomination period for the vacancy will close Friday at noon and noted it is important for this Committee to know what the ExplorOcean organization will be doing. He also inquired as to the meeting date and time for the Balboa Village Merchant's Association (BVMA). Committee Member Rodheim responded that it was the first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. and that the referenced date in the minutes was correct. Howard Hall noted that ExplorOcean has a new Chief Executive Officer and the Committee expressed hope that the CEO would become the new representative to attend these meetings. W.R. Dildine inquired regarding parking meters and parking management on Adams Street. Many of the houses are in the overlay district, especially Bay Avenue, have meters in front of their house while the other side does not. He would encourage the City to look into placing meters on the side without them before the adjacent lots are redeveloped. Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski responded that there is a formal process for placing meters on streets. III. ITEMS FOR REVIEW 1. MINUTES OF DECEMBER 9, 2015 (ATTACHMENT 1) Recommended Action: Approve December 9, 2015 Minutes. Mayor Dixon opened public comments. Jim Mosher inquired whether there was a discrepancy in the minutes related to the meeting date for the Merchant's Association. Staff clarified that the meeting date of January 5, 2016 was correctly noted in the minutes. Seeing no further speakers, Mayor Dixon closed public comments. Action: Committee Member Rodheim moved to approve the minutes from the December 9, 2015 meeting, as presented. Committee Member Stratton seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 — 0. 2. GATEWAY SIGN (ATTACHMENT 2) Recommended Action: Review construction schedule Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski gave a brief presentation regarding the gateway sign including a rendering of the proposed sign at night and the construction schedule. Construction should be completed in the summer with a contract potentially issued in March 2016. She noted that ideally, streets would not be closed during the summer and the sign would be installed during the evening hours. Committee Member Petros inquired as to the material used for the glass enclosure of the lamps on either side of the sign. Ms. Wisneski shared the range of glass materials that will be used and affirmed that it will not be a material that will yellow with time. Committee Member Petros supported the use of glass, stating that over time, other types of material have pigment that can crack and look degraded. He would like the material on the Gateway sign to be high quality and suggested "railed letters" as opposed to cut out letters. Ms. Wisneski stated that, as proposed, the letters are to be aluminum internally illuminated reverse-channel lettering, so there will be some dimension to the design. She indicated she would confirm the materials to ensure they are of high quality and consistent with the committee's vision. Committee Member Stratton inquired whether the stars and shells are lit. Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski stated that they will be backlit. Discussion ensued regarding the lighting of the banners and pilasters. It was suggested that uplighting be included to properly illuminate the banners. Mayor Dixon opened public comments. Marcel Ford stated clear glass would get dirtier faster and suggested the use of frosted glass. Committee Member Rodheim requested advanced notice of the unveiling date. Jim Mosher stated that downlighting would be better as to not shine light up in the sky. He inquired whether the sign was consistent with the Zoning Code and whether a Coastal Development Permit was required. Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski stated that the Zoning Code does not address signs within the public right-of-way and expressed the belief that the sign would not require a Coastal Development Permit as it would be in furtherance of the City's wayfinding signage. Janis Dinwiddie inquired regarding power outlets and Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski confirmed that there are power outlets available and the medallion on the sign is five (5) feet tall. Mayor Dixon suggested bringing in the full specifications sheet for the sign and distributing it to the Committee at the next meeting. Marcel Ford commented on the backside of the medallion noting that it is inscribed with "Thank you for coming to Balboa Village". Discussion ensued regarding the backside of the gateway sign. Ken Rawson inquired as to the location of the sign and Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski confirmed it was on Balboa Boulevard east of Adams Street. He expressed support for uplighting the banners, but cautioned staff to ensure that they follow the City's regulations regarding outdoor lighting. Seeing no further speakers, the Mayor closed public comments. 3. PARKING METER FUNDS (ATTACHMENT 3) Recommended Action: Discussion of governance body Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski provided an overview of the format for the Balboa Village Advisory Committee as adopted by the City Council. She noted that the Council will ratify the new member at their next meeting. Regarding a previous request for information regarding the governing body of the funds acquired through the Parking Benefit District, staff's recommendation is that the Balboa Village Advisory Committee make all future recommendations regarding the expenditure of funds from the parking district. Ms. Wisneski noted that the budget for next fiscal year is in process and will be presented to the Committee with potential projects for future use of the funds. She anticipates approximately $375,000 in funds for the next fiscal year. Mayor Dixon opened public comments. Seeing no one who elected to speak, Mayor Dixon closed public comments. 4. SHUTTLE PROGRAM (ATTACHMENT 4) Recommended Action: Direction for OCTA Project V Grant Application Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski provided an update on the shuttle program. Consultant Dan Boyle had provided a feasibility study for the next phase of costs for the program and the eligible expenditures were confirmed at the recent Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) meeting. Ms. Wisneski walked through the displayed table which included total costs and the City's share of those costs. The first year is about $20,000 and ongoing costs will be about $10,000. It is projected that four (4) to five (5) shuttles will operate from 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. with various stops at fifteen- minute intervals along the Peninsula. Committee Member Rodheim suggested an earlier start time such as 7:30 a.m. to allow service to patrons of the Catalina Flyer. Mayor Dixon inquired as to whether or not there was an update to the cooperative parking arrangement with the Catalina Flyer operator. Fiscal Specialist Caryl Bryant, stated staff is still working out the logistics with the parking company regarding parking for the Flyer. In response to Council Member Petros, Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski verified that staff will request a certain look for the shuttles from the vendor. Mr. Petros strongly stated that the first year marketing plan for the program is the most essential to ensure success and suggested local radio advertisements, partnership efforts, signage, the specific look of the vans, and a website for bus schedule. Discussion ensued regarding the implementation of a second route and there was consensus among the Committee that although there does need to be a network of coverage, proceeding with "baby steps" would be the better course of action at this juncture. Discussion ensued regarding the appearance of the trolley and whether to have an open or enclosed vehicle. There was consensus among the Committee to have an open air concept trolley and staff would write into the bid specifications that it was the City's preference. Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski stated that there will be a determination on the grant sometime in June and the soonest operations would take place would be May 2017. Mayor Dixon opened public comments. Ken Rawson expressed concern regarding the open-air trolley design with respect to safety of its riders, especially children. Jake Allsop, representing the Newport Downtowner, stated he has researched the potential for electric trolleys and found that there is a manufacturer of fourteen-passenger, open-air all electric trolleys. He noted that the Newport Downtowner has been in operation for 10 weeks and has provided approximately 3,000 rides within that time. In response to Linda Mayer, Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski confirmed that the operating costs are what will be paid to the contractor and it is set at one hundred ($100) dollars per hour. The likelihood the City will qualify for a grant is good as this will be replacing a former OCTA route and there is demand for this type of transportation in the area due to tourism. In response to Ken Rawson, Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski stated that the trolleys would run from Memorial Day through Labor Day and that the City has not yet commented on OCTA discounting the bus route. In response to Catherine Rawson, Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski affirmed this would be free service and no existing parking spaces would be removed. Existing OCTA stops will be utilized and there is a potential for other stops to be created. Discussion ensued regarding the Catalina Flyer and the correct parking lot to use. It was confirmed that the Catalina Flyer staff is working with the City and their users would get a slight discount for parking in the correct lot. The Catalina Flyer will be marketing this information out to their users. Discussion occurred to confirm that the trolleys will have room for users' beach equipment. Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski stated that there has not been a deal reached with Hoag Hospital yet to utilize its parking lot. Mayor Dixon requested an update regarding the Hoag Hospital partnership at an upcoming meeting. Jim Mosher inquired regarding several items in the grant proposal and recommended having consistent numbers in the tables. He expressed concern that the City is at risk of having to pay a larger portion of the costs if the ridership is small. Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski affirmed that the document is not the actual application, but rather an estimate. She also confirmed that there is a risk of losing the funds for subsequent years if the grant requirements are not met, such as minimum ridership. Discussion ensued regarding the discontinued OCTA route and it was confirmed that all meetings regarding the discontinuance were publicly noticed. Linda Mayer stated there is a need for bus patrons to go to Hoag Hospital. Mayor Dixon requested that staff obtain answers to Mr. Mosher's inquiries. Seeing no further speakers, Mayor Dixon closed public comments. 5. GENERAL UPDATES (ATTACHMENT 4) a. Fagade Improvement Program Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski stated the program is going well, but only a few have followed through with their applications. To date, six (6) applicants have had their agreements completed. Mayor Dixon stated that a Bike shop in the area was repainted, however it was confirmed that they did not participate in the program. She inquired if a program could be developed to recognize community beautification efforts. In response to W.R. Dildine, Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski confirmed that the building owner must sign off on an application if a tenant submits it and that funds could be disbursed partially before and partially after a project was completed. b. RP3 Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski stated that the application had been submitted to the Coastal Commission and staff was waiting for a response. IV. PUBLIC COMMENT - None Mayor Dixon opened public comments. Jim Mosher stated that the minutes incorrectly noted that a reply from the Coastal Commission regarding the RP3 would be made within (3) days. Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski confirmed that it was thirty (30) days. Committee Member Rodheim inquired about stringing lights across Main Street. Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski stated that she would have Tony Brine email Mr. Rodheim directly and report to the Committee at the next meeting. Community Development Director Brandt stated that they did not have a precise date as to when the sale of the Balboa Theatre would come before the City Council. In response to Marcel Ford, Deputy Community Development Director Wisneski stated that staff would inquire into the use of LED lights in the streetlights. Janis Dinwiddie commented that the trash bins need to be cleaned on the Peninsula. In response to Committee Member Rodheim, Mayor Dixon stated that review of the Committee's work had been done as part of the new proposed budget, however it would be a good exercise to go through it again with the Committee. W. R. Dildine expressed support for the recent work of the BVMA and stated that he attended their last meeting. V. ADJOURNMENT (Meeting End Time: 5:30 p.m.) The meeting adjourned at 5:07 p.m. Next Meeting Date: February 10, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. — Location: Bay Island Room, Marina Park.