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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-02-22MINUTES CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY Room B-8, Civic Chamber Huntington Beach, California Monday, February 22, 199?, A videotape recording of this meeting is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Mayor Winchell called the adjourned regular meetings of the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Huntington Beach to order at 5:30 p.m. CITY OOUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ROLL CALL PRESENT: Robitaille, Bauer, Moulton -Patterson, Winchell, Silva, Sullivan, Leipzig ABSENT: None CLOSED SESSION The Mayor called a Closed Session of the City Council pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 to meet with its designated representatives regarding labor relations matters - Dan Cassidy. (120.80) RECESS - RECONVENE The Mayor called a recess of Council at 5:35 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 7 p.m. REVIEW OF BO4IjA CHICA'S PAST. PRESENT. & FUTURE (440.90) INTRODUCTION - SUPERVISOR HARRIETT WIEDER - COUNTY OF ORANGE STAFF Harriett Wieder presented the history and formation of the Bolsa Chica Planning from approximately 1964 to the present. She expressed her full support and endorsement to the Coalition Plan and stated that the plan was appropriate because at its heart was the full restoration of the Bolsa Chica's major resource --its wetlands, and the long term integrity of the surrounding community through responsible development determined by the public hearing process. THE BQLSA CHIC& PLANNING COALITION PLAN & COMPQNENTS - COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AGENNCY = TOM MATHEWS COASTAL PLANNING - RON TIPPETS Ron Tippets, MA Coastal Planning Chairman, presented material to Council and reported on the elements of the Land Use Plan. 23. Page 2 - Council/Agency Minutes - 2/22/93 Tom.Matheis, Coastal Planning, presented material to Council and reported on the County -wide wetlands mitigation projects integrated into the regional parks system by Orange County. He stated that Orange County is ready to move forward in a lead responsibility for the restoration of Bolsa Chica Linear I Park. Michael Ruane, Director of Environmental Management Agency, stated he was present to reiterate the comments of Ron Tippets and Tom Mathews. He stated the County was involved in the environmental enhancement projects and that Tom had full resources of the Agency behind him in taking a leadership role for the restoration of Bolsa Chica Linear Park. CITY/CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROCESSING -SINCE990_ - CITYMM DIRECTOR OF COUNITY DEME__OPMENT - MIKE ADAMS - - Printed matter on the Bolsa Chica Coalition Plan Alternative had been distributed. Mike Adams, Community Development Director, presented a history of the process of the plan review of the project since first introduction, the proposed plan use, and the Coalition Plan Alternative referring to wall drawings. Laura Phillips, Associate Planner, presented a history of the City/County Agreement for city processing since 1990. She stated a revised draft of the Environmental Impact Report for public review would be ready the summer of '93 and that public hearings for the document and project would start early in 1994. In response to Councilmember Silva's inquiry, the Community Development Director stated that the costs of the Associate Planner's salary and planning costs were reimbursed by the Koll Company. Discussion was held between Council and staff pertaining to staff time spent on the Bolsa Chica project and the city budget shortfall. Tom Mathews explained the process of acquiring land for other projects such as Laguna Canyon. Michael Lu,.n�e stated that land dedication was in conjunction with the development process. In answer to Councilmember Leipzig's inquiry, Laura Phillips, Associate Planner, stated that since the EIR and EIS were being revised the process will begin again with the circulation period. She stated she would check with the Army Corp of Engineers with the minimum length of time being 45 days. The City Administrator stated he would complete the list of Councilmember Bauer's questions within the next week. RECESS =-RECDKVENE The Mayor called a recess of Council at 8:10 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 8:20 p.m. 24 Page 3 — Council/Agency Minutes — 2/22/93 11 _ � LI lY \ Id Y \ Printed material entitled "City Council Presentation, February 22, 1993, Prepared by Economic Development Department, Barbara A. Kaiser, Director"; had been distributed. RJBLIC COMMENTS Paul Horgan, Bolsa Chica Land Trust member, stated he believed the single redeeming part of the Coalition Plan was restoration. He expressed his concerns pertaining to bonds for the mesa development. He stated the project would be the size of Laguna Beach and that there would be 40,000 additional car trips per day. In answer to Councilmember Robitaille's inquiry pertaining to funding, Paul Horgan stated the Bolsa Chica Land Trust was a tax exempt organization of 100 members and that they have opened an acquisition account for a pledge they had received. J . David „Wi nscott spoke In support of the Coalition Plan and urged Council to build upon it. Brad Hills spoke in support of the Coalition Plan. He stated he believed it would broaden the tax base, increase property value, and increase sales revenue. He stated the developer has the funds and assets to develop the land, and he spoke in support of accepting that plan. Ana Mueller stated she hoped the citizens would have an opportunity to review other options for the land called the Bolsa Chica. Mayor Winchell stated the Council would continue to gather information and review alternative options. Flossie —Horgan thanked Council for providing an arena for the educational process for Bolsa Chica to go forward. She presented a screen projection of the Bolsa Chica Plan and stated it would look like the photograph she presented if the Environmental Impact Report goes forward. She expressed her concerns pertaining to density and stated there would be 35 homes per acre on the mesa. In response to Councilmember Sullivan's inquiry pertaining to the support members, the Community Development Director stated the Coalition was comprised of organizations. He stated the purpose of the review was to discern whether there was a balance between wetlands restoration and the residential development plan. He stated the support members were not signatory members but they took part in the discussion. Barry Garcia spoke in. support for the Kol 1 Co/Coalition Plan. He stated that after touring the wetlands he believed it was a win/win situation. He stated that $100. million was the cost of restoration; he did not want additional taxes in order to buy the land. He stated the developer was not only ready to build but will contribute $40 million to restore the wetlands. Eileen Murphy stated the Coastal Commission staff never supported the Coalition Plan. She urged Council to keep Bolsa Chica open space for generations to come. t 25 Page 4 - Council/Agency Minutes - 2/22/93 Pam Julien stated that the Coalition Plan offered a viable solution and she believed that Huntington Beach would benefit at no cost to the taxpayers or the city. Robert Gebauer spoke in support of the Coalition Plan and stated that it gets the job done with private funds. He urged Council to move forward and get it done in our lifetime. Lucy Dunn, Sr. VP Koll Company, stated that 0-5700 units 1s not a coalition plan. She stated there must be a reasonable amount of development to pay for. restoration. She stated a cross gap connector is included in the EIR and EIS. She stated the Koll Company understands the road is very important for police and fire protection. Ms. Dunn urged Council to keep the commitment to the agreement with Koll Company. Joyce Riddell, Chamber of Commerce, endorsed the Coalition plan. Ann Sparks spoke pertaining to updating city transportation and underground utilities. She also expressed her concerns pertaining to traffic. Vida Martin spoke pertaining to the wetlands being an international global resource. She stated the wetlands belong to the world and posterity. Bill Gregory stated there was a need to explore several plans. He stated the Coalition Plan would affect the beaches and that there would be no guarantee of restoration., He urged Council to continue the forum for the issue. TgD Ughgng spoke in support of the Coalition Plan. He stated he believed the water standing in the wetlands was toxic urban runoff and that the city should do something about it. He stated he believed that Ms. Horgan's map was purposely misleading. Councilmember Sullivan stated that the slide that Flossie Horgan presented was of the mesa only. BUDGET PROBLEMS & CITY COUNCIL TRAV L The City Clerk presented a communication from Councilmember Robitaille recommending that Council adopt a policy of paying for travel, hotel and per diem costs of any trips they take outside of Orange County and that Council be prepared to reduce their salary by the same percentage as any reduction that may be required for the staff in the future. Councilmember Robitaille reported. On consensus of. the Council, Mayor Winchell stated the Council Budget Committee would review the matter and return to Council with a recommenda- tion. She stated the committee consisted of Councilmembers Silva and Sullivan and herself. 26 Page 5 - Council/Agency Minutes - 2/22/93 ADJ(XJRNMENT - COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT A-GENCY Mayor Winchell adjourned and the Redevelopment Monday, March 1, 1993 at California. ATTE - City Clerk/Clerk 1 the adjourned regular meetings of the City Council Agency of the City of Huntington Beach to 5:30 P.M., Room B-S, Civic Center, Huntin ton Beach Clerk of the Redevelopment Agency and City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach, California Mayor/Chairman 7